I hope you don't mind having a look at my Medichecks test results that I received this morning.
I had posted a week or so ago about my blood results from the GP and she was happy with my thyroid function, however my symptoms, family history and the fact I have type 1 diabetes made me feel like something is definitely going on.
B12 - 40.9 (Range > 37.5)
Vitamin D - 25.5 (Range 50-175)
TSH - 2.73 (Range 0.27-4.2)
Free T3 - 4.66 (Range 3.1-6.8)
Free T4 - 11.1 (Range 12-22)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies - 177 (Range <115)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - 263 (Range <34)
The doctor report from Medichecks suggested that my thyroid is normal and to not be concerned about the raised antibodies.
Thank you
Written by
Samanthamcx
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So instead at the moment suggest you look improving by increasing iron rich foods in your diet - like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
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
As you have already had negative coeliac test you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
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.
The doctor report from Medichecks suggested that my thyroid is normal and to not be concerned about the raised antibodies.
Can you post exactly what Medichecks comments say.
Medichecks have been known to give incorrect advice before.
In your position, with these results, I would be contacting them and asking for an explanation as to why they have not mentioned that raised antibodies can suggest autoimmune thyroid disease and why they have said your thyroid is normal when your FT4 is clearly below range.
This needs pointing out to them so they can investigate and ensure that the doctor who commented on your results doesn't continue to make these mistakes.
"Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are elevated. This means your risk of developing future thyroid disease is increased compared to someone who has normal levels of these antibodies, but this risk is still considered to be low (3-5% chance in 1 year)."
"Your thyroglobulin antibodies are positive. These antibodies are found in 1 in 10 normal individuals but can be associated with uncommon autoimmune thyroid issues, especially Hashimoto's.
"
"Up to 25% of people with normal thyroid function will test positive for thyroid antibodies, the presence of thyroid antibodies does increase the likelihood that they may develop thyroid problems, however many will not go on to develop thyroid disease. I suggest monitoring your thyroid function on an annual basis, or more frequently if you develop new symptoms."
So the comments didn't exactly say "not to be concerned about the antibodies". They did point out the likelihood of future thyroid disease and autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). However, Hashimoto's isn't "uncommon", it's the most common cause of hypothyroidism. In that case you can't complain about dismissing your raised antibodies.
However, you most certainly can ask for an explanation as to why they have said a below range FT4 is considered normal.
Apologies, I've got mixed up - this is the comment about the cause for concern;
"Your thyroid shows that your free thyroxine is slightly low however your thyroid stimulating hormone is normal which suggests a healthy thyroid function. The low thyroxine is likely to be a transient finding and not a cause for concern."
The thyroid hormone status would play a role in the maintenance of vitamin D sufficiency, and its immunomodulatory role would influence the presence of autoimmune thyroid disease. The positive correlation between free T4 and vitamin D concentrations suggests that adequate levothyroxine replacement in HT would be an essential factor in maintaining vitamin D at sufficient levels.
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.
Had a call with my GP this morning - he says my thyroid function is fine going by my blood results but is doing his own check of my blood count and B12.
I am going for ICSI treatment next year and I am terrified this will have an impact on our success rate given how Hashimoto's can have an impact.
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