Should I go on medication for tried treatment or this is still borderline

[Bennyalli]

My serum TSH level is 5.59 miu/litre.

While serum free T4 level is 18 miu/l

I have internal cold especially in the evening. Legs feel like they are on fire and I get blurry visions sometimes.

but I feel better when I sleep. And the symptom comes and goes.

Do I need medication? Doctor has asked for a repeat test.

Please someone help as my symptoms is driving me crazy

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4 plus vitamins

Private tests are available. NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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 ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If 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

If you have Hashimoto's, if it's caught early enough you may be able to control just with diet. Gluten and/or dairy intolerance are extremely common and by cutting these totally some patients have reduced TSH back in range

Going strictly gluten free is definitely worth trying.

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

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...

[Bennyalli in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much

[silverfox7]

Have a look on the Thyroid U.K. site who run this forum which is recommended by NHS Choices and print out a list of symptoms and tick yours and show your GP as well as any other info in the site that will help you.