Alternative Medication

[lambea]

I have been very ill for the last few months with symptoms related to hypothyroidism. I eventually got blood test taken to check thyroid function. The results have come back and I was told quite high and another test will be taken in three months and no medication at the moment. I cannot go on like this and wait three months, is there any recommended supplements I could take to ease my symptoms?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

lambea

If you post the results of your tests, including the reference ranges, members can comment.

There are no specific supplements that will help. Thyroid support supplements aren't recommended. However, if you have the following vitamins/minerals tested, we can see if supplementing any of those can help:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[lambea in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you my T-SHIRT was 6.7 but GP said no treatment until 10 and above, I asked if it was ok to take sea kelp supplement tablets and she said yes

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to lambea]

Lambea

Yes, in the UK we are made to wait until TSH reaches 10, whereas in another country a TSH over 3 will get you a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and a prescription for Levo.

I am not at all surprised your GP said it was OK to take sea kelp. They know nothing about nutrients because they're not taught it. But in reality Iodine (which is what sea kelp contains) used to be used to treat overactive thyroid so can make things worse for someone who is hypothyroid or on the way to hypothyroidism. Iodine level should always be tested if thinking of supplementing, and only used if found to be deficient.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As this is possibly treatment for life, it is guidelines to wait and retest in 6-8 weeks

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamins are extremely common result of being hypothyroid. Ask GP to test these now, if not been done. Always test FIRST before starting any supplements

You could then at least be improving these, if results are low with supplements and it can help improve symptoms

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's.

Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Aurealis]

If you can’t go on then you’ll have to return to gp and explain that. Nothing worse than being told to wait three months when you feel wretched.

Are you saying that the diagnosis has already been made? Perhaps the time interval could be shortened in your case, or you could be signed off work?