Thyroid supplement support

[Blu-cat11]

Hi, please can anyone recommend a multivitamin/mineral thyroid supplement to support thyroid health? Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous post you have been left grossly under medicated on just 25mcg levothyroxine 8 years

So very likely low vitamin levels

First step is to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

What thyroid hormones are you currently taking

Last results of 2021 far too long ago

The Thyroid results from ‘21 with ranges

TSH 1.90 miU 0.27-4.2

FT4: 15.5 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 35.00% through range

FT3: 3.6 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 even worse at 13.51% through range

weigh 62 kilo 5 ‘9 “

Shows you were very under medicated

Dose Levo should be SLOWLY increased up

Usually in 25mcg steps

But having been left on only half the standard STARTER dose you may need to increase slower only increasing by 12.5mcg

Wait 6-8 weeks after each increase before retesting

Guidelines on eventual dose Levo likely is 100mcg per day based on your weight

Most people when adequately treated on just levothyroxine will have Ft4 (Levothyroxine) at least 70% through range

guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight

Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.

The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).

The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.

……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.

The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So get thyroid and vitamin levels tested after being on constant unchanging dose and brand of replacement thyroid hormones

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

If on NDT (Armour) or T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Essential to test folate, B12 and ferritin at least annually

Test vitamin D twice year

[Blu-cat11 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon. Apologies for slow reply. Looks like I still have brain fog! I think I am confusing the advice to take a multivitamin/mineral supplement from a GP with the advise to ensure adequate Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin. What I really wanted to know was which brands people recommend, as I know the quality varies so much.

For information I have been on NDT for 6 weeks now. I have built up to 1 grain (60mg) tablet early am and 1 tablet 3pm which I seem to be tolerating. I am trying to arrange Thyroid and vitamin blood tests and a blood draw for 2 weeks time. So far I can’t get someone to do an early am blood draw in my area. Thank you for your suggestions.

My private Endocrinologist is on sick leave and I’m not sure if and when she is coming back. My NHS Endocrinologist wants to discharge me, but I have insisted on a further appointment, hopefully in March. My GP has requested a T3 blood test but can’t be sure I’ll get it.

So you can see it’s a difficult journey, as it is for many of us. I find it hard navigating this and feel quite down. It took me months to find a private Endocrinologist and get an appointment from the Thyroid UK list. If anyone can private message me with a recommendation for an endocrinologist I would be very grateful if it’s possible . (I know it is not protocol to put them on this group)

Thanks for reading this.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Blu-cat11]

What I really wanted to know was which brands people recommend, as I know the quality varies so much.

First test vitamin levels ……

See what your levels are

Many thyroid patients need to supplement vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin B complex continuously to maintain good levels

Government recommends everyone in U.K. supplement vitamin D daily at least October to April if not all year

It took me months to find a private Endocrinologist and get an appointment from the Thyroid UK list

If anyone can private message me with a recommendation for an endocrinologist I would be very grateful if it’s possible

Roughly where in U.K. are you

I am trying to arrange Thyroid and vitamin blood tests and a blood draw for 2 weeks time. So far I can’t get someone to do an early am blood draw in my area.

10am would be fine if you can’t get anything earlier…..on NDT your TSH is likely suppressed anyway

[greygoose]

It's a bit late to be thinking about thyoir health when you're already on thyroid hormone replacement. Your thyroid isn't doing anything, anymore. It's in a state of suspended animation due to the exogenous hormone you're taking. So, even if there were such a thing as a multi-vit that 'supported' thyroid health - which there isn't - it wouldn't do much good.

For 'support' read 'stimulate'. That's what these things do by including iodine. Iodine will stimulate your thyroid to make more hormone for a while, but it won't last. And, in excess - which it probably would be - it is anti-thyroid. So taking it is a bit like shooting yourself in the foot.

To 'support' your thyroid hormone replacement - i.e. enable the body to use it correctly - you need to get your main nutrients tested - vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin - and make sure they are all optimal. If not, supplement accordingly.

[LauraP_0089]

I don't take anything but now and then I eat seaweed (the crispy ones). Make sure you consult with your GP before making changes to your medications