Test results back: Hi, very new to all of this... - Thyroid UK

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Test results back

Nugget13 profile image
6 Replies

Hi, very new to all of this. Following advice from here last time, I got a test done via Thriva. Here are my results

FT3 4.7

TSH 5.39

TPOAb 177

T4 117

Ft4 15.6

It also says my Vit D is very low and no results for Ferratin as the blood was damaged are something

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Nugget13
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

We need to know the ranges of each result. Ranges are in brackets after the results. The reason being that labs use different machines and ranges may be different.

To edit - select the down key next More and then edit to add them. As your TSH is under 10, doctors have been told not to diagnose. We, the patients, know we can be symptomatic and not feel well. In other countries if TSH is above 3 we would be as symptoms would also be taken into account.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Nugget13

As reference ranges vary from lab to lab, we always need to see the ranges that come with your results.

Thriva ranges are the same as Blue Horizon and Medichecks so some of us know those.

TSH 5.39 (0.27-4.2)

This is too high.

Ft4 15.6 (12-22)

This is too low

FT3 4.7 (3.1-6.8)

This is too low.

The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.

Looking at your previous post you have recently been diagnosed and prescribed 50mcg Levo. Your GP should retest 6 weeks after starting the Levo, the results will probably be similar to these. You need an increase of 25mcg now, retest in 6-8 weeks, then keep repeating until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well.

TPOAb 177 (<34)

Thee should also be a result for Tg (Thyroglobulin) antibodies. However, this one is enough.

Your raised antibodies suggest that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed.

Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily is said to help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies.

It also says my Vit D is very low

What is the result?

no results for Ferratin as the blood was damaged are something

Are they sending a new kit out to you?

Were B12 and folate included, if so what are the results?

Nugget13 profile image
Nugget13 in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi

My ranges are

FT3 3.1-5 I’m 4.7

TSH4.2-10 I’m 5.39

TgAB 0-115 29.9

TPOAb 34-200 I’m 177

T4 66-181 I’m 117

FT4 12-17 I’m 15.6

Vit d is 8 nmol/L

B12 43pmol/L

Folate 9.7nmol/L

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Nugget13

Nuggett13

My ranges are

FT3 3.1-5 I’m 4.7

TSH4.2-10 I’m 5.39

TgAB 0-115 29.9

TPOAb 34-200 I’m 177

T4 66-181 I’m 117

FT4 12-17 I’m 15.6

Sorry to disagree but you have got that wrong. I think you are looking at the "optimal" range that Thriva give (possibly just the darker green part of the bar) for some of them. I have used the correct ranges in my reply above which includes the whole of the green bar from left hand light green to right hand light green and including the darker green optimal part.

Same thing happened with another member yesterday who used Thriva so she added a picture of her results which you can see here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Maybe post a picture, you can edit your opening post by clicking on MORE beneath it, choose EDIT, upload your picture then click SUBMIT.

**

Vit d is 8 nmol/L

B12 43pmol/L

Folate 9.7nmol/L

Again, you haven't put the ranges for these. But we know from the other post I linked to which show all of Thriva's ranges that:

Vit D: 8nmol/L (75-175)

This is severe Vit D deficiency and you need to see your GP about this. He should provide loading doses according to NICE treatment summary for Vit D deficiency: cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

(click on Management > Scenario:Management)

"Treat for vitamin D deficiency if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are less than 25 nmol/L.

For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders.

* Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

So you should get loading doses for a few weeks. When these have finished it's essential to check your level as your follow on dose will depend on that (supplementing is for life when you have Vit D deficiency). Your GP may not be willing to retest (many wont) so if that's the case you will have to do this privately* (link below), then post your new level on the forum for further guidance.

The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L (your GP wont agree, he will be happy just to see your level in the "sufficiency" category and that starts at 50. That will be far too low.

Once you've eventually reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:

vitamindtest.org.uk/

Doctors don't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council.

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking D3 as tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking magnesium as tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

afibbers.org/magnesium.html

**

B12 43pmol/L (37.5-188)

Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency according to Viapath at St Thomas' Hospital:

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Reference range:>70. *Between 25-70 referred for MMA

There is a link at the bottom of the page to print off the pdf to show your GP.

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency – check here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/submit/document?id=46

If you do then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Do not take any B12 supplements or folic acid/folate/B Complex supplements before further testing of B12 as this will mask signs of B12 deficiency and skew results.

**

Folate 9.7nmol/L (8.83-60.8)

This is very low in range and folate should be at least half way through range (35+ with that range). Folate and B12 work together.

Your folate level will need addressing but your GP wont do this because you don't have folate deficiency, just a low level. You must sort out B12 first, further testing for B12 deficiency or pernicious anaemia and then start either B12 injections or supplements, then you add a B Complex which will contain methylfolate and will address your low folate level. A B Complex is needed when taking B12 in any form as this balances all the B vitamins, but as I said, it must not be started before the B12.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Low vitamin D is EXTREMELY common with Hashimoto’s

How low is vitamin D?

GP should prescribe vitamin D supplements if results are low

Vitamin D

GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

Once you reach 50nmol likely NHS prescription will stop

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

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. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

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

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

Importance of vitamin D for fighting Covid

moxafrica.org/post/the-vita...

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.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

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. 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...

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

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