Autoimmune thyroid disease (also called Hashimoto’s) almost always starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms, before becoming increasingly hypothyroid as thyroid gets more destroyed
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
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
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
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease). Ord’s is autoimmune without goitre.
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
vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 Are all low as I have a condition where my stomach won’t absorb those vitamins. I’m on calcitriol tablets daily and b12 injections too but these still remain lowTSH RANGE 0.01 -5.00
Free T4 range 8-12
T3 was within normal range on this test and previous
TPO was normal now and before.
Tg antibodies were and are negative
The consultant said my TSH was at the upper end of normal but my Free T4 was also at the high end ? Which isn’t usually the case?
When I had thyroiditis I was told I had an overactive thyroid and it was swollen and had nodules on. I had no symptoms apart from a swollen neck and pain in thyroid.
Symptoms now are weight gain, sweats, blurred vision and hair loss.
Within 6 months my TSH has gone from 0.01 to 4.23 and my free T4 has gone from 36 to 13.4
Extremely common to have low vitamin levels when hypothyroid
Endocrinologist likely a diabetes specialist
When I had thyroiditis I was told I had an overactive thyroid and it was swollen and had nodules on. I had no symptoms apart from a swollen neck and pain in thyroid.
Symptoms now are weight gain, sweats, blurred vision and hair loss.
Within 6 months my TSH has gone from 0.01 to 4.23 and my free T4 has gone from 36 to 13.4
Yes that’s pretty text book Hashimoto’s
Exactly what vitamin supplements are you currently taking
What were most recent results for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
optimal vitamin levels are
Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better
Folate and ferritin at least half way through range
They are for the worried well, too little to make any difference, usually cheap, poorly absorbed ingredients
Most contain iodine best avoided with autoimmune thyroid disease
Always stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results
B12 injections
You should have been started on loading injections. Several injections, over first few weeks, then moving to once every 2 months….or possibly more frequently
In conclusion, the frequency of thyroid disease among patients with mild to moderate neutropenia is higher than previously reported. A comprehensive evaluation of thyroid function tests as well as antithyroid Abs in patients with neutropenia is mandatory, even in the absence of related symptoms
Thus, hypothyroidism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neutropenia and it is recommended to screen for thyroid dysfunction in front of any leukopenia that does not prove itself.
Hypothyroidism is present among 22% of PAPS patients and thyroid autoantibodies in 18% of them. These findings suggest a common pathophysiologic mechanism between antiphospholipid syndrome and autoimmune thyroid diseases.
Raynauds is extremely common when hypothyroid or under medicated
Also welcome to the confusion. Most of which will come from the medical professionals who are supposed to be supporting you. Sorry about that but don’t worry, you’ll get lots of support and patient to patient ‘advise’ here.
You say your FT3 is normal but can you tell us what the latest result is and the range. It’s so easy for us to assess your results if they’re written :- Test, result and (range in brackets)
For example :-
FT4 13.4 (8-12)
TSH 4.23 ( 0.01 - 5)
So yes you’re FT4 is just over range but without knowing what your FT3 is we don’t have the full picture.
Your TSH is high in range and so it shows that you are likely low in thyroxine (FT3 - the active stuff that makes everything work) and so your pituitary is sending down ‘Thyroid stimulating hormone’ to your Thyroid to make more thyroxine but it’s falling on deaf ears.
So it’s low in range, if your FT4 wasn’t over range it would be even worse and maybe even below.
Did you start any treatment yet? Shame they didn’t do an FT3 test when your FT4 was 36 because as it stands now, it looks like you don’t convert very well.
So, yeah, poor convertor. Did I see in your reply to Slowdragon that the range is actually (8-15), it is an unusual range, are you in the UK? But no matter, you’re FT4 looks ok then, not over range, nearly 70% in range is pretty solid but unfortunately with a low FT3, everything’s going to still feel like you’re walking through sludge. Getting Vits and minerals high enough is akways best but it’s a case of them and thyroid working together and so which comes first. Sometimes, you can’t get your Vits and minerals to a decent level without good thyroid levels and then also we can’t (more natural) get our thyroid levels optimal without good Vits and minerals. It’s a hard balance. But as you’re not started on any Levo yet, really try and get Vits and minerals high first.
It’s a never ending circle of trying to balance stuff out. I have opposing health conditions that I really shouldn’t be able to have in the same body. And as they switch between the two (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) daily they find it hard to put me on a constant treatment
🤔 maybe I’ll have to educate myself a little more on those conditions. But I really don’t think they are competing conditions, I suspect they are the product of your Hashi’s.
I wonder if they will correct themselves once you have all your ducks in a row.
Welcome to our world! Unfortunately medics seem to be poorly educated in thyroid matters (take this tablet, it will solve everything, when it doesn't, well it must be something else). You've done the best thing by joining this group, read and educate yourself, always get copies of results and be your own advocate. Good luck, thyroid journeys aren't fun but once you get in balance things will all improve.
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.
Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with AITD and HT, especially overt hypothyroidism. Low serum vitamin D levels were independently associated with high serum TSH levels.
The thyroid hormone status would play a role in the maintenance of vitamin D sufficiency, and its immunomodulatory role would influence the presence of autoimmune thyroid disease. The positive correlation between free T4 and vitamin D concentrations suggests that adequate levothyroxine replacement in HT would be an essential factor in maintaining vitamin D at sufficient levels.
Our results indicated that patients with hypothyroidism suffered from hypovitaminosis D with hypocalcaemia that is significantly associated with the degree and severity of the hypothyroidism. That encourages the advisability of vit D supplementation and recommends the screening for Vitamin D deficiency and serum calcium levels for all hypothyroid patients.
Hi rain13❤️I was interested in reading your post, first I also have ongoing conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibro, colitis ect, in 2013 I started with awfull symptoms I couldn't connect with my ongoing symptoms (above) my gp did send me to an endo who did tests but I must state I have only found the results of these tests last year when I requested my medical records the gp told me nothing of these reports, the endos report states "this is her second blood tests and again as shown TSH low at 0.08 but her free T3 is again normal having come down from 5.8..to 4.8..(ranges.. 3.10..6.8)..Then in 2014 I had another report ( only saw this last year as I said) it says.. Probably thyroiditis!!! Then a report from 2015.. Thyroiditis?? But goes on to say "physiological tremor, sweating, palpitations, no goiter, probably the menupause, discharged to gp.. Unfortunately for me my gp went with this diagnosis for all my symptoms until sep 18th 2018 when after many trips to my surgery I collapsed and where taken to my surgery were the new gp diagnosed me their and then on my symptoms as hyperthyroidism ( overactive thyroid) I went into thyroid storm and were rushed to hospital where I went on to have a thyroidectomy.. 😠 Sorry for the long story 😔 but the moral is all the jigsaw pieces were their just needed a good specialist to see them, unfortunately I didn't have good specialist or a good gp.. Thank god that gp had only joined our practice because she got it immediately, your probably not getting the treatment you deserve and all your jigsaw pieces are their, like me they will probably just leave you, I know more now about thyroid illness than ever before after joining this group and one thing I've learnt is you have to fight for your own thyroid health, as many endos don't know much about this illness, I totally blame the lack of knowledge on both sides (, GP..ENDOS) I hope you manage to sort it out as you say it is confusing but the great people on here will help ❤️❤️❤️
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