I have had a Medichecks blood test before having my Endo appointment next week. I’m on 50 mcg levothyroxine and 10 mcg Liothyronine (taken as 5 mcg twice daily). My TSH levels are low and TPA very high. Is this normal on combination therapy? While I feel better on this regime I cannot lose the extra weight I am carrying - currently a stone overweight - which is depressing. I also take a variety of supplements - Vit D with K2, magnesium glycinate, basic B complex, ashwaghanda with ksm66 and three Brazil nuts daily. Please can someone advise what I should discuss with the Endo. I don’t want to stop taking T3 as I feel better other than the weight thing. Thank you.
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My TSH levels are low and TPA very high. Is this normal on combination therapy?
T3 will lower TSH and will often suppress it so that's normal, yes.
Your raised TPO antibodies are nothing to do with the fact that you are taking combination thyroid hormone replacement. They are raised because they are the cause of your hypothyroidism - autoimmune thyroid disease, known to patients as Hashimoto's - the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
Your nutrient levels are good.
Do your Brazil nuts say on the pack that they are grown in selenium rich soil and how much selenium per nut? If not then they likely contain no selenium.
Please can someone advise what I should discuss with the Endo. I don’t want to stop taking T3 as I feel better other than the weight thing.
Your thyroid hormone levels - FT4 and FT3 - are good and if you feel well there is no need to change anything. If your endo isn't happy with your TSH and wants it back in range then he obviously doesn't understand what taking T3 does to TSH so you'll have to explain to him that you've spoken to ThyroidUK (spoken to - not mentioning forum or internet), the thyroid charity recommended by the NHS for information on thyroid disease, and they have explained that taking T3 often gives a very low TSH and that the important results to look at are FT4 and FT3 with FT3 being the most important and it's only when FT3 is over range that you are overmedicated.
Thank you Seaside Susie. Your comments are very helpful and I think I’m bready in case I have to do battle to stay on T3. I buy Brazil nuts from Aldi. Someone mentioned on this forum that they do actually contain selenium do hopefully that’s the case. Thanks again.
Oh yes, the Aldi "Foodie Market" Brazil nuts are on my list I post whenever someone mentions Brazil nuts. Check the packaging and let me know if the selenium information is no longer there, there's no Aldi where I live.
Hi. I keep the Brazilian nuts in a sealed container when I get them home so I don’t have the packaging. I’ll be buying more next time I shop in Aldi so I’ll post a photo of the packaging on here.
Hi shaws. Thank you for that. I’m not coeliac and I would find it very hard to go completely gluten free. I was hoping the T3 would do it. Thanks again.
I am not coeliac and about two years ago I did 'gluten-free and I didn't find it difficult. When I returned home my son was shocked and he thought that I had lost too much weight.
I haven't lost weight on T3 and isn't a weight loss hormone
hi shaws. Thank you for your reply. The article is really interesting. I was hoping that taking T3 would help with weight loss but that hasn’t been the case. I eat a well balanced diet and walk several times a week but haven’t lost an ounce. I’ve just checked out a meal plan for a gluten free diet and think with a bit of planning I might be able to do it without too much of an impact on daily life - so I’m going to give it a try. Thanks again.
High TPO antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
as you have Hashimoto’s it’s ALWAYS worth trying strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet
If not had coeliac blood test done get endocrinologist to test
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 and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and 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.
Hi SlowDragon. Thank you for your reply. I’ve been tested for coeliac - thankfully I’m not. I already have a dairy free diet. While I’ve drastically reduced the amount of gluten I eat I can’t seem to go completely gluten free. If I’m out and about and starving - I’ll grab a wrap or pasta salad. I’m not organised enough! If eating gluten made me unwell I’d definitely feel I should give it a go. The problem at the moment is my weight - although I still get muscle fatigue and joint pain it’s very sporadic and my general well being has improved since starting T3. I was hoping to make a case for increasing T3. Thanks again.
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