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Thyroid results - please help

JT13 profile image
JT13
7 Replies

CURRENT RESULTS AT THE END

Hi.

I've posted before about my girlfriend here. Could really use some help.

She was diagnosed as hypothyroid in June 2016. Her bloods then were as follows:

17/06/2016

TSH basal - 4.43 (0.35 - 4.50)

Free T3 - 2.7 (2.0 - 4.2)

Free T4 - 1.2 (0.8 - 1.7)

Other noteworthy results on the same date:

Vitamin D3: 44.8 (>20ng/ml)

Vitamin B12: 438 (for some reason the range is not on the lab report).

Hb: 12.7 (12.0 - 16)

She was prescribed 50 mcg Levothyroxine Henning (German brand). However she was not compliant. I think she did not take it for large stretches of time, and when she did take it she would do so erratically and when she remembered. It's also a case of poor patient education. She had no idea this was important until I (I'm a doctor) found out about it.

She had gained 9 kg by January 2018. She suffered a significant amount of hair loss, feels bitterly cold even in warm rooms. She started to (and still does) find it impossibly hard to wake up. Sleeps through alarms. But in an hour or so, after a cup or two of coffee, she's back to herself and energetic through the day.

The most devastating thing for her so far has been the weight gain. She's lost a part of herself. She's athletic and was, before all this, 56 kg at about 5 ft 10 inch. Now (this morning) she weighs 67kg. Also, waking up late ruins her day in terms of getting her work done and her exercise in. Exercise makes her feel good.

She let me know in January about the non-compliance. I got on the case. We got bloods done which were as follows:

02/01/2018

TSH basal - 5.05 (0.35 - 4.50)

Free T3 - 3.5 (2.0 - 4.2)

Free T4 - 1.0 (0.8 - 1.7)

Since then, with the help of the forum, thanks SlowDragon and Hidden , she is taking her levo properly (I made a mistake here, I upped it to 75mcg and then a week later, by around January 10, to 100mcg - she has had no side effects all though).

She is also on the following minerals, vitamins since - Vit D, B complex including Folate, Ferrous Fumarate 210 mg twice a day (though this was started only at the start of February). She has tried to stay largely gluten free but it's a challenge. She exercise a fair bit, doing a ton of walking. She is never tired after exercise.

However, she is still symptomatic. She has put on another kilogram.

Since it had been 6 weeks since she properly started medicating I got a Thyroid Ultravit Check done through Medichecks on to be honest it has me baffled. Here are the results:

15/02/2018

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 0.482 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

FREE THYROXINE 14.7 pmol/L (12.00 - 22.00)

TOTAL THYROXINE (T4) 99.4 nmol/L (59.00 - 154.00)

FREE T3 5.33 pmol/L (3.10 - 6.80)

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 27.400 IU/mL (0.00 - 115.00)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 28.3 IU/mL (0.00 - 34.00)

ACTIVE B12 65.000 pmol/L (25.10 -165.00)

FOLATE (SERUM) 4.14 ug/L (2.91 - 50.00)

25 OH VITAMIN D 89.50 nmol/L (50.00 - 200.00)

CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY 0.83 mg/l (0.00 - 5.00)

FERRITIN *9.91 ug/L (13.00 - 150.0)

Here is what I've gathered/ am querying:

1) She seems to be converting well, T3 seems a tad better than the last blood but the T4 is still in the bottom of the range. TSH has dropped a LOT, but this does not seem to be reflected in the actual T4 levels. Can we increase levo to 125 mcg? She doesn't seem to have trouble with it.

2) Does she likely have Hasimoto's? TPO is closer tot he top of the range so I'm thinking yes.

3) Crucially, it seems she is anemic - likely explains things like her tiredness in the mornings, hair loss, though these are hypothyroid symptoms as well. I am thinking of asking her to take the Ferrous Fumarate, 210 mg, 3 times a day instead of twice a day. Then we will check for her thyroid levels again in a couple months along with, perhaps, an anemia profile? I can't get bloods done now and won't see her until early April.

