Confused about hashimotos : I was diagnosed with... - Thyroid UK

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Confused about hashimotos

SecondAngel profile image
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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.

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SecondAngel profile image
SecondAngel
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Recommend getting FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done

Essential to test Ft3

See what thyroid levels are, wether you still have high thyroid antibodies and importantly….what vitamin levels are now

Essential to test folate, ferritin and B12 annually

Vitamin D test twice year when supplementing

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

See from previous posts you are on lactose free levothyroxine

Details of full testing on previous post here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

Are you on lactose free diet

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

SecondAngel profile image
SecondAngel in reply to SlowDragon

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.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to SecondAngel

What’s range on Ft4

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

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

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

With lactose and gluten intolerance likely to need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

tattybogle profile image
tattybogle

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.

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