I would be grateful if you could please advise me on the results I have received from a ultra vit thyroid test with Medicheck.
I have only been on Levothyroxine 25mg for 4 weeks and realise maybe I should have waited 2 more weeks before I did the test but I wanted to see how my vitamins were doing as my doctor doesn’t want to see me for another 8 weeks.......
I don’t know whether to go back in 2 weeks and ask for my dose to be raised or what else I should be asking for?
Thank you for any advice.....
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barleyblue
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Ferritin is very low, it's said that for thyroid hormone to work properly (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range, although doctors are happy when it's just within range.
Low ferritin can suggest iron deficiency anaemia, you could ask your GP to do a full blood count and an iron panel to rule this out (or in). If you do have iron deficiency then you will need iron tablets prescribed.
You can help raise your 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 your diet
Active B12 is OK, when it's below 70 that suggests testing for B12 deficiency.
Folate is OK.
Vit D 52.6nmol/L = 21ng/ml
This is low. 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 the recommended level, the Vit D Council suggests supplementing with 3,700iu D3 daily (nearest is 4,000iu).
Retest in 3 months.
When you have 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:
Your GP won't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -
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).
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies: 130 (<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.
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.
As you have Hashi's then for best absorption you should consider for Vit D supplementation either an oral spray (eg BetterYou) or sublingual liquid (eg Vitabay Organics or Natures Answer) rather than tablets or capsules.
As for your TSH, FT4 and FT3, as you say you should have waited until 6 weeks after starting Levo as you wont yet have the full effects and your levels wont have stabilised. But as your TSH is still over range you will need an increase in Levo, 25mcg then retest 6-8 weeks later, continuing with retesting/increasing by 25mcg at a time until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well. 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.
As it's normal for testing to be 6 weeks after starting Levo, I would arrange for a retest at your surgery in 2 weeks time, don't wait for another 8 weeks. If your GP doesn't agree
then ask him to check the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary for management of hypothyroidism.
Thank you very much for all of that info. I will take it all on board and I will definitely see my doctor in 2 weeks time as my symptoms have not gone away.
I am currently on ferritin tablets since January and it has gone up from 13 so hopefully this will improve over time. I have suffered for over 10 years with low ferritin levels and don’t seem to be able to stop taking the ferritin tablets for much more than a couple of months at a time.
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
Thank you for your advice. I am going to try a gluten free diet as I have had a bad gut for about 4 years now with severe bloating. I’m wondering if there is a test for low stomach acid as my doctor thinks I have high stomach acid and has prescribed laprozole but my stomach can’t take it?
I am also thinking of going private and getting a full medical of my endocrine system. Would you recommend anybody in the Lancashire area? Thank you
As others have mentioned your ferritin is very low especially considering that you are on Iron supplements already. It is possible that you have a gut absorption issue such as Coeliac. FYI I have underactive thyroid and Coeliac so I am writing this from my experience.
I recommend that you do not go Gluten Free just yet. You must ask your Dr to explain and/or investigate why your vitamin/ferritin levels are so low. It is not good enough for them to just give you supplements. I have heard that the £20 Coeliac tests from Boots are not always effective/reliabel so please get tested for Coeliac by your GP. It is important that the GP gives you the test and the diagnosis so that you can get further support from them. Please take a look at the website for Coeliac UK for how to get diagnosed and contact them if you have questions -they are very helpful. Please tell your GP that not all Coeliacs have noticeable bowel issues. Many Drs presume that the symptoms are mainly frequent toilet visits and weight loss. A big indicator is unexplained low levels of key vitamins and ferritin which you have.
NB do not go Gluten Free until the Dr has tested you as this could give you a false negative result. Coeliac might not be the absorption problem but you need to find out why your levels are low
I had a camera down my throat a couple of years ago when they were trying to find out why my stomach was bloated and I’m sure they did a test for coeliac then by removing some tissue to test. I’m sure it was negative.
My ferritin has gone up from 16 to 29 since I have been on Levothyroxine (4 weeks) so I’m hoping it will continue to rise.
I am 6 days into gluten free and I feel rubbish. Headaches and upset stomach 😟
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