I have been taking levothyroxine 150mcg for 4 years and felt ok on this but recently brain fog, fatigue and cold again. My bloods have come back as:
TSH 0.04 (range 0.27-4.2)
Free T4 25 (12-22)
Free T3 4.7 (3.1-6.8)
and low normal Ferritin 13 (17-150) although Hb ok.
My GP has suggested iron supplements and look at diet diary and review in 2 months.
I am happy to give this a go but has anyone else tried cutting foods out with any joy or any other suggestions about what is going on here?
Do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?
Low vitamins are extremely common especially with Hashimoto's
Have you also had vitamin D, folate and B12 tested too
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 primary 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
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Thank you. Vit D was tested when first diagnosed as was coeliac and it this ok but not tested since then I will ask for the other ones you suggest too. I don't know if it is Hashimoto's or not, I was just diagnosed as hypothyroid.
So you are already diagnosed as coeliac?
Low vitamins are common for both coeliac and Hashimoto’s
They are both autoimmune diseases. Once we have one autoimmune disease we are more likely to have another
Definitely get folate, ferritin and B12 tested as well as vitamin D
Magnesium can be low too
glutenfreeworks.com/blog/20...
Anaemia
If you look at Isabella Wentz's website she talks about low stomach acid in the digestive enzymes. I used to have a ferritin of seven but I have been using enzymes and iron supplements the last year and I believe it's up in the high 30s now. I do not eat dairy or gluten
Low TSH with normal T4 and T3
High TSH with Low T3 & T4
Low TSH, normal T4 and T3
normal TSH and T3 but Low T4
