Recent blood results

[79anita]

Recent thyroid bloods TSH 6.72 free thyroxine 14.6 free t3 4.8 reverse t3 19 reverse t3 ratio 16.45 thyroglobulin antibodies 578 thyroid peroxidase 600 any advice currently take 100 levothyroxine they said I have low folate also thanks in advance

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

79anita

You are undermedicated to have a TSH of 6.72

Can't comment on other results as we need reference ranges because they vary from lab to lab.

One thing that is obvious, though, is that your high antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed. The antibodies fluctuate and cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results. Did you know this?

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. Therefore you need all nutrients testing:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you post all the results with their reference ranges, we can help further.

[79anita in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, I will post the results I eat brazil nuts 2 a day for selenium intake . It's the first time I have had the antibody test gp would not do it even though I have a dad with pernicious anaemia and both sisters with graves one has been treated with radio iodine therapy and is now badly underactive and on a super high dose of levo .

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 79anita]

79anita

I eat brazil nuts 2 a day for selenium intake

Does the pack say "Grown in selenium rich soil" and does it say which region they were grown in?

If not then there is no knowing how much selenium is in the nuts - see honey-guide.com/2012/11/19/...

The only sure way to know how much you are getting is to use a supplement. Some people like to test their selenium level first.

[79anita in reply to SeasideSusie]

I never thought to check the pack thanks for advice

[Mary-intussuception]

Hi

I've just replied to your more recent post. Didn't know you posted twice.

You have very low Vitamin D so should see GP for Loading Dose as well as increase in Levothyroxine.

The copy is not clear so cannot be sure of results.

Perhaps you could copy the results again - onto this thread/edit post.

[79anita in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Posted a clearer screen grab not sure why it was blurry. Thanks

[79anita in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I do take a vit d supplement a 1000 iu

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

79anita

Your low FT4 and FT3, along with your raised TSH, show you need a dose increase. Ask your GP for 25mcg immediately, retest in 6 weeks, you will probably then need another 25mcg increase, retest after 6 weeks. Continue increasing/retesting until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well.

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.

To support your request for an increase, use the following information from NHS Leeds Teaching Hospitals

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

scroll down to

Thyroxine Replacement Therapy in Primary Hypothyroidism

TSH Level ...... This Indicates

0.2 - 2.0 miu/L ...... Sufficient Replacement

> 2.0 miu/L ...... Likely under Replacement

also

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine:

"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)."

Total T3 isn't normally measured, but the same applies to Free T3 - it should stay within range.

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at

[e-mail]

print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Your reverse T3 shows no problems.

I have addressed the raised antibodies in my previous reply.

Active B12 is fine.

Folate is low and should be at least half way through it's range. A good B Complex will help there, one containing methylfolate not folic acid, consider Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B. Also look at folate rich foods.

Ferritin is a little low, it needs to be 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly, recommended is half way through range. Eating liver, liver pate or black pudding will help there, also other iron rich foods apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

Is your Vit D level 72.1nmol/L - if so then it isn't within the deficiency category where your GP will prescribe loading doses. However, it is below the level recommended by the Vit D Council - 125nmol/L

vitamindcouncil.org/for-hea...

To reach that level they recommend supplementing at 3,700iu daily along with it's cofactors

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.

As you have Hashi's, then for best absorption an oral spray is recommended, eg BetterYou. I would dose at 4000iu daily for 3 months then retest. Once you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

[79anita in reply to SeasideSusie]

Wow lots to do will keep me busy for a while anyway thank you for the advice