Is there a link between Hashimoto’s and chronic kidney disease?

[QuinnyCakes]

I’d like to know if there is any form of link between to the two. I’m aware that thyroid controls how the kidneys work. Has anyone got both? What are your experiences? How did you find out and what symptoms showed first? Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When hypothyroid this affects kidneys

Kidney function should improve as become less hypothyroid

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

boostthyroid.com/blog/2019/...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

When were levels last tested

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 with Hashimoto’s

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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)

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

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

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...

[QuinnyCakes in reply to SlowDragon]

My thyroid results are optimum and have been for a while. All my vitamins are also in good range. I have a creatinine and GSR test result that is showing stage two CKD and symptoms that match. I just wanted to know if there was a link.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to QuinnyCakes]

Please add actual results and ranges

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Do you also take T3

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to QuinnyCakes]

Low Ft3 is extremely common if only taking levothyroxine

Low Ft3 linked to CKD

Many Hashimoto’s patients need addition of small doses of T3 alongside levothyroxine

[posthinking01]

Hi there - I have Lupus Nephritis - my kidneys are stable - but when I was not on thyroid medication they showed an issue - once I took thyroid meds they improved - the consultant I was seeing was very interested as he was a Renal Consultant and used this information to impart this information at conferences etc. - another secret kept from their fellow medical people by endocrinologists.

I see below that Slow Dragon has posted a paper that I posted a little while ago.

Stage II - what are the problems you are experiencing - GFR levels low? etc.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Posts on here that mention GFR

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Posts that mention CKD

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[QuinnyCakes]

My last bloods were 2nd Oct.

TSH 0.69 (range 0.27 - 4.2)

Ft4 19.9 (range 12 - 22)

Ft3 hasn’t been tested since Nov 2019. I keep asking but GP won’t do it. It was 5.9 last Nov when endo did it (range 3.1 - 6.8)

I take 75mg levo for the last 6 months. Always same brand. It was 50mg 6 months prior to that. Slight increase due to my thyroid creeping into underactive again. Started taking levo from November last year.

I have had reduced kidney function come up in blood work before, back in 2013. Around the same time they found out I had antibodies and Hashimoto’s. (It has taken that long to be finally diagnosed and medicated!)

Symptoms I reported recently: no urge to urinate, able to hold urine in all day, having to push to urinate, muscle cramps in legs and arms. Occasional Weakness in arms and legs, extreme fatigue 75% of the time, breathlessness walking up stairs or incline.

GFR was 71ml/min (no range given but I quote “this eGFR is consistent with CKD stage 2”

Creatinine level was 92umol/l (range 45 - 84 “above high reference limit”)

[posthinking01 in reply to QuinnyCakes]

Hi there - I have very high antibodies against the thyroid around 2,000 although got them down to around 700 but never lower than that and then got Sepsis - twice.

Here is a link for you

medicalhealthtests.com/askq...

Your levels are not that low - your levels are just below the norm but obviously with the creatine showing a little high and your other symptoms there is something going on but try not to worry - are you under a renal specialist - because you should be really - GP's won't know what to do about this.

Have you had your electrolytes checked as they are important in maintaining good kidney function.

Make sure you are not dehydrated and don't have any UTI's going on either - your urine should be checked regularly for loss of protein which also indicates what the kidneys are doing - try not to worry too much because sometimes these things are a blip and will readjust - but you do need to be under a specialist in my opinion but with this Covid problem I am not sure that will happen now for a long while.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to QuinnyCakes]

75mcg is very small dose

Blood test should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking any thing apart from water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

When were vitamin D folate ferritin and B12 last tested .

Guidelines on dose by weight is 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight, so unless very petite, likely under medicated

[QuinnyCakes in reply to SlowDragon]

All my vitamins were done last week.

I always have my blood tests done first thing and before breakfast as I usually need to get it done before I go to work.

I am 67.5kg so that it around the 100 mark I guess. But I have never heard of that dosage calculation. My thyroid results are in optimum range so surely another increase would make me go over active?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to QuinnyCakes]

Wha5 are your actual results and ranges for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together

Low ft3 linked to CKD

On just levothyroxine, especially with Hashimoto’s, poor conversion and low Ft3 is common

If vitamins are optimal .....and Ft3 is still low, then you may need addition of small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Come back with new post once you get full thyroid results

[posthinking01]

Sorry I forgot to mention a calculator for your GFR is - take your age from 140 and that is what is expected your GFR should be as it is affected by age.

[QuinnyCakes]

I was told that a non urgent doc appointment was needed to discuss the results. I have a phone appointment on the 9th.

The calculation suggests I would need a GFR of 108.

Not sure what all this means but Under urea and electrolytes is says “please note our creatinine assay has been updated to adjust for over-recovery. The adjusted assay will produce results lower than previous by 4umol/l.”

Urea level 3.5 (2.5-7.8)

Sodium level 141 (133-146)

Potassium level 4 (3.5-5.3)

I gave a urine sample in last week but only had a text from GP to say it was clear from infection. So hoping my appointment on the 9th I can ask if any protein was found or not.

Since July I have been asking for a referral back to endo due to various symptoms but gp has always refused as they say they can monitor me just fine. In sept I fought to get all the vitamin tests and these kidney, liver, blood count tests too. Now this kidney one has come back like this. I would hope they would refer me to some specialist now. Is it the endo that deals with kidneys as well as thyroid?

[Susieg1]

I have Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism and was diagnosed with CKD last year.

Here in the US, eGFR greater than 60 is fine and not CKD. Is it different in the UK? Mine has gone up and down, currently it is 51 and my doctor is not concerned.

I have brought my creatinine to normal levels with a renal diet.

Apparently I basically gave myself CKD by eating low and no carbs for many many years and eating high protein.

The renal diet requires a certain number of carbs and less protein to bring the creatinine level down. Also, not too much or too hard exercise.