Thyroid

[Ciara8]

New here do I need thyroid medication thankyou

TSH 20.6 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 10.3 (12 - 22)

TPO antibody >1500 (<34)

TG antibody 256.3 (<115)

Ferritin 5 (15 - 150)

Vitamin D 23.3

Vitamin B12 147 (180 - 900)

Folate 2.1 (4.6 - 18.7)

[Hidden]

Yes. Who carried out those tests for you, the NHS?

[Ciara8 in reply to Hidden]

NHS

[Hidden in reply to Ciara8]

Ciara8 did anyone discuss the results with you?

[Ciara8 in reply to Hidden]

No

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When were these done, were they done by GP?

You should have been called in for urgent appointment

See your GP ASAP, make an "on the day" appointment tomorrow ideally

You are very hypothyroid. High antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease

You will need to be prescribed Levothyroxine- replacement thyroid hormone. Standard starter dose is 50mcgs.

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working

These extremely low vitamin levels need urgent supplements and further testing

B12 - you will need testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 injections

Folic acid supplements should not start until AFTER first B12 injection

Post on PAS Unlocked for specific B12 advice

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Vitamin D you will need LOADING dose - do not accept 800iu - it's far to little

Ferritin is absolutely dire. Full iron panel testing required and very likely an iron infusion

Getting started on Levothyroxine with help improve gut but these low vitamins are due to Hashimoto's

Ask GP if they will test for coeliac

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...

[Ciara8 in reply to SlowDragon]

Done by GP 3 weeks ago

[Hidden in reply to Ciara8]

I think a written complaint is in order cos your GP is clueless. SlowDragon has given good advice, you need an urgent appointment.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See this reply re how to treat low vitamins from SeasideSusie to similar very low levels

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Mary-intussuception]

Hi Ciara

So, the GP arranged these tests around 13 November? Have you seen him/her since you had the results? Have you been referred to, or are you under, any Specialists - Endocrinologist? Haematologist?

Has anyone done any tests to check your Adrenals?

Do you have any other medical conditions? Any other medication?

As you can see from all those out of range results, - you need all nutrients supplemented as well as Thyroid medication.

xx

[Ciara8 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Yes GP arranged bloods 3 weeks ago. Haven't seen him since results. Am under an endocrinologist and previously under haematologist. Test for adrenals showed DHEA 2.3 (2.7 - 7.5) no other conditions and I take no other medication thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ciara8]

See any GP tomorrow. Come back and update us on what treatment you have been prescribed

If you can take supportive family member or friend as witness the GP will be more careful to follow correct protocol

[Mary-intussuception]

I don't know much about the Adrenals, only that my Endo had mine checked before starting my Levothyroxine back in 2011. That was years after earlier Hypothyroid results were ignored/overlooked. No one ever bothered to test my nutrients levels, though. Only found out about that on here this year.

Something doesn't seem right here though, with your care, Ciara. I think I would phone Haematology tomorrow and ask if you can be seen. Read them all out over the phone. Or call in and show reception.

What happened? Were they treating you - then stopped? Discharge you back to GP?

About Endo, would I be right in assuming you haven't seen him in the last three weeks? I think I would also phone his secretary and ask to be seen in clinic - this week. Did you have any previous test results you could share? Did Endo give any diagnosis, explanation or reason for not treating you.

Hope you manage to get an appointment with a GP tomorrow morning. If not ask for an urgent appointment with the Practice Manager.

How are you feeling ? Are you coping?

xx

[Ciara8 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Treated for iron anaemia in 2016 with infusion then discharged me when ferritin was 187 (15 - 150)

Haven't seen endo for 3 weeks. Previous results 2 years ago were TSH 7.2 (0.2 - 4.2) free T4 15.8 (12 - 22) TPO antibodies 95 (<34) no treatment started.

Not coping that well

Thank you

[Mary-intussuception]

Hi Ciara. Only just read this (11.15am) you wrote it around 9am?

It's not surprising that you're not coping that well with such low nutrients levels - not to mention the untreated Hypothyroidism. You must be tired out. Are you able to eat and drink well?

Hopefully, by now, you have made a breakthrough and are being seen. Either in Haematology, being treated, or by GP. Or both!

Is there anyone who can go with you to GP and hospital clinics for a bit of support?

Did you manage to get hold of Endo's secretary?

Let's know how things go, but get sorted first.

God Bless x

[humanbean]

The best way of getting an urgent appointment in my doctor's surgery is to be there as soon as it opens and ask for an appointment to see the duty doctor.

You do get quizzed by the receptionists about why you are there, which is extremely annoying, but if you are desperate you just have to grin and bear it.

If you can, get someone - a partner, parent, trusted friend - to go with you. I imagine you must have extremely severe brain fog which makes it harder to argue if the doctor doesn't treat you seriously.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to humanbean]

We have to phone at 8.30am to book same day appoinment. No explanation needed. To guarantee getting one (in case of failure to get through before all taken) have to turn up between 8am and 8.30 and sit in queue. Till 8.30am when reception opens and gives out appointments.

For emergency appoinment with the doctor designated 'on call' GP- at any time of the day, Receptionist will ask what the symptoms are.

[Gambit62]

Looks like you have both auto-immune hypothyroidism and auto-immune gastritis ... and you have B12, folate and iron deficiencies as a result of the auto-immune gastritis.

symptoms of all of these overlap. They all need treating.

Please refer to PAS forum for more info on B12/auto-immune gastritis

healthunlocked.com/pasoc