I had the following blood tests done in Oct 2017 and March 2018 and am unsure what they mean. I've been taking 50mg of thyroxine since Oct 2017 but my TSH levels have gone up, my Free T3 has gone down, and my Thyroid Antibodies have gone up further. Has anyone had similar readings? I'm unsure as to what vitamins I should be taking, and whether I potentially have Hashimotos? I really appreciate any help or comments as I'm very new to all of this and continue to have lots of symptoms which I'd love to get rid of!!
October 2017
TSH - 9.86 mIU/L
Free Thyroxine - 15.7 pmol/L
Free T3 - 5.0 pmol/L
Thyroglobulin Antibodies - 460.0 IU/mL
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - 140.0 IU/mL
Given these results, my doctor prescribed 50mg levothyroxine
March 2018:
TSH: 38.9 mIU/L
Free T4: 11.0 pmol/L
Free T3: 3.5 pmol/L
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - 163 ku/L
After this, my doctor has told me to take 125mg levothyroxine.
Written by
emmaic
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You should have been tested every 6 weeks or so and had your medications increased by 25 mcg increments. Increasing to 150 sounds a huge jump and may not suit.
Yes you do have Hashimotos - confirmed by the raised anti-bodies.
You will also need B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD tested as they all need to be optimal for your thyroid hormones to work well - both your own and the ones you are taking.
The above link takes you to the main website of this forum where you can read and read about everything thyroid Please come back if you have more questions - so much to learn.
It can take some time for you to feel well - but getting your vitamins and minerals in a good place is a start and can make a huge difference.
Dose should be only be increased in 25mcg steps. Waiting 6 weeks and retesting bloods usually before increasing again
Occasionally people can tolerate larger increase, but it can put strain on body to increase in too bigger steps
As Marz says, essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Post results and ranges on these when you get them
You may also want to look at trying strictly gluten free diet, many find it helps
Ask GP for coeliac blood test first, along with blood tests for low vitamins
Hashimoto's affects the gut and very often leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels especially when under medicated, as you have been
Low vitamin levels can 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
Hi slowdragon thank you for this. I am appalled having read the nice info. I've been taking levo for 17 years alongside low dose antidepressant and suffered severe heat intolerance, palpitations, brain fog, hearing loss (was told i wasn't listening properly!) and anxiety yet despite mentioning this to GP on several occasions (usually desperare and completely at the end of my tether) not a glimmer of acknowledgement of any connection with the drug regime. Even took a friend with me once but implication was that I was a bit neurotic. Give me strength!! Just ordered full thyroid tests privately and now on lower levo, no antidepressant and about to start supplementing and fixing my diet.
I'm going to print the nice info and the thyroid UK pack to my GP in the vain hope that it may help someone else. Thank you.
When you have your results - you may wish to start a new Post so people can comment and help with support and suggestions if needed. Don't forget the all important vitamins and minerals too - B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD - all need to be optimal for your thyroid hormones to work well and for you to feel well ....
A B12 result below 500 can result in neurological damage - ( hearing loss ? ) if not treated.
Increases are usually 25mcg every six weeks until you feel well with relief of clinical symptoms. It doesn't take us long to realise doctors and few endocrinologists know very much about how to treat patients who have hypothyroidism.
When you have blood tests for thyroid hormones they have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and test and take afterwards. Tests will be skewed if we take levo or any other thyroid hormones before a test as will taking thyroid hormones before and not afterwards.
You are looking for a TSH of around 1 or lower - not in range as most doctors believe.
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Please come back if you have more questions - so much to learn.
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