Hi, can you please check my mums thyroid result... - Thyroid UK

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Hi, can you please check my mums thyroid results please

Isobelfred profile image
9 Replies

Hi guys, an you please give me your opinion on these thyroid results please

Tsh 1:4

Thyroid tpo antibodies are still at 80

Free t 3 is 4.3 (the range is 4-8

Ft4 16.1 ( 10-24)

Vitamin D is 48 (range is 50-144)

Iron is 11 (15-150)

Please could you advise ? Thank you 🙏 x

Forgot to say she’s been taking 50mcg Levo for 2 months

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Isobelfred profile image
Isobelfred
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Isobelfred

Iron is 11 (15-150)

Is this ferritin, or serum iron?

If it's ferritin then as you can see the result is dire, it's below range. Low ferritin can suggest iron deficiency anaemia. She needs a full blood count and an iron panel.

Vitamin D is 48 (range is 50-144)

Is the unit of measurement nmol/L? If so, in reply to your previous post about your Mum, I mentioned that the level recommende by the Vit D Council is 125nmol/L so this is too low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Is your Mum supplementing? If so what with?

Previously you said

At the moment she alternates 50 with 75 each day and her numbers are now great.

Why is she now only taking 50mcg Levo daily?

Tsh 1:4

and previously 1.0 (0.5 and 3) - so without a range for this new TSH test we can only assume her TSH has risen.

Ft4 16.1 ( 10-24) and previously 18 (12 and 22) - FT4 is now 44% through range, previously it was 60%, so FT4 has lowered

Free t 3 is 4.3 (the range is 4-8) and previously 5 (3 and 7) - FT3 is now 7.5% through range, previously it was 50% so again this has lowered.

I think it's pretty obvious that lowering her dose from 50/75 to 50mcg daily has not done her any favours, presumably she isn't feeling particularly well.

Were both tests done under the same conditions - early morning blood draw after an overnight fast, water only to drink before the test, leaving off Levo for 24 hours before the test?

Thyroid tpo antibodies are still at 80 - In your previous post, SlowDragon gave you information about Hashi's (confirmed by raised antibodies), is she following her advice?

What about the other vitamins that were mentioned as being important, particularly as she has Hashi's - i.e. B12 and folate?

Isobelfred profile image
Isobelfred in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi seasidesusie !!

I’m clearly not very clued up with it all!

She was alternating , but felt unwell , so went back to taking just 50 mcg.

The iron levels I mentioned is Ferritin.

She takes a Multi-Vitamin everyday and some probiotics (probiotics have had some effect :-))

The thyroid test was taken at 9am, she took the Levothyroxine AFTER not before.

The ref range for TSH is 0.8 - 4

Reports feeling less tired, less tired appearance , no pain after exercise. Better hair too. There was no way she could continue to take the 75mcg, it made her really anxious and wired , and more tired actually ! But we felt this was a positive sign? She is way better on 50 and seems to improve month on month , but very slowly.

B12 is fine.

In particular I was wondering if those results I wrote are normal ? We learn more from you guys than the doctors and nurses , so thanks again for taking the time

Isobelfred profile image
Isobelfred in reply to Isobelfred

A nurse has told her that with her levels it will most likely resolve on its own and she will be able to discounted Levothyroxine eventually.

Is it true that antibodies that aren’t in the hundreds aren’t that significant and don’t pose a threat for long term hypothyroidism ? I’ve heard healthy people can have them and have a healthy thyroid.

It’s all very interesting and I’m always grateful for the informative replies

She did have a full vitamin blood test, and these are the ones we were told were bad. We weren’t given any others

The first test she had that I posted, she had taken the 75 Levo before her test. Because she didn’t know otherwise

This test , was done fasted (bit of coffee )

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Isobelfred

Working back up your replies :)

This test , was done fasted (bit of coffee )

Coffee affects TSH (probably any caffeine containing drink does) so it should be water only until after the test.

The first test she had that I posted, she had taken the 75 Levo before her test. Because she didn’t know otherwise

So with her other test she would have had a higher FT4 level than what is normally circulating, so we can't really compare this new test with the previous one, we don't know whether or not her level has improved.

Is it true that antibodies that aren’t in the hundreds aren’t that significant and don’t pose a threat for long term hypothyroidism ? I’ve heard healthy people can have them and have a healthy thyroid.

I don't have Hashi's so I only know as much as I read on here. I can't see that being true. If you are positive for antibodies, then that's it. As they fluctuate anyway, they're going to be higher some time and lower another time. Apparently you can also have Hashi's with negative antibodies.

A nurse has told her that with her levels it will most likely resolve on its own and she will be able to discounted Levothyroxine eventually.

I'd take that with a large pinch of salt. If she has Hashi's then it will gradually destroy her thyroid. You can have temporary thyroiditis but it's usually post-partum or after a viral illness. So in those cases it might resolve itself. With Hashi's, because there are swings from hypo to "hyper" back to hypo, due to attacks on the thyroid by the immune system, it may be that Levo can be reduced during a "hyper" phase but will need readjusting when things settle down.

In particular I was wondering if those results I wrote are normal ?

They're within normal range, that's as normal as it gets. Are those levels right for your Mum? Only your Mum can say where she feels best, we are all different as to where we need our levels to be. Numbers aren't everything, elimination of symptoms is. If she feels better on 50mcg then it seems that's what she needs at the moment.

