Recurring bladder infections
Constipation
IBS type symptoms
Dry skin
Flaky skin
Blotchy skin
Eye dryness
Difficulty swallowing
Uncomfortable feeling in throat
Weight gain
Breathlessness
Joint pain
Sweats
Shin pain
Muscle soreness and tenderness
Hair loss
Are these thyroid? Thank you
All of these symptoms could be thyroid-related.
I would recommend going to your GP, endocrinologist, or whatever doctor will listen and getting a FULL thyroid panel. This means, at minimum: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and Thyroid antibodies.
Make sure you get a copy of the results for yourself—don't take the doctors word for it. Doctors will often tell you that your thyroid blood work is "fine", but this is only their opinion, and it's typically based on a broad range of acceptable values that do little to help you find the optimal numbers where you actually feel best and are no longer symptomatic.
When you get the results, you can post them here and members will help you figure out how to interpret them. It can all be confusing and overwhelming at first, but things will get better.
Thank you my results are TSH 66.8 (0.2 - 4.2) FREE T4 10.3 (12 - 22) FREE T3 3.2 (3.1 - 6.8)
When was this test done? Have you seen GP since?
If not make urgent "on the day" appointment. You must be started on Levothyroxine urgently
Normal starting dose is 50mcgs. Bloods retested 6-8 weeks after every dose change
Likely to need further increase in dose, in 25mcg steps, retesting each time
Essential to get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
These are likely too low and if so will need supplementing to aid in Thyroid recovery
For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3 but it's essential
Private tests are available
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven 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 and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Link about antibodies
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP
thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...
Thank you my results are TSH 66.8 (0.2 - 4.2) FREE T4 10.3 (12 - 22) FREE T3 3.2 (3.1 - 6.8) TPO ANTIBODY 548 (<34) TG ANTIBODY >1200 (<115)
Flower4445
So there you have confirmation that you are hypothyroid - high TSH and below range FT4. What has your GP said? Have you been prescribed Levothyroxine?
The high antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet. Gluten is a protein thought to trigger antibody attacks. Supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
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...
Are these symptoms normal?
Temperature Symptoms?
Struggling with symptoms
