Hi everyone this is my first post and these are the results of a private blood test that I opted for as there was a 2 wk wait to see my Gp. I had been supplementing with iodine and B complex for about 10 days prior to testing as was concerned about my hair falling out.
I have so many hypo symptoms, the hair loss is the latest but 18 months ago was told my levels were normal and was so patronised by the Gp who asked how much I drank ‘every night’ - I have moderate alcohol once or twice a week! I have been reluctant to go back since but now desperate as hair falling out.
I have an appt with GO next week and want to ask for a referral-I can go private if need be so would welcome recommendations and would also be particularly interested if anyone has any experience of a functional Medicine practitioner?
The fact that you had been taking B Complex before your test means that your results won't be accurate if it contains Biotin (B7) and most B Complex does. It has to be left off for 3-5 days before a test. The testing process often uses Biotin, and Medichecks has confirmed they do, and Blue Horizon uses the same labs so it applies to them also. So it's not really possible to comment on your thyroid results but I think it's safe to say that your raised antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily.
Iodine shouldn't be supplemented unless tested and found to be deficient, and particularly so where there is Hashi's as it can exacerbate the antibody attacks.
Forgot to say, where there is Hashi's there is very often a gut/absorption problem which may well mean low or deficient nutrient levels. It's essential to test
Thank you for replying and confirming what I thought was going on re hashis. I have been on a gluten free diet for about 2 years but didn’t realise there was wheat in floradix which I started taking a couple of weeks ago. I stopped as soon as I realised and am now taking floravital. I don’t eat meat so was trying to boost my iron levels in case that was a factor. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and for the links - thank you!
You have Hashi's, that's why your antibodies are high, and that's why you're losing your hair. And, it's also one of the reasons you shouldn't be taking iodine. It can make Hashi's a lot worse.
Your GP was a pig, and it's horrible to be treated like that. You could always report him. He's not supposed to treat ou like that. But, don't let him put you off. What was your last 'normal' TSH - and, by the way, he has no idea what 'normal' is, he just means 'in-range'. But, the ranges are too wide. And, one of the problems with Hashi's is that it can make your levels jump around. Just because your FT3 is 4.45 today, doesn't mean it will still be tomorrow. Doctors don't understand that.
Hashi's is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system slowly destroys the thyroid.
After every attack, the dying cells release their stock of thyroid hormone into the blood stream, causing the levels of the Frees to shoot up - FT4 around 30 something, FT3 around 11/12 - and the TSH therefore drops to suppressed.
There is no knowing how long these high levels will persist, but eventually, they will drop by themselves as the excess hormone is used up or excreted, and not only will you become hypo again, but slightly more hypo than before, because there is now less thyroid to make hormone.
There is no cure for Hashi's - which is probably one of the reasons that doctors ignore it, because they usually do ignore it - apart from the fact that they know nothing about it, of course! But, there are things the patient can do for him/herself.
a) adopt a 100% gluten-free diet. Hashi's people are often sensitive to gluten, even if they don't have Coeliac disease, so stopping it can make them feel much better, and can often reduce the antibodies.
b) take selenium. This not only reduces antibodies, but can also help with conversion of T4 to T3 - something that Hashi's people often find difficult.
c) the best way to even out the swings from hypo to 'hyper' (often called Hashi's Flares, but that doesn't really sum up the way it works) is to keep the TSH suppressed. This is difficult because doctors are terrified by a suppressed TSH, for various false reasons, and because they don't understand the workings of Hashi's. But, TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (a pituitary hormone) - tries to stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone, but it also stimulates the immune system to attack. So, the less gland activity there is, the less immune system activity there will be, meaning less attacks, gland destruction slowed down and less swinging from hypo to hyper and back.
Antibodies are highest just after an attack. So, it's possible that you've just suffered an attack to have antibodies that high. So, it's possible that under normal circumstance - without an attack - your Frees are even lower, and your TSH higher.
By the way, what time of day did you do the blood draw? TSH is highest first thing in the morning, and drops throughout the day. So, we always recommend that people have their blood draw as early as possible, after fasting over-night. That gives you a better chance of being diagnosed.
Be careful of functional doctors, they have some strange ideas about thyroid treatment.
Thank you for taking time to answer and sorry for the slow response- I have been feeling very down and overwhelmed by it all. I feel like I need to take notes on your answers and then research to understand it all a bit better, especially about suppressing TSh levels. Do you think I need medication and if so what is my best course of action to get it and at the right dose. Will I have a fight on my hands with these results with my GP. I can ask for a referral to an endo as can go private but worried from all I’ve been reading that they might also not understand fully. Just feeling a bit hopeless about how to move forward : (
What hypos need is not 'medication' as such. It is thyroid hormone replacement. Normally, one starts on levo (T4) to see how well that works - and that's the only thing doctors are comfortable with prescribing.
However, with your levels, you will have a fight on your hands to get prescribed anything - although your doctor will probably want to prescribe anti-depressants, on the pretext that all your symptoms are down to depression - they try that on with us all! Mainly because they know nothing about thyroid, but also because they get funding points, or something, for prescribing antidepressants.
Your FT4 and FT3 levels aren't too bad, at the moment, although your TSH is too high. So, it would take a very enlightened doctor to diagnose you. They don't understand about antibodies/Hashi's, and how it makes you feel. For the most part, they ignore high antibodies on some pretext or other, because they don't understand. But, because you have Hashi's, the situation is going to evolve, and at some point your Frees are going to get lower and your TSH higher until, finally, they will have to take notice.
I would not recommend going to just any old endo. Most endos are diabetes specialists and know nothing about thyroid. Most of them have some very strange ideas about thyroid and can really mess people up. So, unless you know the endo you want to see, and know that he is good with thyroid, I wouldn't bother, if I were you.
What Susie says is very important. You do absolutely need to get your vit D, etc. tested. If your nutrients are low, that's going to make you feel really bad. But, it's not a good idea to just take things randomly, on the off-chance that they might help. Floravital is one of the most stupid supplements I've seen! You are paying for vitamins that you're not even going to be able to absorb because the iron blocks them. That is really taking the paying public for idiots! Although, admittedly, most people won't know not to take vitamins with iron, hence the huge multi-vit industry. Iron should be taken on its own - apart from vit C - two hours away from everything else. BUT you need to get the ferritin tested, first. Excess iron is not good. Get your nutrients tested, and then supplement according to the results - post the results and ranges on here and people will help you with that. And, for the meantime, put the thyroid on the back burner.
Ok - thank you for all that great advice. I will arrange more blood tests but just need to stop these nightmare symptoms- especially my hair loss - which is so distressing! If there are any ideas for that from anyone i’d appreciate hearing them.
BTW I did my blood test last thing at night and after I’d been supplementing biotin and iodine so they may we’ll be different if I do them at the beginning of the day.
Lastly, for now does anyone know an Endo in or near London who takes Hashis seriously before the other levels have worsened? I’d really appreciate recommendations- I can’t handle seeing any more medics who are uneducated about thyroid issues.
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