Help Thyroid hell

[carlaFedUP]

I have been gaining weight all over Constipation lost half my eyebrows had MY TpO come back high my hair is dry I sweat in the morning under my arms after coffee can't tloerate the heat have a temp of 96 and my Doctor say hummm maybe thyroid I have Ben suffering since Sept my TSH is normal but freeT3 and T4 is at the very bottom

[Judithdalston]

Post you last thyroid, and any vitamin/ mineral, results with ranges and units as then easier for members to comment on Thyroid complaints.

[carlaFedUP in reply to Judithdalston]

TPO suppose to be under 40 mine is 142

TSH 2 T3 4 and free T4 14 they are both at the beginning of the Canadian range no

No vitamin Def or mineral ferritin iron good

[greygoose]

'Normal' doesn't actually mean 'normal'. It's doctor-speak for 'in-range'. But, if you have a TSH range of 0.3 - 4.9, most of it is abnormal. The TSH of a euthyroid (normal) person is around 1, not 4. You are hypo at 3 - although doctors have no idea about that - and at 2 your thyroid could be said to be struggling. So, please post the actual numbers - results and ranges - and let's have a look.

[carlaFedUP in reply to greygoose]

I posted

[greygoose in reply to carlaFedUP]

OK But I doubt there is such a thing as a 'Canadian range' because ranges tend to vary from lab to lab - even in Canada. And, even it there were a 'Canadian range', we in Europe wouldn't know what it was. So, can you add the ranges, please?

[carlaFedUP in reply to greygoose]

T4 from 13 to 20 T3 up to 7.9

I just did full labs again I'm going to post them when they come in friday I know I have it it's our Doctor's here really ignorant

[greygoose in reply to carlaFedUP]

Doctors everywhere are really ignorant!

Sorry, but that T3 range is not possible. A range has to have a top and a bottom. you can't just say from zero to 7.9. You only find 0 FT3 in corpses. And, if we don't know the bottom of the range, we can't calculate how well you convert.

But, it's beginning to look like you might have Central hypo, as well as Hashi's. Be interesting to see your next set of results.

[carlaFedUP in reply to greygoose]

I believe it's a 4 to 7.9 it changes from lab to lab I know that when I saw my results that my numbers were just 1 above the start of the range

[greygoose in reply to carlaFedUP]

I know it changes from lab to lab. That's why we ask for ranges. That's an exceedingly wide range.

Anyway, won't say anymore until we see the next lot of results.

[carlaFedUP in reply to greygoose]

I just got blood again it will be back friday I will post for you.. I know I am Hypo I feel it in every way plus my mother and others in my family have hashi

[carlaFedUP in reply to greygoose]

Hey I have a lab from Dec and the rest to follow as my Doc does not like to give them out so she's sneaking them.. I can't figure out how to post it on this site

[greygoose in reply to carlaFedUP]

I'm not sure a lab from that far back is relevant at the moment. Better to wait till you get your new labs and post them in a new thread.

[shaws Administrator]

Request from your doctor - and test should be the very earliest possible and fasting (if you were taking thyroid hormone replacements you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards)

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Get a print-out of the results with the ranges and put them on a new post for comments.

Usually GPs wont do all of the ones mentioned, especially the frees but you can get them privately from one of our two labs who do home pin-prick tests.

If your thyroid antibodies are high, regardless of blood test results for the other thyroid ones, you should be prescribed.

The TSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day, that's why early a.m. is best.

Unfortunately the UK seem to be the only country in the world who insist that the TSH has to reach 10 before being diagnosed. Whereas in other countries we are diagnosed if it is 3+.

Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges and make sure they are stated as members can only respond with the ranges.

.

[carlaFedUP in reply to shaws]

In canada it's a 5 for Tsh I'm at a 2 but my free T4 and T3 are one number up from the beginning of the lab range I'm also 3 times normal limit for TPO which my MOM has hashimoto

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

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

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 as well as the vitamin tests

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...

[carlaFedUP in reply to SlowDragon]

My Mom has hashi our range is under 40 mine is 142 he said that's normal they know nothing here my third Doc iron normal B12 high

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to carlaFedUP]

So ask for coeliac blood test. If result is positive you will need to stay on gluten rich diet until endoscopy

If result is negative then can go strictly gluten free immediately

Testing vitamin D and folate important

Are you supplementing B12?

Make sure to always get actual results and ranges on all tests. Normal is an opinion, not a result

[carlaFedUP in reply to SlowDragon]

No I'm not taking b12 and Vit D normal I do take that daily I am also gluten free have been for 5 years and I agree it's symptoms and I have them all and feel like shit I have asked to try dessicated thyroid but he's says my thyroid is fine

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to carlaFedUP]

The aim of thyroid replacement hormone is to be on high enough dose to bring FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range. TSH is largely irrelevant on Thyroid replacement hormone.

Important to test folate. High B12 can mean you have low levels of other B vitamins.

Vitamin D needs to be optimal, not just within range. Around 100nmol (UK units) 40ng/ml (US units )

[dtate2016]

Dear FedUP:

The advice you are receiving is good advice - including the B-12 advice. Here's something else to consider. DNA Testing. It is possible to find a "functional medicine" Dr. (they are commonly MD's and Dr.s of Osteopathy here in the US) that will perform the DNA test for whatever the insurance will pay. What I found is that I have two "weak" MTHFR Genes, sometimes referred to as "Dirty Genes". (See book: Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch) These genes function less than optimally in the whole "methylation" process. What does that have to do with B12? Many times B12 and folic acid come in bottled together. If we have a weak methylation process, then we only compound the problem, as our bodies cannot process B12 / Folic Acid. Do we still need these two supplements? Yes, profoundly - if you want to feel better. There are special B12 / methylated folate products out there with such names as "Methyl Support" and "Methyl Protect". Some can only be sold by Doctors such as Functional Doctors and other health professionals that are licensed to prescribe and dispense these types of supplements (like Isabelle Wentz). Not sure why you are so adamant about not taking B12 (and I'm not hinting to know), but do find a different Dr. and find a functional Dr. / health care professional who will really listen. Nurse Practitioners are available in the states. Acupuncture can also be helpful. Read all that you can find on the whole MTHFR Gene - if you have one or more of these genes malfunctioning (I have two), then detoxification of every part of our body is affected by this methylation / detoxification weakness. (Hence the name "Dirty" gene). Toxicity can cause Hashimoto's (I have it). In this day and age, toxins come in from every corner, from the air we breathe to our cosmetics - from drinking water to cleaning products - from food to potting soil. Speaking of which, (and thinking of the sweating you mentioned), coffee can cause these things. Pesticide ridden, acidic in nature, legal drug-laden caffeine, innocent as it may appear, coffee. I have been advised by 3 different types of Doctors, (main-stream, functional, and health practitioner) to leave coffee alone, and only recently decided to apply that advice. Within 3 days, the night sweats were lessened.

In closing, there is a bit of anger one might sense in your messages, a wee bit of stress-induced aggression. We are all angered by this disease and the disrespect we constantly endure at the hands of a medical system that somehow does not want to or honestly has no clue as to how to help. Let us then, keep that in mind when we post here - a fantastic forum and wealth of a life-line. Let us be gentle and kind.

[carlaFedUP in reply to dtate2016]

Thankyou