Can anyone recommend a UK based nutritionist or dietician that specialises in thyroid disorders please?

[Eimear78]

Morning

I would like support with my diet and nutrition but want someone who knows thyroid. I can't see any here in the North West. Can anyone recommend someone please?

Thanks

Eimear

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_...

There may be a functional doctor on the list in your area. Not sure about a functional nutritionist

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested?

What vitamin supplements do you currently take?

Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing before paying to see any private medic or nutritionist

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

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

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

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Are you still on T3?

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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

Come back with new post once you get results. Members can advise on vitamin results

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

I had my full Thyroid Vit test in late July and folate and Vit D were low. Endo suggested I take 20000iu Vit D once a week. I also take magnesium malate and a Selium complex. Trying to increase my green veg and eat more folate rich food but want a bit of support managing my diet, eating because I am tired or comfort eating and adding structure to what I eat. I will do a blood test before I see them.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

Most with Hashimoto's need to supplement vitamin D continuously to maintain optimal levels

GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

If vitamin D is low, B vitamins may be too. As explained by Dr Gominack

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/286...

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.

endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...

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.

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be more beneficial than just folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. 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 Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

My antibodies are fine so no Hashis but I know it can happen so we are keeping an eye on it. I think the vitamin D is just because I've not been outside as much. I thought I may feel perkier after a month on the 20,000 iu but not so much. My nails are nice and strong though.

I will buy the vit B complex ...thanks for the recommendation

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

Ever had ultrasound scan of your thyroid?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Had one this time last year and it was fine. I read about that on here and got the endo to book one in for me

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

So is your thyroid smaller than average, or any other visible reason why hypothyroid if it's not Hashimoto's

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

No. My thyroid is the right size.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

So no obvious reason for being hypothyroid.

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

TSH is supressed T3 is mid range and T4 is lower end of the range. I thought I may have been perimenopausal but all of my sex hormones are fine. We are hoping the vitamin D may help me feel less hypo

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

Ever had whiplash or bump on head or other head trauma?

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Nope. My mum has hypothyroidism, her mum did too, her cousin has it and another blood relation of mine has borderline results. Mum had her thyroid scanned in Ireland where she lives a few years ago and it has shrunk but their GP did nothing about it