Still feel tired and struggling to lose weight here are my results, what next? Seeing endochrinilogist next Month
Help - following results, what next?? - Thyroid UK
Help - following results, what next??
![Annienixo profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/2160ff9d128649c8977841cf4c7192e0_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![](https://images.hu-production.be/post/post_a329703dbd974569a4c3af7e124a6ed9_637183419818602000.jpg)
![Annienixo profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/2160ff9d128649c8977841cf4c7192e0_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![SlowDragon profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/27fbbead1f291333f83bad1f31359fe3_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Do you always get same brand?
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
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels NOW
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
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
Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
However NHS rarely accepts that only high TG antibodies is hashimoto’s....so endocrinologist may not agree
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/303...
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common form of autoimmune thyroid disorders characterized by lower production of thyroid hormones and positivity to autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAb) and/or thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb)......
Elevated TgAb levels are associated with symptom burden in HT patients, suggesting a role of thyroid autoimmunity in clinical manifestations of HT. Based on these results, we recommend screening for TgAb antibodies in HT patients with symptom burden.
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...
Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
Ft4 is 82% through range
Ft3 only 32% through range
Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
Testing vitamin levels essential.. Improving low vitamin levels to optimal frequently improves conversion
Vitamin D at least over 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better
Folate over 10
B12 over 500
Ferritin at least half way through range
Come back with new post once you get vitamin results