So on advice from the lovely people here when I posted my last test results I splashed out for a Medicheck test.
I know I have Hasmimoto's - (been diagnosed for just under 2 years, still feeling tired and lacking energy). Result below, thoughts much appreciated. Have an appointment with GP to discuss low B12 and folate:
Thyroid Hormones
TSH: 0.461 (range 0.27 - 4.2)
Free T3: 4.75 pmol/L (range 3.1 - 6.8)
Free thyroxine (I think this is FT4): 18.1 pmo/L (range 12-22)
I think I'm OK to start self medicating with Vitamin D (Medichecks have given a recommended dosage), but a bit confused about B12 and tests the GP should / would do?
Thank you in advance.
Written by
AnnieOK
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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
Vitamin D, is low enough for GP to prescribe too. But you are likely better off self supplementing vitamin D mouth spray by Better You. This avoids poor gut function of Hashimoto's
Suggest you start with 2000iu daily, if this seems fine increase to 3000iu and retest in 2-3 months
These Medichecks results UNDERLINE exactly why just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate
Ferritin is OK, but doesn't want to drop further
Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus other iron rich foods like black pudding, prawns, spinach, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily vitamin C can help improve iron absorption
Important to retest after 3 months so you can then work out what dose to change to.
Once 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.
FYI, Medichecks recommended a dose of 20-50 mcg (800 - 2000iu) for 12 weeks then retest... Which I think is considerably lower than your recommendation?...? I get confused by all the different units!
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Medichecks results, please advise
Medicheck Advanced Thyroid Test Results...your advice please
Results in from medichecks. I'd love some input on them please.
Medichecks results advice please
