Further update

[Pumpkin04]

So I've had a telephone consultation with my GP today as I still haven't heard anything from the endo he referred me to. I have virtually beg him to prescribe me thyroxine on the NHS as I can't afford to keep paying for it privately - especially now. I've quoted the "other" nice guidelines that they neglect to tell you ie patients with less than10 TSH but have two tests showing TSH over range and are presenting with symptoms then suggest a 6 month trial. He is adamant and basically told me that he won't treat me as my bloods are fine he quoted my most recent result where TSH was 3.2 (range 0.02 - 4.0) others have been over 4. I told him the reason that the TSH has gone down slightly is because that was when I had been on 50mcg of thyroxine for 4 months. He basically shut me down and made out that its all in my head. Meanwhile I'm getting heavier and heavier and am now morbidly obese. I'm on 10mg ramipril daily and am probably on the cusp of diabetes. So I've got to wait for the endo appointment which will probably not happen now any time soon. When I have run out of this thyroxine I have no more and can't afford any more so I suppose I'll just get ill again - well a lot iller than I currently feel!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous test show you have Hashimoto’s and should be prescribed

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

You need 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine and bloods retested In 6-8 weeks

[Pumpkin04 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for replying I'm talking all the recommended vits the vit d spray etc. I'm at a loss what to do next to be honest. I'm running out of thyroxine (I have to purchase this privately) so can't do the increase. My GP won't help me unless the endo says to prescribe thyroxine. I doubt I'll get an appointment any time soon. So I think I'll have to stop the thyroxine see if I get ill which I'm sure I will then try and get a blood test. I've read that you can get withdrawal symptoms stopping so I guess I'll drop myself tom25mcg for a week then 25mcg every other day.... I can't afford to buy any more tablets

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pumpkin04]

See different GP

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your high thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease

NICE guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

BMJ Alison clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

Post re how to push for dose increase in levothyroxine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Have you had coeliac blood test yet?

Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

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

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

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...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

[Miffie]

For weight loss try LCHF it is really good at looking after blood glucose levels naturally. Michael Mosely, Fast 800 is a good kick start and his Blood Sugar Diet book great for ongoing healthy eating. Just taking thyroid replacement won’t cause weight loss for many. I have been taking them for sixty years and still need to eat very carefully. Good luck.