Hi all new here. Been symptomatic for a few years now. Thinking maybe thyroid related. Or barking up the wrong tree?
My latest levels are
TSH 3.53 (0.27-4.20)
T4 18.3 (12-22)
T3 5.09 (3.1-6.8)
FERRATIN 82 (13-150)
VIT D 92 (50-175)
VIT B12 464
TPO ANTIBODIES 85 <34
TG ANTIBODIES 90 <115
Folate couldn't be tested as sample was haemolysed.
Thanks in advance ☺
Most definitely heading towards hypo, yes. In fact, you're there! You're hypo when your TSH reaches 3. However, you have Hashi's, so results can be a bit weird at times. And, although you have a high TSH, your thyroid hormones - T4 and T3 - aren't low at the moment. So, you wouldn't get a diagnosis with those results. But, you need to keep an eye on them, and keep testing. Also, keep an eye on that B12, it's a bit on the low side and could be causing hypo-like symptoms. 
Hi thank you for the reply. I am so pleased to hear that. I have been fobbed off by Dr's for years. I have been supplementing ignessus super b conplex.
How often would you suggest testing? I thought maybe in 4/5 months.
Good idea to supplement the Bs. But, did you stop the supplement a week before doing that test? A B complex will contain biotin. And, biotin can affect blood test results. That's not to say that yours were affected, but best to be on the safe side and always stop the B complex a week before testing.
4/5 months would be good, yes.
Yes i did stop 7 days before. So i am on the right track that my symptoms are thyroid related? I feel a sense of relief now, hearing you say that.
I would think so, yes.
Thank you 😊 I hope you're keeping safe with everything going on in the world
You're welcome. I've been in isolation for over a month, now, I think (although I do lose track of time!). So, hopefully, for the moment, I'm ok.
Stay safe.
Thank you. I'm in the uk so our lockdown just started on monday. Not sure how long it will last.
Stay safe too 😊
You're welcome.
Just to add my last test showed in nov tsh of 3.13 Same range as above. So something is going on to make it rise more?
What are your main symptoms?
Your TPO antibodies are above range and this confirms 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
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...
Hi thanks for the reply.
Awful fatigue and exhaustion getting worse.
More so with anything physical. Just going out to cinema or for lunch etc leaves me completely exhausted with headaches and brain fog.
Cant concentrate or think clearly.
Cold hands/feet, joint pains stiffness. Heat/cold intolerance.
Unable to regulate body temperature.
Generally feeling unwell and run down.
No hair loss (thankfully) just awful hair texture now which I never used to have.
Frequent urination which impacts my daily life too.
So you may find benefit from strictly gluten free diet and/or lactose free too
Read up as much as possible about Hashimoto’s....see all links in my first reply
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
Hi thank you.
Yes i will read through all the information.
I just was hoping for some reassurance maybe that it's not all in my head like Dr's suggest. And I could be heading towards hypothyroidism.
It’s not in your head....it’s very real....but at moment your thyroid levels are still not low enough, nor TSH high enough for vast majority of doctors to consider starting levothyroxine yet
Retesting 2 or 3 times a year.....especially say 2-3 months are trying strictly gluten free diet....
Frequently people see TPO antibodies drop slowly on gluten free diet
Thank you 😊
I know now it's worthwhile retesting then.
I was thinking in 4/5 months.
My tsh was 3.13 in nov so it is rising. Just not high enough yet.
Just to add when you said lowering antibodies. My gp tested my tpo antibodies a few years ago and they were over 1000. I know antibodies fluctuate but since then on private tests they have only been 100 something. Don't know if that means anything with the progress of hashimoto's. It's all so confusing 🤔
Sounds like me 😩, except my hair is falling out
So sorry to hear that. You poor thing 😔 I haven't had to deal with hair loss.....yet anyway. It's just awful now. So dry, brittle and breaking. Was always healthy and in good condition. Kind of affects your self esteem eh 🙁
Totally, it’s like bits of cotton now 😔
I look at friends of mine and they have perfect hair 😔 I just have tried every conditioner but none help. So annoying.
Yes, you have Hashi's, so your thyroid is being slowly destroyed. As the amount of thyroid hormone your thyroid is able to produce, the more TSH your pituitary will produce to try and stimulate the thyroid to make more.
OK. Thank you for explaining. I've thought for years it was thyoid related but my tsh was never over 2. Only the last 6 months or so it's starting to rise.
Hi Sophie, I would just second the suggestion to try to go gluten-free (for at least 6 months) and potentially lactose-free to see if those help. If you haven't already, I would also cut out soy, try to minimize processed foods and other foods that might contribute to inflammation (sugary foods, etc.) as you can, and priortize de-stressing, social support, getting good sleep, and treating yourself and your body well. Easier said than done (trust me, I know) but research suggests that ultimately these things really can make a difference. If and as you have the energy, research/experiment with finding foods that work well for you and cutting out those that don't, but don't stress yourself out over it.
Personally, I would also try Ashwagandha if I had known what I know now when I was in your situation a decade ago - my suggestion would be to research Ashwagandha and see if it's something you want to try to supplement with to get your body to produce more thyroid hormone. Like any herb it is not completely without risk, and as with any supplement you'll want to be careful to use a brand you trust, but to me it seems to be a very compelling option for those not already reliant on exogenous thyroid hormone to potentially (potentially!) prolong the body's ability to adequately rely on itself for at least some time, if not a good amount of time. If you have issues with cortisol, keep in mind that Ashwagandha is thought to lower cortisol levels.
Hi thank you for the reply. I will definitely try gluten free.
I plan on re testing again in 4/5 months to see if there's any change.
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