Borderline low thyroid

[Woodpigeon4]

Hello everyone,I have been told I have borderline low thyroid which has gone on for nearly 3 years now, I am 59.

Can you still have symptoms with borderline thyroid issues?

My main ones are feeling extremely cold in the winter (which is the worst one) then dry skin/hair and brittle nails.

I cannot lose weight and its a big struggle even maintaining my present weight .

2 months ago after yet another borderline blood test, I asked my doctor if this borderline issue could stay the same for the rest of my life, and he said YES!

18 months ago, one of my doctors said he could try me on a tiny dose of medication, but I ummed and ahhd and said ' err, will see how it goes'.

I assume my thyroid won't go back to normal levels now and wondering if indeed I SHOULD try a tiny dose as had been offered, or do I just carry on?🤔

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey so far and be able to advise you better. Click on your image icon to start. Fill out the free text box at the top.

Do you have a copy of your latest blood results that you can share with us? You are legally entitled to a printed copy of your results, ask at GP reception. In England you can get the NHS app and ask for permission to see your blood results on that by asking at GP’s reception.

Starting Levo is for life but if you have been borderline for a few years then your thyroid isn't going to recover and for your health and wellbeing you are betetter off accepting that you need to start treatment.

Levo doesn;t top up your own thyroid hormone production it replaces it and on the starter doses its possible to feel a litttle worse for a while until you get to higher doses.

Standard starter dose is 50mcgs Levothyroxine. You take it for 6-8 weeks and then have new bloo dtests and go up a dose, rinse repeat until our TSH is at or just under 1 where most people feel well.

When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins.

Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

There is also a new company offering walk in& mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

Do you know if you had positive thyroid antibodies? Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.

Do you do tests as per the protocol recommended here? Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process).

Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.

[Woodpigeon4 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hello Jay deepThankyou for your prompt reply. I don't have a recent thyroid reading as I just get a text from the doctor saying its still borderline low.

I will look into to the nhs app - thanks for the tip. I'm probably due another thyroid blood test in about 3 weeks or so and then I can enquire about ferritin, etc.

I'm very interested in the private testing so will probably give this a go, thankyou.

My blood tests have been done at random times, but almost all have been done in the afternoons.

Thankyou for all the information you have provided. Much appreciated.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Woodpigeon4]

Do your best to book an early morning blood test as it makes a big difference to your results.

Afternoon blood tests mean lower TSH which makes it harder to get a diagnosis.

[Woodpigeon4 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Will do. Thanks for your advice and tips Jaydee

[Beingreal99]

Try a thyroid support supplement, destress,make sure you aren't estrogen dominant which slows thyroid, and for the record at this age it is sooooo hard to be thin again...due to changing hormones.....get 8 hrs sleep a night,cut out sugar and just eat healthy...less processed,make sure b12 and d3 optimal...not just in range key at this age

[Woodpigeon4 in reply to Beingreal99]

Thankyou Being realI'm taking all this on board and will refer to this advice when I do my next blood test. I could get my nhs test and do a more thorough test by private means at the same time.

I don't suppose a borderline low thyroid could ever go back to normal function???

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

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

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

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

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

[Woodpigeon4]

Hello SlowDragon,Wow, thanks for all the links and tips.

It seems a minfield and overwhelming all this thyroid business doesn't it.

So, can thyroid issues sometimes interfere with the absorbsion of vital vitamins,etc. ?

[klr31]

I would definitely take the thyroxine offered.

Karen