I have had advise from this forum that I may need to get vitamins tested.
I am 50 and just started the menopause and although I have been struggling for years with sweating and hair loss, it got unbearable.
In September 2018 I was diagnosed with Hashi's, and although still just in range was given a trial of Levothyroxine (currently on 37.5 mcg) from a very understanding doctor when I got incredibly upset about things.
This week I did a private test via Thriva and got the following results:-
B12 = 73.4 (25.1 to 165)
Ferritin = 33.8 (13 to 150)
Folate = 18.7 (8.83 to 60.8)
TSH = 0.266 (0.27 to 4.3)
FT4 = 14.6 (12 to 23)
FT3 = 4.58 (3.1 to 6.8)
TPO = 179 (0 to 34)
T4 = 104 (66 to 181)
TGAB = 60.6 (0 to 115)
Vit D = 43.8 (50 to 100)
I am not a true vegetarian, but only eat chicken, and then only occasionally.
It looks as though I need more vitamin D, but I am going to Tenerife next week so totally unsure about how much I should take, and when I should start taking it, and what brand etc??
Also should I be supplementing anything else, and if so what level, or just introduce the Vit D and take it from there?
I used to take multi vitamin and iron, but have recently stopped that as have been told they are not worth it, and iron shouldn't be taken at same time.
I am very new to all this, and am extremely grateful for any advise as I am still trying to learn.
Thanks so much in advance
Written by
Blackshaw4
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This is Active B12 and if it was <70 then testing for B12 deficiency is recommended. Check to see if you have any signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
Assuming you don't have any signs you might wish to supplement to raise your level.
Folate = 18.7 (8.83 to 60.8)
This is low, recommended is at least half way through range, which would be 35+ with that range.
Yuo can help raise your level by eating folate rich foods, also a good B Complex containing 400mcg methylfolate will help. Recommended brands are Thorne Basic B (1 x capsule) or Igennus Super B (2 x capsules to give 400mcg methylfolate). These also contain methylcobalamin (B12) and that would help raise your B12 level.
Ferritin = 33.8 (13 to 150)
For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) it's said that ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range.
You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet
I only eat chicken and fish, but for me eating liver was a better option than taking iron tablets. You can use chicken liver.
Vit D = 43.8 (50 to 100)
Is this nmol/L or ng/ml. It makes a difference in the dose of D3 you need to take.
TSH = 0.266 (0.27 to 4.3)
FT4 = 14.6 (12 to 23)
FT3 = 4.58 (3.1 to 6.8)
Your hormone levels (FT4 and FT3) are low in range. You don't have a problem converting T4 to T3, but you may feel better if your FT4 and FT3 were higher in range, increasing Levo to 50mcg would be worth a trial. If your GP doesn't like that idea because your TSH is slightly below range already, then TSH isn't a thyroid hormone, it's just a signal from the pituitary to tell the thyroid to produce more hormone when it detects there isn't enough. It's a surprise that your TSH is so low considering your FT4 result, but your results show you need more thyroid hormone - if you don't feel well and are still symptomatic on your current dose.
TPO = 179 (0 to 34)
T4 = 104 (66 to 181)
TGAB = 60.6 (0 to 115)
As you know you have Hashi's, are you gluten free and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily try and help reduce the antibodies?
Re my levothyroxine, I was originally started on 50 mcg but the doctor reduced me to 25 mcg and I was ill again (I wasn't on the forum initially and didn't know how to prepare for the test) she has agreed 37.5 mcg and I am not feeling too bad, so i am happy to continue on that unless I feel unwell again.
it appears as though there are many different supplements that may help, so my plan is to get the best vitamin D to start. Then to try to eat different foods to change some of the other levels, get retested in 6 months, and take it from there.
Re my TPO result - my initial test last Sept was 295, and now it is 179 so the medication is seemingly making a positive difference - do you think I should also be supplementing even though it is getting better? My sweating is more improved than it was, but the real test will be when I get somewhere hot.
When 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 an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:
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 if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray
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 if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).
As you have Hashi's then for best absorption an oral spray is recommended, e.g. BetterYou. They do a D3 spray, also a combined D3/K2. Check the number of sprays needed to achieve the recommended dose.
I wouldn't start to supplement until after your holiday, not much point in packing a load of supplements, just wait until you get home. The sun may or may not help yor level, but if you're only going for a week or two it wont make a massive amount of difference.
With regard to the Hashi's, the antibody levels fluctuate. You may find yourself swing from having hypo symptoms/results to having hyper-type symptoms/results. The swings are temporary and levels settle down again. It may be necessary to alter dose of Levo during these swings.
You can possibly 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.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Don't start supplements all at the same time, stagger them. Start with one, give it a week or two and if no adverse reaction then add in the second one, give it another week or two and if no reaction add in the next one, etc. By doing it this way, if you do have any reaction you will know what caused it.
I can't thank you enough for sharing this knowledge. I will go on holiday, then make a start on introducing some of the suggestions. Many thanks, I really appreciate your help and advice.
"I am not a true vegetarian, but only eat chicken, and then only occasionally."
I haven't eaten any meat for 50 years, but my recent ferritin test nevertheless returned 123 ug/L [13.00 - 150.00]. As with any dietary excluding, it's often not so much what you are leaving out, as what you are eating, that is important.
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