He has lots of the signs of an underactive thyroid -mainly massive fatigue and weight gain- but doctors aren't sure.
Both parents have thyroid problems.
I'd like to get a blood test done via medichecks as the one the docs did (see photos) wasn't done in the morning as advised on here and I don't think it checks everything.
He is on a b12 and a vit d supplement because they were low in the past.
He is now taking a thyroid support supplement that we found on Amazon and that seems to have helped his fatigue quite a lot.
If anyone can point my in the way of what tests to get that would be amazing as I've looked and have got all confused.
I've been reading up on thyroid for a few weeks nowz but really only know the basics.
Any help would be massively appreciated.
We both want him well again.
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Andieuri
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Well, looks to me very much like he does have a thyroid problem. The TSH over 2 says his thyroid is struggling a bit, and his FT4 is very low at only 13.57% through the range. Euthyroid would be more like 50%. However, logic would suggest that his TSH should be a lot higher with such a low FT4, so there might be something else going on. And, as you've suggested, there are some tests missing that might tell us more.
He needs his FT3 tested to complete the picture. And, antibodies: TPO and Tg antibodies. However the NHS rarely tests the FT3 or the TPOab, and almost never the TgAB. So, you would probably need to do private testing.
His ferritin is very, very low at 49 (30-400), so that needs further investigation that your GP should be doing. He needs a full iron panel.
His B12 and folate are good - what exactly is he taking?
And, if he's taking vit D, is he also taking the cofactors: magnesium and vit K2-MK7?
Floradix tablet once a day (contains:7mg iron) Iron has always been a problem, the gp has prescribed other iron tablets in the past but they tend to make him constipated really badly.
And recently we have started him on a Thyroid Complex supplement. This contains:100ug b12, 150ug iodine, 200mg magnesium, 8mg zinc,0.2mg copper,2mg manganese, 50ug molybdenum, 300mg L-Tyrosine, 240mg Schisandra powder,200mgAshwagandha Root powder,50mg Bladderwrack powder, 38mg Kelp, 30mg Cayenne Pepper powder.
The thyroid supplement seems to have really helped his fatigue and he can now get through a day without falling asleep. Previously he was sleeping daily.
OK, well, cyanocobalamin is the wrong form. It may raise his blood levels, but not sure it's getting into the cells. What he needs is methylcobalamin - sublingual is best. But, given his present level, he probably doesn't need to take a separate B12 anymore. He'd probably be better off with a good B complex (should have beent taking a B complex with his B12, anyway, because all the Bs work together, and need to be kept balanced.
So, a B complex with methylcobalamin and methylfolate. Igennus do a good one that you can find on Amazon.
If he's taking vit d, he should also be taking magnesium, because the two work together and need each other. Good levels in the blood do not automatically mean that he's getting the benefit. And, as taking vit d raises absorption of calcium from food, he also needs to take vit K2-MK7, to make sure the calcium goes into the teeth and bones, and doesn't build up in the soft tissues, causing problems.
When taking iron, one should always take vit C to help with absorption and avoid constipation. Not sure the iron he's getting from floradix is enough to raise his level, as it is so very low. But, as I said, the doctor shouldn't just be throwing iron tablets at him, he should be conducting further investigation. That low iron will be adding dratically to your husbands fatigue.
Sorry but that thyroid complex is a really, really bad idea. Yes, it may be making him feel a bit better in the short term, because that huge amount of iodine is stimulating his thyroid. But, that can't last. Stimulating a sick gland just makes it fail faster. And, long-term, excess iodine is anti-thyroid. It will reduce the amount of hormone his thyroid is capable of making. It used to be used to treat Grave's hyperthyroidism before anti-thyroid drugs were invented.
Apart from that, it doesn't say which form of B12 and magnesium it contains - I'm willing to bet it's cyanocobalamin and magnesium oxide, because those are the cheapest. But also the least bioavailable. It's doubtful he needs copper, but should get it tested first. And the ashwagandha probably won't help his thyroid, but could be reducing his cortisol. I imagine he hasn't had his cortisol tested? Couldn't see it among the results. But it could already be too low, so the ashwagandha could also be making things worse.
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