Confused about good test results

[Nico101]

Hello all,

Just had my bloods done again, as I messed up last time by taking my NDT too long before my test.

So, now I did the test properly - NDT about 12.30, blood test at 9am, T4 after I did the blood test - and everything looks great... except my skin and hair is still awful, I'm still having fibro pains (although I'm beginning to think that may be down to too many oxalates), still feel a bit tired (I'm sleeping well, but that's down to recently starting cannabis oil rather than any improvements in symptoms), and have PND (that's a bit better, but still there).

So, I don't know what to do now, as I'm clearly not at my sweet spot.

Any suggestions would be great, as I don't know if I should increase my T4, increase my NDT, decrease my NDT, or what. I overmedicated on NDT last year and felt awful until I managed to get it down to 1 1/4 - but I still felt crappy. I was then told I needed T4 and I did improve a lot more with the inclusion of 25mg of levo.

But I'm still not 'right'. I've no idea where to go from here, so I'd be grateful for some advice.

Thanks very much in advance.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Nico101

I am on Levo plus T3. If those were my results I'd be feeling awful. I need FT4 much higher in range. Not everyone on combination therapy does, but we all need to find the right balance of FT4/FT3 for us as an individual. Have you ever had your FT4 higher?

Your FT3 is 65.95% through the range so that's a decent amount, I'm good at about 70-75% with a fairly similar percentage for FT4.

How are your nutrient levels?

[Nico101 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the reply.

My nutrients are generally good, as I eat healthy organic food and lots of veg.

However, that said, I've recently discovered the alarming effects oxalates have on the body and, due to being low carb, I was getting a LOT. I've started reducing the almond flour in my bread and cakes, cut down heavily on the chocolate content of my cakes, and got rid of some high oxalate fruits and veg from my diet. This is a process I've just started, though, so it will take some time for any benefits to kick in - 2 weeks, I believe, and 6 months to clear them from my system.

I've also been struggling with ferritin - I got that up to 72 and then was disappointed it had fallen to 60 at my last blood test. I've had to cut down on turmeric, take my coffee later in the day (I have the chicken livers with breakfast), reduce and pre-boil the sweet potato I have with breakfast (oxalates), and I now take vitamin C with the liver and Ox Bile. I'm hoping that's done the trick.

My zinc levels were VERY low and on my last test my copper was low too. I'm supplementing 30mg zinc and 15mg copper. I've also started taking boron.

I've been working on raising my minerals and could do with a test now to check if there's been any improvement. My hair was falling out like I'd had chemo when my zinc was on the floor, but that has now settled down, so that suggests my zinc levels are beginning to climb.

Aside from that, my other nutrient levels are good - magnesium, potassium, selenium - D3 is also high, as is my B12.

I haven't had my FT4 higher, as I started levo only 8 weeks ago. I was about to try increasing that by 12.5 mg but perhaps I should just go for the 50mg?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nico101]

I haven't had my FT4 higher, as I started levo only 8 weeks ago. I was about to try increasing that by 12.5 mg but perhaps I should just go for the 50mg?

Either really. You might want to be cautions and just go slowly, 12.5mcg increments. Or maybe the first increase do 25mcg extra, see what effect that has, then further increments if needed could be 12.5mcg.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

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

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Do you have Hashimoto’s, if so are you on strictly gluten free diet

[Nico101 in reply to SlowDragon]

All are good - except zinc and ferritin was starting to drop. I'll ask for another test soon, as I'd like to see if my efforts have increased my levels.

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Nico101]

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Strictly gluten free diet frequently helps with joint pain

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten intolerance. Second most common is lactose intolerance

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms, sometimes significantly. Either due to 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 strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

If no noticeable improvement, 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...

[Nico101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry, I only answered the first bit. Yes, I have Hashi's.

Yes, been gluten-free for about 6-7 months, now. No grains at all, in fact. Or dairy. Or nightshades.

[shaws]

This link may be helpful. The doctor would only presribe NDT or T3 for those who were resistant. He only took one blood test for a diagnosis and thereafter it was all about relieving clinical symptoms by small increases.

I believe all three links will be helpful to you.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

[greygoose]

Where did you read that? Can you link to it, please?

[Liyaelize]

Scientists have discovered that there are cannabinoid receptors located on cells on the thyroid gland. ... Evidence also suggests that CBD and other cannabinoids can be beneficial for managing the symptoms commonly associated with thyroid disorders, such as pain, depression, dry skin, inflammation, and anxiety.Sep 13, 2017

ECHO Connection › can-cbd-help-t...

