Puzzled by test results!: Hi I'm new to this... - Thyroid UK

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Puzzled by test results!

Swainy profile image
7 Replies

Hi I'm new to this forum and I have previously been diagnosed b12 deficiency and had loading doses.

My body is screaming help but i cant find out why i feel like death every day I have just got back my thyriod test results and don't know what they actually stand for. My t4 is 11.4 and from what I've read 11 is the bottom line. My ths is 0.6 not sure what the base line should be.

My symptoms are: cold all the time, very fatigued, muscle weakness and cramps, muscle and joint pain arms legs and back, insomnia, tinnitus and dry eyed. I also have palpitations but have been told that's due to my coffee in take. (Not sure on that one) and constant bloating which I previously put down to possible gluten issue but test just came back with 0.3 (range 0.0-10.0) which say normal.

Sorry for the ramble.

I have to appointment booked for Friday and as I only get 5 mins I need to have clear head before I go in.

Any advise truly welcomed.

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Swainy
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7 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Can you add ranges to those tests

FT4 looks low

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D and ferritin

Are you on high enough dose of B12

Your symptoms of tinnitus suggest B12 dose is not enough

What about folate? Do you get folic acid supplements? Or take vitamin B complex?

Ask for full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

If you can't get all tests then get missing ones privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid or Blue Horizon are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

Link about antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

As you already have B12 deficiency then it's likely hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

With Hashimoto's, our gut can be badly affected. Low stomach acid can lead to poor absorption of vitamins. Low vitamin levels stop thyroid hormones working.

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Swainy profile image
Swainy in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for your response. Gp ordered thyroid test plus T4 which are the only results I have. I don't have ranges as surgery did not give them to me just values and suggesed normal.

I don't know dose of b12. Thought there was only 1 that gp gives. Std

Vitamin D 58 bordering insufficient

Folate low which confirmed B12 deficiency

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Swainy What are the ranges for your test results? What you read somewhere and the ranges your lab used could be very different as ranges vary from lab to lab.

Are your B12 injections continuing after the loading doses? The norm is 3 monthly.

What about folate, has that been tested? B12 and folate work together.

Have you had Vit D and ferritin tested? Symptoms suggest deficiencies.

How much coffee do you drink?

Swainy profile image
Swainy in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you for your response.

B12 injections to continue 3mtly

Original test result 128

Folate level was low which confirmed b12 deficiency.

Vitamin d level 58

I don' know the ranges used surgery just gave values.

Don' t think ferritin tested unless it's under another title.

Coffee input 6 -8 daily

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toSwainy

Swainy

If folate was low, are you supplementing with prescribed folic acid?

Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol/L by the Vit D Council. I imagine the unit of measurement for your test is nmol/L in which case you need to raise your level. I'd suggest taking 5000iu D3 daily for 3 months then retest. Also take D3's important cofactors vitamindcouncil.org/about-v... particularly K2-MK7 and magnesium. Take D3 four hours away from thyroid meds, and as it's fat soluble take it with the fattiest meal of the day.

Ferritin would be called ferritin and is important as it needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work, and that's our own or replacement hormone.

Your coffee intake is rather high and could possibly be a factor in your palpitations but not necessarily.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Many with B12 deficiency supplement sublingual B12 lozenges between injections.

Many with thyroid disease do too

Folate, ferritin, vitamin D and B12 all badly affect thyroid. Most medics are completely unaware

Essential to test for thyroid antibodies

Gluten free diet likely to help and improve gut function with probiotics, fermented foods and bone broth

Low stomach acid may be under lying issue too

Lots of posts on here about how to improve with Apple cider vinegar or Betaine HCL

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Other things to help heal gut lining

Bone broth

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Probiotics

carolinasthyroidinstitute.c...

Importance of magnesium

hypothyroidmom.com/two-vita...

Swainy profile image
Swainy in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you for your response I will look into this further.

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