Hi I am new, I am 31 years old and hoping to get some advice here about my most recent results. I have low DHEA (found in August 2017) and hypothyroidism (found in June 2014). Please see below bloods. I take 175 mcg levothyroxine and my hands are very cold, I am forgetful, tired, constipated, shivering internally, aches in joints, dry skin, flaky and splitting nails, weight gain. I take my tablets on an empty stomach 2 hours away from food, 4 hours away from supplements and I take no other medications.
Thank you
December 2017 (175 mcg levothyroxine)
TSH *4.69 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 14.6 (12 - 22)
FT3 3.5 (3.1 - 6.8)
TPO antibodies *446.3 (<34)
TG antibodies *685.1 (<115)
DHEA *2.3 (2.7 - 7.5)
Written by
Sophia1303
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You are under medicated to have TSH so high. FT4 should be near top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
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
Is this how you did test?
Ask GP for 25mcg dose increase.
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
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
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: tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
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