Help with results

Hello everyone,

I would be grateful if your help with my results.

I didn't put my fatigue, feeling cold, brain fog, neuropathy down to my hypothyroidism initially but instead to pernicious anaemia, for which I had my B12 injections stopped over lockdown and iron deficiency.

My TSH was 3.0 in February and I cut out calcium fortified almond milk which meant that I could no longer tolerate the 150ug I'd taken for 11years (awake all night). I'm now taking 100ug but still feeling heart racing, not sleeping well.

Many thanks for your thoughts

[SlowDragon Administrator]

B12 injections should not have been stopped pernicious-anaemia-society....

Have you had B12 injection recently?

How low was ferritin. Has GP prescribed iron supplements

We need GOOD Vitamin Levels for levothyroxine

Essential to test vitamin D and folate too

Racing heart and insomnia can be due to being under medicated.

TSH of 3 suggests under medicated

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?

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

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply.

I attached my new results as a photograph.

I am following all recommendations for timings and avoidances and am taking betaine hcl to aid absorption. I am also following an AIP diet.

I am back on B12 injections, and have been following protocols for iron (ferritin 43ug/L), folate (13.5ug/L) and vit D (86nmol/L) , so those are looking much better than they were although I'm aware there is room for improvement.

Thank you so much for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Ft3 is currently low at only 35% through range

This shows poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Improving low vitamin levels can improve conversion rate

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

Presumably you knew you have Hashimoto’s?

Did you have coeliac blood test done before going AIP?

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I had presumed about the Hashimotos given the PA and I am also coeliac, but have never been told that directly. None of this is coming from my GP who believes there is no way any of this can be related to vitamin deficiency and that all thyroid levels are 'perfect'.

Should I be concerned about the high antibody levels? Can I do anything else to help?

Many thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

So as you are coeliac (or if had “only” gluten intolerance) this confirms poor gut function.

Extremely common to need addition of small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine to improve low Ft3

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3 ...NHS and Private

[e-mail]

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 below 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

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me