Ultrasound and Vitamin D: Hello. I posted on... - Thyroid UK

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Ultrasound and Vitamin D

Flo1000 profile image
10 Replies

Hello. I posted on here last week looking some advice on my latest blood tests. I have had and underactve thyroid for almost 3 years but have been experiencing all of the symptoms that I had prior to being diagnosed (and taking Thyroxine - I have always been on 50mg).

I have just received blood results due to feeling unwell and although my TSH reading is within range at 1.70mU/L, my TPO level came back as just over 600 Ul/mL.

i have seen an Endocrinologist today who has said that I don't need to increase my Thyroxine tablet as my TSH levels are in range but the problem is the TPO levels - he suspects Hashimoto’s and said that I will need an ultrasound to see why my levels are so high. I am really worried when anyone mentions an ultrasound.

I also asked whether there are any vitamins that I can take, he has prescribed a high level Vitamin D tablet as my Homocysteine levels were also triple what they should be. He has advised to take the tablet weekly.

Any advice and reassurance would be really helpful. Thank you.

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10 Replies
Happyfairy09 profile image
Happyfairy09

There is a vitamin d group on FB I would highly recommend joining, you should take a high level vitamin d with K2, most gp's don't know about this.

Your thyroxin is it levo ? If so it's generally prescribed as mcg not mg. Have you had T3 & T4 tested alongside TSH? If not can you request them to be tested, this can be done by GP surgery.

Starting point if synthetic T4 only (levo) is 25mcg, then built up until you feel well, your Endo should be going by how you feel, not just by blood tests. I'd advise if not bought already to buy Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield's book, learn all you can about your thyroid health, if your current Endo doesn't specialise in thyroid health ask to be referred to one who does, good luck

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Chell1 profile image
Chell1 in reply toHappyfairy09

Hi, can you pm me about the fb for vit d- I’ve never heard you shouldn’t take k2 with vit d, quite the opposite. Unless this is a typo? It’s always been recommended to take the two together, by all the natural practioners I’ve seen and my dr doesn’t seem to have any idea on vit d! So I’d like to investigate this further.

Happyfairy09 profile image
Happyfairy09 in reply toChell1

Sorry definitely typo, you should only take high dose vitamin d with K2. I will pm you the FB group details, as well as the book I would recommend, the person who's group it is wrote the book.

Gp's only prescribe vitamin d not K2 a lot don't know about it, I see adverts on TV about vitamin d I just shake my head putting the wrong message out there to the general public.

Happyfairy09 profile image
Happyfairy09 in reply toHappyfairy09

No option the send screen shot of book details attached it here.

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helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toHappyfairy09

Perhaps you'd like to edit your typo?

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This is not to say you have done anything wrong. This is meant to help you, not to criticise.

Follow the link below for details

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Happyfairy09 profile image
Happyfairy09 in reply tohelvella

I didn't realise you could edit, thanks for that I will now.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

Your Endocrinologist sounds clueless about thyroid disease. I’d love to say that’s unusual but these days it really isn’t. Many of them are diabetes specialists who are hopelessly out of their depth

Your TPO levels are high because your antibodies are in a tizz dealing with your autoimmune thyroid disease. The level of antibodies doesn’t really have a lot to do with severity of disease, because it’s actually about how your body is reacting to the attack, not the degree of that attack.

In order to know whether you need a dose rise (and I’m certain you do; 50mcg daily is nowhere near a replacement dose for a grown adult), he should be spending NHS resources on getting an FT4 and FT3 test rather than an ultrasound scan. Not saying a scan won’t be interesting but it’s probably not going to do anything more than confirm autoimmune disease.

I’m so sorry you’re getting substandard treatment. Do you know if you’ve ever had full thyroid blood testing (TSH, FT4 and FT3) and what the results were?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Just testing TSH is completely and utterly useless

you’re highly likely very under medicated and low vitamin levels as direct result

Endocrinologist most likely diabetic specialist

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

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)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

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

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)

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 BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG 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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

Homocysteine is to do with low B vitamins

ESSENTIAL to test folate and B12

What was your vitamin D result?

am111 profile image
am111

high homocysteinis due to b12 and folate deficiency primarily. These are not uncommon for thyroid patients. You should get these tested for and treated appropriately...

Flo1000 profile image
Flo1000

Thank you all so much for the advice, I am not in the UK, this was a private appointment and I didn’t think that they might not specialise in thyroid health but I think that you are right as they completely dismissed how bad I am feeling and just prescribed very high dose vitamin D to take weekly for 8 weeks and an ultrasound. I honestly thought that I would be given a higher dose of thyroxine.

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