I made a post last week asking for an opinion in some thyroid results. I've had another test with Thriva now and have additional info. My last post with previous results is here:
Vitamin D: 83 (50-200) (I supplement because I've been deficient before)
B12: 122pmol/L (37.5-188) (I supplement B12 after deficiency in past)
Ferritin: 143ug/L (44-150)
Folate: 41.5nmol/L (30-60.8)
TSH: 0.78 (0.27-4.2) (GP test was 0.5)
FT4: 17.6 (12-22) (GP test was 12.4, range 9-21)
FT3: 4.2 (3.1-6.8)
T4: 105 (66-181)
TPOAb: 60.2 (<34)
TgAB: 17.9 (<115)
The doctors results for TSH and FT4 seem to be a bit lower (worse?) So I'm wondering why they might be different. Also not sure what the high TPO means?
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Lin09
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High TPOAb means you are positive for Hashimotos autoimmune disease. This is a progressive condition & the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
Your GP isn’t likely to do anything with these results because both thyroid hormones & TSH are within range & if the thyroid was struggling TSH would usually have risen by now (except in the case of central hypothyroidism when the problem lies with the pituitary/hypothalamus). However, be aware results can start fluctuating as Hashimotos eventually takes a hold.
It is good you are addressing nutrient deficiencies which help towards good thyroid function. An informative read is ‘The Root Cause” by Isabella Wentz for an understanding of Hashimotos and ‘Your Thyroid & How To Keep It Healthy” by Dr Barry Peatfield for a general but in-depth overview.
You will also find lots of info on the charity website that runs this forum, ThyroidUK.
Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms or because thyroid levels change so rapidly…..TSH gives up trying to respond
Get coeliac blood test done before considering trial on strictly gluten free diet
Gluten free diet might help improve symptoms
Technically it’s Hashimoto's (with goitre) or Ord’s thyroiditis (no goitre). Both variants are autoimmune and more commonly just called Hashimoto’s
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
Before considering trial on gluten free diet get coeliac blood test done FIRST just to rule it out
If you test positive for coeliac, will need to remain on gluten rich diet until endoscopy (officially 6 weeks wait)
If result is negative can consider trialing strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months. Likely to see benefits. Can take many months for brain fog to lift.
If no obvious improvement, reintroduce gluten see if symptoms get worse.
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
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
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.
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.
Thank-you for all the information. I've been gluten free for a few years (gluten makes my eczema worse), most of these symptoms came on after I went gluten free, so maybe I need to try dairy 🤔
Yes, it’s possible to have central hypothyroidism in addition to Hashi. If this is so you may find it very difficult to get a diagnosis because doctors will be waiting for your TSH to rise.
The difficulty is in determining if low TSH is due to years of fluctuations in line with Hashi-driven thyroid hormone fluctuations and resulting from a thyroid gland slowly becoming more damaged (ie pituitary has given up as described by SlowDragon above), or the pituitary gland is at the moment still the primary problem with Hashi as a secondary, as many people may live healthy lives with thyroid antibodies.
Yes, both books will give great understanding & explain the importance of some supplements, ie selenium. If this were me I would be following the Hashi protocol (ie optimising nutrients, adopting gluten free diet, etc) to protect the thyroid gland as much as possible, and retest thyroid hormones in a few months to see if there has been any change. Also if you feel Hashi fluctuations which are usually accompanied with flu-like symptoms, sore throat/neck, etc.
Also look after the adrenal glands which will be helping you function with low thyroid hormones at the expense of adrenal hormones. This would entail plentiful sleep, lessening stress, maybe supplementing Vit C, adrenal glandular or adaptogens.
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