Help needed Please with my bloodwork

[Clark77]

It looks like I have Hashimoto's (I am in Canada from the UK)

Do I need to be on thyroid medication as my doctor just says wait and watch and if so should I start on 25mg Synthroid with these numbers from my bloodwork?

My TSH is 2.89 mIU/L

Free T4 is 12 pmol/L

Free T3 is 3.9 pmol/L

Anti- TPO 532 kIU/L

Anti- TG 223 kIU/L

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Clark77

Can you please add the reference ranges for your results, ranges vary from lab to lab and we need the ranges from your lab to be able to interpret your results.

Generally with Hashi's a prescription wont be given until TSH goes over range (here in the UK) or possibly if your FT4 goes under range.

[Clark77 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for responding

Reference ranges

TSH 0.35-4.94

T4 8-15

T3 2.6-5.8

Anti- TPO <35

Anti- TG <40

So my antibodies are very high

Thoughts?

Thank you so much

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Clark77]

Clark77

Your TSH is well within range so you certainly wouldn't get diagnosed/prescribed Levo here in the UK.

Your FT4 is 57% through range so your thyroid is still producing the amount of thyroid hormone that a normal healthy person would (around 50%-ish through range) and your FT3 is 41% through range so your conversion isn't too bad.

So here in the UK an NHS doctor wouldn't be prescribing Levo.

[Clark77 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for that update.

A couple more questions please;

I had an ultrasound recently and they found 5 benign nodules on my thyroid and what do we make of really thyroid high antibodies?

I have had such trouble with my throat since October and am constantly losing my voice (with huge amounts of mucus) which I never had before and that was why they did the thyroid panel.

What can I do to help my thyroid from getting worse?

I truly appreciate the help and advise.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Clark77]

Clark77

what do we make of really thyroid high antibodies?

What can I do to help my thyroid from getting worse?

The high antibodies confirm Hashi's. They have a job to do. Hashi's is where the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid, when the attacks happen the thyroid releases a lot of thyroid hormone and the antibodies come along and clean up the mess. Eventually your thyroid will be destroyed, you will have full blown hypothyroidism, and there will be no thyroid left for the antibodies to attack. How long that all takes is anyone's guess.

Some people with Hashi's have found that a strict gluten free diet helps although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. It's essential to test Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin and address any problems. You are welcome to post these results, including reference ranges (plus units of measurement for Vit D and B12), for comment and suggestions for supplementing where necessary.

I don't have Hashi's so I don't have any personal experience to pass on I'm afraid, nor have I had nodules.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

Often low with Hashimoto’s

Getting coeliac blood test done BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

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 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.

hypothyroidmom.com/how-to-l...

Eliminate Gluten. Even if you don’t have Hashimoto’s. Even if you have “no adverse reactions”. Eliminate gluten. There are no universal rules except this one.

[Clark77 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you!Already gluten and dairy free and doing The Hasimotos’s Protocol from Izabella Wentz book.