Nails

[healthymarge]

Have been hypo/ hyper for over 25 years. Now on Eltroxin 100mcg 5 days and 75mcg weekends. Feel okay a bit tired sometimes but for the last 6 months my nails have been splitting, breaking and can bend. My last blood tests were in range so I'm wondering what's going on. Have taken zinc, selenium, vit D, omegas 3 6,9 and magnesium but nothing seems to be working. Any advice welcome!

[greygoose]

Just being 'in-range' is often not good enough. It's where in the range that the results fall that counts. Why not post your results and ranges here, and let people have a look. It sounds as if you're under-medicated.

[NWA6]

Morning healthymarge 👋 You’ve had both Hypo and Hyper symptoms? Or you started of Hyper and you were given medications to make you hypo?

If you can give a few more details and then post your results and ranges then the forum members will be better equipped to give you some of their experience and knowledge gained.

Example of how to set out blood results

TSH 2.9 (0.3-5)

FT4 16 (12-22)

FT3 3.5 (3.5-6.5)

The above are my results and ranges. Every lab uses their own ranges so it’s important to know these in order to understand the results.

[healthymarge in reply to NWA6]

Hi Pau la6 Many thanks for reply. Will request a new set of bloods and post results when I get them. I wonder if stress causes the TSH to fluctuate or maybe food. I remember I ate a lot of liquorice one evening before having bloods taken and it was only a long time afterwards when looking at the results that I wondered if this had an effect as my GP phoned and said to come in immediately as my thyroid seemed to have shut down! Haha never told him about the liquorice!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts presumably you have Hashimoto's as levels going up and down

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you do your tests?

You need to look at testing vitamin D levels at least annually when supplementing

Extremely common to have low B vitamins and ferritin

As GP to test thyroid antibodies, folate, B12 and iron and ferritin levels

Do you have recent blood test results and ranges for thyroid or vitamins to add now?

TSH should be at least under 2, many people need TSH well under one and FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

All four vitamins need to be optimal. Not just within range

If antibodies are high frequently gluten or dairy intolerance can be present. Trying elimination diet of gluten/dairy for 3-6 months recommended

[healthymarge in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for reply. My GP has said on numerous occasions that I don't have Hasimotos even though my TSH fluctuates from high to low. Will request a new set of bloods and see what turns up and post results. Antibodies nil also.

[McPammy]

Hi.

My nails went terrible especially my feet when my B12 was deficient also my ferritin was too low. Since I now have B12 loading my nails are best they’ve ever been. I’m veggie so I don’t eat meat. Are you veggie.

[healthymarge]

Thanks for reply. Yes, I'm vegetarian but eat a varied and healthy diet. At the moment I'm taking 3,6,9 eskimo oil, magnesium and ashwaghanda but have taken zinc and selenium and vitamin D in the past and still no change. Will request a new set of bloods and see what turns up.

[healthymarge]

Thanks for reply. I'm going to request a new set of bloods and will then post results so let's see what turns up. Its a merry-go-round!