Hashimotos and thin: Hi, I am new and I have... - Thyroid UK

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Hashimotos and thin

Ashjy profile image
11 Replies

Hi,

I am new and I have just been diagnosed with Hashimotos. My TSH is 20.4 MIU/L (0.2 - 4.2), Free T4 is 10.2 PMOL/L (12 - 22) and my TPO ANTIBODY is 801 KIU/L (<34). I have been losing a lot of weight and I have anaemia of both iron and folate. Will the weight loss improve on the levo. I take 75mcg. Thank you in advance.

FOLATE 4.1 UG/L (4.6 - 18.7)

VITAMIN B12 227 PG/L (190 - 900)

FERRITIN 21 UG/L (30 - 400)

VITAMIN D TOTAL 25 OH 30.6 NMOL/L (25 - 50 DEFICIENCY. SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED)

I take 800IU vitamin D3, 5MG folic acid, ferrous fumarate 3 times a day and B12 injections once every 3 months.

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Ashjy
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Yes should do.

Ask GP to test for coeliac disease ASAP and also vitamin D and B12

How much folate and ferrous fumerate prescribed

How long since diagnosed and how long on 75mcg

Presumably those thyroid results are before starting on Levothyroxine

Did low folate and ferritin get diagnosed first? Or at same time

If 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 gut connection is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally 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...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Persistent low vitamins with supplements suggests coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

gluten.org/resources/health...

Ashjy profile image
Ashjy in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, I presume I have Hashimotos, GP said I have it, my TPO ANTIBODY is 801 KIU/L (<34).

Ashjy profile image
Ashjy in reply toSlowDragon

A private blood test done in 2015 showed TPO ANTIBODY 266.7 IU/ML (0 - 34) and TG ANTIBODY 457.3 IU/ML (<115)?

Is this not Hashimotos?

Treepie profile image
Treepie in reply toAshjy

It is.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAshjy

Why if tested positive for Hashimoto's in 2015 has no treatment been started until now?

Ashjy profile image
Ashjy in reply toSlowDragon

My TSH was not regarded high enough by the GP despite symptoms of hypothyroidism:

TSH 5.6 MIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

FREE T4 14.7 PMOL/L (12 - 22)

Ashjy profile image
Ashjy in reply toSlowDragon

I was prescribed folic acid 5mg daily, ferrous fumarate once daily. Folate low, B12 low, vit D low, ferritin low. Diagnosed 6 weeks ago with Hashimotos (maybe perhaps wrongly?)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAshjy

No that's correct it's definitely Hashimoto's also in UK medics more often call it autoimmune thyroid disease

It's common to have or develop food intolerances as result. Most common is gluten, second is dairy

How low were vitamins, can you add results and ranges if you have them

Did GP prescribe loading high dose of vitamin D?

B12 injections?

Majority find gluten free diet helps. Always best to run coeliac blood test first before changing diet

Ashjy profile image
Ashjy in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, my GP suspects I have coeliac disease due to mouth ulcers, weight loss, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vomiting.

FOLATE 4.1 UG/L (4.6 - 18.7)

VITAMIN B12 227 PG/L (190 - 900)

FERRITIN 21 UG/L (30 - 400)

VITAMIN D TOTAL 25 OH 30.6 NMOL/L (25 - 50 DEFICIENCY. SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED)

I take 800IU vitamin D3, 5MG folic acid, ferrous fumarate 3 times a day and B12 injections once every 3 months.

Thanks!

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toAshjy

Ashjy,

Vitamin D 800iu is a maintenance dose to be prescribed when vitD is replete >75nmol/L. It is not sufficient to correct your low vitD. Your GP should refer to local guidelines or the cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d... My sister's GP prescribed 2 x 20,000iu per week when vitD was 40. Vitamin D should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

Looks like you are due a B12 injection as B12 is low. healthunlocked.com/pasoc are the experts on B12 and folate deficiency.

Taking Ferrous Fumarate with vitamin C can aid absorption but don't take too much as it can make bowels looser.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAshjy

Ask on

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

About b12 - looks like you need more frequent injections

As Clutter sats you need MUCH higher vitamin D dose

Look up your local CCG guidelines on vitamin D deficiency

Eg Oxfordshire

oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/profe...

Ferritin is dire - 3 x daily or iron infusion will give rapid improvement

Your GP should have been considering coeliac for some time

Push for coeliac testing asap.

Going strictly gluten free regardless after testing

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