Elevated TSH: Hello I had some blood tests last... - Thyroid UK

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Elevated TSH

Mirabela956 profile image
17 Replies

Hello

I had some blood tests last Friday. I’ve done them while on holiday in my husband’s country.

My previous tests were like 3 weeks ago and I had T4 13 and and TSH 5.4.( I was 2 weeks on 25mcg levothyroxine and 3w on 50mcg)

My new blood tests are( I had like a week on 75mcg):

Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies 18.16 (<4.11)

TPO <1000 (0-5.61)

T4 0.740 (0.700-1.480)

T3 1.1870 (0.350-4.940)

TSH 28.206 (0.360-4.940)

Vitamin D 9.10 ng/ml (10-20latent deficiency ; 20-100 optimal level) until last week I took 800iu daily. Stopped because I went on holiday.

B12 380 pg/ml (187-883 optimal; <300 deficiency)

Homocysteine 8.82 (4.44-13.56)

Could someone help me interpret them, please ?

I started last Monday to experience some anxiety and starts of panick attacks which I try to avoid.

I don’t understand how my TSH could jump to the sky so fast.

Thank you 🙏

I left the picture too.

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Vitamin D

Calculator for converting nmol to ng/ml or vice Versace

endmemo.com/medical/unitcon...

Vitamin D of 9ng/ml is only 22nmol ....ie EXTREMELY deficient

GP should prescribe LOADING Dose of vitamin D

That’s 300,000iu over 6-8 weeks (5000iu per day for 8 weeks or 7000iu per day for 6 weeks

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

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

GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol. (20 ng/ml)

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol (30ng/ml)

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

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...

Calculator for working out dose vitamin D required

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you much. I will get in touch with my GP once I am back.

Hopefully they will help. I dont know what and how to tell them that I had blood tests.

I apologise for the late reply, but I am still on holiday and just now I found some time to respond.

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to Mirabela956

This is the second year am constantly deficient. I was taking 800iu as per the GP s advice after I took some high dosage because of deficiency, but I cannot recall how many iu I was taking. Obviously it didn’t help as I am again deficient even with maintenance dose.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mirabela956

Vitamins are continuously dropping because you are under medicated and only on starter dose levothyroxine

When hypothyroid we have low stomach acid and this leads to low vitamin levels

With Hashimoto’s Common to need at least 2000-3000iu daily vitamin D as maintenance dose, and at least 5000-6000iu daily when trying to increase vitamin D levels

Very clear with such high TSH that you need further 25mcg increase....retest again in 6-8 weeks

Likely to need further increase

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to SlowDragon

At 100mcg I got thyrotoxicosis. So I don’t think I need further increase, and I cannot risk it. I was fine with 100mcg while pregnant, but also didn’t have symptoms at all while pregnant. I was previously taking 50mcg, but was for short time as shortly after I got pregnant. So I am a bit confused. Since the thyrotoxicosis I feel absolutely horrible and I feel that I have no support at all within NHS. :(

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mirabela956

You possibly had a temporary Hashimoto’s flare, this is where the thyroid cells break down releasing large amounts of thyroid hormones. Not true hyperthyroidism or even over medication...but a very temporary hyperthyroid flare

After each flare, the thyroid is more compromised and less able to produce hormones....thyroid is dying off bit by bit...common to need to increase dose upwards over time

Essential to have optimal vitamin levels too

Your current results show you are very hypothyroid

B12 too low

Vitamin D absolutely dire

You need to test iron and ferritin

Folate too

Likely looking at gluten intolerance, certainly poor gut function

Has nothing to do with how good (or not) your diet is. Low stomach acid due to being hypothyroid causes poor nutrient levels

Explained well here

drbradshook.com/understandi...

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you for your response.

Not sure what was that, but lasted quite long and ended up in A&E twice.

I am planning AIP ASAP.

I have a medicheck at home to check all other nutrients, but I was thinking to do it once I was back and not before I left (Idk why).

Might be funny, but I had a gastroscopy, and have oesophagitis (I read that this might be the cause of the palpitations I experience - I am just aware of my heart beats - not elevated HR), and gastritis( I have seen a little hole on the screen). I’ve been prescribed omeprazole and something else to help to heal my esophagus.

I don’t know what dosage of B12 to take. What do you recommend?

Thank you very much x

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mirabela956

Only add one supplement at a time and then wait 10 days to see any reaction good or bad before adding another

Clearly most important is dire vitamin D

Suggest you get Vitamin D mouth spray by Better you - they do one that includes vitamin K2 mk7

Trying 3000-5000iu Vitamin D per day and retest in 8 weeks

Supplementing magnesium is important too

Popular choice is calm vitality magnesium powder. Must be four hours away from levothyroxine. Best taken afternoon or evening. Good for improving constipation. Best to start on low dose as too much can cause diarrhoea!

Links about 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...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mirabela956

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial. This will improve low B12 and keep all B vitamins in balance

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)

Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Strictly gluten free diet frequently helps or is essential

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you so much for your replies. I will take my time and read all the links provided. I was taking some B complex form Holland and Barrett, and magnesium too also same brand. But I will look the ones you have recommended.

Also, I read the symptoms for low stomach acid and I have most of the symptoms. Specially one which I thought is related to something else and have been on a few gynaecologists and tried to be treated, but never disappeared after each treatment. 🤦‍♀️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mirabela956

H & B own brand stuff is cheap for a reason

They do sometimes have 3 for 2 on Better You vitamin D mouth spray

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to SlowDragon

You have been soo helpful! You have no idea! Thank you so much! I will add vitamin D, and do also the medicheck pack which I have at home, and you also recommended it.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Has the brand changed since you increased dose from 50mcg levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Teva and Aristo are the only lactose free tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

You need ferritin and folate tested

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many patients need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also note what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

in reply to SlowDragon

Haven´t those guidelines been changed? I recently read (I think it was here) that the new guidelines recommend going straight on a maintenance dose of levo (1.6 mcg/kg of body weight) rather than slowly titrating it (unless patient is elderly or has heart disease).

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to

Many people need to increase dose slowly if been hypothyroid for long time and/or low vitamin levels .....common with Hashimoto’s

Improving low vitamin levels helps tolerate higher dose levothyroxine

The guidelines on dose by weight can be very helpful in persuading GP to increase dose

Mirabela956 profile image
Mirabela956 in reply to SlowDragon

I will try to take the levo at night.

I take almus atm. I take 50mcg + 25mcg , very weird. As now I take two different brands to make the 75mcg. 🙈

Many info I didn’t know here.

I was reading on some Facebook group where are people from US that a lot of them experienced heart palpitations with levothyroxine, and thought that maybe I can find someone to prescribe armor instead of levo as for them made a huge difference ☹️ I don’t feel it helps me at all.☹️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mirabela956

Before considering adding T3 or trying Armour or any other NDT ...you need vitamins optimal

Omeprazole is to treat high stomach acid.

Low stomach acid is almost always hypothyroid issue

nutritionjersey.com/high-or...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

How to test

healthygut.com/articles/3-t...

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

Ppi like omeprazole lowers magnesium and B12

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

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