New to Hashimoto diagnosis..

[Zebah]

Hi, I have only just been diagnosed with Hashimoto disease, despite being unwell for years. My symptoms are, exhaustion, neck and face swelling, breathlessness, pressure on my vocal cords which affects my speech,weight gain, acid reflux and sleep disruption, low B12 , vit D and iron. I am taking supliments. I have had an MRI and due to see the consultant next week. As I am new to this, what questions should I be asking? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Are you in the U.K.

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Have vitamin levels been retested

Are you currently taking any levothyroxine?

If not, why not

Have you had coeliac blood test done yet?

Tick list of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase or brand change in levothyroxine

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Zebah in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thank you for replying. Yes, I am in the UK. I am not on any medication yet, as consultant wanted report of MRI scan of my thyroid first. Apparently my T3&T 4 at within ranges but TSH is abnormal, forgive me but I am trying to get to grips with all this, I don't have details but I will ask for detailed information from now on, as it's not automatically forthcoming. My B 12 was 139 and doctor have put me on 1000mg per day, low Vit D so taking 10 mg and calcium 800mg, Ferris fumerate 520mg, they did not give me details of blood test, but will request it. I am also taking HRT and lansoprazole which I have reduced from 30 mg to 15 mg, I am trying to stop taking it altogether. I have also started to do gluten free diet as a lot of posts suggest that it helps, I am beginning to feel the benefits of the diet. But no Coeliac tests done, I will ask for one. I will ask my doctor for check up on the vitamin self testing. Thank you for the information on drinking and eating before tests no one told me. .. thank you so much, this gives me a starting point. 😁👍