I'm a new to be thyroid patient and appreciate ... - Thyroid UK

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I'm a new to be thyroid patient and appreciate any advice on my thyroid panel, which seems to indicate Hypothyroidism.

Hopinggh profile image
8 Replies

Hello everyone !

I have been feeling extremely tired at any time of the day.

Lab tests were taken which indicated aTSH of 4.1. Epstein Barr was was discoverd, reading 792, and a high level of B12, 1342.

My dr advised me to rest for Epstein (i rest all the time anyway as i have neuropathy and fibromyalgia), and to stop my multi vitamin with b12 for three months . Those tests were taken in August.

Yesterday i received further thyroid testing results as follows:

T4, 5.5, (4.2-13)

T3, 2.8, (2.0-4.4)

Antibodies, 9, (0-34)

(My TSH is 4.1, tested in August)

I read up to 9 is normal on the antibody. Also, that 9 and up is Hashimotos.

Im wondering if im a borderline case, or do i have hypothyroidism and Hashimotos?

My Ferrutin is 56, Iron is 83, TIBC is 290, UIBC is 207, iron Saturation 29.

Do thyroid meds taken down your vitamins , as i read they do ? I hope it wont take down my Iron and Iron stores , as they appear on the low side, which was validated to me yesterday on here.

Im going to an endocrinologist for a first visit next week.

Im thinking of trying tyrosine, but dont want to mess up thyroid meds if he decides i need it. I take zinc and selenium routinely. I think this is whats rec'd. For this. Sometimes i think im just reading too much and still know too little. Health seems complicated once you have a problem and then even more health problems .

I appreciate any advice greatly!

Thank you !

Hopinggh

(P.S.) In addition, my cholesterol and ldn readings came in over the limits too . I used to have very low readings in these all my life. I didnt ck full labs much, but i used to get free cholesterol panel readings several times a year up until about three years ago. I think i read there is a corelationship between being Hypo and high cholesterol.

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Hopinggh

I read up to 9 is normal on the antibody. Also, that 9 and up is Hashimotos.

I don't believe that "9 and up is Hashimotos", not necessarily, although you can have Hashi's without raised antibodies.

There are different ranges for antibody tests and there is one that only goes up to 9 but more often on here we see <34 and if the result comes back towards the top of the range of <34 then yes, there could be a distinct possibility.

My TPO antibodies have been tested several times over the years, range <34. It's usually around 9, and I think may have been 11 at some point. I do not have Hashi's, never had the fluctuations in symptoms and test results that Hashi's brings.

I think i read there is a corelationship between being Hypo and high cholesterol.

One of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is high cholesterol.

Hopinggh profile image
Hopinggh in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you so much for your kindness. I appreciate this help !

Have a nice day !

Hopinggh

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Hi Hopinggh, welcome to the forum.

My dr advised me to rest for Epstein (i rest all the time anyway as i have neuropathy and fibromyalgia), and to stop my multi vitamin with b12 for three months .

If I were you, I would stop it for life! Multi-vits are very bad things to take, for all sorts of reasons. For one thing, if you take just one tablet with everything in it, and one thing goes over-range, you have to stop the tablet, and don't get any of the other nutrients it contains. Far, far better to get your main nutrients tested - vit D, vit B12, folate and ferrritin - and supplement according to the results, taking just the nutrients you need. A mult-vit will probably contain lots of things you don't need, plus things that are potentially dangerous.

I read up to 9 is normal on the antibody. Also, that 9 and up is Hashimotos.

No, according to your lab, up to 34 is normal, because that's the top of the range. No point in having a range if you then decide that the cutting off point is 9. Your antibody test is negative.

That said, it doesn't mean you don't potentially have Hashi's, because antibodies fluctuate all the time, and one a second test could be high. Plus, there are two Hashi's antibodies but the NHS will only test one of them. The other is Thyroglobulin antibodies, and that could be high meaning you have Hashi's.

And, on top of that, 20% of Hashi's people never have high antibodies, anyway. So, you could still have it.

Do thyroid meds taken down your vitamins , as i read they do ?

Goodness me! Where have you been reading? No, it's being hypo that takes down your vitamins - or, rather, makes it difficult for you to absorb them due to low stomach acid.

Im thinking of trying tyrosine,

Why? Tyrosine is just one of the ingredents of thyroid hormone. And, you can't make a cake with just eggs. You need the full recipe. But, doesn't matter how many eggs you add to the batter, if your oven is on the blink, you won't get your cake. And, your 'oven' is on the blink, because your thyroid is no-longer capable of making enough hormone to make you well.

my cholesterol and ldn readings came in over the limits too

Yes, that's because your FT3 is too low. When T3 is low, the body can no-longer process and excrete cholesterol correctly, so it mounts up in the blood. Hope your doctor isn't trying to give you statins! :)

Hopinggh profile image
Hopinggh in reply togreygoose

Thank you very much !Greygoose, for all the good info and clearing up some misconceptions.

My multi vitamin provides over 4,000 x B12. That makes sense now why im so high in b12. Another one i have provides 1000 x rda. Why cant they just stick to 100 percent rda knowing people eat too and it will probably raise it even more. Other vitamins in there too high values, I noticed. Thank you for the insight.

Thank you for the Hashi and cholesterol info and advice.

Dr asked me to go on strict diet last month and get retested in three months. Hopefully, hormone replacement therapy will help correct that.

Thank you for all your help !

Hopinggh

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toHopinggh

Cholesterol levels have little to do with diet. It's made in the liver, and the more you eat, the less the liver makes. The less you eat, the more the liver makes, so that there is a steady level of cholesterol output. And, something doctors don't appear to understand, fat and cholesterol are two different stubstances. Cutting down on your fat intake might harm your health, but it won't reduce your cholesterol! :)

Hopinggh profile image
Hopinggh in reply togreygoose

Thank you ! Greygoose,

That is a very important point that seems entirely missed.

I always wondered why some people said their bodies make too much cholesterol and they are having a hard time with it.

This is valuable info, all of it, and from other posts, that you offer the community and myself so freely .

I m very grateful to you for your help and continued help.

Take care.

Hopinggh

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toHopinggh

You're very welcome. :)

Hopinggh profile image
Hopinggh in reply togreygoose

Good evening !

I read some further details on my dr's health portal that said i have Free T4 of 1, (.8-1.7) and Thyroglobulin Antibody of smaller than 1.0 (0.0-0.9) .

This is new info . The other info i posted here earlier was reiterated to me by the dr's assistant on the phone.

It seems to further validate i am low on thyriod hormones. This number 1 seems very low . This is a more complete picture. Should i worry, even though my TSH is 4.1.?

Can it suddenly go to or below .8 in a short time ?

Thank you for your time and help.

Hopinggh

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