Blood test results- any advice please?

[helipops]

I’ve been told I have thyroiditis and blood tests show thyroid antibodies of 422ku/l (0-34)

I was under investigation for muscle wasting and have just been diagnosed with Dermatomyositis.

The hospital endocrinologist says that my thyroid levels are normal so I don’t need to be seen. I don’t have my most recent results unfortunately.

28/6 serum TSH 4.43 min/l (0.35-3.5)

Free T4 12pmol/l (8-21)

28/6 - serum TSH 2.88miu/l (0.35-3.5)

Free T4 12pmol/l (8-21)

The tests were done one day after the other because I was told the first one was borderline.

I’ve just had some other test results back today-

Vitamin D 26nmol/l (50-120)

Ferritin 78ug/l (23-300)

B12 389ng/l (130-1100)

Folate 13.3ug/l (2.7-15)

I’ve been told that my thyroid levels will be monitored by my GP for now. I’m going to ask if I can have a copy of my most recent thyroid results from the hospital.

I just started on high dose iv steroids today for my myositis. But any advice on the way forward with my thyroid would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease. But because TSH is currently in range and FT4 also in range endocrinologist is saying no treatment.....yet

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamins. Low vitamin levels can affect Thyroid hormone working

Your vitamin D is already very low. See GP for prescription for loading dose of vitamin D to improve to at least 80nmol (but 100nmol may be better)

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

GP will only prescribe to get level to 50nmol, or possibly 75nmol

It's trial and error what dose each person needs.

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function of Hashimoto's

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Other vitamin levels are ok at moment, though B12 is borderline and may need improving

Poor gut function of autoimmune diseases 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, sometimes 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

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 or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

It appears Dermatoyosis may be affected by gluten like Hashimoto's

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

thegreenwritingdesk.com/der...

If you google dermatomyosis and Hashimoto's it suggests they are both autoimmune and can occur together

Gluten may be common cause

Obviously Hashimoto's is extremely common, and dermatomyosis is not

Another post on here about this

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Some other links

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[helipops in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. I appreciate all those links and will be reading my way through them.