What to do about ”brain fog”?

[Tsukitsuki]

I need any advice of what should I do if I have a brain fog that is getting worse? Is it normal to feel dizzy and confused?

I have high TPO antibodies [270iu/mL] and high TG levels.

My TSH levels usually comes above 4.0 but less than 10.0

Still waiting for hospitals appointment to get fully diagnosis.

[fuchsia-pink]

Welcome to the forum.

You need medication ....

It's bonkers that in the UK they make you wait until TSH is waaaay over range before treating it - makes you wonder what they think the point is of having an upper range that is then ignored. Can you try and persuade your GP to give you a trial of levo, because your TSH is now over-range and you have Hashi's (as indicated by the high antibodies)?

Even a feeble starter dose of 50 mcg would be better than nothing, as it's usually easier to get it increased than to start n medication - but if they started you on 1.6 mcg x each kg of body weight (in accordance with the latest NICE guidelines, that would be even better.

If you can get thyroid meds, best to take on an empty stomach, just with water, with nothing else to eat or drink for at least one hour afterwards/2 hours before. And then re-test bloods 8 weeks later, with the earliest blood test you can get [TSH is highest early in the morning], fasting, and a gap of 24 hours from your previous thyroid meds.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You high thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels NOW ...or test privately

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

See second flow chart here

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

GP can and should start levothyroxine, if you have high thyroid antibodies, TSH over range and symptoms