Hi I am new to the group. I have been having symptoms of broken sleep, constipation, feeling cold, losing hair, bags under eyes, GP says I am hyper, I think I am hypo. I have a TSH of 11.6 (0.2 - 4.2) FREE T4 8.3 (12 - 22) FERRITIN 26 (30 - 400) I am 30 years old feeling 80 help would be appreciated thankyou
New here - hyper/hypo?: Hi I am new to the group... - Thyroid UK
New here - hyper/hypo?
Emma
You're hypo, no doubt about it. Over range TSH, below range FT4. Suggest your GP goes back to med school. We've had a couple of jerk doctors mentioned here today.
Im no expert but those results look hyPO not hyper and im sure more experuenced people will tell you so, your doctor needs to go back and train i think, others will comment shortly.😊
Yes, you are hypo and yet another doctor that knows nothing about thyroid disease. They all need retraining, definitely. FT4 is below range so no surprise you feel so unwell.
Your ferritin levels are terribly low. What are you supplementing? What has GP prescribed?
Iron deficiency anaemia NICE guidelines
cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...
Thankyou GP hasn't prescribed anything for ferritin. I am sure I need something for it because of MCV 78.5 (80 - 98) and MCHC 376 (310 - 350) which is iron deficiency?
Yes. You need a prescription of ferrous fumerate 3 times a day.
You can also increase your iron level through diet.
Raising iron levels through diet
You can help raise your iron level by a maximum 200g per week of liver, no more, due to its high Vit A content, and include lots of iron rich foods in your diet, weblink posted by SeasideSusie below.
apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
Helping iron levels with diet - post on HealthUnlocked.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Iron deficiency anaemia NICE guidelines
cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...
What about vitamin D levels, have you had it tested along with vitamin B12 and folate?
Vitamin D 10.5
Folate 4.1 (4.6 - 18.7)
Vitamin B12 199 (190 - 900)
have you the Vit D range - its usually (50-200 ish)
I was recommended to visit the Pernicious anaemia forum (on HU here) for info on low B12/folate- before supplementing.
What was the lab range for vitamin D, are you in the UK? If in the UK, this is usually severely deficient. What has GP prescribed?
If in the UK there are guidelines your GP must follow and as your vitamin D is under 30 your GP must prescribe loading doses of vitamin D and then an adequate maintenance dose. You need to aim for a level around 100nmol.
cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...
You need to take magnesium and K2-MK7 with vitamin D3 in order to absorb the vitamin D effectively. Magnesium citrate is ok but there are other choices for magnesium.
naturalnews.com/046401_magn...
Have you got symptoms of B12 deficiency because if so, I advise you to post your B12 and folate results along with an outline of your thyroid condition and symptoms, low ferritin etc on the HealthUnlocked Pernicious Anaemia forum healthunlocked.com/pasoc and ask their advice about what your GP should be doing. Really, it looks like you need further investigations to rule out pernicious anaemia.
B12 symptoms of deficiency
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
B12 The Guidelines Doctors follow
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi... l
You need ferritin to be at least 70 or mid-range for your own thyroid to function properly.
Iron deficiency anaemia NICE guidelines
cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...
The importance of vitamins and thyroid function
americannutritionassociatio...
Thankyou I am in UK
Sorry vit D range is
<25 severe vitamin D deficiency
25 - 50 vitamin D deficiency
50 - 75 vitamin D may be suboptimal and long-term may lead to clinical effects. Advise on safe sun exposure and diet. Supplementation may be indicated
>75 adequate
I have symptoms of B12 deficiency as well
When did you get these results and has anything at all been prescribed?
I got these results about 2 weeks ago and I am still taking 800iu vit D.
800iu vitamin D isn't even enough to help a mouse let alone someone with severe deficiency. Your GP is not following NICE advice. He/she should be prescribing loading doses.
