This is my first post since joining and I’ve finally got my results back from Medichecks.
Around 2 years ago a blood test I had taken for something completely unrelated at hospital came back with TSH 5.34. Due to a family history of hypothyroidism the hospital wrote to my GP asking to review my TSH levels but when a further blood test came back with TSH 2.67 my concerns were dismissed and I was literally laughed out of the surgery.
Fast forward 2 years and after feeling particularly rubbish recently I decided to get my bloods taken privately as I’ve lost trust in my GP.
From what I can make of my results I’d be considered by the NHS as having subclinical hypothyroidism. Is it worth trying to get treatment from my GP or would I fare better seeing an endocrinologist privately?
I’ve been gluten free, pretty much dairy free and low refined sugar for several years now but are there any further diet changes I can make?
The only supplement I take is a probiotic. Are there any other supplements that I can take to support my thyroid?
Sorry for the long post but I would really appreciate some advice.
Written by
hollyblue
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You are definitely hypo thyroid with that TSH reading and should be on levothyroxine. Your raised TPO antibodies show you have Hashimotos but most medics ignore it. They don't know what to do about it. GF and dairy free diet definitely helps. TPo's can cause TSH to fluctuate, were your tests done at same time of day? Should be done fasting and first thing in morning. Your VITD is too low and B12 should really be higher even though it is in range. Seaside Susie on here gives excellent advice about dosing with correct Vits etc
I would go back to GP surgery but see someone different if you can. You should be prescribed levothyroxine 25 or 50 mcgm and bloods should be tested every 6 weeks until your TSH is one or below and your symptoms are relieved. Good luck
Thanks Crimple. The blood test at the hospital was done around 9am fasting. The blood test through the GP was midday non fasting. Before I had my blood taken with Medichecks I read that it should be taken in the morning fasting. Although I was fasting it wasn't taken until 11:20 as the clinic was pretty busy.
As for the supplements can you recommend any particular brands for VitD and B12?
I've managed to get an appointment with a different GP for tomorrow evening so fingers crossed I'll hopefully get a prescription for levothyroxine.
I take Jarrows methyl B12-5000microgram lozenges, let them dissolve under your tongue (Amazon) also Jarrows B Right complex and Vit D3 by Solgar 5000IU and important to take Jarrows MK-7 vit k with them.
As you see what time you do your blood test does affect your TSH results!
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).
Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Ferritin is on low side, eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve levels. Daily vitamin C may help improve iron absorption. Other iron rich foods such as spinach, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate
Your results clearly show you are hypothyroid and should be started on 50mcg Levothyroxine
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards, retesting 6-8 weeks later each time. Thus continues until a TSH is under 2 (many need TSH under one) and FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
All four vitamins need to be optimal too
Typically most people eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to any blood tests
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including what foods to avoid (note recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours away from Levo)
For most people: 50–100 micrograms once daily, preferably taken at least 30 minutes before breakfast, caffeine-containing liquids (such as coffee or tea), or other drugs.
This should be adjusted in increments of 25–50 micrograms every 3–4 weeks according to response. The usual maintenance dose is 100–200 micrograms once daily.
A huge thank you SlowDragon for providing such a detailed response. I’ll take everything you’ve said on board and start getting these supplements ordered. I also feel far more confident now about tomorrow’s appointment with the GP as to where I stand with the Levothyroxine.
I have had a quick read through this post and there is no mention of the relevance of the high incidence of thyroid problems in your family.
People who get Hashimoto's have a slightly higher likelihood of having family members who have thyroid disease or other autoimmune diseases, suggesting a genetic component. No direct genetic link has been found and this would not explain the high incidence in your family. Your family seem to have a dominant genetic disorder which requires only one parent to pass it down.
TSH is not a thyroid hormone. It is produced by the pituitary gland and travels in the blood to the thyroid gland where it signals to the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones. Your TSH is above the normal range which generally indicates hypothyroidism but TSH is not causing your symptoms..
T3 is the active thyroid hormone which controls the metabolism and therefore the symptoms. The Free T3 test is therefore the most accurate way to diagnose hypothyroidism. Your Free T3 is well above the mid-point in the normal range, which would be good for most people and means that you are not hypothyroid.
Your good Free T3 also shows that you do not have any issue with converting T4 to T3.
Your good Free T3 with your symptoms and family history is a strong indicator of a genetic condition: Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone (more often known as Thyroid Hormone Resistance). It causes hypothyroid symptoms and requires very high T3 levels (often above the top of the normal range) in the body to overcome the resistance.
It is a dominant genetic condition and explains your family history of thyroid problems.
I'll be honest HughH I've had to read your response several times but I think I've finally got my head around it. A big thank you for all the information as Thyroid Hormone Resistance is something I wasn't even aware of let alone considered.
So with this in mind is the treatment still the same as crimple and SlowDragon have suggested?
Many doctors do not seem to understand thyroid blood tests and tend to rely exclusively on the TSH result. Most will still not prescribe while TSH is below 10.
Even if a doctor agreed to treat you they are likely to prescribe a small amount of Levo such as 25 or 50 mcg. A small dose such as this is likely to make you feel worse, as what it will do is reduce your TSH and therefore your own thyroid hormone production.
I will send you more information by personal message.
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