Help please uat

[michaelajoan]

My thyroid is within normal parameters according to doctors. I asked for further tests as I feel no better after being on 100mcg since November. My test results came back today. Doctor rang and said I tested positive for antibodies, but they’ve lost results for zinc, iron T3 (I think) cholesterol. He wants me to have another test tomorrow. I’m so confused. Does any of this make sense to anyone please

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

michaelajoan

but they’ve lost results for zinc, iron T3 (I think) cholesterol.

Call me an old cynic but I don't believe that for one minute. Results are on computers these days. Both at the hospital and at the GP surgery. Ask how they can lose computerised results.

Positive antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed. Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, 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.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies.

It's essential to test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you're having further tests tomorrow, we always advise here, when having thyroid tests

* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it will give false results (Medichecks definitely use Biotin, they have confirmed this and the amount of time to leave the supplement off).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

If you can't meet these suggestions, if I were you I'd cancel tomorrow's test and rearrange it, make some excuse and book another one.

Post any results you do have, with their reference ranges, when you have them. Ask at the reception desk for a print out, don't accept verbal or hand written results, mistakes can be made, and a print out will usually have the reference ranges as well as the results.

[dburtuk]

Hi I can only tell you from my experience, I have always felt better with my readings a little high, my doc is ok with me that way as long as I do not start going hypo, It's took about two and a half years to get my system to settle down. Just because you are in range, that does not mean that is ok for you. Each time I had my Levo raised I felt great for a couple of weeks and then started to go back to the aches and pains and tiredness, now I have been on 175 mcg Levothyroxine for over a year, my readings and my health appears to have stabilised. even my cholesterol level is coming down to normal.

All I can say is hang in there and don't let the docs of the hook, get to see an endo and tell them what you feel and ask plenty of questions, write a list before you go, just keep on keeping on its worth the effort, even if at the moment you feel like hell..

Duncan