Hashimotos-Back to the doc

[Estidman]

Hello,

I am supposed to get another scan of my thyroid in April, I had an ultrasound in January and there was a nodule so the endocrinologist wants to make sure it hasn’t grown. Her assistant said she will probably order another round of thyroid bloodwork before then. Here are my thyroid results from January 2021,

TSH 0 .77 (0.40-4.50)

T3 2.6. (2.3-4.2)

T4 1.1. (0.8-1.8)

TPO 24 H (<9 IU/mL) This one out of range

TSI <89 <140 % baseline

Vitamin D 26 L (30-100 ng/mL)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 24 H TSI <89

EBV Nuclear AG (EBNA) AB (IGG) 172.00 H

Endocrinologist said my levels were fine in January and wants to have the nodule checked again in April. I was surprised and disappointed when she said I was normal and sent me on my way because I felt so crappy. I went to a rheumatologist shortly after this and showed him my thyroid results and he’s the one that said hashimotos not the endocrinologist. I would’ve never known if it weren’t for him. Even my coworker who has thyroid issues said I have hashimotos before I even told her anything about it. I have an appointment scheduled with a different doctor this week because I haven’t been feeling fine and I want a second opinion. I have already started taking vitamin d, zinc, selenium, multivitamin, b-complex and started gluten free diet more recently. I’m not sure where my other vitamin levels are at. My symptoms are tiredness, occasional brain fog, dry skin/hair, thyroid feels swollen sometimes. A couple of years ago I was hyperthyroid and took medication for a few months and felt better.

My question is if my levels are in range what can the doctor do? Do I need to increase my levels to the optimal range? Should I do another full thyroid blood panel even though I did one in January? What other tests should I do?

TIA 😰

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Vitamin D obviously needs improving

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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 .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

If in the U.K.

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/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

Often helps with Hashimoto’s to be strictly gluten free. Before considering cutting gluten get Coeliac blood test done just to rule it out