Hashmag

[Maggimai]

Hi, it has been awhile since I was last in contact, I have since had my thyroid condition confirmed as Hashimotos, however I am not happy with the latest blood test results, I would be thankful if any of you fellow sufferers could take a look at my blood results and give me your opinions.thank you all so much.

[greygoose]

I'm sure we could, if you posted the results.

[Maggimai in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Greygoose here are my blood results

thyroid function test ( chell) normal,no action

Serum free T4 level 17.3 pmol/L 12.00 22.00pmol/L

Serum TSH level0.83. miu/L. 0.27 _4.20miu/L

Serum ferritin ( CHELL) normal, no action 99.6 ug/L 13.00_150.00ug/L

Serum lipids_ (CHELL)_normal.no action

Serum cholestrol. 4.8. mmol/L. 3.00_5.00mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 3.5. mmol/L

serum cholesterol HDL level 1.3 mmol/L 1.2_3.50mmol/L

haemoglobin A1c level_(CHELL)_ normal no action

HbA1c levelIFCC standardised. 41. mmol/mol. 20.00_41.00mmol/ mol

Those are the results done on Feb 2018

I would be grateful if you could let me know what you think of them

I have since been diagnoised as hashimotos and for Urticaria, angioedema, demographism and prescribed a whole gamut of drugs to take for this condition which developed along with the thyroid problem.

thank you so much.

[greygoose in reply to Maggimai]

Well, the cholesterol is totally irrelevant, which doesn't leave much! Why on earth do they waste so much money on testing something so unimportant, and then refuse to do the FT3? Beats me!

Your TSH is fine - but irrelevant. And your FT4 says you probably need an increase in dose, because it's only just mid-range. Your ferritin is good, and the other two appear to be fine, but I don't know much about them. And that's it. What is it you're not happy about?

[Maggimai in reply to greygoose]

thank you so much, I agree with you, what I'm not happy with is the 2 stone weight I gained while I was not being treated for my thyroid symptoms, my normal weight should be 9 and a half stone, now im over 11st and cannot shift an ounce, I'm also not happy with hair loss and crumbling fingernails, im not sure if im lacking vital nutrients

but it seems my blood test has not shown any signs, I may have to have tests done privately no help from NHS.

Thank you again

[greygoose in reply to Maggimai]

The problem with these tests is that they don't test the FT3. It could be that you're not converting the levo to T3 very well. And, that's why you can't lose weight, and still have symptoms. But, as I said, you do need an increase in levo, because your FT4 is also low.

And, they've only tested your ferritin. There's not vit D, vit B12 or folate results. So, you still could be deficient in some nutrients.

There are other nutrients that you can try taking without testing first : magnesium, vit C, selenium (which helps with conversion). But, I think your main problem is that you're still hypo, despite your low TSH.

[Maggimai in reply to greygoose]

thanks, I am now going to ask my GP to refer me back to the endocrinologist who ordered that blood test to ask why she seemed satisfied with the results, I also learned, thru this site that hashimotos fluctuate, which explains why my previous blood test had the T4 reading up to 24 on 100mg, and as you see the recent test has me at 17 on same dosage.I should be on higher dosage. I actually take 200mg selenium and 15 mg zinc plus vit c per day hence reason why I'm a.noyed I still have weak and split nails and falling hair.

thank you again for your help.

[greygoose in reply to Maggimai]

She's satisfied because they're all 'in range', and she doesn't know any better! Yes, you do need and increase in dose.

[gabkad in reply to Maggimai]

Please be careful with taking zinc. It outcompetes absorption of copper. There was a woman interviewed on CBC radio yesterday who felt terrible, had blood tests done, then bone marrow biopsy. Aplastic anemia and they told her she'd have to have transfusions for the rest of her life. All the different cells and platelets produced by the bone marrow were very low. They gave her one year to live.

She went home and decided maybe a good idea to stop taking zinc. Sure enough, her haemoglobin started to go up from 70. She was already in the oncology department by then and informed them that she'd stopped taking zinc. Blood test for copper indicated severe deficiency.

She's now sorted out and is alive and well.

So it's important if anyone takes a zinc supplement, it ought to be because they've been diagnosed with a zinc deficiency.

Also, according to your test results you are at top of range for HbA1c. Borderline diabetes. You would need to change your diet..... sugar, easily digested carbohydrates need to be eliminated for starters. Frequency of eating needs to be reduced. Maybe ask the endo to give you a prescription for glucose testing strips and get a glucose monitor to determine your body's response to various foods. On the BBC program 'Trust Me I'm a Doctor' they had an episode where the Israeli project was presented. It turns out that everyone responds differently to foods that may or may not cause blood glucose rises. This is why it is wise to figure out which are not beneficial for you and which are. As with thyroid replacement, we are all of us different. No one size fits all.

[Maggimai in reply to gabkad]

thank you gabkad, I will certainly ask my GP to do a blood test for zinc deficiency before I take any more as forHbAIc. results, it has been like this for over a year, I have cut out sugar etc but it seems not to have much effect, diabetes is in my family, my mother and maternal grandfather died of it, I am going to discuss this with the endo on next appointment. thank you for your advice.

[gabkad in reply to Maggimai]

Diabetes runs in mine too. Apparently (because it was the day I was born so can't vouch for the diagnosis for sure), my maternal grandfather died of this. I'm a bit more than cautious which is why for decades now I keep a glucosemeter at home. Initially, before I told her about the family history, my doctor thought i was bonkers. She doesn't anymore.

Rice and ripe pineapples are my nemeses. Makes no difference: white rice, basmati, brown rice, black rice, red rice...... they all make my blood glucose go too high. Doesn't matter if it's 1/4 cup or 1 cup. I got a major shocking surprise when I tested with pineapple. It made not a single bit of difference if I ate a small slice or a quarter of a pineapple, blood glucose went wild.

So that's what I mentioned to you before: some people shouldn't eat tomatoes. Some people are fine with banana, some not. Same, ironically, with biscuits. We are all individual and unique in how we respond to foods.

Lentil soup actually lowers my blood glucose. Black eye pea salad raises it a very little and then lowers it. See what I mean? The poking of the finger is worth it to find out what's what.

And I've found that it is entirely not true to mix food because then something high glycemic is offset by something that is low glycemic. The body does what the body does and you can't fool it.

[Maggimai in reply to gabkad]

thank you gabkad

I wil get a glucosemeter and start experimenting asap as I am very concerned about being at the higher level of borderline, I have cut out sugar and sugary foods way before my recent blood test but my efforts seem not to have made much difference, I will get onto this helpful site in future to check out results of my future blood tests.

thank you for your help, and greygoose who had offered very helpful comments.

[Marz in reply to Maggimai]

Lots of carbs turn into sugar 😊 How are you getting on with the glucosemeter ?