Hashimoto, new here, need your help.: Hello, can... - Thyroid UK

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Hashimoto, new here, need your help.

escogida profile image
11 Replies

Hello, can you please help my wife to adjust her medication.

I’m writing for her as she doesn’t speak English. I have an account myself as el_escogido but I opened this account for her to avoid confusion.

Female, 67 years old, diagnosed Hashimoto first 1998, stopped treatment 2000, restarted treatment 20017.

Actually medicating: 50 Eutirox T4 and 22,5 Tiromel T3. Supplementing Iron Glycinate 28 mg, Zinc 25 mg, Sea Kelp 150 mcg of natural source iodine, Selenium 200mcg.

Going Gluten free for half a year.

Recent blood test (no medication 24 hours before):

Hormones:

TSH 2,90 pmol/l 0,40 - 4,00 pU/ml

FT3 4,82 pmol/l 3,50 - 6,50 pmol/l

FT4 11,00 nmol/l 10,30 - 24,50 pmol/l

Vitamins

Folic acid 11,73 ng/ml 3,10 – 20,53 ng/ml

Vitamin B12 704,21 ng/ml 187,25 – 884,67 ng/ml

Vitamin D (25-Hidroxi) 64,01 ng/ml 30,05 – 100,16 ng/ml

Metals / Traces

Ferritine 47,8 ng/ml 20,00 – 200,00 ng/ml

Zinc 64,64 µg/dl 69,93 – 120,26 µg/dl

Selene 89,09 µg/l 45,81 – 143,76 µg/l

Iodine in the serum 50,26 µg/l 45,00 – 100,00 µg/l

Magnesium 2,51 mg/dl 1,60 – 2,60 mg/dl

Current complaints: Hair loss, brittle nails, weight gain, tiredness, memory

Thank you for helping

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11 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

I would entirely agree with reallyfedup123. Who told her to take iodine? Her iodine is a reasonable level, and iodine deficiency is not the cause of her being hypo. She will be getting iodine from her levo and T3, and she don't now need as much iodine as her thyroid is making very little thyroid hormone. Excess iodine is dangerous.

On the other hand, she does need an increase in T3 as her FT3 is below mid-range, and most people need it up the top of the range to feel well. That will help with her weight gain, tiredness and bad memory.

She also needs more iron. Her ferritin should be up near 100 - 150. Eating liver or liver pâté once a week would help with that. And that would help with her hair loss and brittle nails.

And, I would suggest she tries take vit C and magnesium, too. :)

escogida profile image
escogida in reply to greygoose

Thank you Greygoose, taking Kelb was suggested by her Belgian Specialist half a year ago as in July 17 her iodine was by 139 (170 – 280) ug/24h, magnesium was at that time by 5,28 (2,46 – 4,62) nmaol/24h urine 24 hours. Today, her magnesium is in the upper third, but she complains more often about cramps so it could help to take something more. She is takin 500 Vit C to the Iron.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to escogida

Testing magnesium is a waste of time. It will always be in-range due to the way the body handles magnesium. But that does not mean that you're not deficient. Most people are deficient because soils are depleted, and being hypo will make the deficiency worse.

Was her Belgian Specialist a Hertoghe doctor? Even thyroid specialists seem to know little about thyroid, and often make the most rediculous suggestions. He iodine was low, obviously, but it's not now, and as I said, she will be getting about 45 mcg iodine daily from her thyroid hormone replacement. So, I'm really not sure it's a good idea to continue with the kelp.

greenmedinfo.com/blog/iodin...

1000 mg vit C would be better with her iron. :)

escogida profile image
escogida in reply to greygoose

yes, he is a Hertoghe doctor. Thank you for the advice, I will translate for her at evening as she gets home. Do you think she has to increase T4 also or is it better increasing only T3?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to escogida

Her FT4 is low, that's true. But, for the time being, I would leave it where it is. It's bound to be low when taking T3, and it's the T3 that's most important. So, just increase the T3 for now, and see how it goes. :)

escogida profile image
escogida in reply to greygoose

OK Thanks a lot

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to escogida

You're welcome. :)

escogida profile image
escogida

Thank you reallyfedup123.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Many Hashimoto's specialists say avoid iodine

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Zinc and ferritin are low

Zinc can be linked to hair loss

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Also her dose of thyroid hormones is possibly too low. FT4 results should be near top of range

escogida profile image
escogida in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you SlowDragon

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to escogida

As she’s on T3 as well it’s not so important to have good FT4

But it varies with individuals. Some of us seem to need FT4 mid range even if also taking T3

But only increase one or the other, not both. Probably increase T3 as first option

Different brands of T3 work differently, so always try to stay on same brand

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