Can you help me understand my results? Doc too busy

[KBA22]

Hi all

Found this site a few weeks ago and I am trying to get on top of my Thyroid issues...I've done two sets of tests this year, but still need to do the vitamins and iron tests you guys keep suggesting. I did the antibody test in October and it came back positive. So does this mean I have Hashimoto's?

Oct results (been on 50mg of Levothyroxine since 27 Oct 2020)

Serum free T4 level (XaERr) - 12.5 pmol/L (range: 9.0-23.0)

Serum TSH level (XaELV) - 6.95mU/L (range: 0.3 - 4.2)

Antibody test (XabCy) - 378.26 iU/mL (range: 0.0 - 5.0)

Serum TSH level (XaELV) - 6.95 mU/L (range: 0.3 - 4.2)

Dec results (done first thing in morning)

Serum free T4 level (XaERr) - 14.2 pmol/L (range: 9.0-23.0)

Serum TSH level (XaELV) - 5.85 mU/L (range: 0.3 - 4.2)

Serum TSH level (XaELV) - 5.85 mU/L (range: 0.3 - 4.2)

Anyway, what does this all mean? Any ideas?

[FancyPants54]

The first thing people are going to ask you is to edit your post to add the reference ranges for your test results. So to save time, it would be good if you could add them.

[KBA22 in reply to FancyPants54]

Will do that ASAP

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When did you start on 50mcg levothyroxine

50mcg is only a starter dose

Essential to also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Have you had these tested?

[KBA22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragonI started the meds on 27 Oct 2020 - so only been a few weeks. Am aware 50 mcg is a starter dose. I want to get the vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested soon.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KBA22]

So approx roughly 7 weeks

Was the Dec test done by GP

You’re very likely ready for next 25mcg dose levothyroxine increase

What brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Make sure to get same brand as dose is increased

[KBA22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Meds brand is ALMUS. GP recommended me for both tests but it was eventually done by a nurse at the local hospital both times.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KBA22]

So Almus is same make as Accord and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg

But NOT Northstar 25mcg - this is Teva

Accord doesn’t make 25mcg , so when you increase to 25mcg you will need 50mcg tablets and cut in half. Will have to explain that to GP

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably antibodies tested is Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies?

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s.

Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...

[KBA22]

Yes. Antibody test is: Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration (XabCy)

[KBA22]

I did a food sensitivity test and diary is a no-no. And wheat as well.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KBA22]

That’s extremely common to develop gluten and wheat intolerance

Some people find that after a year or so on strictly gluten free diet that dairy intolerance improves

coeliac.org.uk/healthcare-p...

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.