Newbie with results

[annie1990]

TPO ANTIBODY 2675 (<34)

TG ANTIBODY 377.5 (<115)

TSH 6.9 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 11.3 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

Advice welcome thankyou

Annie

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Annie1990.

You are hypothyroid. If you are not yet prescribed Levothyroxine make an appointment with your GP and show her/him your results and ask for a prescription. If you are prescribed Levothyroxine you are undermedicated and should request a dose increase.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.2 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies 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_...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So 5 months ago you had dose increased to 50mcgs

You should have had bloods retested 6-8 weeks later and dose increased by 25mcgs steps (retested each time 6-8 weeks later) until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Your vitamin levels were dire and were prescribed some supplements

You need to have vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 rested to check they are improved enough

Highly likely still too low as you are so under medicated

You need 25mcg dose increase

Likely several more increases over coming weeks/months

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]

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your B12 was extremely low in previous post

Did you get B12 injections and testing for Pernicious Anaemia

Ferritin needed supplementing at 2 or 3 x daily or iron infusion