The Results Are In....

[MishB]

Dear All,

I first posted on the 22nd Nov, and heres my update as promised...

7.12.17 Bloods taken at 08.30 am, fasted and no levo taken 24hrs

Form indicated i was taking 50mcg of levothyroxine :

MCV 96 (76-96)

Vit D 80 nmol/L (50-150) Vit D3 100% and Vit D2 82%

Serum Ferritin 278 ug/L (20 -275) continues to improve on Oct 16

TSH 4.21 mu/L (0.35- 5) Reported as NORMAL!

Thyroid Antibodies 898 (40)

Sadly my hubby forgot to pick up the print out for the Thyroid antibodies (i will collect next week now and will update) and i missed the call from my GP who left a message saying the 898 result! and that I had clear positive result and that i did have autoimmune thyroiditis to go with my previous diagnosis of a year ago pernicious anaemia...

Anyhow i had actually seen the Gp on Tues with the other results and due to TSH level had my Levothyroxine increased to 75mcg levothyroxine from my 50mcg by the allowed 25mcg ..i am due to vist again in early Feb on my return from hols when i assume she will request another blood test and to discus how we go forwards with my new diagnosis....i am hoping to persuade her that it is now necessary to have my freeT3 and T4 tested

Also manage to get a few more B12 injections, not alternate days, but one a week for the next 4 weeks

i do wonder if the PA was due to the Thyroiditis now?

Anyway hopefully we can move forward now i actually have a diagnosis especially as i still feel pants with all my afore mentioned symptoms - i have read and you have all advised me that a levo increase takes a few weeks to start to have an effect - so fingers crossed

Any further advice, comments gratefully received cos its due to you guys that i actually have a diagnosis!

[Clutter]

MishB,

You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after dose was increased to 75mcg. FT3 is rarely tested in primary care. You can order your own TSH, FT4 & FT3 via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... Medichecks offer #ThyroidThursday discounts.

Thyroid antibodies 898 (40) means you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

If you have a confirmed diagnosis of pernicious anaemia it is nothing to do with thyroiditis. PA is another autoimmune disease. healthunlocked.com/pasoc are the experts on PA.

Have ferritin, vitamin D and folate been checked?

[MishB]

Thank you Clutter

I tried to push for a blood test earlier, but we actually go away on 8th Jan for 3 weeks, hence the delay, although i actually have a GP appointment on return to see how i am but not a blood test, but will ask for a form on that day assume need folate, ferritin, tsh T4 all done again, as u say i will sort a private test to check the T3

Vit D 80 nmol/L (50-150) Vit D3 100% and Vit D2 82%

Serum Ferritin 278 ug/L (20 -275) continues to improve on Oct 16 when it was 407

Folate 6 (2.7 - 34) result was previous tests on 7.11.17 and folate was started for 2 months

FT4 was 14.1 (9-20) on 23.10.17 and 10.7 on 18.10.16

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Two things

Are you on strictly gluten free diet? If not would suggest you seriously consider trying it for at least 3-6 months, if it helps stick on it

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

Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone 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...

In one of your other lists you mention tingling toes. This can be peripheral neuropathy. Supplementing good vitamin B complex may help

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

How much vitamin D are you taking and do you also supplement magnesium

This is interesting article about interconnection between low vitamin D and low B vitamins

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

[MishB in reply to SlowDragon]

Prior to the positive thyroid antibody tests i had seen gluten free can help, so thats now also on my to do list , i have previously been tested for chrons n coeliacs and was negative

I am not on any Vit D or B supplements, esp as blood for Vit D came back at 82 n 100%, i am on Vit B12 injections every 10 weeks ( with these four extras over next few weeks) do i need extra with these ??

Will definitely look at mg too

Thankyou

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MishB]

Negative for coeliac doesn't mean we won't benefit from gluten free diet.

Can be astonishing improvement

[MishB in reply to SlowDragon]

I am on it....thankfully wine gluten free, n avoided bread for over a year now anyway

[MishB]

Ok another Blood Test update, i collected the print out of my Thyroid autoimmune profile today and very disappointed only one listed:

Thyroid Perox ABS 898 iu/ml >100 is positive for auto immune thyroiditis

I had my levothyroxine increased 1 week ago to 75mcg

Should i be asking for anything else to be tested at my next blood test in early feb? or is this enough?

I will ask for folate, ferritin, vitD to be run again as well as the TSH the first test since the dose increase

i have started Vit D, Mg and a B complex supplements as of today, as suggested previously by this forum

[sootysgirl]

Hi, just to add that gluten does affect me so after being gluten free my antibodies dropped and PA disappeared, (I used Cytoplan sublingual vit B12 which is food based and highly absorbable to boost my levels), I also recommend looking into natural ways of boosting your energy levels, I personally found that relying solely on doctors and meds didn't help as much as me helping myself with natural food based nutrition, hope this helps x

[MishB]

Thankyou, am now scrutinizing all labels and thankfully as we generally cook from scratch easy enough to be GF most of the time, just sorting those weak moments on road of a savoury pastry// grabbing a wrap, great to see lots of GF crisps, and going to have to be better at my five a day

Feeling hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel but will take time and effort on my behalftoo, had an extra B12 jab today and then back to my usual ten weekly next week