Carbs

[PercheronLove]

Anyone had any success in scrapping bread, potatoes, pasta and feeling better mentally and physically (hypothyroid). Full on Keto overwhelms me.

[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.

A low carb diet does help me but I have POTS and some people with POTS do better with less carbs. I just dont buy bread, pasta, pizza and potatoes anymore but do sometimes eat them when out so I'm not strict about it.

While you're here we should check out your latest blood results for thyroid & vitamins - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3. These all need to be at good levels.

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.

It's ideal if you can always get the same brand of levo at every prescription. You can do this by getting GP to write the brand you prefer in the first line of the prescription. Many people find that different brands are not interchangeable.

Always take Levo on an empty stomach an hour away from food or caffeine containing drinks & other meds. Many people find taking it at bedtime works well for them.

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, last T3 dose 8-12 hours before 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.

[PercheronLove in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you. And what’s POTS?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to PercheronLove]

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Basically its a sustained heart rate rise of over 30 beats per minute from lying to standing. Also known as a form of dysautonomia (dysregulaion of the autonomic nervous system) and can run along autoimmune conditions including hypo.

potsuk.org/about-pots/sympt...

[PercheronLove in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Have you tried eliminating gluten to see if this’s is beneficial to you? This made a huge difference to both my mental and physical health.

[PercheronLove]

Most recently: TSH 0.19, T4 11.2, T3 5.5

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to PercheronLove]

What thyroid hormone are you taking?

You havent included the reference ranges for each test (numbers in brackets after your result).

Your FT4 looks on the low side.

It really is essential to test key vitamins as they are often low or deficient due to the low stomachacid that hypo brings and we need them to be optimal for our thyroid hormone to work well.

[PercheronLove in reply to Jaydee1507]

50mcg Levo and 20mcg T3. No reference ranges given.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to PercheronLove]

Also, do you follow the dose timing recommendations prior to the blood test here?

Levo - 24hrs, T3 split day before and allow 8-12hrs for last portion before test.

Suggsest you push for a 25mcg Levo increase and come back with new post once you have the vitamin results.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PercheronLove]

That’s a low dose Levo

Many members find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60% through range on low dose T3 alongside levothyroxine

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)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

is this how you did this test?

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 and maintain GOOD levels

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

If yes, gluten free very often beneficial or essential. Ideally get coeliac blood test via GP before cutting gluten out

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PercheronLove]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

Results without ranges are meaningless

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

This currently only applies in England, not across the whole of the UK. Nether Scotland nor N.Ireland have released an NHS app for patients. (Scotland supposedly due in December '24.) Wales has an app, but only for booking appointments, repeat prescriptions and amending personal details

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.