Is the GP correct?

[Twig2020]

Good morning! I had a phone chat with my GP on Friday after I’d sent her my private results indicating Hashimotos. She agreed it was hashimotos but said we’ll test your bloods in 3 months but hashinotos can sometimes just go away on its own!!? (Is this true, I haven’t seen any evidence online that it can’t just go away). I asked about returning to my job as spin instructor next week (not sure what they advise about exercise and hashimotos) and she said yes fine - no concerns about exercising, it’s hyperthyroidism where you need to be careful? Is this correct? I’m now on an autoimmune diet, my thyroid is still working but I don’t want to compromise it if the advice is to not push it.. your advice would be welcomed, thank you 🙏🙏

[Twig2020]

Sorry and I should just confirm antibodies are out of range, TSH 8.67 and FT4 12.6 (I think).

[Lora7again]

Your TSH is too high and in a normal healthy person it would be about 1. I think you have hypothyroid and need treating now before you become much more ill. Unfortunately the NHS like your TSH to get to 10 before they treat you and by then you will feel ill. Also she hasn't got a clue because it won't go away and it is life long condition that needs treating with Levothyroxine. How are you feeling at the moment?

[Twig2020 in reply to Lora7again]

Yes I am hypothyroid but my thyroid is still producing thyroxin so I don’t think I’m needing meds yet. I just wanted to clarify if hashimotos goes away on its own? I have heard it never goes away but you can bring it under control with diet etc. Also need to k ow about exercise, don’t want to go back to my 150 miles a week on my bike if it’s the wrong thing to do.

[Lora7again in reply to Twig2020]

Your thyroid is struggling and I think you need treating now but if you think you are ok it is up to you. I ended up bedridden and nearly bald when my levels were not right and I am not trying to scare you but it can happen when you are left untreated. Just to add I was left untreated for 2 years so that is why I ended up like that. Also I wouldn't do any extreme exercises if I was you.

[Twig2020 in reply to Lora7again]

I’ve been unwell since March but diet has helped a lot and big difference in the last couple of weeks. 🤞🏻

[Lora7again in reply to Twig2020]

What kind of diet?

[Twig2020 in reply to Lora7again]

I’ve been following the Anthony Williams diet.. I’ve taken out eggs, gluten, dairy, corn, canola and soy and taking supplements, folate, D12, selenium, a probiotic and omegas. Been eating lots of foods to fight the enzymes, artichokes, celery juice, sesame etc etc. A big change to what I normally eat but it’s not too bad !

[Lora7again in reply to Twig2020]

I have never heard of the Anthony William's diet but I will google it. My daughter is following the Joe Wicks diet at the moment and it sounds awful to me but she wants to lose weight so she is sticking to it as are a lot of others who follow him. I try to eat a healthy diet and try to avoid refined sugar but during lockdown I have eaten a few chocolate bars because of the boredom.

[Twig2020 in reply to Lora7again]

It’s not a diet to lose weight it’s more to take the things out that can cause an autoimmune response and replace with foods which fight the virus. I’m still eating lots and it feels great to eat foods that are cleaner.

[Lora7again in reply to Twig2020]

What virus?

[Twig2020 in reply to Lora7again]

EBV virus.. amazon.co.uk/Medical-Medium.... The author isn’t a doctor but the theory is all out there anyway. I wasn’t sure so I checked with a nutritionist and she has endorsed most of it, made a few tweaks. It’s an interesting read and gives a good explanation of how the thyroid works.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to Twig2020]

Would you ask a TV evangelist to fix your bike? So why trust Anthony Williams?

[Twig2020 in reply to SmallBlueThing]

I didn’t and don’t but checked it out with my nutritionist who agreed with most of it. I’m a great believer in power of diet so I’m going to give this my best shot before taking meds.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Twig2020]

His diet isn't too bad, but his explanations are basically bunkum. There's no virus. Some people are alleged to get hashis after having glandular fever, but by no means all and you can't kill a virus as it is not alive in teh first place. You can support your immune system to come to an accommodation with the virus - that's all - they don't go away, in fact the human genome is made up of at lest 9% viral DNA

[jimh111]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid. Thyroiditis can go away in some cases, the most notable being post-partum thyroiditis which lasts about 6 months. Your TSH is elevated but if you feel OK I'd leave it for now and see how you progress. Antibody levels fluctuate and may increase or go away in time.

If you have elevatate antibodies you are much more likely to develop primary hypothyroidism (a failiing thyroid gland), your chances are increased but it's by no means certain. If the antibodies damage your thyroid to the extent you need thyroid hormone then it is very unlikely you will recover, you will need thyroid hormone for life.

Exercise is fine but if you find you are getting abnormally tired it may be time for another blood test and levothyroxine therapy.

[Lora7again in reply to jimh111]

I agree if they feel ok do nothing but I had to say what can happen if you are left untreated like I was. I just wish I had taken NDT earlier instead of leaving it and being a recluse for 2 years, getting balder and sicker.

[Twig2020 in reply to jimh111]

@jimh111 That’s great advice, thank you. I’m hoping I’ve discovered it early but who knows! I’m definitely going to take it easy on the exercise front but I was interested in the doctors comment that it’s not an issue and you only need to be careful if it’s hyperthyroidism!

[Lora7again in reply to Twig2020]

Hopefully you will come back if you start to feel ill. I personally think hypothyroid and hyperthyroid are equally as bad as each other..

[jimh111 in reply to Twig2020]

Exercise is safe - if you are up to it. In hyperthyroidism there is a rapid heart so exercise may be cautioned until it is brought under control.

If you start to go downhill ask for treatment, don't let it go for two years like what happened to Lora. If you feel fine with a mildly elevated TSH no problem but if you are doing badly it's important to press for treatment.

[Twig2020 in reply to jimh111]

The challenge will be getting the right balance. Definitely can’t do as much as I used to but have started to feel more energised so I’m going to take it slow. Thanks for you help @jimh111 and Lora 👍🏻

[NWA6 in reply to Twig2020]

Hey Twig2020. What dors ‘I’m hoping I’ve discovered it early’ mean for you?

Have you had a look at ThyriodUK? What about symptoms that you can check and monitor.

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...

[Angel_of_the_North]

Your doctor seems not to know what she is talking about. You are already hypo, but NHS won't treat until TSH over 10 - however, you can be treated if you have symptoms, high antibodies (ie Hashimotos, called autoimmune thyroid disease in the UK) and over range TSH - which you have. Exercise will lower your T3 and make you more hypo, so I'd be asking to see a different GP and asking for a trial of levo right away. Hashi does not go away, but as an attack can increase blood results of thyroid hormone temporarily, your bloods may look normal for a while, but what is actually happening is that your thyroid is being destroyed bit by bit.