Hi I am new, 25 years old, female.
I suspect I have thyroid problems since my mum is hypothyroid. My symptoms are cold hands and feet, feeing cold, feeling low, tired, anxious, periods heavy, joint pain, dizziness, swelling in neck. My TSH came back at 8.9 mIU/L (0.2 - 4.2) is this something to consider?
Thanks in advance.
Is that the first TSH test you've ever had? If so, did your doctor not tell you to go back in about three months time for a retest? They have to check that it is an actual thyroid problem and just something like a flu bug causing your TSH to be raised.
If you've had more than one test with a raised TSH, then you are really hypo, and you should ask to be prescribed a 50 mcg levo starter dose.
You are definitely hypo and should be started on Levo
Get tested for high Thyroid antibodies, this is to diagnose autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
Your Mum probably has Hashimoto’s
Essential to also get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
See Thyroid UK website for more info
Thyroid antibodies are 595 (<34)
Thyroglobulin antibodies 988.3 (<115)
Still waiting on vitamin levels to be read by GP
Think it's Hashimotos
Yes, 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
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges.
Post results when you have them, members can advise they are likely to be low
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect 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...
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Make an appointment with GP ASAP. Standard starter dose of Levothyroxine is 50mcgs. This is replacement thyroid hormones, rather than medication.
Bloods need to be retested 6-8 weeks later, dose increased by 25mcgs steps (retesting 6-8 weeks later each time) until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Getting vitamins optimal is important too
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.
Prescription are free once diagnosed with Hashimoto's
Yes you have hypothyroid TSH should be
0.03ish to feel ok. Ask them to check free t3 and free t4, what did doc tell you?
FT4 14.7 (12 - 22 pmol/L)
FT3 3.1 (3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)
GP hasn't mentioned if I need treatment
If that's your third test what are they waiting for? As the others said you should be started on 50mcg and retested at 6-8 weeks, then the dose should increase by 25mcg increments every 6-8 weeks until you get your TSH level below 1. Get your antibodies and vitamin levels checked to see if you have Hashimotos and/or vitamin deficiencies.
I found that supplementing Vitamins D, B12 and folate resulted in as much of a dramatic improvement in symptoms as taking the levothyroxine.
There is a list of typical hypothyroid symptoms on the Thyroid UK website. I would recommend that you print out the list of symptoms & tick off the ones you have and take it with you when you go to the doctor.
You could also take your temperature every morning which is what I did. It showed that it was abnormally low - a typical hypothyroid symptom - which meant I was always cold.
Keep reading the questions and answers on here until your understand your condition and, if you follow the advice on here, you should start to see an improvement in your symptoms.
I'm not an expert - just a fellow hypothyroid person but honestly I have noticed such an improvement in my symptoms simply from reading the Q & A's and following the advice.
Thyroid antibodies are 595 (<34)
Thyroglobulin antibodies 988.3 (<115)
Still waiting on vitamin levels to be read by GP
Hi Zara,
Yes you definitely have Hashimotos and the doctor should be starting you immediately on 50mcg of levothyroxine.
If you post (new post) your vitamin results with ranges on here some of the more experienced members will interpret them. Don't just accept "they're fine" or "they're in range". Sometimes they are in range but that doesn't mean they are optimal. A lot of Hashimotos sufferers have low vitamin levels.
Good luck!
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