Thyroid antibodies

[KKKJ7]

Please can anyone advise. I take 50mcg levo diagnosed 2010. Thanks

TPO antibodies 447 (<34)

TG antibodies 273.5 (<115)

I also take vit D supplement

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's

You are probably under medicated on just 50mcg

Can you add your most recent thyroid blood test results including ranges - TSH, FT4 and FT3 and also vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 if you have them

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

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

Ask GP for coeliac blood test first

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...

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

please email Dionne:
[e-mail]

[KKKJ7 in reply to SlowDragon]

TSH 55.6 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 10.3 (12 - 22)

FT3 2.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

FERRITIN 11 (30 - 400)

FOLATE 1.4 (4.6 - 18.7)

VITAMIN D 9.3

B12 118 (180 - 900)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KKKJ7]

Is this result from current dose? Or before you started on Levothyroxine?

Has GP seen these?

[KKKJ7 in reply to SlowDragon]

Current dose, was hoping GP would increase but he was nervous to do this because of symptoms of sweating.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KKKJ7]

Sweating is usually extremely low vitamins mixed with being extremely under medicated

Your GP is not helpful

Can you see a different one

[Mary-intussuception in reply to KKKJ7]

Why are you only taking Vitamin D supplements?

What about the rest?

Have you been diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia?

Have you been given B12 injections?

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Mary-intussuception]

All your nutrients deficiencies need urgent attention. Are you being seen in Haematology?

[Nanaedake in reply to KKKJ7]

I don't know what vitamin D supplement you're taking but clearly it's not enough. If GP has prescribed then surely he/she must realise whatever they've prescribed is insufficient. Are you in the UK? If so there are guidelines your GP should follow and as your vitamin D is under 30 your GP should prescribe loading doses of vitamin D and then an adequate maintenance dose. You need to aim for a level around 100nmol. Ask your GP for the correct treatment according to the NICE guidelines or local CCG guidelines. Local CCG guidelines will be similar.

cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

It's advisable 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. Your GP should check for intrinsic factor antibodies.

B12 symptoms of deficiency

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

B12 The Guidelines Doctors follow

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

Ferritin needs to be at least 70 or mid-range for thyroid hormone to function properly. Have you had a full iron panel because if not, your GP needs to do one.

Iron deficiency anaemia NICE guidelines

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

The importance of vitamins and thyroid function

americannutritionassociatio...

Please make an immediate appointment to see GP and get a levothyroxine dose increase and address all of your vitamin deficiencies.

[silverfox7]

You are very undermedicated. The aim is to get your FT4 and FT3 readings in the top third or even top quarter of their respective ranges. Do you can. Ow appreciate how low your readings are! Please see a difference doctor in your practise if you can as this doctor hasn't a clue on the correct treatment.

This forum is run by Thyroid U.K. so have a look at there web site. Loads of good info and they are also recommended by NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction