Hi newbie here

[Irishjay]

What are the best vitamins to take for underactive thyroid? Thankyou

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

It depends on the results of nutrient tests. We Hypos often have low nutrient levels. Test Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin then see what needs improving.

[Irishjay in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou

Ferritin 13 (15 - 150)

Folate 2.2 (4.6 - 18.7)

B12 181 (180 - 900)

Vitamin D 13.3

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Irishjay]

You don't treat these yourself, your GP must address them. What has your GP said about these results?

Ferritin is below range and you need a full blood count and iron panel to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia, I strongly suspect that you have.

Your B12 is just 1 point within range. You need intrinsic factor antibodies testing, you very likely have Pernicious Anaemia and you probably need B12 injections.

You are folate deficient and need folic acid prescribing but further testing regarding your B12 level must be done, and B12 injections started, before starting folic acid.

You are severely Vit D deficient and need loading doses, do not accept a prescription for 800iu D3, it must be loading doses totalling 300,000iu over a period of a few weeks.

Please make an urgent appointment with your GP then come back and tell us what is being done and prescribed.

[Irishjay in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou

Been told everything slightly under range no action needed

Iron panel showed below range iron and complete blood count showed below range MCV and above range MCHC

Also positive parietal antibodies?

Also hypothyroid

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Irishjay]

Irishjay

"Been told everything slightly under range no action needed"

Total tosh, they are severe deficiencies, and the barely in range B12 has resulted in B12 injections for many, many people. Check to see if you have any signs of B12 deficiencies here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... and if you do list them to discuss with your GP. You can post on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Below range MCV and above range MCV with below range ferritin mean iron deficiency anaemia - treatment: cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

Vit D Deficiency treatment: cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

NHS Choices article about folate/B12 Deficiency: nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b...

As you have positive parietal antibodies you must have intrinsic factor antibodies tested, as mentioned above, to determine if you have Pernicious Anaemia - pernicious-anaemia-society....

You should make that urgent appointment with a different GP, get treatment sorted then make a formal complaint against the GP who spouted that utter drivel about no action being needed. We are hearing too many stories exactly like yours, these doctors are either ignorant, stupid or just don't care, it must stop somewhere!

I assume you mean that you have been diagnosed Hypothyroid? When? What are your current test results? What dose of levo are you on?

[Irishjay in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou

I take 25mcg levo diagnosed in 2013

TSH 5.2 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 14.6 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

Constipation, fatigue, puffy eyes, joint pain, gaining weight, memory loss

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Irishjay]

Why are you on only 25mcg Levo? That is a starter dose! Have you always been on that dose or have you been on higher doses and had them changed? If so why the changes?

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested and were they raised?

Have you ever had T3 prescribed and then taken away?

[Irishjay in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou

I get episodes of fast heart rate with palpitations and high blood pressure hence why reluctance to increase

Was on higher doses and had them changed, do I add?

Never been on T3

Thyroid peroxidase antibody 553.1 (<34)

Thyroglobulin antibody 376 (<115)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Irishjay]

You can put some of your other results up, say what dose you were taking at the time and what it was changed to, but we now know what the root of your problem is - your raised antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results and that will probably have been the reason for dose changes - I assume TSH went below range and possibly FT4 went over range.

Doctors tend to dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and don't understand how patients are affected, and don't seem to realise that this is behind the fluctuations in results. You should read and learn about Hashi's so you can help yourself because your doctor won't.

You can help reduce antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

Hashi's and gut/absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and very often low nutrient levels or deficiencies are the result, as has happened to you. The gut problems need to be addressed so that nutrients can be absorbed, once nutrient levels are optimal then thyroid hormone can work.

SlowDragon has links and information to help and I'm sure she will be along to free further information.

[Irishjay in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou

Other results

Oct 2017 (175mcg levo)

TSH 0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 25.3 (12 - 22)

FT3 4.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

Aug 2017 (175mcg levo)

TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 21.3 (12 - 22)

FT3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

Jan 2017 (175mcg levo)

TSH 1.67 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 16.2 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.7 (3.1 - 6.8)

Nov 2016 (175mcg levo)

TSH 3.70 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 17.1 (12 - 22)

FT3 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8)

Mar 2016 (75mcg levo)

TSH 6.8 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 13.3 (12 - 22)

FT3 4.1 (3.1 - 6.8)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Irishjay]

Yes, very typical of results with Hashi's - same dose of Levo and very different results as can be seen by comparing TSH and FT4 results for November 2016 and October 2017.

[Irishjay in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou Susie

Have posted results in pernicious anaemia forum now. Awaiting reply/replies. Everyone been most helpful here

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Make an urgent appointment to see another GP

You need correct treatment for terrible vitamin levels

These are so bad because you are extremely under medicated

Dose of Levothyroxine needs immediate increase by 25mcgs and retesting in 6 weeks

Further 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

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

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

Persistent low vitamins with supplements suggests coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

gluten.org/resources/health...

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...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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: at

[e-mail]

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

With Hashimoto's we must get vitamins optimal first, TSH down to around one and FT4 towards top of range

Very likely that strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

If FT3 remains low then, like many with Hashimoto's, you may need small dose of T3

Dionne at Thyroid Uk has list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

But other steps MUST be done first

[Irishjay in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou

I get episodes of fast heart rate with palpitations and high blood pressure is this not overmedication?

FT3 always been low

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Irishjay]

No it’s combination of extreme under medication and terrible vitamin levels

Your body has to live off adrenaline instead

Will add some similar posts in morning

[Irishjay in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou

I wondered why and now I know

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Irishjay]

Sweating and tremor posts

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Marz]

How are things going ? Are you feeling stronger ?