Have I got thyroid problem?

[geordieclaire120573]

Hi I was in here awhile ago with thyroid symptoms but I'm on no Medicaid fast forward health deteriorating endless fections. , Pleurisy, injured muscles I got the gp to do a test for thyroid the results are tsh.1.1 ( 0.27-4.2). Thyroid peroxidase 15.0 negative plasma parathyroid 2.8 ( 1.6-6.9, I've attached the rest....again told normal symptoms nothing wrong thyroid is fine. I'm 5 yes post menopause not on any hrt. Symptoms are can't tolerate heat the if I'm cold I'm like hyperthermic, shaking,tremors, fast heart rate , constant infections , itchy feet, thin hair , hair falling out, palpitations, last goes on and on.... Test was done at midday

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

As per this previous post of yours you do have autoimmune thyroid disease as your antibodies were positive. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Are you now supplementing your low vitamin levels? That would help some of your symptoms.

Its a really difficult situation as the early stages of Hashimoto's can be very prolonged with multiple symptoms, yet blood results remain stubbornly 'normal'.

If you had had your blood test at 9am then your TSH might have been a bit higher. TSH runs on a circadian rhythm so varies throughout the day. See attached graph.

This article explains the early stages of autoimmune thyroid disease. thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Keep rechecking bloods every 4 months or so, book blood tests for 9am and do them fasting.

TSH graph

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi so am I best doing in the morning? I take folic acid, vitamin d , vitamin c, multivitamins

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

For a thyroid blood test yes 9am or as close as possible.

Have youy had your vitamin levels checked? Its always best to see where your level is then supplement specifically for that vitamin to get it to optimal.

Multivitamins not recommended due to containing low quality vitamins in low doses that would never improve a deficiency. They also tend to contain iron & magnesium that can prevent your body absorbing the other vitamins contained in it. There are more reasons but I won't go on.

Rather than folic acid, methylfolate is better as the body needs to convert folic acid into its active form which certain people struggle with.

Iron/ferritin can get very low with hypothyroidism, best check that. Also B12.

Vit D3 should be checked twice a year to make sure you're taking enough or not oo much.

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks I take vitamin d but I think it's a ow dose considering I've osteoporosis. I'm on 800iu think that's right

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

You need to get a printed copy of your blood results and post them here for people to comment and make recommendations. 800iu is a very low dose of vit D, you should also be taking vit K2 to help it go to your bones. There are combined supplements available.

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to Jaydee1507]

These weredone by GP

Black white

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to geordieclaire120573]

Results

Black white

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

Thats a full blood count and liver and kidney function. Ask them to run the vitamins.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Presumably you have been working on low vitamin levels

You need to retest vitamin levels, especially full iron panel test including ferritin

Low ferritin increases risk of autoimmune thyroid disease

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ive never felt so horrible and run down yet gp says all ok

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

If ferritin remains low fatigue and exhaustion are likely

Multivitamins never recommended on here

Exactly what multivitamins

Most contain iodine not recommended for anyone with thyroid issues

And if any supplements contain biotin you need to stop taking a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just 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...

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

GP should have tested iron, ferritin, folate and Vitamin D

Hairloss often linked to low iron/ferritin

Itchy feet….can be linked to gluten

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi they did and said all normal

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

You’re legally entitled to copies of test results

Please add results and ranges

Within range is not necessarily optimal

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

Ferritin range typically 15-150

Aiming for ferritin at least over 70 and many people find that symptoms don’t improve until ferritin is over 100

Ferritin under 30 is deficient

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

Here is .y results

Black white

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to geordieclaire120573]

Results

Black

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

no ferritin, folate, b12 or vitamin D tests there

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have Hashimoto’s are you now on strictly gluten free diet and dairy free diet

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

No but I have noticed after bread I'm had tummy pains etc

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

So request coeliac blood test if not been tested yet

As per NICE guidelines everyone diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease should be tested for coeliac

Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).  

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels 

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working 

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. 

 A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential

A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to 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 may 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

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...

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

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

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.

Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% Hashimoto’s patients find dairy free beneficial

Hashimoto’s and leaky gut often occur together

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm getting investigated for stomach pains and gastritis. Saying could have a ulcer from prednisolone steroids I was on for pleurisy. They dismissed high antibodies as normal again because tsh was 1.1

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

steroids lower TSH

How long since you stopped steroids

Can take long time for TSH to recover

Low vitamin levels frequently result in low TSH

Low vitamin levels extremely common with autoimmune thyroid disease

Your high thyroid antibodies confirms you have this

Low iron/ferritin increases likelihood of developing high thyroid antibodies

Low vitamin levels should also get you coeliac blood test

you need to get full thyroid and vitamin testing done

Thousands of members test privately to make progress

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

My husband said think we need to go private. I was on steroids for three months

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

how long since you stopped steroids

First step

Get full thyroid and vitamin testing done via Medichecks or Blue Horizon ..BEFORE considering booking a consultation

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

Stopped in February. I've used .edichecks b4

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to geordieclaire120573]

Suggest you wait to test until 8 weeks after stopping steroids

Test early Monday or Tuesday morning ideally just before 9am for highest TSH

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements?

If not taking anything you could start vitamin D at 1000iu

Meanwhile look at eating lots of iron rich foods to improve low ferritin

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron 

Medichecks iron panel test 

medichecks.com/products/iro...

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SlowDragon]

Is that what I have as they keep saying everything is normal even though I'm falling apart