Help with blood test results please! My second test - TSH was 7.4. Not on meds. Reason tested - hair loss/fatigue/weight gain/sleeplessness

[Jane-D]

Biochemistry

Magnesium 0.97 (Range 0.7-1.0)

Hormones

Cortisol 304 (Range 113-456)

Thyroid Function

TSH 5.58 (Range 0.27-4.20)

T4 Total 98.4 (Range 66-181)

Free T4 15.9 (Range 12-22)

Free T3 4.74 (Range 3.1-6.8)

Immunology

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs 214 (Range <34)

Anti-Thyroglobulin abs 335 (Range <115)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Previous posts shows low vitamin D

Have you started on vitamin D supplements,

1600iu prescribed by GP

Have you been started on levothyroxine?

If so, how much?

Hashimoto's 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

healthcheckshop.co.uk/store...?

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

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

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

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.

[Jane-D in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply.

I have just started on Vit D supplement.

I have not yet been prescribed Levothyroxine but going back to my GP about this.

I have been strictly gluten, dairy, soya, sugar from my diet over the past 3 weeks and fell remarkably better already.

I will check out all your links - much appreciated!

Jane

[fuchsia-pink]

Hi Jane

So you have over-range TSH and high antibodies, indicating Hashi's. Although your TSH isn't yet at the "magic" level of 10, a second over-range TSH reading plus the high antibodies should be enough for your GP to prescribe you a "starter" dose of 50 mcg of levo. You should then re-test after 6 - 8 weeks ad increase as necessary until TSH goes to less than 2, probable less than 1 and you feel better.

Having said that, TSH in itself doesn't mean very much (although it is the GP's primary diagnosis tool). What really matters more are your actual thyroid hormones. Your free T4 is a pretty feeble 39% through range and free T3 slightly better at 44% though range. The good news is that these are balanced - but you will feel much better when these are both at least 2/3 through range.

At some point it will be worth you testing key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12, as your levo works best when these are good - and you may also find it helps going gluten-free, as lots of people with Hashi's do find this helpful.

Good luck x

[Jane-D in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you - your feedback is much appreciated. I have noted what nutrients I need to test. Being gluten, dairy, sugar and soya free nearly 3 weeks - and feeling better already!

Jane x

[JAmanda]

Definitely stress your symptoms to get starter dose of Levo. You'll begin to feel better once you have it. I had no hair on my arms or legs - my head seemed okay as I had a lot to start with - all back now. I was only around 5 on tsh but for many years.