Can CBD Help with Thyroid Disorders? - ECHO Connection

It lowers cortisol. Some become hypo and other people hyper.. You need to see what it does for it.

[Nico101 in reply to Liyaelize]

Yes, it does help some things - like sleep, pain, depression (since I'm never down when I'm taking it).

It's done nothing for my skin or hair, though.

We have endocannibinoid receptors throughout our bodies, and I'm also happy taking it for osteoporosis, as studies have shown it stimulates new bone formation.

[Liyaelize]

hellomd.com/blogs/articles/...

Cannabis could worsen Hashimoto.

[Nico101 in reply to Liyaelize]

How do I know if I have TH-1 or TH-2 type Hashi's? I had to diagnose my illness myself, so I doubt I'd get a test on the NHS. I've never heard that there was a difference.

That said, I ran out of cannabis oil in the end of summer last year and felt absolutely terrible. I've just started it again and my god is it good to get a night's sleep! And have manageable pain, too!

[greygoose]

The kind of oil you can buy legally contains no THC, unlike the cake you eat in Amsterdam! It is not the same thing and does not have the same effect! lol

[greygoose]

Maybe you should give some sort of sign when you're making a joke, like using exclamation marks or something?

[greygoose]

Indeed.

[Nico101]

It works for fibro pain and sleep. No, it isn't legal, but then again, the law is wrong. The law stops us using cannabis because it was brought in to satisfy lobbyists for the American Big Pharma and alcohol companies.

Odd that you can't use cannabis legally but your GP will prescribe you opiates that are currently an epidemic in America, since they've killed so many people and are highly addictive.

Don't get me started on the corruption of our governments and the ignorance of our health industry! I get very angry about it.

I actually started trying cannabis oil years ago when I realised I was going to die if I kept on taking more and more drugs for bowel disease, as I needed additional drugs to counteract the terrible effects of the primary ones. The steroids have left me with osteoporosis and had I still been on immunosuppressants, I'd be likely to die if I caught the coronavirus.

Cannabis oil (after a few false starts when I bought CBD oil off the internet thinking it was the real deal) got me off 13 drugs - and bowel disease in remission! It is a wonderful and safe medicine. I had a terrible time last year when I ran out and my previous supplier had stopped selling it. Took me ages to find a new one I could trust, and I went without a good night's sleep for about 3-4 months. I hadn't realised it had been suppressing the fibro pains, either, until I took it again.

That said, it's not great for thyroid issues - just the pain and sleep. Doesn't stop my hair falling out

[Liyaelize]

hypothyroidmom.com/autoimmu...

You can see info in here.

[Nico101 in reply to Liyaelize]

Mmm... based on this info I think I'm TH-2 dominant.

I wouldn't stop cannabis oil, though, as it controls my bowel disease and I don't have to take any drugs for it.

[Liyaelize]

I have to reduce my thyroid medication using Cannabinoids. Did you find the same?

[Nico101 in reply to Liyaelize]

I don't know, really. I'm still trying to figure out my correct thyroid med dose, so it's impossible to tell. If I'd been able to take the cannabis oil throughout this period of trying to find the correct dose, it would be easier to tell if I then stopped the oil. But having to stop it when I'd overmedicated on the NDT and then had to slowly come down to try and find my correct dose has confused things.

Plus, as my oil was running low, I was taking smaller and smaller amounts. Now I'm back on it, I've lost my tolerance to it and have had to start from 1 drop again. Maybe the oil will affect my need for thyroid meds once I can handle a larger amount.

It would make sense for cannabis oil toreduce the need for meds , though, as it reduces anxiety and helps you sleep, so I guess it would help all illnesses in that regard, including thyroid. Stress was the reason I got Hashi's in the first place, so any reduction in that has got to be a positive when it comes to this illness.

I think I'm going to have to tinker with my thyroid meds - I went up 12.5mg in levo last night - and once I find my sweet spot, then keep an eye on things regarding any increase in taking cannabis oil. Having overmedicated already, I at least have some idea what it feels like, so if the cannabis oil does cause me to be overmedicated, I can look at reducing my thyroid meds.

Thanks for the info, though. It's something to watch out for. I only started NDTs at the end of the summer and my oil started running out in September.

What a complicated illness!