Can thyroid tap or pulse?

[Ian232]

Hi,

I have been having a number of issues which I thought were low thyroid related, or B12 deficient, both bloods currently look fine thought, apart from my thyroid peroxidase antibodies which have risen from 468KIUL to 502KIUL (range 0-34).

What I would like to know is, can thyroid tap or pulse? I have had this sensation at times over the last 3-4 years I guess, & weirdly it also seems to happen the day after flu jabs, but I have not had one yet, & the tapping has started again?

Any thoughts?

Thank you.

[greygoose]

So, you have Hashi's. Are you being correctly treated for your hypo? If you post your blood test results and ranges, you'll probably more responses.

I cannot say I've had that particular problem myself, but all things are possible with hypothyroidism, so there are possibly people with a similar problem on here. Your thyroid could become swollen from time to time.

Don't worry about the antibodies increasing. It doesn't mean anything. They fluctuate all the time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

5 months ago dose was increased to 125mcg

Have you got recent results

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

what vitamin supplements are you taking

[Ian232 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you all!

Bloods were tested 6-8, & here are the most recent results, which looks mostly fine.

Thyroid test result.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ian232]

FT4: 17.9 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 59.00% through range

FT3: 5.1 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 54.05% through range

Suggests you have room for small dose increase in levothyroxine

Perhaps 137mcg 4 days week and 125mcg 3 days week

Retest in 6-8 weeks

Why have you stopped vitamin B complex?

[Ian232 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon.

I will see if I can raise this with my GP.

I had (still have) symptoms akin to B12 deficiency, I took supplements for about 3 weeks & quit for 4 months to get tested to see if I had B12 deficiency pernicious anaemia.

Active and serum B12 levels showed an increase when tested shortly after quitting B supplements. Then 3 months in, active B12 dropped to 67.2 pmol/L (range 37.5-188 ). One month later (4 months off supplements), & active B12 is 94.2?

I have been waiting all this time to have MMA, homocysteine, & serum B12. Had test done yesterday, but my GP text to say there has been a problem & I have to book in to get done again. I am not sure if this 1 or all yet.

Thanks again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ian232]

As you have Hashimoto’s…Are you on gluten free or dairy free diet

[Ian232 in reply to SlowDragon]

No, I just eat the same type of thing & no change in diet at all.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ian232]

Always worth trying gluten free diet….but get coeliac blood test via GP first if they have not done it when you had original diagnosis of Hashimoto’s

[Ian232 in reply to SlowDragon]

Okay, I will look into getting this tested, & give the gluten free diet a go.

Many thanks for your help & time!👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ian232]

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% find dairy free beneficial

Hashimoto’s and leaky gut often occur together

Post discussing gluten

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

NICE guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

1.1 Recognition of coeliac disease

1.1.1 Offer serological testing for coeliac disease to:

people with any of the following:

persistent unexplained abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms

faltering growth

prolonged fatigue

unexpected weight loss

severe or persistent mouth ulcers

unexplained iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency

type 1 diabetes, at diagnosis

autoimmune thyroid disease, at diagnosis

irritable bowel syndrome (in adults)

first‑degree relatives of people with coeliac disease.

[Ian232 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi again SlowDragon, I have had a good read of your post, & I have just ordered one of the SelfCheck gluten/coeliac home tests. 👍

[shaws Administrator in reply to Ian232]

If someone has a low B12 they may have a condition called Peernicious Anaemia, so your GP will have to confirm or not.

If you do have perncious anaemia you will need a regular B12 injection.

I have a monthly B12 injection.

[Ian232 in reply to shaws]

Thank you, I have had 2 intrinsic factor tests which were fine. It is a bit odd having lowish B12 & then take supplements for a short period & see the level rise, then drop to borderline low & rise up again without any supplements or fortified cereal for 4 months. I take it these Medicheck finger prick tests are reliable?

Anyway, thank you again Shaws, & it much appreciated. 👍

[shaws Administrator in reply to Ian232]

I am not medically qualified but my mother had Pernicious Anaemia and she got regular B12 injections.

I also have the same condition.

After some time, my mother's GP told her that she needed no more B12 injections. Both my sister and myself thought that was a 'good decision' and we were not worried.

Unfortunately my mother died due (I believe) to GP stopping her B12 injections as she developed stomach cancer.

My own GP has stated that if I feel I need more B12 injections I can have them.

[Ian232 in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry, I meant to add, the only supplement that I take is vitabiotics vitamin d 100iu, & have been clear of B12 supplements & B complex for 4 months.