81 year old mum’s test results

[Kipsy]

I’d be hugely grateful for any advice about my lovely 81 year old mum who is suffering with low mood, anxiety, fatigue etc. I have Hashis and it appears that mum does. She has no diagnosis of thyroid problems and I’m trying to convince her to take these results to her GP.

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

[Kipsy]

PS forgot to say that she’s been supplementing with B12, D3, K2 and a B complex for 12 months on my instructions.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kipsy

Of course you are correct as the TG antibodies suggest Hashi's. Unfortunately at the moment her TSH isn't going to get her a diagnosis unless she has a very enlightened doctor who is willing to follow Dr Toft's advice about where antibodies are present then Levo should be started to "nip things in the bud".

Do you have Dr Toft's Pulse article? If you do it's mentioned in answer to question 2. If not then email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Her results will fluctuate, I wonder if she has times when she feels at her worst, maybe that's the time to test to get the worst possible results (high TSH, low free Ts) that might get a diagnosis if GP wont prescribe Levo at the moment.

Did Mum stop the B Complex for a few days before the test?

I think she could ease back on the B12 now. There may be enough in the B Complex to maintain a decent level. D3's looking pretty good, just need to nudge it up to 100-150nmol/L so she should continue supplementing.

Any reason the ferritin is so high?

[Kipsy in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you lovely Susie! Your comments re the GP echo what I also think will happen. Thank you re the reminder about Dr Toft’s article. I was hoping mum would let me write to her GP but she’s adamant that I mustn’t and she lives too far away for me to pop to any appointments with her but I will bear that article in mind if I do end up writing.

To be honest, I very much doubt the GP will help but I’m determined to try to get mum back to normal and give her the chance of a few good years. She’s been like this for over a year but it was only this week that I insisted on the whole thyroid panel of tests when she was visiting us. I’m quite shocked at the Hashis..I thought she’d be more of a candidate for PA due to family history.

I suspect I shall go the route of buying T4 abroad for her and get her to self medicate. As I’m now sourcing my own T3, would it make sense just to get her some T3 and bypass T4 altogether or is that dangerous?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Kipsy]

Kipsy

Just my own opinion, but I wouldn't go straight to T3 only. I would try Levo to start with and see how she gets on. Keeps it simple and may be enough. You could always consider T3 if she shows signs of poor conversion further down the line, or even NDT. Not sure which is easiest or cheapest to obtain if you need to go down that route. Is there someone who can make sure Mum takes her tablets as you don't live close by? [My own mother had lots of tablets but in her later 80s she developed vascular dementia and all sorts of problems with tablets ensued (of course, according to her she didn't need them, lots of other problems too -she even threw away her very expensive privately purchased hearing aids and denied she'd ever had any! Not saying this will happen to your mum, of course ]

[Kipsy in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh your poor mum...and you! Thank you again for your concern. I’m determined that she will come and live in our garden once she needs to- we’re hoping to build a little studio for her- but in the meantime she will definitely manage to take the pills as she’s very compos mentis still.

Great advice re starting with T4... much easier.

You kindly asked about the ferritin. No, I’m not sure why it’s so high. Some kind of inflammation perhaps? I’ve asked her to ask the GP. Mum said her kidneys haven’t felt right and she’s also about to have a suspect mole removed so who knows...thyroid could be the least of her worries but it’s the only one I understand!

I’ve emailed her the Pulse article with instructions- thank you again. X

[Marz in reply to Kipsy]

Sorry to read about your Mum. Hubby had raised Ferritin when diagnosed Hashi's - which lowered on treatment.

Kidneys are on the same meridian as the thyroid in Eastern Medicine ! The nodes on my kidneys match the ones on my thyroid 😊

Great your Mum has you on her side. My Mum lost her hair at menopause - GP suggested she buy a wig. A later heart beat issue was diagnosed as the beginnings of angina - take these pills. I knew nothing about thyroid in those days and so wish I could revisit those times with the knowledge I now have ...

Hope all goes well with your Mum.

😊 x

[Kipsy in reply to Marz]

Thanks so very much Marz- feel like I'm sorting the whole family out with hubby & son too. Next I shall be working on daughter- thank goodness I'm feeling better. Just had our mutual friend round for tea & thyroid related chat- am grateful to all who share their expertise like you guys do. Take care & enjoy that sunshine x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kipsy]

Here's the link about TG antibodies.....Can be high due to Pernicious Anaemia

healthline.com/health/antit...