Could you guys let me know what you think? Is there something we can do to help her lose the weight and help her with the hair loss? Is it simply a matter of waiting till T4 goes up and is in the top of the range? Shall I increase Levo? Is T3 likely not needed in her case?

Please help!

Thanks

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JT13
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

She is very Anaemic indeed. She needs GP to do full iron panel and very likely needs an iron infusion to bring levels up quickly. Otherwise ferrous fumerate 3 x daily plus vitamin C

B12 is questionable. Active B12 below 70 suggests an issue

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Many of us supplement daily B12 sublingual 1000mcg lozenges (eg Jarrow) plus a good vitamin B complex will improve low folate (eg Igennus Super B complex)

If are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Vitamin D is OK, but better around 100nmol

Her FT4 is on low side, but looks a good converter to FT3

She likely needs further 25mcg increase in Levo

Getting ferritin sorted is priority

Then look at B12 and folate

Retesting in 6-8 weeks again

The fact vitamins are so low suggests malabsorption issues. If possible strictly gluten free diet may help improve thus quicker

May be not permanently, just until levels recover

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for the link to Active B12 test SD, I don't have any information about that, do you mind if I use that link in future replies :)

JT13 profile image
JT13 in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks SlowDragon .

Should I push for the iron infusion? Or shall we use ferrous fumarate 210mg TDS? I'm wondering if it will help things at all if she is not absorbing? Also, what Vit C can she take alongside it? They need to be taken together I understand.

I will struggle to get her to have an iron infusion and further testing. I can only have her tested now in April.

amazon.co.uk/Vitamin-Comple...

Also, do you think any of the symptoms per se are related to the iron deficiency? i.e. hair loss, morning fatigue? If T3 levels are good, and T3 is the active form, does this mean some of her symptoms are more likely related to the anemia? Does T4 have to be optimal before we can think of weight loss?

Sorry about all the questions.

JT13 profile image
JT13 in reply toJT13

Sorry SlowDragon . The link was to show what B complex she is currently taking daily. Is that sufficient for now or do you recommend the lozenges in addition?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toJT13

Does she have any symptoms of low B12 ?

Pins and needles, tinnitus, dizziness

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Not seen that B complex. Is it absorbed in mouth or do you swallow it?

B12 is very difficult to absorb in the gut. Hence sublingual lozenges are often recommended in addition to vitamin B complex

Apparently we only absorb small percentage of what seem to be large doses

Some info on Using test of Homocysteine levels to check for low b12

b12-vitamin.com/homocysteine/

Good explanation on homocysteine

veganhealth.org/b12/hcy

Oral may be as good as injections

aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979...

B12 generally

drjockers.com/warning-signs...

The fact she is having trouble absorbing folate, ferritin and B12 all points to low stomach acid. Very common when hypo

Lots of posts on here about how to improve with Apple cider vinegar or Betaine HCL and how to diagnose

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Other things to help heal gut lining

Bone broth

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Probiotics and fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut or kimchi

Thyroid is as much about good gut health as it is thyroid hormones

Malabsorption and low stomach acid extremely common

Hair loss is very often linked to low ferritin

hypothyroidmom.com/10-thing...

Low zinc is also possible

hypothyroidmom.com/my-favor...

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply toJT13

Reading the results, I would be thinking the tiredness is related to anaemia although it can take a while for energy to return once reaching the right dose of Levothyroxine so it could be both. Ferritin needs to be 70 to mid-range to encourage hair regrowth. Low B12 and Folate adds to tiredness. Good luck, the advice here helped me.

JT13 profile image
JT13 in reply toNanaedake

Thanks very much and sorry for the late reply. I missed this post somehow.

I've asked her to take 210mg Ferrous Fumarate with pure powdered vitamin C in water three times a day, at least two hours away from any other meals and supplements and four hours away at least from her Levo.

Problem is she is vegetarian so can't do liver. Will up the dark green leafies as well to help things along. I'm hoping that's enough to help things along for now and at least get her to normal range. We will do the Thyroid Ultravit Check again in early April.

Will also keep a watch on the B12/folate. She clearly isn't absorbing well. Needs to be rectified.

Thanks again.

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