help with test results which contradict my doctor

[Tiberess]

New poster, help needed! I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroid and been on 50 micros levothyroxine for the past year. Still not feeling well so had more blood tests at the docs who said everything is fine! Went to medichecks and did the ultra vit test, for my own peace of mind and I’ve attached the results! How can they be so different? I’ve not actually seen the doctors results to be fair .... but just I’m rubbish and hate fussing! Any advice would be welcome

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Tiberess

How can they be so different? I’ve not actually seen the doctors results to be fair

In that case, you don't know if they're different do you

Did you do both tests under the same conditions? Always advised here is

Do the test as early as possible in the morning, always book the very first appointment of the morning and fast overnight (water allowed) . This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction. TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. It can also lower after eating and coffee also affects TSH. Also, take your Levo after the blood draw because if you take it before then your FT4 will reflect this and show higher than what is normally circulating. We usually advise 24 hours between last dose of Levo and blood draw so if you take your Levo in the morning then delay until after the test, or if you take it at night then delay that dose until after the test. These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

Ask at your surgery's reception desk for a print out of your results from your GPs test, post them on here for comparison so we can comment.

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.

**

Your raised antibodies mean 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.

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.

**

Ferritin is fine.

Vit D is recommend to be 100-150nmol/L by the Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health so you might want to supplement to raise that.

Active B12 is rather low, according to this article anything below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency should be carried out

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency - you can check here b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Folate is rather low, it should be at least half way through range, but don't do anything about supplementing that until further testing of B12 has been carried out, supplementing with folic acid/folate masks signs of B12 deficiency.

[Tiberess in reply to SeasideSusie]

Nearly same conditions but not quite fasted, my Vit D was treated with a mega dose in spring as it was down to 13 so think the summer has kept it up but will probably be going down again through winter! Thanks for that advice, will get a print out from the doctor to check before going back to him!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tiberess]

Tiberess

Once we've been diagnosed severely deficiency and had loading doses to bring our level up, we need to continue supplementing at a maintenance dose, retesting twice a year to ensure we keep our level up. Doctors generally wont retest so we need to do this ourselves with a home fingerprick blood spot test which can be done with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

Also, there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Dose should be increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Vitamin levels need improving to help thyroid hormones work

With Hashimoto’s many many people find strictly gluten free diet helps significantly or is essential

Ask GP for coeliac blood test first

[klr31]

It looks like you need an increase as your TSH is too high. You are entitled to your results from your doctor's so I would ask for a printout.

Karen