Hi, I would appreciate some help with interpreting test results from Thriva.
Would it be possible that my Thyroid health is good but the gland is under attack by antibodies?
I am a vegetarian, would it help to use multivitamins supplements and using Iodised salt and coming off diary and caffeine to help reduce the antibodies?
Thank you
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fairloop
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Are you still taking 100 mcg of levo a day? If so, I'd see if you can increase the dose by 25 mcg a day and re-test in 6 - 8 weeks, as TSH is much too high for someone on thyroid meds and there's plenty of room for free T4 and free T3 to increase.
Don't worry about high antibodies - they just confirm the source of your hypothyroidism as Hashis - the single most common cause. Your antibodies will go up and down as they see fit, regardless of what you do. But lots of Hashis people find going gluten-free helpful, even if not coeliac, and some find dairy-free helps too.
Please don't add iodine to your diet - it used to be the treatment for an over-active thyroid so can be very dangerous unless you have had specific specialist testing showing iodine deficiency. And multi-vitamins are a waste of time too - they usually include things you don't need; don't include what you do and use the very cheapest ingredients. Far better to supplement what you actually need.
You can see that B12 and folate are too low and vit D is dreadful. Hopefully SeasideSusie the nutrient queen will pop up in a bit to advise what you should do x
Thank you for replying to my post. yes I am on 100mg Levothyroxine, hoping to get an appointment with my new GP to discuss the results and request for an increase. I have replaced normal table salt with Iodine salt and also have reduce diary and gluten intake hope I will be able to come out soon of both. I have also ordered B12 and VitD3 supplements, hope they help improve. Have a nice day.
Many Thanks for your reply. I will discuss this with my GP when I get an appointment and request for the vitamin D booster and testing for Pernicious Anaemia - these might get delayed due to covid vaccinations. Can I do the same using some private or home test kits?
Only start one supplement at a time so you can assess any reactions
Suggest you start with vitamin D
Add magnesium supplements in after 10 days
If you tend to suffer from constipation Calm Vitality magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use. All magnesium supplements must be four hours away from levothyroxine. Best afternoon or evening. Starting on low dose and increase to tolerance. Too much can cause diarrhoea.
Selenium with vitamin E and yeast free.
Taking 2-3 a week initially, probably reduce to once a week after few months
Thanks again. I am on Vitamin D 2000u and Vitamin B12 supplements now. I will give it 2 weeks and start on Magnesium. Should I also take Selenium and Zinc supplements?( alternately I could resume on the multivitamins at night which has magnesium selenium and zinc covered)
So you probably don’t need to test for Pernicious Anaemia
Anyone whose vegetarian should ALWAYS be supplementing B12
Were you not doing so?
Start on good quality vitamin B complex after adding magnesium
Then add separate B12 as well
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial. This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
With such low B12 result taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
As vegetarian you may need to carry on with separate B12 longer/permanently
The present review of the literature regarding B12 status among vegetarians shows that the rates of B12 depletion and deficiency are high. It is, therefore, recommended that health professionals alert vegetarians about the risk of developing subnormal B12 status. Vegetarians should also take preventive measures to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin, including the regular intake of B12 supplements to prevent deficiency. Considering the low absorption rate of B12 from supplements, a dose of at least 250 μg should be ingested for the best results.3
thank you. I have also hoping to test for food allergies or intolerance as I believe this could be causing the problem with increased antibodies and allergies
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, it’s by far the best option)
Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Note Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
With a TSH over 4, your thyroid health most definitely isn't good. It has already been substantially damaged by Hashi's. And, the Hashi's will continue to attack, no matter what the level of your antibodies. So, trying to lower them wouldn't change anything.
A multivitamin wouldn't do you any good, either. We really don't recommend them, on here, for all sorts of reasons:
* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.
* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.
* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.
* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc. This is especially true of supermarket multis.
* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.
* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.
* Most supplements should be taken at least two hours away from thyroid hormone, but some - iron, vit D, magnesium and calcium (should you really need to take it) should be taken at least four hours away from thyroid hormone.
* The magnesium you take - and just about everybody needs to take it - should be chosen according to what you want it to do:
Magnesium citrate: mild laxative, best for constipation.
Magnesium taurate: best for cardiovascular health.
Magnesium malate: best for fatigue – helps make ATP energy.
Magnesium glycinate: most bioavailable and absorbable form, non-laxative.
Magnesium chloride: for detoxing the cells and tissues, aids kidney function and can boost a sluggish metabolism.
Magnesium carbonate: good for people suffering with indigestion and acid reflux as it contains antacid properties.
Worst forms of magnesium: oxide, sulphate, glutamate and aspartate.
With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results. A vitamin or a mineral is only going to help you if you need it, anyway. More of something you don’t need is not better, it's either pointless or even dangerous, as with iodine, calcium, iron or vit D.
Great information Many thanks for sharing. I will stop on my Multis and go on separate supplements and also keep off Iodized salt. Should I also cutdown caffeine or delay taking them before or after the supplements?
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