Hi everybody,So hoping you can help me with some advice. I am a 38 year old woman who has always struggled with severe tiredness, however more recently this has escalated to frequent sore throat, dry skin, thinning hair. It has escalated quite rapidly in the last 10 months where I got a full body red rash, starting developing vitiligo, full body aches, increased hair thinking and tiredness. I have also struggled to lose weight despite low carb healthy eating and put on weight now very easily.
My thyroid antibodies came back as highly irregular in a test which lead to hashimotos duagnosis. I think I may be suffering from some other issues that may be autoimmune related.
It is do distressing and feel like I don't have any help. My thyroid blood tests came back normal. I also am hoping to start trying for a child soon but can't do this when am unwell and also concerned this is all having an issue with fertility.
Could someone please help with advice, and whether they have had similar issues and importantly if they know a good endocrinologist in or around Kent area.
Thank you x
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Uniarook
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Do you have any results. Eg via online access or obtain a printed copy with ranges. Your TPO are positive but you need to know where your are with TSH, FT4 & FT3.
I’ve edited your title to remind members not to post dr names. We often close replies for post asking for doctor recommendations but I’m sure others can add helpful advice.
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
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
I’m exactly the same. TPO anti indies high but normal thyroid levels. Feel exhausted, stiff and aching, thinning hair, gaining weight despite co trolling calories, depressed,.. I feel so much older than I am! No help for me either!!
Hi Becky, It's so worrying isn't it. I will let you know how I get on to helpbwith any advice. I definitely think my low foliate levels have impacted hair thinning - will take folate tablets and biotin (after tests as this effects thyroid tests) wondering if I should take minoxidil too.....
Going to follow all this advice that @PurpleNails and @SlowDragon have given.
I would say however Becky that you must do Gluten free. I was in a bad way in May - severe body aches, and full body rash - Gluten free sorted this out after 2 weeks. Xx
Thank you SO much for your comments. I would like to reply individually but PurpleNails and SlowDragon in the meantime. These are my last test results. These were taken last year so actually before my symptoms started getting bad from Jan if this year. I am booking in for a test with thriva for an update
It looks like you are deficient in folate ( not low, actually medically deficient) which I think could be causing some of your symptoms in addition to the Hashimotos. It is extremely important to resolve this if you are planning a pregnancy.
I would discuss it with your GP and get an up to date blood test done for B12 and folate.
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
If ferritin on main test under 40 ….get full iron panel test
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
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and a week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
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
Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
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 folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
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Urgent help please: Getting an NHS GP to agree to blood tests for a private endocrinologist
Private doctor recommendations please
Advice on taking T3 for first time also best pharmacy to use Private prescription please
Best to ask an endo? Or go to a private doctor?
Newly diagnosed, ordered private bloods when best to do?
