Posting for a sick friend

[janey1234]

A friend (aged 44) has been unwell for quite a while and I would be grateful if you could look at her blood test results and see what you think. I have directed her to the thyroid 'symptom list' and she says she feels like she has quite a lot of them, in particular weight gain, VERY heavy periods, extreme fatigue, bad memory problems, leg cramping at night, hairloss and has been diagnosed with severe depression & anxiety.

She is under enormous strain caring for her elderly mother who has dementia. She is taking iron tablets for low ferritin, which has been taking for 2 month, and is on Tranexamic Acid to try to reduce the heavy periods and has had a negative test for fibroids so they can't find a reason for her heavy periods. She has been on antidepressants but stopped taking them about 7months ago as she felt they weren't helping.

She had blood tests in February 2018, around 10-11am

TSH 1.1 (0.34 - 5.6)

FT4 9.6 (7.5 - 21.1)

FT3 4.6 3.8 - 6.8)

TPO 29 (0 - 9)

Folate 10.1 (3.1 - 19.9)

Ferritin 40 (11 - 336)

B12 661 (187 - 883)

Vitamin D 28

At this stage she was given 20,000ui Vit D per week for 2 months and iron tablets.

Blood test in May 2018, again around 10-11am

TSH 1.32 (0.34 - 5.6)

FT4 8.5 (7.5 - 21.1)

FT3 not tested

TPO not tested

Folate not tested

Ferritin not tested

B12 not tested

Vitamin D 150

She has been told they can't see anything wrong and so in desperation she has asked to see an endo' for a second opinion.

Does it look like thyroid might be the issue, her TSH is low in range but so is her FT4? Is that normal?

As always...Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Her high antibodies in first test confirms she has Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease

Low vitamins are common as result. Vitamin ad is now pretty good

B12, folate and ferritin need retesting

Very heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid

She needs FT3 tested

Would recommend full private testing as next step

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.

Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

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. Dairy is second most common.

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...

[janey1234 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon . All great advice and tips that I shall pass on. I have offered what I have learnt so far over the past 2yrs here from TUK to her but seeing the answers herself from experts here is what she needs to read. Again...thank you x

[Beataporzycka in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much for your support and advice !

[janey1234]

I agree absolutely about going back but do understand, as I think we were all there once, that until we learn otherwise, doc knows best. At least by asking here the steps to take, tips to follow and what results mean, my friend can now move forward.

Thank you. ☺

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to janey1234]

If she would like, it might help to have you, a supportive thyroid aware friend go with her to see GP.....

[janey1234 in reply to SlowDragon]

Unfortunately we don't live close by but I am arming her with as much CLEAR info as I can, mentioning that TUK, recommended by NHS Choices, are helping her. 🙂

[janey1234]

Absolutely agree!!!!! X

[Beataporzycka]

Love u <3 thank you !

[janey1234 in reply to Beataporzycka]

B....these people will help you, promise x