Symptoms of hypothyroid & help with results

[NicoleHam]

I have been really struggling the last few months with what I thought was hypothyroidism as it runs in my family. I’ve had severe fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, low mood, snappy, intolerant, brittle hair and nails, always tired. My mum is on levothyroxine and my sister is more complex and isn’t able to convert t4 to T3 and has deficiencies in other areas.

I have received my results today and it’s clear I have some deficiencies but does this show I am hypothyroid or not, it’s not clear to me. Despite the marks in red apparently I need to make another appointment, which there is a 3 week wait for for anyone to give a damn and talk me through it. We’ve also been trying for a baby the last few months and haven’t been able to conceive.

Any help would be really amazing.

Thank you in advance

[greygoose]

Hi NicoleHam, welcome to the forum.

I'm afraid it's impossible to read those results, they're too small, and just go blurry when enlarged.

Could you perhaps type out the relevant results, please:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

if you have any of those, and anything you're out of range with.

[NicoleHam in reply to greygoose]

Hi, thanks for coming back to me so quickly. I didn’t realise it would be blurry!My results below:

TSH 2.47mlU/L (0.27-4.20)

FT4 15.7pmol/L (11.00 - 21.20)

FT3 4.7pmol/L (3.10-6.8)

TPO antibodies not taken, from what I can tell

Tg antibodies not taken

Vitamin D 33nmol/L (50.00-150.00)

Vitamin B12 216ng/L (197-771)

Serum folate 2.7ug/L (3-20)

Ferritin 44ug/L (13-150)

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to NicoleHam]

Well, your TSH is showing that your thyroid is struggling. The TSH of a person with no thyroid problems (euthyroid) is around 1, never over 2, and you are hypo when it gets to 3 - although the NHS likes it to go over 10 before they will diagnose!

Your thyroid hormones - FT4 and FT3 - are around mid-range, which is euthyroid, but it takes more TSH than is normal to stimulate your thyroid to get to those levels. So, the thyroid would appear to be struggling.

And, that could be why your nutrients are all so very, very low. But, it's not proof of a thyroid problem, I'm afraid. You wouldn't get any sort of diagnosis from a doctor with those results.

On the other hand, your doctor should do something about those low nutrients:

Vitamin D 33nmol/L (50.00-150.00)

Well under-range, you should be given loading doses of vit D, with magnesium and vit K2-MK7.

Was calcium tested?

Vitamin B12 216ng/L (197-771)

Low enough to warrant testing for Pernicious Anemia. If you have PA then you will need B12 injections for the rest of your life, as it is an autoimmune disease.

Serum folate 2.7ug/L (3-20)

Should be at least half-way through the range. But, don't take any supplements until you have been tested for PA, because folate supplements will mess with the results.

Ferritin 44ug/L (13-150)

Should be around 100. This is low enough to warrent a full iron panel to see just what's going on.

[NicoleHam in reply to greygoose]

Thanks so much for all your input!I will push the GP to test for PA, full iron and calcium because that wasn’t tested before.

Does hypothyroidism affect the bodies ability to absorb nutrients or could that be a separate issue in my case?

The doctor sent the following text:

Your recent blood test showed you vit D levels are slightly low. You will benefit from taking Vit D 800 IU or 25mcg on daily basics which you can buy over the counter form any local pharmacy/ supermarket.

In addition your folic acid level are slightly low - I have issued a prescription of Folic acid 5mg and sent it to your nominated pharmacy; please take one daily for the next 4 months.

Will any of these supplements affect the tests you have suggested?

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to NicoleHam]

Does hypothyroidism affect the bodies ability to absorb nutrients or could that be a separate issue in my case?

Yes, it does. When T3 is too low, it negatively affects stomach acid levels. So most hypos have low stomach acid, which makes digesting food and absorbing nutrients difficult.

Your recent blood test showed you vit D levels are slightly low. You will benefit from taking Vit D 800 IU or 25mcg on daily basics which you can buy over the counter form any local pharmacy/ supermarket.

Your doctor is so so wrong! Your vit D level isn't 'slightly low', it is catastrophic! He needs new glasses, I think. The level should be more like 100. And 800IU isn't going to raise the levels of a sunburnt gnat. It's not even a maintenance dose. You need loading doses. But, doctors know nothing - absolutely nothing - about nutrients. You're going to have to insist.

In addition your folic acid level are slightly low - I have issued a prescription of Folic acid 5mg and sent it to your nominated pharmacy; please take one daily for the next 4 months.

Wrong again! You do not have a level of folic acid. Folic acid is synthetic folate, so unlikely to be in your blood, so cannot be tested for! What you need is methylfolate. But, it will affect your test for PA, so don't take it until you've had a test for PA. Tell the pharmacy they can keep their folic acid! lol He really is hopeless, isn't he.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Make an appointment with your GP

They should prescribe vitamin D

Run full testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting either B12 injections every 2-3 months or B12 daily supplements and folic acid

Full iron panel test for anaemia

Highly likely vitamin levels are low because of thyroid

But low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH, masking how hypothyroid you might be

Request thyroid antibodies are tested

Explain your Mum and sister have autoimmune thyroid disease

You also need coeliac blood test done

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Or heavy periods?

[NicoleHam]

Thanks for your reply! The gp is a nightmare. Every time I ring I can’t talk to a GP and it’s a 3 week wait for an appointment. No one called to go through my results, I requested them on email which is how I got hold of them. I only got that text after I called and complained to the receptionist that I have below range results and no one cares. When I do get to see a GP I’ll mention all you’ve said above on what additional bloods should be done. What is the benefit for vitamin d prescribed? Sorry I’m just not sure so I can ring up and ensure it is prescribed.

Not vegetarian but don’t eat lots of red meat and my periods are very heavy for a couple days of my period which changed a few years ago.

Are you advising I only take vitamin d supplements until I get further bloods done?

Thank you!

[eeng in reply to NicoleHam]

I bought vitamin D supplements on amazon I think. They are 10,000iu each. They would be suitable as a loading dose one or two a day to get your level up, and then you could take one a week to keep it there. Not expensive and easy to take - I think they are oil-filled capsules. Completely tasteless and slip down easily. If you can get a supplement with magnesium and vit K2-MK7 in too that would tick all the boxes.

[NicoleHam]

Thank you! It all feels a bit of a minefield, knowing what to take and I’m scared to do it without the assistance of a doctor or specialist. The gps really don’t know anything anything. What sort of specialist could I see to get help with all of it?If I was to look at going private can you recommend any specialists who work with review deficiencies, vitamins and minerals, further testing and coming up with a long term plan of what to take?

Thank you!