Thyroid results

[Beth2dani2]

Hi there I have my results back hope u can see them ok x

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Beth2dani2

How much Levo were you taking when that test was done?

[Beth2dani2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

50mg

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Beth2dani2]

Beth2dani2

So you are horribly undermedicated to have a TSH of 7.01.

In your previous thread you were asking about adding T3 to your Levo. At the moment that's not a good idea. You need your TSH down to around 1 so that you can see what your T4 to T3 conversion is like. At the moment your FT4 is 25% through the range, and FT3 is 20% through range, so they're reasonably balanced.

You need to ask your GP to increase your Levo. Your Medichecks test results may not be acceptable to your GP, so if not get your GP do test at least TSH and FT4 himself. You will need several increases of Levo, at 6 weekly intervals after retesting, to get your TSH down to where it needs to be.

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo if that is where you feel well.

If your GP is in any way reluctant to increase your Levo then use the information from Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, who wrote in Pulse magazine (the magazine for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

I see in another thread you said:

but I heard if I took t3 it would help me lose weight as I struggle even tho I eat healthy and exercise everyday

Please don't make the mistake of taking T3 for weight loss. It's not a weight loss aid. You are struggling to lose weight because you are so dreadfully undermedicated with Levo at the moment. Optimal dose of Levo, and optimal thyroid test results, should allow you to lose weight. And exercising every day, other than gentle exercise such as walking, swimming and yoga, is not a good idea at the moment. Get yourself optimally medicated and well first.

**

Also, you have raised thyroid antibodies which confirm that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

The sweating you mentioned in your other thread is most likely down to the Hashi's. With Hashi's you can have symptoms of hypo and "hyper".

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

**

Considering that Hashi's can often cause low levels of nutrients, yours aren't too bad. Do you supplement with anything?

Ferritin is good.

Active B12 is over range, if you don't supplement with anything this might need looking into.

Folate is a little on the low side, I can't quite remember the Medichecks range but Folate should be at least half way through it's range.

Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health, yours isn't dire by any means although you might want to consider nudging it up a bit.

[Beth2dani2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou so much for your information u have taught me so much just by this reply , I have booked and appointment with my doctor on Friday and will give him this report . I am now goin to read up on hashimo,s and everything else u have mentioned

Just a question do u no how much levothyroxine I should be taking

Thanks again for your expertise and time to get back to me

[Beth2dani2 in reply to Beth2dani2]

And no I don't supplement but I eat a healthy diet

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Beth2dani2]

You have amazingly good nutrient levels for someone with Hashi's. It would be worth retesting to ensure your levels don't drop. I supplement and I retest once a year, sometimes twice if I think I need to.

Because of your lowish folate level, look into folate rich foods and maybe add more into your diet.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Beth2dani2]

Beth2dani2

When you speak to your GP, say you have taken advice from NHS Choices recommended source of information about thyroid disease - which is ThyroidUK. Don't mention internet or the forum, they really don't like that.

It's not possible to say how much Levo you will eventually need, it may be somewhere around 100-150mcg which is quite a common dose. However, it's essential that increases are only 25mcg at a time and retesting/increasing is done every 6 weeks. Levo is hormone replacement, and you can't rush hormones.

[Beth2dani2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi susie sorry to bother u again , when I first posted my question about 3/4 months ago , I went to see a nutritionist he put me on a diet of high protein fibre etc , I cut out all bread etc didn't drink and felt amazing and lost 9 lbs that's why I didn't do the media test until this weekend that's just gone , beacause , until then I've never felt so good , but then I went to Norfolk for bank holiday and ate things like bread , loads of fish , shell food which might explain my high b12 and drank alcohol etc so . It wasnt till I got back and started to feel shocking again , so I took the thyroid test last Friday .. do u think because I ate bread drank alcohol etc and didn't stick to my diet at all , that this effected my thyroid?? , just wondered just just can't understand that from one minute I had a few amazing months , then in a flash back to feelin rubbish

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Beth2dani2]

Beth2dani2

I'm not an expert but it would seem very much as though your cleaner diet was having a good effect, you went back to eating things you'd cut out and it would appear to have a detrimental effect. Plus, many of us Hypos just don't tolerate alcohol. Only way to know for sure is to go back to your cleaner way of eating. Particularly cutting out all gluten as that has had an amazing effect for many, many Hashi's patients here.

[Beth2dani2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou and I will do I will look into the gluten free as well , and I do believe it was alcohol I'd not been drinking only a couple here and there but that weekend I drank every night 🙈well thankyou again you've been an amazing help and will go back to clean eating 😘

[charlee23]

I read all of these advice and information, and feel like I’m reading about myself. Waiting for appointment with the proper doctor as my gp just told antibodies doesn’t mean anything.

[charlee23 in reply to charlee23]

But though they have increased triple in 5 months time..feeling helpless and don’t feel right..

[Marz in reply to charlee23]

Hi - as you are a new member I suggest you write a new post with your concerns so more people read it and make suggestions to help. Happy to help ...

Welcome to the Forum. 😊