Hi all, would appreciate some feedback. I posted a while ago about having what I thought was a hyper swing, As symptoms seemed to indicate— palpitations, anxiety, high blood pressure, loose stools. Oh and feeling better after I’d skipped a dose of levo.
Turns out I was very hypo. Test results:
TPO: 50 kU/L (0-9.00 kU/L)
TSH: 10.34 mIU/L (0.34-5.60 mIU/L)
FT4: 10.3 pmol/L (7.50-21.10 pmol/L)
FT3: 4.9 pmol/L (3.80-6.80 pmol/L)
I pleaded with her to test TPO and T3 even though she said it wouldn’t make a difference in my treatment. I explained that I thought I had autoimmune thyroid disease to another doc at the practice, and I was quite rudely told “no you don’t”.
My levothyroxine dosage has now been raised to 175 mcg, from150/175 alternate days. I questioned whether that would be enough of an increase, considering I’ve gained 50 pounds since that dosage was set. So it’s been two weeks since my dosage change, and I’m feeling worse than ever! Incredible fatigue, more palpitations, and the most uncomfortable thing at the moment is reflux, heartburn and indigestion.
I’ve since read up on reflux and the connection to low stomach acid. I’ve just drank a teaspoon of cider vinegar in a glass of water and felt better immediately. So I’m going to continue to try to raise my stomach acid levels.
My question is, should I persevere on the new dose of levo, with the hope that as my body adjusts to it, my symptoms will improve? Will my stomach sort itself out once the thyroid gets back on track, will the palpitations and fatigue get better? Do I wait it out, or go back to doctors ASAP?
Thanks,
TNT
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Your TPO antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
Ignore GP saying you don't. They very often don't have a clue about the autoimmune aspect as they have no specific treatment to offer
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.
Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise
Ask GP to test these asap
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels 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)
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, alongside vitamin tests
You should persevere on that dose, yes. Not because your body will adjust to it and improve your symptoms, but because at the moment, with your low stomach acid, you're just not absorbing it. It's incredible to have a TSH over ten and low FT4 like yours, on 175 mcg levo.
As your absorption improves with the higher stomach acid, due to taking the apple cider vinager, you should absorb more, your FT4 - and hopefully your FT3 - should increase, and your stomach acid improve.
What you could do, to hasten things along, is take some vit C with your levo. Normally, levo should be taken alone, leaving 2 hours before supplements, but vit C is the exception that proves the rule, because it enhances absorption. But leave at least one hour before taking your ACV and having breakfast.
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