Hi I have been taking thyroxine for 13 years since having my daughter. I have been taking the same dose for most of this time 125. For the last year feeling unwell so have had bloods with Medicheck . I would really appreciate your help in explaining what the best action would be now, and what suppliments may help.
Folate 5.32ug/l
B12 153pmol/l
Vit D 34.8nmol/l
Ferritin 12
thyroglobulin antibodies 442
Thyroidperoxidase antibodies 457
TSH 2.6MIU/L
T3 3.75PMOL/L
FREE T4 18.7PMOL/L
CRP 0.37
Many thanks everyone
Written by
555mumsie
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Can you please add the reference ranges for your results so that members can interpret them - ranges vary from lab to lab and not everyone knows the ranges Medichecks use.
These tell us that you are undermedicated. When on Levo only, the aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well. Your Free T4 isn't that bad, but TSH is too high and Free T3 is too low. When your TSH is down to about 1 we can then look at the FT4 and FT3 and see how well you convert T4 to T3. If FT3 stays low in comparison to FT4 then that would suggest poor conversion and low T3 causes symptoms.
You should ask your GP to increase your Levo by 25mcg immediately, retest after 6-8 weeks and see where your levels lie then.
thyroglobulin 442 (<115)
thyroidperoxidase 457 (<34)
Your raised antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed. Fluctuations in symptoms and test results is common with Hashi's. Has anyone told you this?
Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.
You can possibly help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here, although there is no guarantee.
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.
Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies and some of your other results show this.
Vit D 34.8nmol/L (50-175) (13.9ng/ml)
This is very low and only 4.8 points above where your GP would prescribe loading doses of D3. You could ask your GP and he may give you 800iu D3, possibly 1600iu, but you could also buy your own supplements which may be better as you can buy a better quality one.
The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L (50ng/ml) and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml). To raise your current level to their recommended level, the Vit D Council suggests taking 4,900iu D3 daily (nearest is 5,000iu)
When you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, 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).
Ferritin 12 (15-150)
You need to speak to your GP about this. Ask for an iron panel and full blood count, there may be iron deficiency anaemia, low ferritin can suggest this.
Folate 5.32 (>3.89)
Over the range but quite low, I'd want that in double figures. A good B complex containing 400mcg methylfolate will help (as will lots of folate rich foods). You don't need too much methylcobalamin (B12) in it as your B12 is good.
Thank you, I had never heard of Hashi's before coming on this forum , certainly never been mentioned by any doctors, I have been to get the vitamins and have an appointment to see my GP in 2 weeks. Thank you again.
UK doctors tend to use the term "autoimmune thyroiditis" rather than Hashi's.
Don't start all supplements at the same time. Start with one, leave it 1-2 weeks and if no adverse reaction then add the second one. Continue like this. If you have any reaction then you will know what caused it.
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Help with blood test results please
Help with blood test results
Help with test results please
Help with results please
Help with Medicheck results please
