Hello. 62yo woman with Hashimoto's and a 3mm thyroid nodule noone is interested in. I've been taking 100mcg levo since 2003. My last TSH blood test came back 0.05. I take 100mcg levo every morning just as per the instructions but every now and then I get a bizarre result like that. The ever-changing band of locums at the surgery then immediately lower the dose. I get all the symptoms back and we have to go round the roundabout again.
I've never had a T3 test but I was referred for cortisol, which was normal. The nodule has grown by 1mm since discovered but they don't think its cancerous.
The GP said she had no idea why testing throws up these random results. I suggested via Dr Google that the nodule could be a solitary toxic adenoma. I was sent for an US but no diagnosis was offered, just that it was the same size as last time. They seem to have lost interest. I in the meantime am gaining weight, losing my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes and my skin is thin and dry.
Any suggestions as to how I can make a medic take notice, gratefully received. Covid telephone consultations and cancelled clinics haven't helped.
Thank you.
Written by
Blobby1234
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For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have Hashimoto’s
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH and optimal vitamin levels improves conversion of Ft4 to Ft3
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 .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
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
No special diet, no other meds and I take a VitB and Vit D supplement every day.
I have tried to get this testing done but all I got was "T3 is an expensive and unreliable test and" if you're worried about Vitamin levels, take a multivitamin". Pat on the head.
Thank you. I think private testing is the only way I'm going to get anywhere. No doubt GP will be narked at my going over her head. Many thanks for your advice.
If vitamins are low, first step is to improve them by self supplementing....or if deficient GP should prescribe
Low vitamin levels would suggest poor gut function and common to have hidden gluten intolerance
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
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
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
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.
""T3 is an expensive and unreliable test and" if you're worried about Vitamin levels, take a multivitamin".
just goes to show how inept the 'expert' is with regard to thyroid hormone tests, especially T3 - and his/her comment just shows that T3 is very low in their system to make such stupid responses.
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Persuading GP to increase Levo
Double my dosage of Levo?
Very strange blood test results
Does this mean better conversion
