Opinions .....

[Banjogirl]

Hi everyone. I’m posting this on behalf of my niece. Whilst I know what the results mean, I am seeking the opinions of folk on here as confirmation to show my neice. Many Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

If she doesn't have a diagnosis of a thyroid condition then those results may indicate central hypothyroidism.

[greygoose]

Is your niece on thyroid hormone replacement? Because that would change the interpretation.

[Banjogirl in reply to greygoose]

Sorry, should have said no meds, just newly tested.

[greygoose in reply to Banjogirl]

OK, well I agree with Susie, in that case. Her TSH is absolutely 'normal'. But her FT3 is right at the bottom of the range, and her FT4 is not much better. Her TSH doesn't correspond to her Frees. So, looks like Central hypo. She would need to see an endo, and get her pituitary hormones tested, perhaps a scan, to investigate Central hypo.

[whispers]

Is she xpecting?

[Banjogirl in reply to whispers]

No .... she is a 51 year old at beginning of menopause.

[whispers]

oops sorry, ut was just with it listing trimesters lol

[ShootingStars]

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's with very similar levels, but my antibodies were "only" over 1,000 (0-60). (only = sarcasm, because I was left untreated and my antibodies increased to over 6 times that level in 4-5 months. This is what can happen if you are left unmedicated.). I recommend that she test her thyroid antibodies to find out if Hashimoto's is the cause of her low FT3 and low FT4. The tests are called TPOab and TGab.

[Banjogirl in reply to ShootingStars]

Thankyou. Yes, I’m getting her to do antibodies test to rule out Hashimoto or not.

[Paolatello in reply to ShootingStars]

Can I ask you, when you were diagnosed with Hashimotos and you say you had low ish free T3 and free t4, did you also have low tsh or did your tsh rise in response to the low Free ts? I have TPO antibodies that are sky high and my results are tsh of 0.4 but my free T3 and free T4 are both bottom of range also and the doctors just keep saying my thyroid is fine and that as I have antibodies I may one day get thyroid disease. I have constant symptoms and they ignore me

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Paolatello]

Suggest you get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested if not been done

Especially as I see you have recently had a baby. And especially if you are breastfeeding too

Always get thyroid tests as early as possible in morning and fasting to give highest TSH

As you have Hashimoto's are you on 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...

[Paolatello in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the advice, it’s very helpful. Do you know whether it’s common to have what the doctors class as euthyroid Hashimotos and still be symptomatic?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Paolatello]

Yes very.

Generally most thyroid disease we struggle to get correctly treated.

Hence the vast numbers on here (nearly 80,000 and increasing at roughly 1000 a month)

There are over 2.2 million people in the UK on Thyroid hormones. Vast majority are female. It's a vast problem that needs sorting.

Getting vitamins tested and supplement to bring to optimal is essential

Very, very many with Hashimoto's need to be strictly gluten free. Some need dairy free too

Improving gut biome with wide and varied diet, probiotics, fermented foods like kefir and sauerkraut all help

Michael Moseley book The Clever Guts diet, or Dr Rangan Chatergee The four Pillar Plan too

Hashimoto's is as much about the gut as it is the thyroid. Getting antibodies lower is key

[Paolatello in reply to SlowDragon]

It’s interesting you say about the gut as I also suffer a lot of bloating and stomach issues. Also, I get occasional weird panic type attacks that typically come on during the night and wake me up. It’s odd because when they happen my heart races and I feel shaky and panicky but physically, not mentally. It’s like my body is freaking out. The doctors say it’s a panic attack but it feel like it’s hormonal

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Paolatello]

Sounds like you need full Thyroid and vitamin tests

Your Thyroid levels are currently too low, but obviously may be resetting after pregnancy

Gluten free can significantly reduce anxiety too

[Paolatello in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your advice

[ShootingStars in reply to Paolatello]

Hi Paolatello, I'm sorry. You obviously have Hashimoto's. That is what those antibodies, your low Free's and all those symptoms mean. As your thyroid is trying to tell you, no it is NOT fine. Those doctors are incompetent. Mine was always low. My TSH for the 10 years preceding when I finally got my antibodies tested never even reached 2.0 and was under 1.0 several times. You clearly have Hashimoto's. Your FT3 and FT4 are bottom range, you have constant symptoms and you have sky high antibodies. What are your current FT3 and FT4 levels, TPO, plus ranges? Aside from the results you mention above, what were all of your other TSH and FT3 and FT4 results? Did you also test other thyroid antibodies, TGab and TSI (rare, but some people have both Hashi's and Graves).

Those doctors don't understand thyroid function or what thyroid disease is, and they are completely missing the boat. Your thyroid hormones (measured as FT3 and FT4) at low levels show thyroid disease. You have constant symptoms. TSH does not. Even if your Free's were mid range, you have elevated thyroid antibodies, so that means that you have thyroid disease.

You need to be on thyroid medication. Depending upon your levels of FT3 and FT4, that might mean T4, as well as T3.

[Paolatello in reply to ShootingStars]

Thank you for explaining that. My current results are:

Tsh - 0.48 (range 0.3-3.0)

Free T4 - 14 (range 12-22)

Free T3 - 3.8 (range 3.8 - 6.4)

I am 4 months post party and feel awful. My symptoms are:

Palpitations

Night sweats

Pain in hands and knees

Numbness in hands whilst asleep

Hair loss

Alternating constipation and frequent bowel movements (not diarrhoea)

Mood swings

Pain and tingling in thyroid area and under chin

Anxiety for no reason

[ShootingStars in reply to Paolatello]

"4 months post party". I haven't partied in about 4 months either. LOL

(I know you meant post-partum.)

[ShootingStars in reply to ShootingStars]

No wonder you feel so awful! Your thyroid hormones are non-existent. All of those symptoms are hypo symptoms. Anxiety for no reason? Anxiety can be a symptom of Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism: your anxiety is caused by your thyroid hormones. (I had anxiety, too, before my levels were corrected).

Do you have blood results from all the previous tests before that? What are you antibody levels?

[Paolatello in reply to ShootingStars]

Haha! Sorry about the error! My antibody levels vary. The range is 0-35 and mine have ranged between 70 and 1100. I haven’t got my blood tests on me right now but my free ts are always below mid range, however my TSH has never been above 0.9.

A few years ago I was very hyperthyroid with a non existent TSH and a free T4 of 34. They offered me medication at that point but within a few weeks (I didn’t take the tablets) I was back to “normal” ranges so I guess it was a Hashimotos swing

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Definitely also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

[Banjogirl]

Getting NDT not a problem. Finding a good Endo is . Is there an up to date list or do you know of a good Endo? I’m out of loop as I’m on NDT , feeling good and lost touch a bit .

[Banjogirl]

My original post and request about my neice’s results seems to have been hi -jacked 😂.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Banjogirl]

Sorry. Hope you still got enough answers