YOu need to contact your surgery as a matter of urgency and ask for an urgent same day appointment. Ask your GP why they think your vitamin D is so deficient on what they have prescribed and insist that they treat you according to NICE guidelines which is loading doses of vitamin D3 and then an adequate maintenance dose.
Make a list of the B12 deficiency symptoms you have and take it to the appointment. Ask the doctor to investigate and rule out pernicious anaemia, he/she should check intrisic factor antibodies.
Considering that your deficiencies have not been adequately addressed you have grounds to insist on speedy treatment. YOu might also wish to change your GP who does not appear to know anything about thyroid disease. Is there another one in the practice you could see and point out your deficiencies have not been adequately addressed?
Has levothyroxine been prescribed and if so, how much?
Thankyou because my GP says I am hyper and I think I am hypo I haven't been prescribed any levothyroxine. There is another GP I can see and I will contact them tomorrow morning
As your TSH is over 10.0 then you should not have any problem being prescribed levothyroxine by the NHS. The doctor should start you on 50mcg unless you are weak, infirm, very young or have a heart condition.
After starting levothyroxine you should retest in 6 weeks time and then increase dose and so on until your TSH is in the range of 1.0 or a little lower which is where most people feel well.
As you have vitamin deficiencies you may not feel well until these have reached optimal levels even though you begin levothyroxine so you will need to persevere.
Get your NEW GP to test thyroid antibodies to confirm that you have autoimmune thyroid disease. Hashimotos, test for TPO Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and TgAb Thyroglobulin antibodies.
To rule out Graves disease the antibodies tested would be TSI.
American Thyroid Association on Graves disease
online.liebertpub.com/doi/p...
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Hello & welcome Emma.
Is this your first thyroid test? GPs tend to leave it awhile then re-test to make sure.
But certainly a TSH of 11.6 is well over range & your FT4 is well below range indicating you have hypothyroidism, GPs again tend to treat at above 10 rather than just over range, they're cautious as it is a medicine for life. You should ask for further tests FT3, Tg and TPO antibodies.
If your low ferritin is being treated with iron tablets this can cause constipation which can be eased with Vitamin C. We recommend B12/folate and vitamin D tests too, as your thyroid will go slow if you have a nutrient/vitamin deficiency, and being hypothyroid also contributes to vitamin deficiencies. Please make another appointment to see your GP.
Thankyou it was my second blood test for thyroid and TPO antibodies were 376 (<34) TG antibodies 277.4 (<115) Free T3 3.2 (3.1 - 6.8)
GP says this is Graves disease?
What! Forget my reasonable post - your GP is indeed stupid.
- please ask to see another GP and, if you can afford it, get vitamins tested yourself & supplement to help ease your symptoms J
Also got folate and B12 and vit D
and get your antibodies tested - to confirm if hypo or hyper (as they seem to know nothing about TSH & FT4)
Thankyou TPO antibodies were 376 (<34) TG antibodies 277.4 (<115) Free T3 3.2 (3.1 - 6.8)
So your antibodies results confirm you have Hashimotos thyroiditis. So, what in the world is your GP saying you have Graves disease for??? T3 confirms low levels. They would be high and above range if you were hyperthyroid so they would be higher than 6.8 if your thyroid were overactive.
When you get all these deficiencies sorted I would definitely consider making a complaint to the practice manager as your GP needs retraining on thyroid conditions and vitamin deficiencies. In the meantime, I hope you can find a more well informed one in the practice to help you sort these out.
Ha, your gp is deluded very much like my last endo, i was hyper and also have hashis tpo confirmed this but endo says no need to test tsi as EVERYBODY has graves!!! he even put on my paperwork i have graves and also tpo test is not a confirmation that anyone has hashis. Can you see why he had to be sacked. Your gp knows jack.😊
Your GP needs retraining. You are very UNDERACTIVE = HYPO and need levothyroxine now. You also need iron supplements.
Next thing he’ll be telling you your imagining it all and you have anxiety ... then he’ll give you some nice antidepressants ...
He’s an Eijit !
Luv mx🌹