I have been worried sick all morning since i got these back. Please comment. If I need to be forearmed before i see my GP then this is the best place to get my "arms".
BIOCHEMISTRY
hs-CRP 4.13 mg/L ??
Ferritin 47.6 ug/L
THYROID FUNCTION
TSH 2.03 ml/UL
T4 Total 76.7 nmol/L
Free T4 L11.40 pmol/L (This is in red)
Free T3 3.44 pmol/L
Immunology
Anti Thyroidperoxifase abs H538.0 (also in red)
Anti Thyroglobulin Abs H570 (also in red)
Vitamin B12 483
Serum Folate 11.50.
Doctors comments:
"The combination of normal TSH and low Free T4 levels with normal T3 level would be unsurprising if you are taking T3 form of thyroxine. (I was taking Tiromel to help with hair loss and brittle nails which it did but gradually stopped taking it over a 4 week period and then did the blood test approx 7 days after completely off it) Look as though your medication regime is likely to be satisfactory but....discuss with doc if any concerns . If you are not taking thyroxine the low level of T4 might suggest a developing thyroid problem. Again discuss with doc. The positive thyroid antibody result increases the possibility of your having or ultimately developing autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hadhimotos thyrpiditus or Graves disease."
I am currently on 162.5mg of Levothyroxine and feeling well. Weight gain is a bit problematic. Have I damaged myself by taking the Tiromel. I started on 12.5 for about 2 weeks and went up to 25mg. I was on it for about 3 months when I decided to do this blood test. I did fast for 12 hours. I have to admit I felt so much better in myself . more alert, less hair in the bath, nails doing well.
Apologies for the long post.
Thanks
Written by
Barann
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Firstly, can you edit your post to include reference range for each of the results.
Secondly, it's probably advisable to generally take the Drs' reports attached to these private tests, with a pinch of salt, at least as far as the thyroid aspects are concerned.
What are you particularly worried about in those results?
The positive antibody results do not show you "at risk of developing" anything, they provide evidence that you do have autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's disease.
There's no reason to fear that taking tiromel has in some way damaged you. Your results indicate, as the report intimated, that you had shortly before the test, been taking T3 ie below range FT4, as indicated by the "L" and being in red; which is likely to rebalance a little now you aren't taking the tiromel. However, I'm guessing that when you add the ranges, your FT3 will also be quite low, and it may be that your TSH is a little higher than it might be - but it depends on how you feel/any symptoms as to whether those levels are okay for you.
Thank you. I was wortied because I dont really understand...my GP has never mentioned Hashi to me ever nor Graves. I took the Tiromel purely for hair loss and nails and I have to admit felt really well on it more energy etc. My weight is a problem for me despite not being a huge eater and we've cut sugar from our household for over 15 months now I do watch what I eat but I'm not OTT about it. I have put my ranges in reply to Greygoose. I feel ok on what I'm taking levo wise except for feeling a bit tired in the afternoons otherwise I sleep well.Thank you anyway for your replies.
Sorry, but we absolutely need the ranges for those results. They vary from lab to lab. So we need the ranges used by your lab.
Why are you so worried? You have Hashi's and are under-medicated, according to those low Frees and high TSH. Although, on 162.5 mcg levo, the FT4 shouldn't be quite so low. How do you take your levo? On an empty stomach, waiting at least one hour before eating or drinking anything other than water? Do you take any other medication at the same time as your levo?
I have to say your dosing of T3 was a bit off. One normally starts on 6.25 mcg and increases by 6.25 every two weeks. But I really don't think that taking T3 would damage you.
Our ferritin is too low and your B12 could be higher. But, this is all guess work without the ranges, so please add them.
Free T4 L11.40 pmol/L (This is in red) (12.0-22.0)
Free T3 3.44 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Immunology
Anti Thyroidperoxifase abs H538.0 (also in red) (《34)
Anti Thyroglobulin Abs H570 (also in red) (《115)
Vitamin B12 483 (deficient《145
insufficient 145-250
consider reducing dose 》250)
Serum Folate 11.50. (8.83-60.8)
Was not sure what ranges meant so didn't put them in. Whilst I was on the Tiromel my hair loss reduced a lot and my nails have stopped breaking and peeling. My weight hadnt changed that much but even though on calorie restricted diet of 1200cals and being very active cycling 8 to 10 miles a day and 20plus on the weekend I never lost more than 300g over a 5 month period. I have gained in 12 years about 18kgs so its been a gradual gain. If it's too much info please excuse me but I feel I need to have a rant as I'm pretty much on my own in this thing.
