In May 2015 I had Graves Disease and was on carbimazole for 15 months . Luckily everything calmed down and I was absolutely fine for ages . I went for a blood test on the 23rd as for the last 6 weeks I have had low mood , hair loss and feeling extremely tired .
Results are
T4 12.6 (9-24 )
TSH 3.6 (0.2 _ 5.0 )
Serum ferritin 17 ( 13.0 _ 150.0 )
Serum cholesterol 5.5 ( 0.0 _4.0 )
LDL cholesterol 2.94 ( 0.0 _ 2.0 )
Should I be concerned and any help appreciated .
Written by
Ianswife
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Just gone back on my patient access and in may 2015 my TPO thyroid ABS were
3295 IU/ml range 0_59 . My TSH was 0.001 and my T4 was 86 ( 9_24 ) . I did also have my TRAB tested at that time but got a letter with that result confirming Graves Disease .
Sorry I have read your message wrong , please excuse me as a bit brain foggy at the moment . Currently not under my endocrinologist as I got discharged last September . No the go only did a basic thyroid panel which both came back normal . I haven't felt right for 6 weeks . Sorry for misreading your initial message . Thank you for your help . Do you think I ask for a referral back to endocrinology ?
No, you understood correctly, and you answered. So, it looks as if you have both Hashi's and Grave's, because those Hashi's antibodies are very high. And, it could be that the Hashi's has now taken control. But, I don't really know. You should ask for a referral back to endocrinology, yes. Your cholesterol is high, so your FT3 is probably low.
Thank you so much for all your help , I will pay for antibodies to be tested privately as my GP is beyond useless . They just said all was fine and perfectly normal . Are medichecks any good . Sorry to ask so many questions . Thank you once again . I am usually positive a little bit hyperactive and bubbly but recently I could cry at the drop of a hat , periods have gone stupid heavy , hair loss and I have absolutely nothing to feel sad about . Trouble sleeping and just feel absolutely shattered . Hubby said go to the Dr as he said he can tell the difference in me .
Why do you want your antibodies retested? You know they're both positive. But, have you had your nutrients tested? Vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin? If they're low, they could be exacerbating your symptoms.
Yes, but once you have a positive result, it's not going to become negative. Even if the antibodies are lower than before, you'll still have the diseases, they don't go away.
Your ferritin is very, very low. That will be causing symptoms. What did your doctor say about that result? He should be doing a full iron panel on the basis of that.
Your folate could be higher, too, but your B12 isn't too bad. Ever had vit D tested? That needs to be optimal, too.
Ha ha GP just said everything is normal . I have zero faith in them and think most of them are rubbish . I will pay medichecks to do a throid antibody test and then I will contact my endocrinologist . I will probably get myself in trouble but I can only try.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Your TPO antibodies were extremely high
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
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
Medichecks currently has offer on at £79 instead of £99
£25 extra for private blood draw
Your ferritin is EXTREMELY low. See GP for full iron panel testing for Anaemia
GP could/should test vitamin D, folate and B12
High cholesterol levels linked to being hypothyroid, these will drop as hypothyroidism is treated
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
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
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
Thank you for all that helpful info and I have had really bad gut issues as in really gassy , burping all the time , has been going on for at least 6 months ,so thanks for that .
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
Many clinicians report that eating a gluten-free diet may help improve thyroid function in nonceliac gluten intolerance. “Getting gluten out is primary for patients with Hashimoto’s, even without celiac disease,”
Don't make me laugh , according to GP my results are fine . He just looked at me like I was barking mad when I said how I was feeling . Thank you again
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