Hi, my daughter in law has been suffering from an underactive thyroid since the birth of her son whose now 8. Her symptoms have been quite bad and she’s at last found a decent dr who says she definitely needs a levo increase. She’s very tired, stressed, thin hair and her hands, ankles and feet are painful and swollen. She’s gained a lot of weight and her face is puffy. She’s had an increase from 75mcg to 100mcg even though her blood tests didn’t point to an increase. She’s had a blood test today and this morning I read a post from Thyroid UK about products containing Biotin can affect the results. I know she’s been taking a supplement for her hair for a few years and apparently this contains biotin. She only stopped taking it on Monday and has just had her blood test today (Friday). I now wonder if this has affected her blood tests and why she’s had to beg for an increase, also will this still affect this latest test. I’ve told her to tell her GP but I’m never sure how much knowledge they have. Any advice would be appreciated as I’m very upset by her symptoms - she kept her coat on in our house last week and was almost shivering with the cold, even though the rest of us were fine. I’m scared that some damage will be permanently done if she’s left like this much longer
Post pregnancy underactive thyroid: Hi, my... - Thyroid UK
Post pregnancy underactive thyroid
NHS testing and treatment is frequently inadequate
Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate
Which brand of levothyroxine was she taking
75mcg levothyroxine is only one step up from starter dose.
Many people find different brands are not interchangeable
Five days before test for no biotin supplements is probably long enough. Next time wait a week
Approx how much does she weigh in kilo
Guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight is approx 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation she needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Most likely she has autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually. More frequently if deficient and supplementing
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
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)
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 also offer just vitamin testing
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...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Do you have her most recent blood test results and ranges
Thin hair and her hands, ankles and feet are painful and swollen.
She’s gained a lot of weight and her face is puffy.
She’s had an increase from 75mcg to 100mcg even though her blood tests didn’t point to an increase.
Low vitamins common with autoimmune thyroid disease, but especially if left under medicated
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH
Thin hair - frequently low iron/ferritin
Painful joints - low vitamin D
What vitamin supplements is she currently taking
It takes minimum 6-8 weeks for each dose increase in levothyroxine to have effect
Janspenc
It's high dose biotin that affects test results, so it depends on how much she takes. For high dose leaving off for 7 days is said to be enough.
For the amount in a B Complex then 3 days is likely to be enough.
Hi, thank you for replying - I don’t think it was a high dose of biotin as only part of a hair supplement - I can tell her five days was probably ok to stop before test
Hair supplement would likely have high is high biotin in
Please add link to which brand it is
Hi the supplement she was taking was Hairburst
Lots of different ones all called hair burst.
Even if knew which one ….No details on actual amounts of each ingredient
Hi, thank you. Daughter in law so depressed now dr not helping and has increased her own levo and is turning to taking all the supplements she’s read that help with thyroid starting with zinc and magnesium. I’ve told her to be careful as unless you’re diagnosed with a deficiency taking supplements can be dangerous. She just says she can’t feel any worse so nothing to loose. I think GP did agree to refer her when she ‘kicked off’ but she’s got a wait before seeing consultant. I’ve suggested she go privately but I think she’s going to try self medication first which I don’t approve of but she’s desperate. I don’t know how a dr can see her swollen up and in pain and say that because her bloods are normal she’s got to get on with it, she even fell getting out of bed yesterday morning because her legs go weak.
biotin 
Could these test results explain multiple miscarriages?
Underactive Thyroid?
Daughters thyroid tests results .. are they good or bad .. can anyone help .
Borderline Underactive Thyroid
