Help interpreting blood results...doesn't look good

[ci00aaj]

Evening all,

I've had my blood results back from MediCheck today which I took after a few weeks of feeling very peculiar and knowing something isn't quite right. The accompanying Dr notes basically state I'm under medicated (I currently take 2 grains of Nature-Throid daily and have done so for a very long time now).

Here are my results, I'd be ever so grateful if the community could comment -

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE

* 16 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE

* 9.170 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

FREE T3

3.57 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY

10.400 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES

* 74.6 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

I have seen Dr Peatfield in the past and was looking to get back in touch with him for some guidance but it sounds like he's not currently running his clinics.

I really need some help in understanding how to safely increase my NDT dosage and i'm quite concerned why some of the numbers are outside of the range. To be honest I've not felt great for a few months and in the last few weeks I've had some real mental issues which are hard to describe but effectively feels like low grade depression and anxiety which has been driving me up the walls.

Any advice would be greatly received as I'm struggling a bit dealing with this on my own.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ci00aaj

Did the doctor's comments also mention that your raised thyroid peroxidase antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's? Did you know that you have Hashi's?

With Hashi's antibodies fluctuate and symptoms and test results fluctuate so can swing from hypo to hyper and back again. At the moment you are in a very hypo phase shown by your high TSH and low FT4, and your depression and anxiety are most likely linked to the current hypothyroidism. You will probably benefit from an increase in your dose of NDT at the moment.

[ci00aaj in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie.

Yes, he stated "Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are raised indicating a likely autoimmune basis for your under active thyroid. You are already addressing this with your medication"

I wasn't aware of this until now. I've had an underactive thyroid since my early 20's and turn 40 next year. I'm not really sure what I need to different now that Hashimoto's is confirmed.

I'm also not quite sure by how much and for how long I should increase my dosage. Any suggestions would be welcome as I really want to stop mental aspects of this as I find them really unpleasant

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ci00aaj]

Hashimoto's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that is. Some people have found that a strict gluten free diet can help reduce the antibodies, so that's worth trying for a few months. Also supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily and keeping TSH suppressed can help reduce them.

Hashi's can cause gut and absorption problems which can result in nutrient deficiencies or low levels and that can result in thyroid hormone replacement not being able to work properly. It would be a good idea to test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Then post results on the forum for comment.

I don't use NDT nor do I have Hashi's so I can't suggest how much you should increase your dose by but I would think it sensible to do it in small increments as you would when originally starting NDT (1/4 grain) , then take note of your symptoms. You should be able to tell if you feel overmedicated so retest your levels and adjust dose accordingly.

[ci00aaj in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks ever so much for replying this late into the evening, its very much appreciated. I'll certainly look into what you have suggested.

I forgot to mention that I did also test for the other bits you mentioned. Here they are -

ACTIVE B12 109.000 pmol/L 37.50 - 188.00

FOLATE (SERUM) 5.41 ug/L 3.89 - 26.80

Inflammation Marker

CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY 0.55 mg/l 0.00 - 5.00

Iron Status

FERRITIN 235 ug/L 30.00 - 400.00

[Jazzw]

You mentioned Nature Throid. Lots of us on Nature Throid have found that it isn’t as strong as it used to be. It went out of production for a while and when it came back, it didn’t seem the same. The makers of Nature Throid, RLC, say there has been no change - but the experience of many many of us begs to differ... It seems a whole lot weaker.

Would you be able to try a different brand of NDT? Do you have it prescribed?

[ci00aaj in reply to Jazzw]

Hi Jazzw, thanks I did not know this. I have to admit that haven't really been following developments very closely.

I currently buy my own meds so could try another brand. I have used Armour Thyroid in the past but switched when they had their production issues.

I'm hoping to find another private Dr to support me with this if I can't regain contact with Dr Peatfield

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ci00aaj]

Email Thyroid UK on or after Jan 3rd for list of recommended thyroid specialists. Some prescribe NDT

please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Your folate is too low, so starting a daily good quality vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial

Do you supplement B12? If so you could cut this back a bit, when taking B complex

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

You need to test vitamin D too

vitamindtest.org.uk

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. Dairy is second most common.

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 get coeliac test kit online (£20)

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[ci00aaj in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for this response, I'll certainly email Thyroid UK when they are back in the office.

The only vitamin I take daily currently is Vitamin C. I also take to adrenal support tablets for my adrenals as recommended by Dr Peatfield. I will start adding Vitamin B complex to this.

Unfortunately the leaky gut you describe sounds very familiar so I will also cut back gluten.

Since my first post I've upped my NDT to 3 grains (from 2) and I have been feeling much better and I've mostly eliminated the unpleasant mental problems I described previously. In 6 week I'll take another blood sample and see what they look like.

Thanks all for the advice and support

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ci00aaj]

If looking at gluten free diet it does need to be absolutely strictly gluten free

Otherwise not really worth bothering