Gp said high Ferritin probably due to inflammation which I agree with so that's fair enough I talked about Free T4 and Free T3 and the fact that they were low in range and should be higher. This was more or less ignored. I then mentioned B12 and Folate which she said were ok. I also mentioned raising my dose of Levo and she went into a long lecture about putting strain on heart with possible fatal consequences. I am at my wits end. I have seen so many doctors in the last 4 years and none of them have been at all helpful. I know that I am struggling and have no idea where to go from here. I take 100mcg Levo daily and supplement with Selenium , magnesium, vit d and pro-biotics. I am going to try some turmeric to help with inflammation . Where do I go from here????
Grateful thanks to you wonderful people. The advise I have received in the past has at least helped me to realise that I am not alone. This situation is unbelievable.
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But your inflammation isn't high. What sort of an ignoramous have you got there? lol She should be investigating your high ferritin, and testing you for pernicious anemia with that low B12.
She's talking utter rubbish about the T4. Increasing your dose isn't going to give you a heart attack, it's a storage hormone! 100 mcg levo is a small dose, it needs increasing. Although, it's quite possible you won't convert very well, but you need to raise the FT4 level to get a clearer idea on that. She really is very ignorant. I think you're going to need to insist about the ferritin and B12, though, before you worry about your FT3 level.
Many thanks greygoose. I am going back next week about another matter so I will address these issues then. I have just realised that B12 is 94 on my post, however it was actually 294. So sorry, my mistake. Blessings
Even though your B12 is 294, you might still benefit from supplementation. Since many hypo/Hashi's patients are prone to autoimmune gastritis (often 'silent') sublingual tablets might be the best bet.
Your B12 and folate are not anywhere near OK, esp B12 which is under range - you need to be tested for perncious anaemia and probaly need B12 injections.
Then GP won't test for Pernicious Anaemia as levels are not that low
They are however likely too low for a person on thyroid medication. Like many of us on here you may need to supplement B12 sublingual lozenges and vitamin B complex
Your Levothyroxine needs increasing, but you probably need to see a thyroid specialist to get sorted
Your GP not clued up
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists
See a different GP and insist on testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 injections
If you can get injections then you need to take sublingual B12 lozenges plus a good vitamin B complex with folate in
If you start or 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
Have you had vitamin D tested? If not ask GP to test or do privately
Vitamindtest.org.uk £28 postal kit
Do you know that your high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease
Are you on strictly gluten free diet? If not suggest you try it for 6 months minimum
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 and gluten 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 along with vitamin D test
Hi SlowDragon. Many thanks for your reply. I have been totally gluten free for a year. I have just discovered that my latest blood test should have included vit D. I have spoken to Bluehorizon and they are sending a test kit straight away. Doctor has refused increase in Levo and says B12 is ok. I have seen so many doctors and they are all the same. Very few options left, what am I supposed to do? I am very grateful for all the information. Thank you once again.
Ps B12 294 not 94 so sorry my mistake. Also I do know I have Hashimotos
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Request list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly
Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3
There is scope to increase Levothyroxine dose to improve FT4 and FT3. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.
Many thanks Clutter. I do have a copy of the Pulse article but thank you anyway. I will consider supplementing as I don't really think I have symptoms of B12 deficiency, Blessings
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