Results after Hashimoto swing? Please advise. - Thyroid UK

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Results after Hashimoto swing? Please advise.

autowhen profile image
10 Replies

75mg Eltroxin

Sept 2018

TSH 0.35 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 16.7 (12.0-22.0)

Free T3 4.4 (3.1 - 6.8)

April 2019

TSH 1.64 (0.27-4.20)

Free T4 20.4 (10.50-22.00)

January 2020

TSH 1.88 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 17.3 (12.0-22.0)

Free T3 3.9 (3.1-6.8)

My vitamin D level is 54, lab counts as ok >50 but I have been only erratically supplementing with better you vitamin D +K2 so I know I need to be better with this.

Everything else ok.

I felt so much better when my TSH was better suppressed like September 2018, I had another Hashi flare over Christmas, still not great, but better than I was. Do I need to increase Eltroxin? Should I wait a few more weeks and see how things even out doing another blood test? Please advise me!

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autowhen profile image
autowhen
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10 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

I see no evidence of a Hashi's 'hyper' swing. But, according to your January results, you do need an increase in dose, yes. :)

autowhen profile image
autowhen in reply to greygoose

Thank you. I just don’t know how to convince my gp to increase the dose - for them all the tests are “normal”!

Do you think just increase eltroxin or should it be T3 addition?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to autowhen

For a GP, anything that is within the range is 'normal'. They don't under-stand the difference between 'in-range' and 'optimal'. I don't know how you can convince them of anything. They just don't have the education to take it on board.

To begin with, you need an increase of Eltroxin, to bring your TSH down to 1 or under. Then, you'll be able to see just how well, or how poorly, you convert. At the moment, it does look as if you will need T3 added for poor conversion, but start with increasing the levo. :)

autowhen profile image
autowhen in reply to greygoose

GP was not at all happy to increase my dose, but eventually was persuaded to allow me to try 75/100 on alternate days. Repeat blood test in 6 weeks.

I hate the fight. Thank you for being supportive here.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to autowhen

They have no idea. Did you point out your very low FT3?

autowhen profile image
autowhen in reply to greygoose

Sadly my GP will only read the standard blood test results, which show just T4 and TSH. Totally ignores the private blood test which includes the T3 result, even though they are taken from the same blood draw, and the results sent directly to the GP.

GP even said are you seeing an endocrinologist, to which I had to point out that they never referred me to one! My GP is curious as to where I am getting my information.

I think if it hadn’t been for the help you have given me here on this site, I would have been put on anti-depressants by my GP years ago and not have even been on thyroid medication until my TSH went over 10! I dread to think how bad I would have been feeling by then. You have saved my mental health that is for sure. Brain fog is terrible. Thank you for all your help.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to autowhen

So much ignorance. It's heart-breaking.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

On levothyroxine we need optimal vitamin levels

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol

What are your B12, folate and ferritin levels ?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone

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

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

autowhen profile image
autowhen in reply to SlowDragon

Hi Slowdragon, my folate, ferritin and B12 levels have always been very good, no worries with those.

I have been tested for coeliac and negative, including endoscopy. Gluten free diet for four months no change and no change on reintroduction, other than reintroducing bad eating habits! Don’t think it’s a leaky gut issue regarding absorption of Vit D, I just don’t get enough sunlight on me. I need to be better at taking the supplement spray. Maybe need a bit more magnesium in my diet too.

Now need to sort out dose of thyroid treatment, just need evidence for my gp.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to autowhen

Low vitamin D is almost inevitable with hashimoto’s

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.

75nmol minimum level

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

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

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose than average

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