Advice on bloods

[val88]

I am posting this for my daughter - she is in the process of joining but can’t post yet and is desperate for help.

She has had various ongoing health issues since her teenage years. She was diagnosed with PCOS when she was 24. She developed gestational diabetes whilst pregnant and then postpartum thyroiditis after the birth of her son. Natalie was put on thyroxine at this time but has since been told she no longer needs it and the prescription was stopped.

Since then Natalie has had gradually worsening symptoms, including cold extremities, extreme tiredness and loss of energy. She is now suffering with bad headaches, especially around her eyes and the back of her neck. Most recently she has started struggling with severe aches in her joints (mainly fingers, toes, wrists and ankles.)

Her blood tests results are below. We would really appreciate any advice or help. Due to the fact that everything is “in range” she has been told that she is fine. The last endo recommended she get counselling.

Blood test results

TSH - 1.94 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT4 - 18.1 (12 - 22)

FT3 - 3.9 (3.1- 6.8)

RT3 - 23 (10 - 24)

Thyroglobulin anti - 139 (0-115)

Peroxidase anti - 144 (0.34)

Active B12 - 56 (25.1 - 165)

Folate - 8.49 (2.91 - 50)

vit D - 43 (50 - 200)

Ferritin - 42.8 (13 -1 50)

Iodine - 73 (40 - 80)

Morning Cortisol - 294 (200-700)

sodium - 135 (133-146)

Potassium - 4.4 (3.5 - 5.3)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Her 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

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels can affect Thyroid hormone working

Her active B12 is too low. Ask GP to test B12 and test for Pernicious Anaemia before starting supplements

Ferritin is too low, eating liver once a week should help

Vitamin D much to low, supplementing to increase to around 100nmol.

Detailed supplements advice on how to improve healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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...

Suggest you email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists

[val88 in reply to SlowDragon]

hi

Thank you so much for this. Looking at other posts and replies I thought the T3 might be a bit low as well and my thoughts were hashimotos. I now need to find a good dr / endo as the ones we have seen have written us off and told us to get counselling. I will look into the list available from thyroidUK and also look into supplements as you suggest. many thanks