Help understanding results and symptoms please

[Emmasian94]

So, I tested positive for antibodies back in March this year (>1006) U/ml

TSH 8.39 mU/L (0.27-4.20)

T4 15.2 pmol/L (11.00-25.00)

Ferritin 21 ug/L. (15-300)

B12 284 ng/L (180-900)

They never told me I had hashimotos but I’ve come to this conclusion myself. As I felt a bit rubbish they agreed to start me on 50mg Levothyroxine in April. I was fine with no side affects and felt like my normal self.

In July my TSH was 2.26 mU/L and I still felt ok.

TPOs 440.2 U/ml

In September I started to notice faint aching in my joints. Thought nothing of it.

Fast forward to October I started getting heart palpitations, they lasted three days alongside the aching joints (worse now). This coincided with my ovulation. After a week both subsided and I returned to feeling normal.

October TSH level 1.79 mU/L (no antibody test etc)

Ferritin 25 ug/L

They tested reumatoid factor etc, all normal.

Again, I am now on day 9 of heart palpitations and joint aches. And again this coincided with my ovulation but has lasted much longer this time.

I went to the doctor yesterday and they agreed to give me a lower dose (25mg) as I felt better when my levels of tsh were higher.

Doctors will still not verbally say I have hashimotos.

Can anyone shed any light? I’m worried I’m going to be faced with this pain/palpitations consistently moving forward. I never have had these issues before October. I would really appreciate some knowledge as I’ve only just started researching and I’m a little overwhelmed/scared.

Thank you in advance xx

[greygoose]

Hi Emmasian94, welcome to the forum.

I can assure you, there's nothing to be scared of. But, being overwhelmed in the beginning is perfectly natural. There's a lot to learn. But, you'll find the answers to all your questions on here.

I have to say that I don't think reducing your dose to 25 mcg was the right way to go. Palpitations can be hypo symptoms. And, on 50 mcg only, it's not surprising you were having hypo symptoms because that is just a starter dose. It should have been increased to 75 mcg after six weeks.

You say you felt better when your TSH was higher. But, TSH has nothing to do with the way you feel. It is just a chemical messanger from the pituitary to the thyroid to tell it to make more hormone. It doesn't cause symptoms. What causes symptoms is the active thyroid hormone, T3. Has your FT3 been tested? TSH levels do not always tell you if your FT3 is high enough to make you well. But doctors are deluded in thinking that it does! You need full thyroid testing:

TSH

FT4

FT3

Doctors in the UK don't use the name Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. They call it Autoimmune Thyroiditis. But they rarely discuss it with patients because they don't really know what it is. And they never retest antibodies, because once you've had an over-range result, signifying that you have the disease, it really doesn't matter what the levels are, because it doesn't change anything. Even if antibodies drop back into range, you will still have Hashi's, because the antibodies are not the disease, they are the result of the disease, and they fluctuate all the time. So, forget about them.

[radd]

Emmasian94,

Welcome to our forum,

Yes, you have Hashimotos with elevated thyroid antibodies and greygoose has already given basic good advice above regarding thyroid hormone results.

You will also need folate & Vit D tested. Are you supplementing iron and Vit B12 deficiencies?

Basic info here regarding Hashimotos ... thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

You may also find reading 'The Root Cause' by Isabella Wentz a beneficial read.

I have replied to another members regarding the connection between elevated thyroid antibodies and ovarian function here ...... healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Emmasian94

Ferritin 21 ug/L. (15-300)

This is a concern and should have been picked up by your doctor. Please make an appointment with your GP to discuss this and point out the following:

From: cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

If your GP says it's within range then you counter that with the information above, ie the NICE guidance says it's iron deficiency so you'd like the appropriate tests done to confirm this.

You need an iron panel which includes Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity, Saturation Percentage and Ferritin. This will show if you have iron deficiency. You can have low ferritin without iron deficiency.

You will also need a full blood count which will show if you have anaemia, you can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia.

Here are lists of symptoms of low ferritin and iron deficiency, if you have any of these you should tell your GP as it's more evidence:

Symptoms of low ferritin include:

◾Weakness

◾Fatigue

◾Difficulty concentrating

◾Poor work productivity

◾Cold hands and feet

◾Poor short-term memory

◾Difficulty remembering names

◾Dizziness

◾Pounding in the ears

◾Shortness of breath

◾Brittle nails

◾Headaches

◾Restless legs

**

Symptoms of iron deficiency include:

◾Persistent fatigue

◾Pale skin

◾Shortness of breath

◾Headaches

◾Dizziness

◾Heart palpitations

◾Dry skin

◾Brittle hair and hair loss

◾Swelling or soreness of the tongue or mouth

◾Restless legs

◾Brittle or ridged nails

Palpitations can also be a symptom of low ferritin.

[Emmasian94 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for this. It wasn’t picked up, or discussed. I am now also experiencing an off balance feeling (aswell as palpitations, restless legs, ridged nails etc) so I think I need to go back to the doctors and discuss this. Xx

[Suesku56]

Hi Emmasian94, I take a good quality co enzyme Q10, Magnesium Glycinate and Citrate, B Vits, Zinc and Vit D3. Epsom salt baths are good too. Eat healthily. I also do a detox. It does take a few months of adjusting the dose and I also take T3 as endocrinologist said I did not readily convert T4 to T3.