Thyroid - updated bloods - advice

[MPG15]

Good morning,

Just had the attached bloods back from Medichecks and wonder if anyone had any advice before I return to GP to discuss.

I took the test at 7:30am after fasting overnight and within one hour of waking. I’ve put columns for previous tests in April and September for comparison. TSH has raised yet my TgA which I was concerned about re Hashimotos has come down?

Not sure what my cholesterol and liver are up to but they’re not happy it seems! I’m not a drinker (occasional glass of wine - I have never been a drinker) nor do I currently taking any regular medication other than HRT Estrogel/progesterone. I am overweight by about 10kg not obese but I am tired so have not been as active as I’d like (as well as recovering from Stage III cancer two years ago).

I was taking Esomeprazole and Pentasa (prescribed for anti inflammatory by gastroenterologist at Marsden for enteritis) have now stopped that medication probably 3 weeks prior to test.

Just wondered if my cholesterol liver had any correlation to my thyroid? If it’s autoimmune?

Many thanks!

[greygoose]

TSH has raised yet my TgA which I was concerned about re Hashimotos has come down?

There's no connection between TSH and antibodies. Antibodies fluctuate all the time but the actual level is irrelevant. It doesn't signify anything. And they are not doing you any harm. Not really any point in retesting them once you've had a positive result.

Your TSH has risen because your thyroid hormone levels - T4 and T3 - have dropped.

Your cholesterol is high because your T3 is low. Cholesterol is made in the liver and the liver keeps the level steady by reducing output when you ingest more with your food, and vice versa. But, when T3 is low, the body cannot process cholesterol correctly. Raise the FT3 level and the cholesterol level should drop.

[MPG15 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much greygoose 🙏🏻

Am I correct in thinking that as my levels are not considered that bad that I would look to raise FT3 naturally? Or would I need Levothyroxine in order to do this? Sorry to be so hopeless, just want to make sure I am somewhat informed before seeing GP again.

[greygoose in reply to MPG15]

Depends on your definition of 'naturally'. Taking levo is 'natural' because it is exactly the same as the T4 made by your thyroid. And, in any case, you need T4 because your T4 is below range!

So, with high antibodies, over-range TSH and below-range FT4, plus all your hypo symptoms as noted below (weight-gain, constipation, dry hair/nails/skin, etc.) you shouldn't have any trouble getting a diagnosis of Hashi's-hypo. Although your GP might be difficult and insist on doing his own labs, and repeating them three months later, and blah blah blah. But, according to the NICE guidelines, you are in need to thyroid hormone replacement: levo to begin with, at least.

does my recent increase in TSH mean more is happening?

It means your thyroid is becoming increasingly damaged and unable to produce adequate thyroid hormone to keep you well.

[MPG15 in reply to greygoose]

Oh thank goodness for you and this helpful forum! 🤩

Truly appreciate you taking the time to help me out. Wish me luck with the GP!

Thanks again!!

[greygoose in reply to MPG15]

Fingers crossed!

[MPG15 in reply to greygoose]

Well… my thyroid is, of course, not playing ball!!

GP wasn’t interested in my private test results with Medicheck (even queried why I was doing them!) so he redid them and my TSH was in normal range! So back to square 1 I go…

I’m slightly astonished that literally within one week my TSH can go from 6.04 to 1.96… esp when symptoms are still ongoing. And previous tests also show him my results keep going up and down and all over the place but they’re totally disinterested

I completely understand that my results from Medicheck aren’t terrible but will I ever get to the bottom of this long term “not quite right”? Plus there’s no denying the ongoing obvious symptoms the fatigue, brittle nails, dry skin, my heels have splits in the skin they’re so dry all the time, my hair falling out (a lot!), half my eyebrows have disappeared, I can’t talk in the evening because my voice is so hoarse I sound like I’ve smoked 20 woodbine 😂, I’ve completely lost any mojo , cannot bear this cold weather so therefore cannot bring myself to do anything other than run warm baths or sit on a heated blanket! It’s not much of a life and I’m only 53 but feel more like 93 with all the inflammation, arthritis popping up and I’ve just battled cancer. But even before then my immune and thyroid weren’t right

I just feel there is more to this autoimmune business than I’m capable of understanding without help 🤷🏼‍♀️ and I feel out of my depth and not sure who to go to for answers or direction?

