Medication advice for a newbie please

[Fran739]

Hi,

I'd really like some advice if possible,

I have hashimotos,

I see a brilliant functional practitioner monthly since last may, i do have optimal Vit D (even the GP says it's impressive) optimal B12, my iron is within GP range but not optimal for functional medicine, I have been gluten free for over 18 months, I did autoimmune paleo for 8 months then was starting to feel the cold and was craving porridge so have introduced that back in a couple of times a week(gluten free sprouted rude health).

I have lots of supplements- nutri-advanced women's multi essentials, b complex, thyro complex. I'm on Iron, currently just finishing a gut protocol and on permatrol. I take Eskimo brain sharp, D-Lux spray, magnesium. I was on digestive aids too but my stomach acid results were normal.

I have had 2 GP's since diagnosis and they refuse to let me see an endocrinologist as they said he will not prescribe T3/liothyronine as they have both said it does not show any valid improvements during trials. There is 1 Endocrinologist here and he has a very long waiting list too. I have read Isabella wentz, Westin Child's etc and am quite convinced as is my functional practitioner and local boots pharmacist that I need to add a T3. When I asked the GP he says no one in the western side of the world likes to prescribe it, it's not reliable and too expensive.

My last test results were 14/12/17 and GP would only test TSH (as he feels this is the only necessary one) it was 1.61 and the range on his results is 0.50-5.00. This is while taking levothyroxine.

I am on 175mcg, and am taking it properly!

As soon as I eat slightly too much I get puffy everywhere, does anyone else get this?

I am a fitness instructor/personal trainer working in the mornings- by the evenings I am lying on the table while cooking the dinner, I can be really drained.

When I said this to the GP he suggested I take Sertraline for anxiety and stress. I can be anxious, have low self esteem but I wouldn't say I'm stressed more than most people these days with a large family of 4 children. I can be in an up and down mood. I am gaining weight, feeling a little like what's the point- I'm eating so carefully and still gaining weight so I rebelled and bought a gluten free pack of chocolate biscuits and ate the lots for lunch yesterday... my body sis to used to sugar any more but gosh they tasted amazing...

my hair is so fine and falls out lots.

I never struggle or have to think about my weight and what I eat after stopping breast feeding for about a year-2 years, I can't find out why.... then after around 2 years the weight piles on...

sorry this is massive, I was just trying to answer any questions that may arise.

Apart from yesterday ps biscuits which I can feel all over my body I do eat really well according to a nutritionist!!

I have added photos of older blood results.

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Your ferritin is far too low with those results, it needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly.

Those results show that your TSH is over range and FT4 below range, when were they done considering you say that your latest TSH from December is 1.6?

You need FT3 testing, if GP can't get it done why not do a thyroid panel with Medichecks or Blue Horizon? TSH, FT4 and FT3 need to be done at the same time.

Are you taking 200mcg selenium daily to help reduce the antibodies?

Your Nutri Advanced Women's Multi Essential contains 200mcg iodine which won't help at all, unless you were tested and found to be deficient. It is anti-thyroid, can make things worse and definitely not recommended for Hashi's patients. It also contains iron which will affect absorption of the other ingredients, iron should be taken at least 2 hours away from other supplements and 4 hours away from Levo. Are you taking your other iron supplement 4 hours away from your Levo?

You haven't said what brand your Thyro Complex is but if it's Nutri Advanced again it contains another 75mcg iodine. Also you are doubling up on some of the ingredients, be very careful of B6 as your total would be 62.5mg if both supplements are Nutri. Too much B6 long term can cause nerve damage and other problems. I've seen it said that a safe amount for long term supplementation is 10mg daily.

Both supplements contain calcium and the Multi also contains magnesium. These need to be taken at least 4 hours away from Levo.

Also your Vit D should be taken 4 hours away from Levo.

Just wondering if the timing of your supplements is causing problems.

[Fran739 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi,

Yes all taken apart from each other, multinessentails, D and iron in the morning, b-complex at lunch, nutri advanced thyro complex with each meal, and taking levothyroxine about 4 hours after dinner before bed. The levothyroxine and iron were taken the other way around (Levi in morning & iron at night) but this was a trial to swap and I do possibly feel better! I have added magnesium for the crazy twitchy eye I get without it! I can barely get up the stairs at night too- crazy as I'm leaping about in Lycra in the mornings!! Ha ha

Had a medichecks test last year in Sept, it's all just so expensive but I will ask for another one. Free T3 was 3.67 - their range is 3.10-6.80 which is why my functional practitioner says it's low and I need to try and get some T3. Reverse T3 wasn't in this test.

The results in the photo above are 15/11/17.

[Fran739 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I've mentioned the low ferritin to my functional practitioner and she recommended higher nature easy iron - 6 tablets which would be 30mg iron.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Fran739]

Easiest way to raise ferritin is by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week, no faffing about with timing of other supplements and meds.

Were you on 175mcg levo when those November tests were done? If so there is a vast different in TSH between November and December so that would be due to your Hashi's no doubt.

[Fran739 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I was on 150mcg, the GP put me up to 175mcg this week when I went back. Yes my TSH has always been up and down. I don't find the levothyroxine helps though.

Thanks so much for your time and recommendations!

[silverfox7]

The four things that need to be optimal that greatly help your thyroid are vit D, B12, folate and ferritin. These need to be optimal. Not just in range so see SeaSideSusie's posts for excellent advice. When these are in the right place, it takes time and for me that was5 months but depends on how low you were but it solved my conversion problem. Once that was address I felt great and stable and my FT3 had raised.

[Fran739 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you! Yes I just need to get the ferritin levels up and optimal too, and make some time to relax, thanks for your message!

[Gambit62]

Please take a look at the PASoc forum in relation to B12, particularly the pinned posts, and particularly this link from the pinned posts

b12-institute.nl/caution-no...

PASoc forum link

healthunlocked.com/pasoc