Help!

[Jaye4]

Hi,im currently on 75mg letho,my hair thinning,mottled skin on tummy and inner thighs and gaining weight! All blood tests done every 8 weeks,im underactive and have antibodies that are dropping down slowly but surely,also strange dry patches with red around it dotted here and there on my body! Can anybody help plz?

[shaws Administrator]

Jaye4, can you get a print-out of your latest blood test results, with the ranges and put them on a new post if you don't have them at present.

Was your last test at the earliest possible time and fasting (you can drink water). Did you allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards? If not request a new blood test. Ask for TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. Antibodies attack the thyroid gland and wax and wane ntil you are hypothyroid but you can reduce antibodies by going 'gluten-free',

If GP or lab wont do a Full Thyroid Function Test we have two private labs which will do those not tested.

Members can only respond when they can look and your blood test results with the ranges. Labs differ and so do ranges.

[Jaye4 in reply to shaws]

Hello,my blood tests done 5 weeks ago were-lymphocyte-1 range 1.50-4.00, serum cholesterol 5.07-,serum calcium 2.46 range 2.20-2.60,serum tsh level 1.1 range 0.35 -5.00,b12 vitamin 245-range 130.00-800.00,serum folate 4-range 4.00-20.00 my antibodies were 130-range <49 x

[Jaye4 in reply to Jaye4]

Also been reading up about ashwaghanda herb ?do u know about this?x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jaye4]

I don't know about ashwaghanda herb but it is very important we have an optimum of thyroid hormones which suit us. That is the problem, we don't have freedom to request ones which may help us.

Your B12 should be nearer 800 but before you supplement the doctor should test for a B12 deficiency or Pernicious Anaemia. Your TSH is fine but you don't know what your Free T4 and Free T3 are. I shall give you a link and read about why these are needed. Doctors do not test them which I think is another problem. They should be in the upper part of the range. Cholesterol lowers as dose of thyroid hormones are increased. Your Folate is very low and I shall add SeasideSusie in as she is extremely good about vitamins/minerals.

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

[Jaye4 in reply to shaws]

Thanku hun,im on iron tabs x

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jaye4]

Make sure you take iron with vit C 4 hours away from any thyroid meds.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jaye4]

Your B12 and folate are too low. B12 needs to be over 500 to avoid neurological damage. Ask GP to test you for pernicious anaemia. You can't tell anything much about thyroid form TSH on its own, You need free T4 and free T3 tested too, along with ferritin and vit D.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jaye

b12 vitamin 245-range 130.00-800.00,

Check for signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... List any that you have to discuss with your GP with a view to further testing and to rule out (or in) Pernicious Anaemia. You may need B12 injections.

I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:

"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."

And an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

So you're looking at a minimum of 550, and it's recommended for us Hypos to be nearer the top of the range.

If definitely no signs of B12 deficiency or PA, then you could supplement with sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges.

serum folate 4-range 4.00-20.00

Folate and B12 work together. Your folate level is dire, 0.1 lower and it would be considered deficient. I would discuss this with your GP, maybe he will prescribe a course of folic acid. Folate should be at least half way through it's range. If GP wont prescribe, then get a decent B Complex containing 400mcg methylfolate, eg Thorne Basic B.

Don't start folic acid or B Complex until after further testing for B12 deficiency/PA has been carried out.

**

Are you taking iron because it's been prescribed? What were the results that prompted this?

**

I haven't taken Ashwaghanda but even though it is said to be an adaptogenic herb, it is well known that it can lower cortisol. After having my cortisol lowered from very top of the range to flatlining at the bottom of the range by taking a blend of adaptogenic herbs, I would be cautious about taking Ashwaghanda, maybe do a 24 hour cortisol/DHEA saliva test first.

[Jaye4]

Hi there,yes iron was perscribed due to it being low,bit still lots of symtoms x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jaye4]

You didn't press the 'reply' button so SeasideSusie wouldn't have been alterted. She will be now as I've added her name.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jaye4]

What were the results and how much iron are you taking?

Are you taking each iron tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation?

[Jaye4]

Hi,8 and range 80p,do you think mottled skin hairloss weight etc related ?x

[Jaye4]

800

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Mottled skin may be vitiligo.

Red patches may be psoriasis

Both are autoimmune, like Hashimoto's. Your antibodies are high so you definitely have Hashimoto's

Have you tried strictly gluten free diet?

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)

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

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Essential to test FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH

You may be under medicated. Important to test 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as 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.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 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. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten.