medichecks results help please: I had my thyroid... - Thyroid UK

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medichecks results help please

BrocksfieldJo profile image
12 Replies

I had my thyroid function and vitamins result back from Medichecks and the doctors comments are overall very reassuring (great service btw).

A couple I need help understanding.:

My CRP HS Was high at 4.210 - I was/am at the very end of a cough/cold so assuming this could be the cause?

My thyroid antibodies were high:

Thyroglobulin antibodies 206.00 (range 0-115)

thyroid peroxidase antibodies 221 (range 0-33)

TSH 2.560

Free T3 4.4

Free Thyroxine 15.6

Ferritin and folates good D3 on the low side.

I am Currently on 100 micro Levothyroxine but only been on this dose for a month as went up from 75.

thank you!!

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BrocksfieldJo profile image
BrocksfieldJo
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TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador

Bit early to be testing as it takes 6-8 weeks to settle

Here is a hand calculator to work out Vit D dosing... grassrootshealth.net/projec...

It's looking like you'll need another increase of T4 🤗

BrocksfieldJo profile image
BrocksfieldJo in reply toTiggerMe

Thanks. I wanted to know if my vitamins were correct as I often feel tired tbh. I have a lm NHS blood test for my dose increase mid March but I was curious about all the other markers like T3 as well.

Do you know what all the antibody markers mean?

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply toBrocksfieldJo

Antibodies are the debris count for the damage being done to your thyroid due to being under attack, some people can lower these numbers by cutting out gluten and or dairy which can add to the bodies immune system confusion

By the time most of us get diagnosed they say the thyroid has been 90% destroyed

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Can you add actual folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D results

Did you do test early morning, ideally before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before the test

Presumably you knew you have Hashimoto’s?

As confirmed by high thyroid antibodies

Have you had coeliac blood test

If not get tested BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

You tested rather soon after dose increase

Should be 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in Levo

Free T4 (fT4) 15.6 pmol/L (12 - 22) 36.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.4 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 35.1%

Your results suggest you are likely to need further increase in dose

Work on improving low vitamin levels

Retest again in another 6-8 weeks

BrocksfieldJo profile image
BrocksfieldJo in reply toSlowDragon

I followed the guidance and yes tested before 9am no food just water and last dose was 24hrs before . I didn’t know what I had but now know it’s Hashimotoa thank you! I don’t have a goitre that I’m aware of (my dad had one for years and ignored it then developed cancer in his thyroid so I am careful to check for any lumps or bumps).

Full results should be attached

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toBrocksfieldJo

I removed image as it showed your personal details

Reattach with name and DoB hidden

humanbean profile image
humanbean

My CRP HS Was high at 4.210 - I was/am at the very end of a cough/cold so assuming this could be the cause?

I would blame your cough/cold as well, and wouldn't worry about it.

A story I've told several times ...

I saw a program on TV several years ago which included a patient (who was not an actor) getting her CRP measured. She had a chest infection which required antibiotics and her CRP was 50.

The program I was watching was this one :

imdb.com/title/tt7992650/?r...

It's one of the things I find annoying about doing my own testing... I don't know what levels would cause a doctor to take notice if a result was high or low in range, or over or under range.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with 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 as per NICE Guidelines

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

Or buy a test online, about £20

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

With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past

Post discussing gluten

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

can you add vitamin results and ranges

BrocksfieldJo profile image
BrocksfieldJo in reply toSlowDragon

Results bellw

Results
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

yes

Work on improving vitamin D to at least over 80nmol

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 when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

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 profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

2-3 weeks after adding magnesium

Perhaps consider adding a daily vitamin B complex - or at least 2-3 days per week

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 improve 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

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

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

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