New results after being discharged by endocrino... - Thyroid UK

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New results after being discharged by endocrinologist.

Moviegeek7 profile image
18 Replies

Hi I will add my previous post but I will also give a quick recap:

I first came on with low T4 levels but TSH in range. The doctors did regular tests saying it wasn't being tested properly.

I eventually got referred to an endocrinologist. After a while of more testing I was discharged and told that my low T4 was normal for me.

I also had multiple low vitamin levels with vitamin D being deficient.

It has taken a while but I have finally got my vitamin D levels rising. Taking 4000 iu in a spray. B12 slowly rising but struggling with my folate and ferritin still.

The interesting result I got this time is the Anti thyroglobulin is high. It has been steadily rising with each test from blue horizon.

My total T4 is also below normal levels.

My T3 is borderline low.

I have also noticed looking back at previous tests that the lower my T4 is the higher my TSH is even though it is still within range.

Ive also been gluten free for 2 months and noticed my CRP and cortisol levels are now longer than previous test. I don't know whether their is a connection.

I still feel like rubbish all the time, fatigue, aching, brain fog etc.

With my antibodies rising I feel like I might have sub clinical hypothyroidism and will have to wait for my TSH to rise before any treatment will be given.

Do you think I might be able to push for the doctor to get me an ultrasound scan of my thyroid?

Im not sure what to do.

I feel its pointless being referred back to the endocrinologist.

I do feel with my antibodies rising that I finally have proof that something is going on with my thyroid.

Thankyou Moviegeek7

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

What are you doing about iron and ferritin

Ferritin is deficient

Low ferritin will lower TSH

Are you vegetarian or vegan

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement

Great replies from @FallingInReverse

re ferritin and Three arrows

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron patches

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Good iron but low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron

healthline.com/nutrition/he...

Iron deficiency without anaemia

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Really interesting talk on YouTube, link in reply by Humanbean discussing both iron deficiency and towards end how inflammation can also be an issue

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Inflammation affecting ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Updated reference ranges for top of ferritin range depending upon age

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:

Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180

Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207

Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l

Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332

Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442

Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518

The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

B12 slowly rising but struggling with my folate

What are you taking?

vitamin D is still pretty low

You could increase to 5000iu

Moviegeek7 profile image
Moviegeek7 in reply to SlowDragon

Sorry I replied to the post not to your message

Moviegeek7 profile image
Moviegeek7

Hi Slow dragon

Im not vegetarian or vegan. I mostly eat chicken. I did eat steak once a week but haven't for a while. I usually have eggs daily for breakfast and have high percentage dark chocolate. I will start adding the other things you suggested and start having more red meat. I will also look into getting one of the supplements to gave links to. Its interesting about it affecting TSH levels.

Im using a spray for b12 ( better you) 1,200ug.

I ran out of my folic acid tablets a few weeks ago. It seems to drop really quickly. Ive just bought some more today. Active folic containing L- Methylfolate 400ug.

This is the first test that has shown my vitamin D rising even after loading doses from the doctors.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Moviegeek7

Low folate

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 supplements

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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...

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 can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Now your Active B12 level has reached over 70 ( serum B12 is over 500) you may be able to slowly reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

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...

yes folate drops quickly if you stop supplements

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)

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

jimh111 profile image
jimh111

Low fT4 with non-elevated TSH indicates central hypothyroidism.

Moviegeek7 profile image
Moviegeek7 in reply to jimh111

Hi thankyou for your reply. I have had an MRI of brain and nothing unusual was found. Everything is ok. So they ruled out anything to do with my pituitary gland.

jimh111 profile image
jimh111 in reply to Moviegeek7

Just because there isn't any physical damage it doesn't mean the pituitary is functioning normally. For example, the TRH receptors in the pituitary may not be working normally or the hypothalamic pituitary thyroid axis may be down regulated or you may be producing TSH with low bioactivity. The fact is you thyroid is not secreting enough hormones and you TSH is not elevating.The fundamental issue is you have an abnormal thyroid profile combined with hypothyroid symptoms. The fact they don't understand it is not a reason to feny treatment.

Shakeyjakeblues profile image
Shakeyjakeblues

It looks like Secondary Hypothyroidism. If your MRI wasn't pituitary focused with contrast it doesn't rule anything out. I would want blood tests to check TSH, FT4, 9am Cortisol, IGF1, Prolactin, LH, FSH and the sex hormones. Endocrinologists are not all equal, some mostly deal with diabetes and thyroid but pituitary dysfunction really needs someone who specialises in that field.

Agitator23 profile image
Agitator23

Hi. I think I'm in the same situation as you. My TSH rises but not above the set ranges. My TSH range is the same whether my fT4 is 40% through range or it's 9% through range...

I'm also being fobbed off despite anomalous blood results and an ultrasound scan showing thyroiditis. No treatment yet.

Keep pushing for treatment because with such low T4 your body is really struggling and it's causing long-term harm.

I'm trying to make an appointment with an endocrinologist who has thyroid/pituitary as their special areas of interest. Very hard to get appointments as many people who would normally use the NHS are having to go private 😏

McPammy profile image
McPammy

Just looking at your thyroglobulin results being high. This could be causing T4 and T3 to be so low. Have you had your thyroid scanned? If not I think you should. If you’re not getting anywhere with an endocrinologist then ask your GP to be referred to an ENT ( ear nose and throat Dr). Do you have any lumps even small pea size that you can feel. Don’t wish to alarm you only saying this as my sister had high thyroglobulin results. The NHS Endo was rubbish and she changed hospital to an ENT Dr. They did a fine needle aspiration and found thyroid cancer. It was removed within 2 weeks after months of getting nowhere with an NHS Endo who discharged her saying she had ME. It may not be what I’ve said but it’s worth checking. You’re obviously feeling symptoms of a failing thyroid. Just phone your GP tomorrow and get an ENT appointment.

Vitamins could do with a boost also especially vitamin D it shouldn’t be lower than 75 for bone health but aim for 100.

My sister and I see a fantastic private endocrinologist. He is head of the pituitary foundation and an expert on the thyroid. I can share his details with you if you want. He’s not expensive and does zoom and telephone as well as face to face if you can’t travel. We have learnt so much since we had our consultation. I am now symptom free. Just private message me

Agitator23 profile image
Agitator23 in reply to McPammy

Hi McPammy. Could you also message me to let me know who your endocrinologist is, please.

Susie25 profile image
Susie25 in reply to McPammy

Hello McPammy, would you be so kind as to private message me your endocrinologists details also. 👍

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Suggest you get ultrasound scan of thyroid

And see a thyroid specialist ….one with a particular interest in central hypothyroidism

Roughly where in U.K. are you

Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations

thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...

some on list do zoom consultations so distance no issue

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