Just testing TSH is completely inadequate waste of time
Does GP know you are self medicating with T3? They will likely freak out at suppressed TSH
TSH is almost always suppressed on any dose of T3. It means virtually nothing
You will have to get a TSH, FT3 and FT4 tested privately via Medichecks or Blue Horizon
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose 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)
If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test
As you have Hashimoto's as confirmed by high TPO antibodies, Are you on strictly gluten free diet ?
If not, ask GP for coeliac blood test
Your vitamins are all too low
What supplements do you currently take?
Folate is EXTREMELY low and BELOW RANGE. GP should prescribe folic acid
B12 is also on the low side. Do you have any symptoms of low B12? If you do ask for testing for Pernicious Anaemia
Ferritin is low. Ask GP to do full iron panel testing for Anaemia. Ferritin Needs to be at least 70 for good thyroid function
Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus increase in other iron rich foods plus daily vitamin C can help improve iron absorption
Vitamin D - is too low. But GP won't prescribe for levels over 50nmol. It's down to you to self supplement. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.
It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average
Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
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 buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
Wow, thanks so much for all the info will definately go through these steps.
Yes my doctor knows about the t3, as he wouldn't prescribe it as i was in just in range.
For the last 15 years I was always told I couldn't hold iron, i was on 5 iron tablets a day with a blood transfusion once a year. Hair loss, weight gain depression. Near suicidal every other year.
Then a locum doctor suggested thyroid in July 2017 had the tests, stated thyroid was okay. In Feb 2018 after much persuasion went back to see my own doctor who did all the thyroid tests but no tpo and all vits and full blood. Started on 50 of levo after a few months felt rubbish again and they upped it to 100. Still not feeling any better had tests redone in Oct, where I mentioned t3, but he wouldn't give me a private prescription. Said I could source it and see how I go.
Took a few weeks, felt okay.
Just before my yearly tests I remembered the tpo test as i can now see my results online which i asked to be done. Again still at 1300 which it was in July 2017.
I will ask for the ft3 and ft4 as well as the t3 and t4 and see how it goes.
My recent results I didn't take the t3 for 36 hours before and the levo was 24 hours before my bloods and I fasted before too.
Funny enough just started on the keto diet to see if the low carb and no sugar has an effect, into my second week now. Feel okay and lost 5 pounds, chuffed to bits been the same weight for 15 years regardless of what i ate and as i play netball twice a week too!!
I will look up all your links hopefully things will start getting better. Thank you so much.
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