Newbie: Hi, I'm new to this site. I'm male, 4... - Thyroid UK

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Adz9 profile image
Adz9
9 Replies

Hi, I'm new to this site. I'm male, 40 years old, and diagnosed with hypothyroidism in December 2017. I am glad I found this place and I feel very alone with it. I take 25mcg levo. Thanks for any input and I would like to hear from anyone in the same boat

(Diagnosis)

TSH 70.4 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 10.9 (12 - 22)

TPO antibody 603.5 (<34)

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Adz9
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Can you add you blood results from when diagnosed TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus thyroid antibodies

Have you had blood retested since starting on Levothyroxine?

Should be retested after 6-8 weeks

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Nice guidelines saying how to initiate and increase

Typical starter dose is 50mcgs, unless elderly, frail or heart condition

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

Adz9 profile image
Adz9 in reply toSlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon. I will add results now.

Adz9 profile image
Adz9 in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, my results have been added now. I have symptoms of depression, weight gain, dry skin, pins and needles, fatigue, deafness and brain fog

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

So you were severely hypo and high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's also called 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 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...

Have you had blood test since or dose increased yet?

If not make urgent appointment to get this done as per NICE guidelines

For people aged over 50 years and people with cardiac disease or severe hypothyroidism: 25 micrograms once daily, adjusted in increments of 25 micrograms every 4 weeks according to response.

Adz9 profile image
Adz9 in reply toSlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon, no blood test or dose increase yet

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAdz9

Then see GP urgently

Pins and needles can be low B12

Deafness is typical hypo symptom, so is depression

You are in need of 25mcg dose increase. But get blood tested first

Retesting should be 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

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

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Adz9 profile image
Adz9 in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks very much! I can post what I have already which were done Dec 2017.

Ferritin 55 (30 - 400)

Folate 4.1 (4.6 - 18.7)

Vitamin B12 226 (180 - 900)

Vitamin D 45.2 (25 - 50 deficiency)

I take 800iu D3, 210mg iron once a day

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAdz9

Your vitamin B12 is very low and folate is too

They work together, the fact they are both low suggests you need testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting supplements or B12 injections

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Majority have low B12 due to Hashimoto's, but need to test for Pernicious Anaemia first.

Suggest you ask advice on

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Push GP to run tests

If GP decides you need B12 injections you should have loading dose

Loading doses of B12

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

If GP not going to give injections then you can supplement with sublingual B12 lozenges

Oral may be as good as injections

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

B12 generally

drjockers.com/warning-signs...

folic acid supplements should not be started until after first B12 injection

Vitamin D - 800iu is not enough but GP can't prescribe any more

Hashimoto's patients find vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function

Perhaps try 3000iu

Important to retest in 2-3 months. And twice yearly Aiming for around 100nmol

Vitamin D is toxic in excess.

Vitamindtest.org.uk £28 postal kit

Ferritin, if you like liver eating once a week should help improve

Detailed supplements advice on Low vitamins due to under medication

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

It's a long list

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

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