I’m really looking into Microbiome as a route to see if I can help with diet etc because it’s such a huge part of the immune system the gut but it’s quite complicated, hugely expensive and not covered by private health. Where to start to find someone good and honest and who can really help me? 🤪

I’d have had my DNA tests done which all point to an autoimmune and thyroid dna link but yet I can’t get the help I seem to need to get to the bottom of it.

[greygoose in reply to MPG15]

Were the blood draws for both tests done at the same time of day? TSH changes throughout the day, being highest before 9 am and at its lowest around midday.

previous tests also show him my results keep going up and down and all over the place but they’re totally disinterested

Well, that's what happens with Hashi's. But doctors don't know that. Did you point out to him that your Tg antibodies were high, meaning that you have Hashi's?

I just feel there is more to this autoimmune business than I’m capable of understanding without help 🤷🏼‍♀️ and I feel out of my depth and not sure who to go to for answers or direction?

Not sure what you mean by 'more to' it. If you have questions to ask, ask them on here. Someone is bound to be able to answer them.

I’m really looking into Microbiome as a route to see if I can help with diet etc because it’s such a huge part of the immune system the gut

Diet can only do just so much, but you cannot replace a hormone with a vitamin. If your thyroid hormone levels are low, you need to replace them with exogenous thyroid hormones. The gut may be part of the immune system but that's not going to help you where Hashi's is concerned. Your thyroid is damaged and cannot regenerate. Therefore it will never be able to make enough hormone to keep you well, however good your diet is.

I’d have had my DNA tests done which all point to an autoimmune and thyroid dna link but yet I can’t get the help I seem to need to get to the bottom of it.

Because doctors don't know enough about it to be able to help you. All they look at is the TSH, and if that's in-range, they refuse to believe there can be a problem. They are very prejudiced against hypothyroidism.

[MPG15 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose

Yes both tests were done at exactly the same time of day.

Yes I did say it was Hashimoto related because of the Tg but all he replied was we could test again in 8 weeks. He was more interested in the fact I’d mentioned being referred by my oncologist to an endocrinologist so he wanted to do nothing to help and to just pass it on (despite the fact it’s been 3 months and I’m still waiting to even get an appointment with the endocrinologist!)

Totally understand re the hormone replacement for thyroid is essential nothing diet related can help that just hoping to help ease some symptoms as I have an autoimmune related urticaria condition too.

Thank you so much for your wise words - you’ve spurred me on to just go back to my GP (will get an app with the one I know rather than any random one they choose to get to call me (don’t even see them!) I did say to him that I was looking to improve my quality of life as having battled Stage 3 cancer it seems awfully unfair that I still am unable to feel well because of this and that I need help but he was already saying goodbye at this point and probably rushing off for his tea break 🤣

Thanks again!

[greygoose in reply to MPG15]

Totally understand re the hormone replacement for thyroid is essential nothing diet related can help that just hoping to help ease some symptoms as I have an autoimmune related urticaria condition too.

Well, low nutrients can cause symptoms of their own, so optimising them can help some symptoms. Your B12 and folate could both be higher. And low B12 symptoms are very similar to hypo symptoms.

Can't see a result for ferritin.

What do you mean by 'autoimmune related'? Do you mean your urticaria is an autoimmune condition?

[MPG15]

Sorry also meant to say I was not taking any supplements prior to this test either so I would get a clear reading.

I am not sure what the UK guidelines are on levels for diagnosis not what is relevant for Hashimotos/autoimmune (does my recent increase in TSH mean more is happening?) hence hoping someone here can advise before I go to the GP as the only thing they have concern for is my cancer and having beaten that I’d really like to feel a bit better and stronger/motivated but I just cannot seem to despite a healthy, though modest, diet (i suffer terrible constipation so cannot eat normal 3 meals a day as my system just cannot cope) my nails, hair and skin are so dry and hopeless (yet my vitamin levels etc look ok except Folate which is a bit low) and despite not eating that much I have stubborn weight gain, I’ve lost my mojo (which I was blaming on medical menopause because of cancer treatment but now I’m in HRT this should not the case?!), I don’t seem to trust my own judgment anymore on my health. I seem to have spent my life with a slightly below par thyroid yet never been able to improve it. Do my low white bloods/lymphocytes have any bearing on thyroid? Or is this a totally separate issue? I read that hypothyroidism can increase cholesterol would this correlate with my sudden increase in cholesterol this year?

I did this test was within 1 hour of waking after just a glass of water (fasted overnight) so it should be an absolutely true and honest view of what’s going on currently.