Confused
Results : Confused - Thyroid UK
Results
Sorry but numbers too small and blurred to read.
That better ? Xx
It appeared clear on my pad then vanished before I could read it ,happened several times .Seems greygoose had more luck and has given a response.
Greygoose is on a PC. Don't 'old with they new-fangled pads and such like. Give me a good old fashioned PC any day!
Never mind your TSH, your FT4 and FT3 are too low. That's why you don't feel well. Your FT4 is well under mid-range - most people need it at least over mid-range. And your FT3 is just a slither under mid-range - most hypos need it nearer the top of the range.
Your B12 is low enough to warrant testing for pernicious anemia. Your folate is desperately low - but don't do anything about that until your B12 has been further tested. And your low ferritin alone could cause you to feel quite ill. In fact, the only good thing about this report is the TSH, and that means very little.
What do I do now ? Thank you so much btw xx
Firstly, you need an increase in your levo. Secondly, you need to ask your doctor to test you for Pernicious Anemia. Then, take it from there. Or come back and ask again.
Thank you I will go see my doctor but they get so annoyed when I go in with my own reasarch or ask for tests to be done that they aren’t suggesting I may see if medicheck s do that test too? X
Ignore their annoyance. That's what they're there for. That's what they're paid for, to find out what is wrong with you, do the tests and treat the condition.
I don't think medichecks do do that test, no. I'm afraid you're going to have to start getting assertive if you want to get well. I know how difficult it is, but it's the only way. You can't do everything yourself.
Leab8
You said in your previous post that you were feeling much better already after changing to Spanish thyroxine.
How much Levo are you taking? Your FT4 and FT3 need to be nearer the top of the range so I expect you need an increase in dose. At least your T4:T3 conversion is good.
Your raised antibodies confim autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's (were you aware of this?) 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.
Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies and this seems to be the case with you.
Your vitamins/minerals aren't good and that could be causing problems. Ferritin below means that thyroid hormone can't work properly.
As Greygoose has said, your Active B12 is low, and according to this article anything below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency
viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...
Check for signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... then list any that apply to you and ask your GP to do further testing.
Folate is dreadfully low and should be at least half way through it's range. Folate and B12 work together. But don't supplement anything at all for Folate or B12 until further testing has been done, taking folic acid/folate masks signs of B12 deficiency.
You need to get your ferritin up to 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, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
You said in your previous post that you take D3. What is your current level? It needs to be between 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health . If you haven't had it tested recently, it would have been a good idea to have it tested this time with the UltraVit test rather than the Ultra test. When supplementing we need to retest our Vit D level twice a year.
This is an example of how doctors today - whether private or NHS - have to abide by Guidelines laid down by people who have very little idea about the thyroid. All very sad ...
Well, they don't actually have to, they choose to because they don't know any better.
True. One of the major parts of our healthcare problems in the US, in my opinion, is that years ago doctors were in complete control of what they wanted to offer the patient re treatment. Now offices have a 'financial person' who constantly looks at stats and figures out ways to maximize profits and save money. This is not the doctors' doing but insurance influence. I call them the 'three-piece suits businessmen'.
I felt little better emotionally after changing to the Spanish ones but not yday I’m so up and down and still always so tiered etc my doctor and consultant told me I didn’t have Hashimotos 😞 and anytime I go in with my own research and questions they get very annoyed with me and ignore it or make me feel stupid so I’m not sure where to go from here but it’s my body and life not theirs, if I could afford it I would go private but I cannot , I’m going to try go gluten-free as much as possible I tried before and couldn’t do it but I have got to now I guess? Xx
You are 50% of your treatment team. You are the consumer and the healthcare system works for YOU.
Let me offer a thought to focus on before going to appointments that might involve 'doing battle' to get the care you need: Don't take better care of your car than you do your body. You wouldn't let your car mechanic intimidate you. If it helps, think of the doctor as the mechanic for your health. He may dress more expensively and have more education but you are entitled to do research to help get better care. Take care. irina
Leab8
I’m so up and down
Possibly due to the Hashi's. Do you mean mood wise, symptom wise, result wise?
my doctor and consultant told me I didn’t have Hashimotos
That's because they're ignorant. They do know about it, but they like to call it "autoimmune thyroiditis", and for some reason they think raised antibodies unimportant. It's know as Hashimoto's because it was "discovered" by a Japanese physician - Hakaru Hashimoto.
anytime I go in with my own research and questions they get very annoyed with me and ignore it or make me feel stupid so I’m not sure where to go from
Well, you take their prescription and then do your own thing, like many of us here do. We keep an eye on our nutrient levels and supplement when necessary to keep them at optimal levels. If we have Hashi's then we address it with a gluten free diet and selenium which many people benefit from. We don't have to discuss what we do about Hashi's with ignorant doctors who poo-poo everything we say about it. And if necessary, we tailor our medication ourselves to achieve the best level of hormones for our individual needs.
if I could afford it I would go private but I cannot
That might not help anyway. Many private doctors are NHS as well and will likely continue to toe the NHS line. Open minded, proper thyroid experts are hard to find.
I’m going to try go gluten-free as much as possible I tried before and couldn’t do it but I have got to now I guess?
I don't have Hashi's nor am I gluten free, but from what I understand just cooking from scratch with clean ingredients is the way to go. I have just made a big pot of lentil soup - onions, carrots, split red lentils, vegetable stock. Easy as pie, gluten free, full of fibre and protein, plus gives you Vit A, Vit C, some calcium and some iron. Plenty for a big bowl at lunch time for a few days, will portion and freeze.
Check out Gluten Free Chat healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Other gluten free threads healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Oh you lucky thing! I LOVE lentil soup!Used to make it from Cranks recipe book(this was the 70s)until I found out that if I eat lentils more than once in awhile,I have to rush to the toilet for explosive diarrhoea.
Oh that's a shame
I'm just about to whizz it and will have some tomorrow. It's a while since I made any, I don't think it affected me like that (nothing helped my constipation back then )
These results show low vitamin levels, that must be improved
You need 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine and bloods retested in 6-8 weeks
Did GP test for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 supplements or injections?
A daily good quality vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid. Eg Igennus Super B is nice small pills. Or Jarrow B-right
If you have low B12 symptoms you may need sublingual B12 lozenges (eg Jarrow 1000mcg) as well, for few months
Ferritin is low, eating liver or liver pate once a week should help especially with orange juice or vitamin C supplements to improve iron absorption
ask GP for full iron panel to check iron levels
Absolutely strictly gluten free diet helps many
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...
But don't be surprised that GP never mentions gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut connection is very poorly understood
No he said my b12 wasn’t low x
Not surprised at that. But when on Levothyroxine we need high B12 and folate
Do you have any B12 deficiency symptoms?
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
Many, many people on Levothyroxine benefit from daily vitamin B complex. One with folate in not folic acid
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
Plus sublingual B12 lozenges, perhaps 2 or 3 a day initial, if also have pins & needles, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy etc . Slowly reducing amount to just one per day......then try stopping alternate days etc
Low vitamin D and low B vitamins go together
I have most of those symptoms I’ve purchased b12 selenium mk2 and magnesium today I’ll start them with my folate tomorrow 👌🏻