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Do you have the lab ranges for each of these tests - numbers in brackets after your result? You can edit your post or add them in a reply here.
Was there a result for TSH?
TPO antibodies positive means likely autoimmune thyroid disease. Antibodies can be positive for years before actual thyroid levels fall out of range. Seeing a TSH result would help.
People with autoimmune thyroid disease often benefit from removing gluten from their diet. Some others also need to remove dairy to help improve symptoms.
When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?
As you have 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
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
Thank you! I have brought some Vit D spray. I will look into the links you’ve sent over. My symptoms seem to match more Hashimotos then Graves. My joints hurt so much mainly my legs
Thank you so much! You’ve been amazing in regards to information. I felt I had this over Graves as I have many symptoms matching Hashimotos. I see my doctor next week. I just wanted to know how to help myself
U.K. GP’s invariably only call Hashimoto’s as autoimmune thyroid disease, and don’t be surprised if they dismiss symptoms…..if TSH isn’t over range they may believe that symptoms now are impossible
Well you do have positive antibodies so there is definitely something going on there but its likely at the early stages. This is a good article about AI thyroid disease and the stages it goes through before treatment becomes necessary. Also a good site generally about all things thyroid. thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Your FT4 is only at 22% of its range so no doubt your thyroid is now putting in overtime to keep your TSH where it is. To get a diagnosis in the UK you need 2 consecutive TSH tests above range (on the NHS) or one above 10.
What time of day was this test taken? 9am is best time due to TSH being highest then in its circadian pattern.
Your folate is low. We would recommend a good B complex that contains folate to keep all your B's in balance. Also a cofactor for your B12. This one is good. amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...
Vitamin D should be at around 100 to be at a good level. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get you there. Buy one that has K2 with it to help it go to your bones. grassrootshealth.net/projec...
Do you have a ferritin or iron result anywhere?
All of these vitamins help not just your thyroid hormone work better but also your B12. This is something doctors just dont pay attention to but is important.
Thank you, I will look through this information, so the doctors I assume won’t treat me at this time but if I eat gluten free dairy free and take supplements I should keep it at bay?
No doctors won't treat you until 2x TSH over range or one above 10.
Taking the supplements will help some of your symptoms - not all. They will help your B12 work better too. They may also help bring your TSH up which would help you get a diagnosis.
Ask GP to retest every 4 months for thyroid levels.
Going gluten & possibly also dairy free help many people to improve symptoms. They won't stop the destruction of your thyroid although some believe being gluten free can slow it down.
you need full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin
You also need coeliac blood test
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
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.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone is a pituitary hormone which signal thyroid to decrease or increase hormone.
Doctors focus on TSH but thyroid hormones need to be checked too your FT4 is low in range.
Do you remember the time of blood test?
FT4 isn’t the only thyroid hormone there also FT4 & this the active powerful hormone if this is low = hypothyroid symptoms.
Low vitamins can also lower the TSH. Your folate look low & you know your vit D & B12 have been too.
Have you had ferritin / iron panel tested?
Do you currently take vitamin other medication?
There’s quite a few thyroid antibodies, doctors tend to test TPO first.
Positive TPO confirms autoimmune activity is affecting thyroid, but it can be positive in hypo & hyper.
Doctors don’t look to treat until thyroid levels are low & then replacement hormones can be offered.
High TPO is associated with Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroiditis) doctors just refer to under active levels.
Initially with hashis levels fluctuate so so transient hyper isn’t uncommon. There are other antibodies which are more associated with hyper Graves but this looks unlikely with low FT4 a specialist doesn’t normal test for Graves antibodies unless TSH suppressed & FT4 repeatedly over range.
This link gives an a description of typical symptoms.
Some symptoms are varied & dome are deceptively similar & because we are all individual & other factors compound symptoms many describe a mix of both or the opposite to what you’d expect, like losing weight when hypothyroid.
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