If blood was drawn for these labs as per forum suggestions, yes with a TSH of 4 and low FT3 you have a need of higher levels of active thyroid hormone.
However, T4 levels are already high and risk going over range if you raised Levo, and low FT3 raises the prospect that perhaps you are a poor converter.
If you have optimised all nutrients, iron and are supplementing selenium (possibly zinc if it were low) and Levo still failed to convert adequate levels of T3, then to would be the time to add T3 meds.
And yes, you have Hashi evidenced by over range TPOAb’s. Are you gluten free? Selenium not only helps thyroid hormones to work better but reduces TPOAb's.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Yes the test was taken via blood samples (Medichecks).
I am not supplementing selenium, I’ll add this to the list. I’m currently supplementing iron, B12 and have increased my dose of Vit d to make sure I’m getting enough.
Do you know what is the connection of going gluten free and hashmito’s disease?
Gluten sensitivity is caused by molecular mimicry of the different gluten proteins that trigger an immune reaction into creating antibodies that attacks own tissue, kind of similar to Hashi.
The well known primary for wheat is gliadin which is said to closely resemble that of the thyroid gland tissue. When it breaches the protective gut barrier (leaky gut) & enters the blood stream the immune system (antibodies) tag it for destruction and attack thyroid tissue or other.
Grains can be hard to digest and inhibit digestion of other good foods, leading to absorption issues of nutrients, and/or fermentation, ie gas/bloating. A proportion of the immune system lives in the gut (GALT) and when compromised can lead to other increased (food) allergies.
Blood tests will only detect gluten antibodies in the blood stream when the condition is relatively advanced, ie the gut is extremely damaged by permeability. Low thyroid hormone surpresses healthy levels of gastric acid which when coupled with advanced permeability increases vulnerability to infections such as H.Pylori, candida, etc.
If we are gluten intolerant it is better to avoid all grains such as barley, rye & even oats sold as gluten free, rice and corn. And now further studies show intolerance of oils such as 'corn' which is also in cornstarch, corn sugar, corn syrup, maize, the list is endless .
Gluten sensitivity is not a disease (like Celiac) but a genetic disposition that means gluten activates an inflammatory cascade within the body and as Hashi/Graves sufferers we are already vulnerable to inflammation created by our autoimmune disease.
Because of our unique genetics, biochemistry, environmental & lifestyle factors, gluten intolerance is all a bit beyond the medical profession because presents in so many forms from ulcerative colitis to crippling joint pain, depression or foggy thinking, to sinusitis or eczema. However, encouragingly they are now recognising NCGS (non-celiac gluten sensitivity) and NCWS (non-celiac wheat sensitivity).
In Dr Peter Osborne's book 'No Grain. No Pain' he states a recent study identified four hundred forms of gluten, many of which are more damaging than the form for which the medical profession tests for. And going further there is research showing the pesticides used on grains may mimic oestrogen resulting in low T in males, and high level of fibroids, PCOS, etc in females. God help us 😬.
Yes to your first answer, I have seen you post this before so have followed it 👍.
100mg and on the same brand, I have found I react differently to different brands (i.e. I can't take Teva).
I had the additional test too - Vit D I have a insufficiency and recommended to take 3x usual dose for 12 weeks, Vit B12 low but not out of range (I stopped taking this before the test, I usually take a supplement), Iron ok and Ferritin okay.
I usually take a iron tablet everyday.
Test for Inflammatory too - all okay.
Can I test for coeliac disease privately? My doctor will not test this. It's hard enough to get them to increase my levothyroxine dose.
Only 5% Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac, but a further 80% find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential
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.
Retest thyroid and vitamin levels 3 months after going gluten free
If Ft3 remains low then will need T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine
Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors who will prescribe T3
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Medicheck results are in advice please 😊
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