Not sure what to try next

[Chestnutmare]

Hi all

Feeling very depressed today. I've just had my results back from medicheck and my antibodies are still very high. I was diagnosed a year ago and have since been gluten free and was hoping after a year I may have seen some improvement.

Results:

TSH 4.25 range 0.27- 4.2

Free T3 4.08 range 3.1 - 6.8

Free Thyroxine 13.5 range 12 - 22

Thyroglobulin antibody 69.6 range <115

Thyroid peroxidase anti >600 range <34

I am currently taking 75mg of levothyroxine.

Should I stick with Gluten free? Is there any other dietary advice that has helped anyone else with hashimotos?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gluten free doesn't work for everyone, apparently.

You are very undermedicated according to those results. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo if that is where you feel well.

You need an increase of 25mcg Levo now, retest in 6 weeks, further increasing/retesting every 6 weeks until your levels are where they need to be for your to feel well.

Hashi's tends to cause gut/absorption problems and can lead to low nutrient levels or deficiencies. It would be a good idea to test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Post results/ranges/units of measurement so that members can advise whether your levels are optimal or whether you would benefit from supplementing.

[Peanut31]

Hi

Your TSH is still too high, you need an increase in levo. 75mcg is still a low dosage. You need to go back to your GP and ask for an increase of 25mcg, = 100mcg, you need to take this for 6-8 weeks and then have another blood test (early in the morning before 9am, don't take levo that morning only drink water, and no eating).

Then repeat the process with another increase of 25mcg and bloods.

Your TSH needs to be 1 or below to start feeling well, and yours is 4.25, your T3 and T4 while on levo should be in the higher figures of the ranges, but get your TSH down with the increase in levo and then look at your T3 & T4 results once your TSH levels are better.

Hashimoto patients often can't convert T4 to T3 very well so we don't feel better just on levo, but as I said you need your TSH getting down more. How are your vitamin levels?

Best Wishes

Peanut31

[Chestnutmare in reply to Peanut31]

Thankyou both for your replies. I will make a GP apt.

I didn't get my vitamins done this time but last time (march 18) they were:

B12 403 range 197-771

folate 6.9 range 3.9-26.8

Vit D 30nmol/L range not given but doctor said all were normal.

I haven't been taking any supplements, but do normally eat eggs & diary most days.

I do feel tired most days. Feels an effort to do any exercise, or even just walk to the shop!

I do have a coffee addiction but drink decaf now apart from morning one.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Chestnutmare]

That's a long time ago and they might be beter now or worse. B12 wasn't dreadful, but needs to be over 500 to prevent neurological damage. Folate was too low, needs to be half way through range at least (17). You were vitamin D deficient in most UK ranges and GP should have prescribed, but you'd do better buying your own (oil emulsion or mouth spray is absorbed better) - at least 2000iu a day, but you probably need more. The recommended level is around 100. I'd get the tests done again.

[greygoose]

Even if you got your antibodies down to zero, you would still have Hashi's. The antibodies are not the disease, and the disease can still flourish without them. In fact, some Hashi's people never ever develop high antibodies, so it's nothing to be depressed about. The only real reason to be gluten-free is if it makes you feel better. If you think it doesn't, try eating it again, and see what happens.