Thanks for replying. No...to all 3 questions. My GP is 'sceptical' that there's anything wrong with my thyroid. He's seen the Medichecks results. He thinks I might have CFS...
This should have alerted your GP to the fact that your thyroid is struggling. He could have checked FT4 and thyroid antibodies. If TSH is between 4 and 10 with a "normal" FT4, with hypothyroid symptoms, particularly if antibodies are postive, Subclinical Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed and a trial of Levothyroxine give.
Medichecks results 23/08/18:
TSH 6.24 (0.27-4.20)
You are obviously hypothyroid,
FT4 15.900 (12.00-22.00)
FT3 5.95 (3.10-6.80)
These aren't that bad considering your high TSH.
TGAB 50.300 (0.00-115.00)
TPO 166 (0.00-34.00)
Your raised TPO antibodies confirm 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.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. Some of your levels are on the low side.
Active B12 96.500 (25.10-165.00)
Not low enough to worry about B12 deficiency and classed as "normal". If it was my result, I'd like it higher in the range.
Folate (serum) 13.33 (2.91-50.00)
This is too low, recommended level is at least half way through range. You can help improve your level by supplementing with a good B complex which contains 400mcg methylfolate (not folic acid). Recommended is Thorne Basic B (1 capsule) or Igennus Super B (2 tablets). The amount of B12 (methylcobalamin) included will help raise your B12. Igennus Super B contains 900mcg methylcobalamin at the recommended dose, Thorne Basic B contains 400mcg methylcobalamin at the recommended dose. Out of the two, I'd choose the Igennus to provide the extra B12.
CRP-High sensitivity 0.2 (0.00-5.00)
This is fine.
Ferritin 48.5 (13.00-150.00)
This is on the low side. For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range. You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, or liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
You should refuse the CFS diagnosis, you have subclinical hypothyroidism. Use the following information to discuss this with your GP:
If TSH is between 4 and 10 mU/L and FT4 is within the normal range
◾In people aged less than 65 years with symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism, consider a trial of LT4 and assess response to treatment 3–4 months after TSH stabilises within the reference range — see the section on Prescribing information for further information on initiation and titration of LT4. If there is no improvement in symptoms, stop LT4.
Subclinical hypothyroidism (where there are elevated TSH levels, but normal FT4 levels, possibly with symptoms) has been found in approximately 4% to 8% of the general population but in approximately 15% to 18% of women over 60 years of age.
Subclinical hypothyroidism can progress to overt hypothyroidism (full hypothyroidism with symptoms) especially if there are thyroid antibodies present.
If thyroid antibodies are found, then you may have Hashimoto's disease. If there are thyroid antibodies but the other thyroid tests are normal, there is evidence that treatment will stop full blown hypothyroidism from occurring.
Dr A Toft, consultant physician and endocrinologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, has recently written in Pulse Magazine, "The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat the thyroid function tests in two or three months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.2 But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured.
If these are positive – indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease – the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.
In the absence of symptoms some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow-up."
You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at ThyroidUk
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
print it and the information is in reply to Question 2.
SeasideSusie thank you so so much,for taking the time to share all that information with me,I really do appreciate it. Some of what you've written I already know-through what I've read;to have you confirm it is very reassuring. I feel my GP's not listening to me;I wish I could take you with me ☺. I believe I am symptomatic. Your knowledge is something else!,we're lucky to have you on here. 2 things;I'm vegetarian,and my hair has started to come out. How else can I get my ferritin optimal? And,do you think I need to have my selenium level checked prior to taking supplements? Thank you again.
You can have selenium tested if you want, Medichecks do selenium tests.
Look at the list of iron rich foods and see what you can include in your diet.
I don't like suggesting iron tablets as there's much more to iron than just Ferritin. If Serum iron is high then you won't want to take iron tablets. What I would do is an iron panel with Medichecks before considering taking any iron tablets.
Wow your TPO is very high. You should speak to your GP about this and ask your GP to test your TSH again. Different labs have different reference ranges?
Thanks for your reply. My GP's aware of my TPO level. He's 'sceptical',and doesn't think my results indicate a thyroid issue. Yes,I've noticed different labs have different ranges.
He didn't really agree with anything I said so... ☺. But,it's because of this site-yous,that I had the rest of my thyroid bloods checked...he knows that. Not easy to change someone's mind...but not impossible ☺.
Hi. I totally get why people turn to this site reallyfedup123. Mum has Rheumatoid Arthritis...GP aware of this too. And yes,I do need to look at my diet-haven't eaten meat since I was a child,only because I don't like the taste of it. Thank you for your reply.
Hi. No,I don't take any supplements. Why has my level gone up as much as it has? I've been considering those supplements suggested to me on Sunday,however I'm now a bit unsure as to what I need.
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