She takes a Multi-Vitamin everyday and some probiotics (probiotics have had some effect :-))

Does the multivitamin contain any of the following:

Iron

Calcium

Iodine/Kelp

If so then ditch it. If it contains iron then it affects absorption of everything else, iron needs to be taken at least 2 hours away from other supplements and 4 hours away from Levo.

Calcium and Iodine need testing and only supplemented if found to be deficient.

Multi's generally contain too little of anything to help low levels and often contain the cheapest and least absorbable forms of the active ingredients. I have yet to see a good multi, whatever the price.

The iron levels I mentioned is Ferritin.

She absolutely must see her GP about this, as I said Low ferritin can suggest iron deficiency anaemia. She needs a full blood count and an iron panel. With a below range ferritin she would benefit from an iron infusion rather than iron tablets, an infusion will raise her ferritin level in 24-48 hours, tablets can take many months. She can help raise her 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 her diet

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Isobelfred

Her ferritin is absolutely dire. See GP for full iron panel testing. She is likely to need iron infusion. Iron supplements will take months to bring levels up

Can you add actual results of vitamin B12 and folate

Most multivitamins are not usually recommended for anyone with Hashimoto's

Nearly all contain too little of what we do need. Most also contain iodine, not recommended for anyone with Hashimoto's at all

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

Has you mum got coeliac blood test done?

As advised in previous post?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Is she now trying strictly gluten free diet?

Getting vitamin D improved is essential

Aiming to improve to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better . Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs. With Hashimoto's we often need higher dose than guidelines recommend.

Important to test after 2-3 months as some people only need far less than average

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Local CCG guidelines recommend 1600iu daily for 6 months. Then ongoing maintenance dose of 1000iu daily

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

Do NOT supplement any vitamin K if you take any blood thinning medication

drsinatra.com/vitamin-k2-su...

Vitamin C and bones

healthimpactnews.com/2018/d...

The importance of sunshine

outsideonline.com/2380751/s...

Her low vitamins are directly due to being under medicated and having Hashimoto's

Just wondering......was the 75mcg dose a different brand of Levothyroxine?

Many, many patients react extremely badly to Teva brand of Levothyroxine

Always insist on same brand of Levothyroxine at each prescription, once you find one that suits best

Many patients find different brands are not interchangeable

Isobelfred profile image
Isobelfred in reply to SlowDragon

Slowdragon and seaside susie thanks so much We both wish We could do something to say thank you

I called the doctors surgery to ask about the iron level and she said the nhs won’t give it on prescription anymore, so I asked to make an appointment with the go instead to talk to him about it .

The Levothyroxine is always the same brand. Her reaction was very negative , not just a little bit. She was exhausted couldn’t focus.

I always try my best to encourage her to eat gluten free, but she is not 100%.

Thank you for those vitamin D dosages because we’ve just been looking trying to find a recommended dosage

She does still suffer fatigue, but with her thyroid being better, maybe it could be from that low iron level?

The multi vitamin she takes at night to keep it away from her Levo, it seems to contain almost everything at some level or another except iodine.

I guess with her being unable to take more than 50mcg, at least it narrows her dosage down a little !

Is it correct that her TSH has come down from 11 to 1 on only 50mcg?

Her weight hasn’t changed. But her hair and skin has improved a lot. And blood sugar swings are better.

Just one more question, could it take up to 6 months for the full effect to happen? Is it true it takes a while to reverse the hypothyroid hormone imbalances in the body before weight loss can happen? Or is it the 6 weeks everyone talks about

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Isobelfred

I called the doctors surgery to ask about the iron level and she said the nhs won’t give it on prescription anymore, so I asked to make an appointment with the go instead to talk to him about it .

This is so wrong, and a receptionist is not qualified to tell you this.

She is below range. It must be looked into. She must have a full blood count at the very least to see if it is iron deficiency anaemia, if not then an iron panel would identify another form of anaemia.

Does she have signs and symtoms of iron deficiency anaemia - check here

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

Investigation for iron deficiency anaemia:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro... :

Interpreting ferritin level:

•In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 15 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Trial of iron treatment:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

Managing people with confirmed iron deficiency:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

Management of iron deficiency anaemia:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

You absolutely cannot let her GP get away with ignoring her ferritin level.

For thyroid hormone to work properly, it's said that ferritin needs to be 70, recommended is half way through range. Your GP wont know this, they're not taught nutrition.

And ditch the multivitamin, whatever time she takes it.

Isobelfred profile image
Isobelfred in reply to SeasideSusie

She has every single symptom of low iron. we’ve been so focused on thyroid thinking everything was down to that.

So it could be the iron deficiency causing it all. Or some of it.

Ok back to the doctor , if he tells us she can’t have anything on prescription what’s the very best I can buy her please if anyone can recommend ?

No multivitamins then, just iron and vitamin Ds.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Isobelfred

Ok back to the doctor , if he tells us she can’t have anything on prescription what’s the very best I can buy her please if anyone can recommend ?

Iron deficiency anaemia is not a DIY fix. The GP must sort this, she might even need referring to Haematology. If this GP wont do anything, see a different one and once deficiency is confirmed and treatment organised, make an official complaint against the one who refused to do anything (if that happens). But if you go armed with all this evidence from NICE then I doubt the GP will ignore it.

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