Quick question

[Angela]

My Dr are to busy to give me a tsh blood test called the hospital they only have 10.55 is it a bit late in the morning??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

Previous post with full results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Confirmed your hypothyroidism is autoimmune - aka Hashimoto’s

Low ferritin and vitamin D needed improvement

Have you increased iron rich foods in your diet

And increased vitamin D supplements

Suggest you Retest vitamin levels

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

always test early morning, ideally before 9am, only water to drink between waking and test to get highest TSH

last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test to get lowest Ft4

Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as 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

If not had coeliac blood test

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...

[Angela in reply to SlowDragon]

Thyroxine I take is Acord I take 100mg ,I was on 120mg dr reduced it a few months ago I don't eat much gluten but not totally gluten free I have Oat milk sometimes dairy I don't eat cheese I will send for a celiac test It's so difficult for many of us to speak to a doctor and get help I had to speak to the receptionist who then speaks to the doctor who then speaks to me I am so grateful for all your help thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Angela]

I don't eat much gluten but not totally gluten free

So not much point testing. Just trial cutting out completely

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I would hold out for a test of 9 am (or earlier) as TSH higher first thing. As others have said, we recommend FT4 and FT3 for a complete picture of your thyroid health.