Please see test results below. These are from late November. Had some family issues with illness and a new grandson so bit late posting. The only test flagged up was high iron. Spoke to my dr about it and she said when she tested it was 120.00.
I originally posted about pins and needles in my hands and feet which doesn't seem too bad at the moment.
I'd be grateful for any feedback. Thanks.
If you're still at 75mcg of Levo I would recommend you do an increase. I don't pay attention the T4 reference range cutoff. It doesn't bother me to be over range.
Presumably you knew that you have Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroid disease) ...confirmed by high thyroid antibodies
Read in previous post you also have lichen planus (also autoimmune)
Are you currently taking on strictly gluten free diet?
If not, definitely worth trying and may also significantly improve lichen planus too
BEFORE cutting gluten get coeliac blood test
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function with Hashimoto’s 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.
I've had trouble with my gut from when I was around 17 or even before. Had loads of tests looking at my bowel with NHS always told it was IBS. Then my husband had private health care with his job and a consultant did loads of tests and I was told I had microscope colitis. He tested for coeliac disease as well but it was negative. He said a lot of people are borderline coeliac. Told me to give up wheat which I did and it changed my life for the better. Over the past years I have been eating more wheat but since last week decided to give it completely up again. Thanks for all the info you've put on I'll study it
Also need to cut out absolutely all barley and rye
Oats are ok....but ONLY if you buy in the Gluten Free section of supermarket. GF oats must be grown on soils that have never had any wheat, barley and rye grown on field, and must be milled in GF mill
Oraney
Raised Ferritin can be due to inflammation or infection. You have Hashi's (as confirmed by your raised TPO antibodies) so this might be the reason for the raised Ferritin.
Did you know you have Hashimoto's?
Vitamins are fine although Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol so I would want mine at the upper end of that range.
When did you take your last dose of Levo before this test? Last dose should be 24 hours before test.
At the time of the test your FT4 was 96% through range but your FT3 was only 14.32% through range. When on Levo only FT4 and FT3 should be in balance, preferably in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well.
If you took your last dose of Levo at the recommended time your results are showing poor conversion of T4 to T3.
If you took your Levo before the test then you have a false high FT4 result and your normal circulating level of hormone would be lower than that shown.
Bear in mind that these comments are based on results that are 2 months old, things could be different now and your current levels may not be the same.
I didn't take it as normal early morning but left it till after test. Couldn't get an early blood test it was at 11am. I'd stopped all vitamins at least a week before test.
Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test?
Are you currently still only on 75mcg levothyroxine
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Ft3 is extremely low, right at bottom of range
Should be at least around 5
So probably not on high enough dose levothyroxine and extremely poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3
But GP won’t want to increase levothyroxine as TSH is already low
You are likely to need addition of small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine.
But GP can’t prescribe, would need to see recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3......NHS and Private
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Poor kidney function linked to low Ft3
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
academic.oup.com/ndt/articl...
.....as lower T3 concentrations were strongly and independently associated with reduced kidney function at study baseline
I didn't eat or drink anything before test. The make of tablet is Teva. Couldn't get a really early test it was 11am.
Teva upsets many many people
Have you always had Teva ?
Teva are only brand that makes 75mcg tablets
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, Teva is 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
List of different brands available in U.K.
thyroiduk.org/medications-f...
Teva poll
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
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
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
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
Understanding blood test results
Blood Test Results - Confused
Blood test result query
Blood test results - confused!
Blood test results received
