Hi i haven’t posted anything on this site for a couple of years. Long story short, paid for my bloods to be taken through medi check and had a private drs appt which confirmed that i was suffering hashimotos. He rang my GP to ask them to start me on a trial of levo. GP was annoyed but took my bloods in April 2017, these were the results:
TSH. 1.94 (range 0.35-5.5)
FT4 11 (range 9-23)
FT3 4.2 (range 3.5-6.5)
TPA 455 (range 0.0-59.0) TPA antibodies - Positive there is a very high likelihood of developing autoimmune thyroid disease, suggest repeating thyroid function tests 3 monthly intervals.
Ferritin 14.6 (range 30-400)
Folate 8.1 (range 3.3 - 99,999)
Vit B12 338 (range 190-910)
I explained to GP that i was worried about these results she refused trial of levo and contacted consultant Endo who replied back that i should just wait and see and there was no need for any more blood tests for another year and not to ask for them until then. I discussed NDT with my gp (wish i hadn’t) and was firmly told off and warned that i would suffer a heart attack!! I did start some NDT only a quarter tablet and did start to feel better for a while, but had a family bereavement and just couldn’t cope with anything for a while. I also had asked for thyroid scan I was found to have a nodule but told to ignore it as it was so small!! Any way i asked for thyroid bloods repeated a couple of weeks ago all they asked for were TSH which is now 3.3 and didn’t check antibodies or ferritin or other vits. Am furious because I was a nurse and midwife for years and although i am not an Endo i know my own body enough to know I have hashi’s and am struggling. I have appointment with gp on monday am taking these 2 year old results and if she won’t repeat full thyroid bloods will get medi checks again.
I also have been on hrt but have had to stop it cos my BP was raised and had been experiencing visual disturbances and migraines.
I am so sorry to rant and complain so much but i am exasperated by my care. I would appreciate any advice anyone of you can give me and thank you so much for past replies.
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saffy1ruby
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There are over 100,000 members on here in large part because NHS refuses to test more than TSH in vast majority of cases ....totally inadequate
You will need to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing privately
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Previous results
Your ferritin was far too low
B12 also low
No vitamin D tested
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)
Essential to improve all four vitamins to optimal levels, frequently with Hashimoto's vitamin levels require supplementing (and retesting)
Improving vitamins often "reveals" increased TSH so that you can get started on Levothyroxine
Come back with new post once you get results and ranges
As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet?
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet 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
Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity and autoimmune disease
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Thank you so much for your reply, i will ask for everything you have stated. I have been gluten free since April, do you think i should re-introduce gluten before asking gp for coeliac test. My ferritin has always been low they sent me for a colonoscopy this year because of this and this is why i went gluten free afterwards to try and alleviate symptoms. Thanks for the good advice and will post latest results when i get them.
No, I wouldn't go back on gluten....it's more likely gluten intolerance than coeliac
Have you noticed any improvements since going strictly gluten free
For example, even if no reduction in symptoms, often TPO antibodies very slowly lower, and/or vitamin levels don't require quite such large amounts of supplements to maintain optimal levels .....also brain fog can improve slowly
The only real difference i have noticed is the brain fog lifting a little and feeling a bit more like myself, digestion and bowel symptoms improved really quickly. I still feel really tired with aching joints and it sometimes feels like a crushing feeling in my neck as if a hand was around it, do you think my thyroid nodule might have grown? I will continue with gluten free and thanks so much for the reply.
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.
Evidence of a link between increased level of antithyroid antibodies in hypothyroid patients with HT and 25OHD3 deficiency may suggest that this group is particularly prone to the vitamin D deficiency and can benefit from its alignment.
Our results indicated that patients with hypothyroidism suffered from hypovitaminosis D with hypocalcaemia that is significantly associated with the degree and severity of the hypothyroidism. That encourages the advisability of vit D supplementation and recommends the screening for Vitamin D deficiency and serum calcium levels for all hypothyroid patients.
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