Meant to say I take my levo in the morning with water at about 5.30 . I have coffee about 45 minutes later with my pain tablet. I take a pain tablet at night with a blood pressure tab and a muscle relaxant at 5.30pm.
So, your CRP is on the high-side - that's an inflammation marker.
Your ferritin is much too low. it should be at least mid-range, better still at 100. Ask your doctor to do an iron panel, to find out what's going on.
Your TSH is too high, says you're under-medicated. But, going by what you've said below, that's because you aren't absorbing your levo correctly, with the coffee and the pain killer. And, that could account for your low FT4. But, things are complicated because you were taking T3, and then stopped, plus you have Hashi's. But, all in all, I think I would change the time you take your levo so that it's not affected by your medication - or change the time of your pain-killer, if you can. It doesn't matter when you take your levo, as long as you observe the following rules:
* on an empty stomach, with water, at least one hour before food or drink other than water- or - two to three hours after eating
* two hours away from most other supplements and medications
* four hours away from iron, vit D, calcium and magnesium
Then, stay on that dose for another six weeks and retest. See what your levels are, then.
Your folate and B12 could be higher, but I think it might possibly be best to ignore those for the time being until you get your other bits sorted out! It's complicated enough as it is. Is there a specific reason for taking pain-killers? Or just general pain? And the blood pressure tablet? Is that helping? If not, it could be that your blood pressure is high because of your hypo, and raising your T3 could bring your blood pressure down.
I think it would be a good idea to forget your weight for the time being. You're not going to lose any whilst your FT3 is so low. And, eating so few calories will have a negative effect on conversion, and could make you put more on. Try eating more calories and cut down on the exercise until you're optimal and stable.
You didn't give too much info. You painted a good picture showing what might be going wrong. And, you can rant as much as you like, here! We all do from time to time. It can feel very lonely having this disease, because doctors just don't understand it, and we're all pretty much on our own. Good job you found us!
My painkillers are taken for SIJD...sacro iliac joint dysfunction. I take 30mg Dihydroceine in the morning and a slow release 60mg one in the evening. I have halved thst over two years and will be cutting down on the night one within the next few months. Must be done slowly because of the awful withdrawal effects. I am now taking a Thyroid Healthy Supplement. My blood pressure is actually fine last time it was taken...about 4 weeks ago. What other info can I give you? I had a Vit D test done about 6 months ago and it was fine according to doc. I can get the results. I usually wake at about 3am for a loo visit so will take my levo then. My supplements are taken at 11.00 am about an hour after breakfast. I feel generally well really, but want to make sure this doesn't get worse if I can help it. Thanks for the reply.
Can you tell me what is in it? Sometimes these things do more harm than good - they often contain iodine which is not healthy, especially not with Hashi's.
I had a Vit D test done about 6 months ago and it was fine according to doc
You just cannot trust your doctor on that. They will know nothing about nutrients. He will think it's fine even if it's right down at the bottom of the range. You always need to get the exact numbers - results and ranges.
By reading, reading and more reading, and talking to people.
That supplement is not going to do you any good and could make you a lot worse. You should never take iodine or copper without getting tested first. You only need tiny amounts of both, and that is a massive dose of iodine/kelp/bladderwrack. Add to that the 105 (approx) mcg iodine you are getting from your 162.5 mcg levo, plus what you get from food, and it's too much. Despite what everyone things, it will not keep your thyroid 'healthy'.
Hypos are usually high in copper and low in zinc. So, your really don't want to add more copper.
And, Ashwagandha could possibly lower your cortisol, and you really don't want that. These people should be shot for misleading the public! It's a terrible supplement for a hypo.
Thank you for that. I shall bin them. Please know I'm very grateful for all info. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. It is very much appreciated. I've got lots to read and think and plan. Hope you have a good night. Bless you all.
So your results clearly confirms you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease more commonly by UK doctors
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels. Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function 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 or buy test online
Your ferritin is low, very common with Hashimoto's
Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve
B12 and folate slightly low . You might benefit from supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid. B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
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
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