Newbie - Raised TPO symptoms help

[chelseeb]

Hey!

I had bloods done a little while ago that showed raised TPO - thyroid hormones all normal range still although TSH not optimal, I’m waiting to see an endocrinologist.

I wanted to ask about other symptoms I have been having to see if those at this longer than me think they are thyroid related or not?

- aches & pains - mainly in hands & tingling at times

- small amounts of flaky skin - around finger tips only

- skin feeling stranger than usual - drier/tighter… today when I came out the shower my face redder than usual (including forehead, cheeks, nose & a bit of chin) no new products used

- today when out the shower, prickly/burning rash on chest and middle of back at the top over shoulder area, felt and looked a bit like sunburn although not! Redness went away when moisturised but I can still tell it happened if that makes sense!

Just after anyones thoughts as I’m waiting a while to see endocrinologist and no one in my family has hashimotos or graves!

Thank you for your help xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Are you based in U.K.

Please add most recent TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 results

ALWAYS test thyroid early morning for highest TSH

Essential to also test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Have these been tested yet?

Or coeliac blood test done yet?

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[chelseeb in reply to SlowDragon]

Heya thanks ☺️

Yes I’m in the U.K. - Hampshire

My bloods were taken middle of August and around lunch time.

TSH 3.09

Free T3 5.2

Free Thyroxine 15.2

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 21.5

Thyroid Peridoxase Antibodies 301

Vitamin D 50

B12 73.7

Folate 7.3

Iron 19.4, transferrin saturation 24.4, ferritin - 69.6, T1BC 79.7, U1BC 60.3

I haven’t been tested for coeliac but I have ordered my own test, just waiting for it to be sent out so I can go and have the bloods done .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to chelseeb]

So your TSH is higher than average person, but not high enough yet for diagnosis

Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5

web.archive.org/web/2004060...

TSH would be higher if tested early morning, ideally just before 9am, and only drinking water between waking and test

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

vitamin D too low

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to chelseeb]

Folate on lower side

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help maintain B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Other options

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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)

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[chelseeb in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello, wow thanks so much for all the information! That’s super helpful & I’ll take a look at it all - thanks so much x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to chelseeb]

Only add one vitamin supplement at a time then wait 10-14 days to assess any effects

Starting with vitamin D

Retest thyroid and vitamin levels in 2-3 months after adding last supplement and/or after starting gluten free diet

You might want to consider testing or just supplementing selenium and/or zinc too

[Thyroidtpo1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi sorry to jump under someones post,I have just had my results back and I have no idea what the numbers mean, I will copy out the letter I’ve received

TSH has been above normal range for some time. The lowest TSH in the last 18 months is 6.8 and the highest is 25.7 however T4 has sat between 14.5 and 18.5. TPO antibodies are positive, the latest has 644.

Please could you break down the numbers for me as I have no idea what they mean 😢

[helvella Administrator in reply to Thyroidtpo1]

Please start a new post!

Having two different discussions on one post can cause lots of confusion.

You can alert SlowDragon by mentioning (or calling out) to her. Type:

@ s l o w d r a g o n

But with no spaces. When you see her name appear on a popup list, click on that.

SlowDragon

Screenshot of name list for calling out