latest blood results

[lesbud1]

these are my last bloods

TSH 2.24 mlU/L

FreeT3 4.72pmol/L

Free Tyroxine 13.5 pmol/L

Thyroglobulin antiboidies 63 kiu/L

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 223 kiu/L

the report says all normal. Any advise please?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you currently taking levothyroxine If yes, how much

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Which brand

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Please add ranges on these results (figures in brackets after each result)

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is ALWAYS under 2

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well under one.

Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4.

When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

FT4 and Ft3 look low - can’t say for sure without ranges

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks

all other vitamins okay as taking vit d and b12 injections as suffer with deficiency. not on thyroxine as gp say bloods are normal. Had the iodine therapy 20yrs ago and was on thyroxine until had a reaction to it and old gp said I didn't need it anyway. that was over 15yrs ago.TSH 2.24 mlU/L (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 4.72 pmol/L (31-68)

Free Thyroxine 13.5 pmol/L (12-22)

Thyroglobulin 63 KlU/L (<115)

antibodies

Thyroid Peroxidase 223 KIU/L (<34)

antibodies

I am not on a gluten free diet

vit D 130 nmol/L (50-175)

B12 active >150pmol/L (>37.5)

folate 9.32ug/L (>3.89)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lesbud1]

You mean in the past you had RAI for Graves’ disease

was on thyroxine until had a reaction to it and old gp said I didn't need it anyway. that was over 15yrs ago.

This seems extraordinary ...and it’s very unlikely that you could manage without levothyroxine

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable and some brands of levothyroxine are intolerable....but that doesn’t mean you can manage without replacement thyroid hormones

When hypothyroid we frequently have low stomach acid. This leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels are direct result

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

B12 - are you on B12 injections?

Do you also supplement daily vitamin B complex ?

Clearly your Ft4 is low

Have you had cholesterol levels tested

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid

High TPO antibodies could be due to Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s

Have you had iron and ferritin levels tested?

Poor gut function with Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease 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 coeliac 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.

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks for all this info but I can assure you this is what happened with my thyroxine. My GP said my levels were in the normal range and I was taken off it when I had a bad reaction to it and that was that. yes I had the RAI and carbimazole in 1999. My new GP is aware of all this and still says my bloods are normal. You knowledge and advise is very welcome but I am a little disturbed that you don't seem to believe me about my history.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lesbud1]

It’s not that I don’t believe you

Your symptoms since stopping levothyroxine suggests you are hypothyroid

Many thyroid patients struggle to get diagnosed if TSH is not high as medics, especially GP, tend to only look at TSH

But most relevant results are Ft4 and Ft3

Both are low in your results

Being hypothyroid tends to lower vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

okay good to know. I take 8000iu of vitD3 and k2 and magnesium as my levels were very low, and I was diagnosed with B12 def 11yrs ago and have 8 weekly injects from the nhs but I give myself one in between so I get it every month. my folate has been very low in the past but I take the complex B each day. I feel a lot better now I am taking the vitamins but I am still very over weight with big legs. I have thought about seeing an endocrinologist privately but haven't as yet.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lesbud1]

So the suggestion is that being hypothyroid is the cause of these low vitamin levels

When did you get last test iron and ferritin

Have you had cholesterol tested

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid

Do you wear a Fitbit or equivalent to record resting heart rate and activity levels

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

no don't have a fitbit.

Outside normal range

Inflammation

Inflammation occurs when your defence system is activated to rid your body of foreign invaders or irritants and to protect against tissue damage. Typical signs of inflammation include heat, redness, swelling and pain. Inflammation can be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation is often caused by infection or injury, and it flares up and disappears within days. Chronic inflammation is caused by longer-term conditions such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or asthma. Inflammation causes levels of certain proteins in the blood to rise and these can be measured to assess the extent of inflammation as well as in some instances the cause.

Read More

CRP HS

11 Mar 2021

1.41

mg/L

< 5 R

0

5

Iron Status

Iron is an element that we require for several different bodily processes such as creating new red blood cells, carrying oxygen around the body and strengthening our immune system. Most of the iron in our bodies is found in haemoglobin, a protein in our red blood cells. A smaller proportion is stored in a protein called ferritin that is responsible for controlling the release of iron when levels are too low or high. Iron status tests measure the total amount of iron in the blood with a view to diagnosing anaemia or iron overload (haemochromatosis). They also test your body's ability to absorb iron as well as the amount of iron stored in your body.

