Hi looking for support. I have under treated underactive thyroid and I have been making mistakes at work which really knock my confidence. I get stressed when I don't understand something and this can upset me. I just feel like a mental case.
Other symptoms - feeling cold, anxiety, breathlessness, getting easily upset, brain fog, weight gain, heavy periods, puffy eyes, losing hair, loss of appetite. Please advise, I take 50mcg Levo and restarted T3 at 5mcg. I was diagnosed hypothyroid 2011.
Thanks
December 2017 (50mcg Levo, T3 restarted 2 months after)
Thyroid peroxidase antibody 778 (<34)
Thyroglobulin antibody 873.5 (<115)
TSH 5.66 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 14.7 (12 - 22)
FT3 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)
Written by
Charli38
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Can you get your GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Have these ever been tested?
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
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first and do vitamin tests at same time
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
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, and T3 12 hours prior, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
You are undermedicated to have TSH 5.66. I don't think 5mcg T3 is likely to be sufficient. Make sure you retest 6 weeks after increasing dose as I think you may need another increase in Levothyroxine or T3.
You are undermedicated and low vitamins I suspect. Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin need to be optimal to get yourcthyroidxtobwork properly so as well as not getting enough into your system who won't be converting the inactive T4 into the active T3 either. Vitamin etc levels are important plusxthey will also help with symptoms you may have. It's takes time though, I took 5 months but the time varies depending how deficient you are but well worth the effort.
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