Blue Horizon test results advice needed

[jinian86]

TOTAL THYROXINE 91 nmol/L (59 - 154)

*THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 5.63 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2)

FREE THYROXINE 14.8 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

FREE T3 3.8 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

*THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 276 IU/mL (0 - 115 negative)

*THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODY 480.3 IU/mL (0 - 34)

Done by Blue Horizon, they are the only things that are confusing me. I had them done privately because I did not realise I could have more than TSH and Free T4 being taken. I take 150mcg levo and I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 2013. I still have many hypothyroid symptoms that are causing me to feel very unwell such as feeling tired and cold pale skin constipation difficult swallowing swollen thyroid area weight gain

Thankyou

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your high thyroid antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease.

Did you know?

Your TSH is far too high, the aim of Levothyroxine is to be taking a large enough dose to bring TSH down to around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

See GP and show them these results. Then ask for a 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine. Bloods should be retested in 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

They may want to repeat tests in NHS first

Also, if not been tested recently, also ask for vitamin D, folate ferritin and B12 to be tested

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 also 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...

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

[jinian86 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou I did not know I have Hashimotos. The GP typed them into my records when I saw him today. I supplement but levels just not improving despite the supplements being so strong

[silverfox7]

You are taking supplements so I'm presuming that's because vitamin levels etc are low. Have you any results of when they were testing and what amount you are supplementing with? You may not be taking enough to make a difference. Readings need to be optimal, not just in range and it can take a while for levels to be high enough if you are very low.

[jinian86 in reply to silverfox7]

Thankyou they were done in April I will post them now

[silverfox7 in reply to jinian86]

Not sure we are on the same wavelength, I was thinking that you were taking vitamins because those levels were low but maybe by supplementing you meant taking thyroxine. Just have a look at those and I think you could do with an increase as plenty of room in your ranges to be able to do that.

[jinian86 in reply to silverfox7]

Sorry I meant supplementing vitamins