After speaking to my GP over the phone, she said as this is my first high TSH level, she wants me to take another test in 3 months and the fact the antibodies are high are not relevant either.
Is it normal for Dr to re-test?
I have a ENT appointment in December, due to having the sensation of something stuck in my throat and struggle swallowing certain foods.
Hopefully this may provide me with some answers to what's wrong with me, as I know I'm not myself.
Thanks
(I'm 42 not sure if this is relevant)
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EC78
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Did you also have vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin tested?
High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
Thyroid is being attacked and will become increasingly hypothyroid
Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s
Important to regularly retest vitamins and maintain OPTIMAL Vitamin levels by supplementing
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH
Recommend getting vitamin levels tested NOW
And medics only look at TSH
Most important results are Ft3, followed by Ft4
It’s standard practice to retest Thyroid 6-8 weeks after first abnormal result, because if you are prescribed replacement thyroid hormones it is almost always for life
Thyroid test should be done as early as possible in morning to give highest TSH
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
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.
Thank you, so much information will read through when home (in work at moment). I didn't have vitamin D tested this time but in the past I have and it is constantly low although has improved with taking supplements. I use the mouth spray in a high dose. I have always suspected Hashi's but struggling to get anywhere with my Dr (always seem to see a different Dr etc) Thanks.
It was of an evening around 8.15, I then sent the sample off to be tested the next morning. I didn't mention my cortisol reading to the Dr as didn't know this had a baring on my results
“According to the current TSH reference interval, hypothyroidism was not diagnosed in about 50% of the cases in the afternoon.”
“Further analysis demonstrated inadequate compensation of hypothyroidism, which was defined in 45.5% of the morning samples and in 9% of the afternoon samples”
TSH levels showed a statistically significant decline postprandially in comparison to fasting values. This may have clinical implications in the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism, especially SCH.
Yes, it's normal for test to be repeated after a couple of months to rule out any non-thyroidal illness.
However, you have raised antibodies confirming autoimmune thyroid disease, known to patients as Hashimoto's which is where the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid resulting in hypothyroidism. There is no treatment for Hashi's, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that's treated.
having the sensation of something stuck in my throat and struggle swallowing certain foods.
This also seems to suggest Hashi's.
Your cortisol seems very low (but it depends what time you did the test), Hidden will hopefully come along and comment but I think your GP needs to investigate this further.
Some general information about Hashi's:
Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's.
Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.
Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.
Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.
You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily is said to help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. It's essential to test Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin and address any problems. You are welcome to post these results, including reference ranges (plus units of measurement for Vit D and B12), for comment and suggestions for supplementing where necessary.
Thank you. I have considered going Gluten Free, so will look more into this. Vitamin D has been tested in the past and is always low, so I take a supplement. Will ask for further vitamin tests too. Thanks
Are you keeping an eye on your Vit D level? When supplementing we should test twice a year and aim to keep our level within that recommended by the Vit D Society/Vit D Council which is 100-150nmol/L.
Do you also take D3's important cofactors - magnesium which helps the body convert D3 into it's usable form, and Vit K2-MK7 which directs the extra uptake of calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.
Hi yes this has been checked a few times, its usually on the low side but as I take a supplement they say they're not too worried. I don't take Magnesium or VitK2-MK7 so will start takinhg do this. Thanks
I’m not 100% sure what is last time I had it checked think it was 60. It has been as low as 24 when first tested a few years ago. I take Dlux3000 oral spray, 75pg
Why not ask the receptionist at your surgery for a print out of your results, post on here then you can supplement at the appropriate dose.
It shouldn't take a few years to increase from 24 to 60. Mine was severely deficient at 15 and I raised it to 202 in 2.5 months, now maintain at around 150 now that I have found my maintenance dose.
Thank you. Will ask for my results & keep you posted. Thanks again
Your cortisol levels is VERY low - what time of day was it taken? If it was between 8-9am then it is an automatic diagnosis for adrenal insufficiency you you need treating NOW! Cortisol around 8-9am should be between 350-550nmolLs anything under that should be investigated asap. If yours was done early then you need to contact your GP asap to get further testing, she needs to do an early morning blood cortisol. Have you lost weight, feel dizzy, have low blood pressure - all these things point to adrenal insufficiency which is a life threatening condition if not treated properly.
Hi all, just thought I’d give you an update on my situation. Have been for my ENT appointment. The Dr there was gobsmacked that my GP hadn’t referred me to an Endo. I’ve signs of inflammation in my throat caused by acid reflux, so have been prescribed omeprazole & gaviscon plus I referred me for an Ultrasound, which was today. This shows that my thyroid is enlarged. The sonographer said it was not a happy thyroid. So next step is waiting to see what happens next once she reports back to the Dr. Just relived to be finally getting somewhere. Hope everyone is okay.
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