Following advice from this forum I pushed my GP for testing on vitamins/minerals and antibodies. All normal except the antibodies came back positive. My GP stated that this will not change my ‘clinical management’ but just makes me more likely to develop hypothyroidism in the future so I don’t need to do anything.
Is this ‘wait and see’ approach the best way forward? Or is there something I should be doing to protect myself?
My background is subclinical hypothyroid diagnosis taking 50mcg levothyroxine for fertility.
Thanks in advance.
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NJB1418
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If you're taking 50 mcg levo, you must already be hypo, otherwise it would make you ill. Ignore the 'subclinical' label, all it means is that your TSH didn't reach 10. But, hypo is hypo and hypo starts with a TSH of 3.
Your doctor is right in a way. There is no treatment for Hashi's, but you can possibly make yourself feel a bit better by going gluten-free. A lot of Hashi's people are gluten-sensitive. You might also have a problem converting - can't say without seeing your labs - so taking selenium could help with that. And, if you do have a conversion problem, improving it and raising your FT3 would make you feel a lot better. People talk about gluten-free and selenium for reducing antibodies, but I'm not convinced that's an advantage - even if it is possible. You will still have Hashi's, no matter how low your antibodies get.
Thanks for your response. I was not feeling ill before I’m only taking levo as my tsh was 5 and it needs to be low for fertility. The Levo made me feel horrible initially but over the course of a few months and gradually increasing dose I have got up to 50 and feel fine on it now. All my vitamins/ minerals were normal.
Which brand on Levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Many people find different brands of Levothyroxine are not interchangeable
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially when Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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
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.
Doctors will say your vitamins and minerals are normal when the levels are anywhere within the 'normal range'. People with hypothyroidism find that they feel much better if their vitamin and mineral levels are at least half way up the 'normal range, particularly Iron, Ferritin, Vitamin D, B12 and Folate. It seems that many of us struggle to absorb enough of these nutrients from their food. If you could get your blood test results from your doctor and post them here someone will comment on whether your levels are optimal or not and hat you can do, if anything, to improve your wellbeing (and maybe your fertility too).
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