I was diagnosed with hashimotos at the same time as thyroid cancer so I have had a total thyroidectomy. But will the hashimotos still effect me? Is it worth trying the changes in Isabella Wentz's books for example - is it likely to make me feel better? When I asked the doctor whether I'd still be affected by hashimotos without a thyroid gland the answer was really wooly.
Also, I have an endo appointment in a few weeks (after being seen by an ENT guy until now as I was on a medical trial) - any advice or good questions to ask.
Written by
SecondAngel
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I had the standard vitamin panel done pre-covid and everything was normal except vitamin D which was low (I added mushrooms to my diet which are high in vit d and the retest was normal) and vitamin B which was very high ( I had been taking a vitamin b supplement which I stopped). This was after my t4 levels being constantly high even though the Dr kept reducing my dose - I wondered if there is a connection with the high vit b.
The only supplement I take currently is selenium as I read it helps with t4 to t3 conversion.
I currently take 125 levo daily. The Dr did take me down to mostly 100 with 125 two days a week but my hair started falling out so I unilaterally went back to 125 daily since my repeat prescription let me do that.
My latest blood test gave me (if I remember) t4 of 11 but with tsh still suppressed which is why I've been referred to the endo with a blood test checking a list of other things including t3 (don't have those results yet).
And yes - I'm a life long lactose intolerant, I have a long list of foods that trigger migraine and / or digestive problems including gluten so I'm careful with my diet as well as my meds.
The things that bother me most are the weight gain, lack of energy and voice problems of a constant tickly cough and my voice going after about 20 minutes talking.
I'll talk to the endo about what I should get tested regularly and see what he says and get private bloods if needs be.
Most people when adequately treated will have Ft3 at least 50-60% through range
Typically, if on just levothyroxine, Ft4 will need to be slightly higher at 70-90% through range
Some people need higher Ft4
Unlikely to get adequate vitamin D form diet and sunshine
Most thyroid patients need to supplement vitamin D to maintain optimal 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 .
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 all relevant vitamins
any reply from NHS will inevitably be woolly , because they have no idea what to do to treat the autoimmune cause, what triggers it, or even how the damage actually happens.
But i'd say it's always worth following up on dietary things that might help, the loss of a functioning thyroid is a big loss, and even more so if it's a total loss of all thyroid tissue , You now can't produce any direct T3 from your thyroid, you have to rely on converting all of it in cells from T4 (unless you add T3) . So anything that you can do to help the body make best use of the thyroid hormone replacement you do get is presumably going to help.
Also since having one autoimmune disease makes it somewhat more likely that you might later develop others, then that too is maybe a good reason to consider anything that might help the autoimmune side of things.
NHS will probably say the damage from Hashimoto's is restricted solely to thyroid tissue... but nobody really knows anything about the workings of autoimmune disease. So your own research and intuition is as valid as anything and Endo will tell you on the subject.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.