Gut absorbing issues

[Lotus77]

Hi, I am very low in certain vitamins and minerals, likely due to poor gut health - Any suggestions how to improve absorption (It now also seems to be showing its evidence in hair loss and splitting nails). 🙏🏾

[greygoose]

You probably have low stomach acid - a lot of hypos do.

Have a look at this article, and try the home test at the end:

healthygut.com/3-tests-for-...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Please add most recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results and ranges

Are your thyroid levels optimal

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s

Assuming yes, are you on strictly gluten free diet

If not, get coeliac blood test done BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet

[Lotus77 in reply to SlowDragon]

Unfortunately I don’t have these any longer at hand, but SeasideSusie did inform at the time that they were all too low and advised on better supplement brands. I’ve done a Coeliac test and was informed not to have this, I’m diagnosed with “possible Hashimoto”.

My thyroid levels seems to be too high. And the issue seems to be that I’m not absorbing recommended vitamins…Attached most recent blood test.

Blood test

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lotus77]

You need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done next step

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 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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 and money off codes

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Come back with new post once you get results

[Gingernut44 in reply to SlowDragon]

SD, Lotus77 ’s TSH, FT4 and FT3 are all on that blood test report.TSH 2.10 (0.27 - 4.20)

FT4 21.7 (10.0 - 23.0)

FT3. 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

Probably missed as they were spaced in between all the others

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT4: 21.7 pmol/l (Range 10 - 23) 90.00%

FT3: 4 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 24.32%

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

thyroid.dopiaza.org

Was test done early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Shows rather high Ft4 and very low Ft3

So very poor conversion

Next step get Thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested

Likely to have low vitamins

Improving low vitamin levels essential

Assuming you have Hashimoto’s, trialing absolutely strictly gluten free diet is ALWAYS worth trying