Did blood test with Medichecks - have attached results and would really appreciate advice.
My TSH has historically been suppressed as it’s the only way I feel well. GP agreed to this after I saw endocrinologist who said it wasn’t a problem. Am wondering if should request dose increase (I’m already on 125mcg daily). I would rather try to tackle vitamins first, though.
Medicheck doc comments included…
“Your vitamin D level remains in low normal range. Vitamin D levels which are not in optimal range can affect your motivation to exercise, and your speed and stamina whilst exercising. If you are not already doing so, please consider taking 400 iu (10mcg) per day to help optimise your levels.
You have normal levels of vitamin B12, but it is towards the low end of the normal range. To work out whether there is significant underlying B12 deficiency I recommend arranging a serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) blood test.”
I’m planning to start D and B12 - are there particular brands you recommend? Folate is also lowish so thinking of also adding that.
They obviously commented on level of thyroid peroxidase antibodies but I understand that it’s associated with having Hashimoto’s so unsure if they can be reduced?
(Blood tests were first thing, was fasting and hadn’t taken levothyroxine yet that day)
Thank you in advance for all your help and advice!
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nadchaoli
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Thank you so much for the prompt and detailed replies! I’ll answer all your Qs but am at work st it may take me a while
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription - I do, had prescription amended with brands (Actavis/Accord and Wockhardt only) though pharmacy still often tries to give me “wrong” brand and I have to ask for it to be corrected.
Do you normally take levothyroxine waking or bedtime and always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after - I do, usually in early hours when I wake up
Have you had coeliac blood test - no, should I? A friend is coeliac and I get none of the hideous symptoms she suffers from
Are you already on gluten or dairy free diet - no, I love cheese too much! I don’t each much gluten since I started keto for weight loss
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking - I actually stopped taking any about a month ago as wanted to get accurate result from this. It was a multivitamin specifically for menopause. Should I continue this multivitamin or get separate ones for D, folate and B12 - ignore this, just read your next reply!
Yes, I understand re Hashimoto’s - I finally got diagnosis of Hashimoto’s after GP did antibody test after I kept returning to GP with symptoms.
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
of barely eating any gluten no point testing for coeliac
If 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…..though necessity for endoscopy may have been scrapped due to waiting lists)
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
Surprisingly I personally haven’t missed cheese as much as I suspected I would…..in part because results are so good dairy free
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add a separate vitamin B Complex after a week
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
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
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate B12
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