Hi This is a follow on from my previous posts regarding undermedication. My levels were as below in January
TSH 3.4
B12 401
Ferittin 115
Vit d 81
Folate 6
This is when I was referred to an Endocrinologist who went also off previous blood tests & said i had been undermedicated for some years. This is in my previous posts. He increased my thyroxine from 75mcgs to 100mcgs daily & repeat bloods in July were
TSH 3.9
T4 18
T3 3.2
B12 804 (as I had been given an injection from GP)
Ferittin 87
Vit d 93
Folate 11
The Endocrinologist again increased my Thyroxine again to 125mcgs daily.
He arranged repeat bloods in September but only for Thyroid these results were
TSH 1.1
T4 23
T3 3.4
I didn't get the results until I had my phone appointment so didnt get the chance to prepare any questions & the line was also bad as I was abroad on holiday at the time of the call.
He said all was perfect & discharged me. I'm a bit concerned as my T3 is still quite low & T4 slightly high.
All bloods were done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Can I please ask your opinions on these results. Thanks in advance.
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Otto11
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Hi thanks for your response. Yes bloods done early morning with no Thyroxine the previous night. Not currently taking any vitamins. My B12 injections were stopped at the beginning of lockdown by my GP who refused to re instate them but the Endocrinologist asked him to restart them so this was the first one in over 2 years. Ive been on them every 3 months for 11 years prior to this. My 100mcg Thyroxine are Accord & the 25mcg in Mercury. Same brands so far. The Endocrinologist did say it was purely undermedicated simple Hypothyroidism as I did ask if it was auto immune as I have RA. Not had a coeliac test done or on any diet at all.
As you are (finally) getting B12 injections ?…… it’s recommended also to supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels between injections too
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist 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 thanks for your response & all the links. I havn't had the chance to look at them all yet. However just one question. I had antibodies done in February they were Thyroglobulin antibody 131 (0 - 115) & Thyroid Peroxidase antibody <9 (0 - 34). Do these antibodies change? Will they still need to be retested? I am due another blood test in December so should I just ask my GP to add them then? That's if he agrees of course.
Also i've just read from someone else's post that Hypothyroidism can affect your Cholesterol level. Mine is done yearly & had in done in September & it is 7.3. No one has questioned it. I'm now thinking that could be related.
Above range TG antibodies could be due to autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) but NHS currently only diagnose autoimmune thyroid disease by high TPO or by high TPO and high TG antibodies. They are unlikely to diagnose on just high TG antibodies
NHS rarely tests thyroid antibodies more than once
Conclusions: Elevated TgAb levels are associated with symptom burden in HT patients, suggesting a role of thyroid autoimmunity in clinical manifestations of HT. Based on these results, we recommend screening for TgAb antibodies in HT patients with symptom burden
many members get full thyroid and vitamin testing done privately once a year. This includes thyroid antibodies
Yes high cholesterol levels are linked to being hypothyroid
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
Thanks for all your help. Just a quick update. I have managed to get my Thyroid checked again by my GP who also allowed T4 T3 !!! My current results are now
TSH 0.57 (0.27 - 4.2)
T4 22.0 (11.0 - 22.0)
T3 3.7 (3.1-6.8)
Ferritin 130 (11.-307)
Folate 7.1 (2.7 - 17)
Serum Transferrin 1.68 (2.00 -3.6)
B12 832
Vit D not done for some reason but was 93 last time in July
TPO antibodies Neg
TG Antibodies 131 in May
Bloods done first thing etc etc. no supplements for 7 days before. Currently still on 125mcg Thyroxine daily., although this time I have been given a different brand called Wockhardt for the 25mg tablets.
As I previously said I have been discharged from Endocrinologist so all in the hands of my GP's who seem to know or understand very little about Thyroid results. I have had no feedback from them regarding these results so any input would be great. Thanks
Thanks this is what I thought but wasn't sure. The Endocrinologist I saw is really a Diabetes Specialist. He did say if I needed to return in the future then that would be fine but obviously that means I will need to be re referred by my GP which definitely isn't going to happen. I will try to discuss with my GP but we are currently waiting 14 weeks just for a call back here. I will do as you suggest regarding Thyroid UK & see how we go from there. Many thanks.
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