Read More

FERRITIN

11 Mar 2021

56

ug/L

13 - 150 R

13

150

Vitamins

Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs to function properly. You cannot make them yourself, so they need to come from the food you eat. Vitamins divide into two types: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins, like vitamins A, D, E and K are found in oily foods, whether animal or plant-based. They are stored in the fatty tissue in your body as well as the liver, and therefore you don't need to eat them daily. Most water based vitamins like vitamin C are not stored in the body, and therefore you need to eat foods which contain them more frequently. You should get all the vitamins you need from a balanced diet. Sometimes, however, dietary choices or health problems can lead us to be deficient in some vitamins.

Read More

FOLATE - SERUM

11 Mar 2021

8.32

ug/L

> 3.89 R

3.89

19.45

VITAMIN B12 - ACTIVE

11 Mar 2021

>150

pmol/L

> 37.5 R

37.5

187.5

VITAMIN D

11 Mar 2021

130

nmol/L

50 - 175 R

50

175

Thyroid Hormones

Your thyroid is a gland in the front of your neck which produces hormones which help to govern your metabolism. It is possible for your thyroid to under-produce or over-produce thyroid hormones, and both conditions can lead to debilitating symptoms. Typically an underactive thyroid leads to symptoms of lethargy, weight gain and dry skin and hair while an overactive thyroid leads to symptoms of feeling nervous and anxious, as well as weight loss. Once diagnosed, thyroid conditions can be treated but even then it is important to continue to monitor levels of thyroid hormones to ensure that your levels remain optimal.

Read More

TSH

11 Mar 2021

2.24

mIU/L

0.27 - 4.2 R

0.27

4.2

FREE T3

11 Mar 2021

4.72

pmol/L

3.1 - 6.8 R

3.1

6.8

FREE THYROXINE

11 Mar 2021

13.5

pmol/L

12 - 22 R

12

22

Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity occurs when your body's immune system mistakes your own cells or tissues as being "foreign" and starts attacking them. There are a number of autoimmune diseases which are defined by which parts of your body are under attack. Common autoimmune conditions include thyroid disease (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Graves' Disease), systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) and rheumatoid arthritis. No one knows what triggers an autoimmune condition but it is well documented that more women than men are affected, and that your risk of developing an autoimmune condition is higher if a family member is affected, or if you have already been diagnosed with another autoimmune condition. Autoimmune disease can cause a wide range of symptoms which can either flare up from time to time with periods of remission, or remain present constantly. The symptoms vary according to the bodily systems affected by the disease. In some cases the tissue affected is very specific, e.g. the thyroid in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, whilst other diseases affect a wide range of body tissues, e.g. lupus.

Read More

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES

11 Mar 2021

63

kIU/L

< 115 R

0

115

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES

11 Mar 2021

223

kIU/L

< 34 R

0

34

© Medichecks.com Ltd 2021

TERMS AND C

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

sorry that didn't come out too good. Hope this is clearer

Inflammation

CRP HS 1.41 mg/L (Range: < 5)

Iron Status

Ferritin 56.00 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150)

Vitamins

Folate - Serum 8.32 ug/L (Range: > 3.89)

Vitamin B12 - Active >150 pmol/L (Range: > 37.5)

Vitamin D 130.00 nmol/L

Deficient <30

Insufficient 30 - 50

Consider reducing dose >175

(Range: 50 - 175)

Thyroid Hormones

TSH 2.24 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 4.72 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 13.500 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22)

Autoimmunity

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 63.000 kIU/L (Range: < 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies X 223.00 kIU/L (Range: < 34)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lesbud1]

Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water. This gives highest TSH

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Did you know You need to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before ALL Blood tests as biotin in vitamin B complex can falsely affect test results

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Have you had coeliac blood test

If not, recommend getting coeliac blood test done BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet for minimum 3-6 months

Also want cholesterol levels tested

High cholesterol levels suggests hypothyroid

Strongly recommend wearing a Fitbit or equivalent to record resting heart rate and activity levels

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

I did have high cholesterol in a previous blood test but I am not keen on statins. will get a coeliac and cholesterol test next time, thanks. yes the blood was before food, first thing in the morning but they do ask on the form it is a fasting blood. I take 8000iu most days, if I don't forget. will look into a fitbit. many thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lesbud1]

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

unfortunately my GP still thinks my bloods are normal and that puts a stop to that. She is only interested in getting my bloods done yearly , hence I go to medicheck.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you reread these two posts from 2 years ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You need to retest ferritin and iron

[lesbud1 in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks. I read them. just wanted to ask any advice on latest bloods.