At last I did a test with medicheck

[CustardTarts]

I have my results and would appreciate your input.

I am starting to understand this journey a bit, but find it daunting too.

Thank you in advance, as I have found your support so far extremely helpful.

Other vitamin results are in a previous post

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Where have you got to with GP so far?

Your results are showing that you are whats termed sub clinical hypo - TSH raised but FT4 (only just) within range.

You need 2 TSH results, 3 months apart on the NHS to begin treatment. Many doctors think its just a TSH over 10 but there is a different set of criteria too.

Have you now started supplementing low vitamin levels?

Positive TPO antibodies mean you have Hashimoto's or autoimmune thyroid disease and trying a strictly gluten free diet may help your symptoms.

[CustardTarts in reply to GlowCoach]

I had a result of 5.7 in November via Dr. She refused an antibody test and didn't do a T3, so decided to have it done via Medichecks. this level is lower than the last, but wonder if cause taken at 10am when last one was just before 9am. I did start supplementing as suggested here. When I first started going to the doctors in 2018, with extreme tiredness, she did check vitD and I was deficient at 30mm, and given a huge dose then told to keep taking vitD daily when the prescription ran out. I did keep it up at the lower recommended dose, then saw something online so upped to it 4000iu with K2. So although improved levels its only just. I am about to try the spray one at 3000iu and hope it improves as its not going into my stomach. This has not improved the tiredness at all, but at least in the knowledge going the right way.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

From your post 2 months ago:

Ferritin 116ng/ml (15.0 - 300.0)

Folate 5.2ug/l (2.5 - 9999.0)

VitD 82mm (50 -150)

B12 464 (120 - 900)

Did you start a B complex, as suggested by SlowDragon to improve B vitamins (especially folate)? Please remember when GPs say ‘within range’, this is often not the same as ‘optimal’ where you feel most well.

[CustardTarts in reply to Buddy195]

Yes I started the Igennus B complex recommended. I had already started on B12 so am finishing the spray and staying on the complex one. I can see my B12 has risen from previous blood test. I still don't feel any different on a day to day basis. I thought trying to improve my vitamins was something I could do in the meanwhile, as only had my blood test end of November I didn't think worth going back to drs too soon, only to be dismissed again. Problem is, as most of you probably agree, its so hard to function. even small things like feeding yourself properly, thinking what to get and then having the energy to cook it. I need my head in a better place for everything else to work and get on a better footing.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to CustardTarts]

So many of us can relate to the fact that improving your thyroid health can be a long and somewhat bumpy journey. We are here to help and support, so keep posting CustarrdTarts! 🦋

I would try eliminating gluten 100% for 3 months to see if this benefits you. I, like many others here, wouldn’t touch the stuff again after having positive benefits from the trial (all my previous gastritis issues were resolved/ plus significant lowering of thyroid antibodies). It obviously isn’t beneficial for all, but worth the trial. You need to ‘shop around’ to find a GF bread you like… maybe start a new post asking for current recommendations.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Take these results to GP and request starting on levothyroxine as per guidelines

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

Because of your age standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 25mcg

Retest in 8 weeks

You will need further increases in Levo over coming months

Also request coeliac blood test via GP as per NICE Guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

[CustardTarts in reply to SlowDragon]

I believe I did have a coeliac test when I first approached Dr about the excess tiredness. Cause I mentioned how I can feel my tummy bloating when I eat bread, whilst its still in my mouth. That came back negative. I have recently tried gluten free bread, I thought it was awful and ended up giving it to the birds, barely managed half a sandwich couldn't finish it.

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to CustardTarts]

so it sounds like you are likely gluten intolerant

Yes some GF bread is dreadful

But some is excellent, especially toasted

(in separate dedicated gluten free toaster )

Best GF bread in my view

Waitrose brown seeded sliced

Warburtons

M&S

Read ALL ingredients lists

Gluten hidden in loads of things ..including beers and larger.

Lots of GF cakes, biscuits etc very sweet and processed

Good excuse to try GF baking

Personally I am now dairy free as well as GF and enjoy lots of baking and cooking

[CustardTarts]

Thank you, I'd assumed they would all be similar. I hate waste so putting it out for the birds was hard. Especially as it was a tad more expensive.

I have changed to wholemeal bread since my type2 diagnosis. Cause my carbs need addressing, but at the moment I'm finding everything difficult to think through

[McPammy]

Looking at your results it would seem your TSH is too high indicating that your T4 is too low. I’d email these results to your GP practise and ask them to scan them onto your NHS file or just walk in with the results and ask the receptionist to scan them on. This is the evidence you need to say you’ve very high perox antibodies and suffering from thyroid disease and need help. They should offer you t4 medication if they haven’t already and if they have you need an increase to bring up your T4 level up and aim for a TSH around 1.00 to 2.00 that’s where a healthy persons is approximately. Don’t accept anything less. If the GP doesn’t increase your levothyroxine ask to speak with the Practise Manager

[CustardTarts in reply to McPammy]

I'm not taking any thyroid medication although I've been speaking to the Dr, since 2018 about how tired I am and I get a blood test and told everything fine, no further action. Altho she did see I was vitD deficient at 30, so gave me a big dose and said to carry on myself after, which I have done. I've got my level up to 83 last test. I'm going to try the spray one next as I may not be getting the benefit from the swallowed one.

It was when my TSH levels were 4.7 and just under the range that I started to look into it and have had lots of support from here. I appreciate the Dr may have to work within guidelines, but my last nhs test in November took me over the 5 to 5.7, and still told everything ok. In fact practice nurse suggested I get a job amongst other stuff. So I've waited until last week and paid for a test which also confirms I'm over 5 still. Although slightly lower than the last, I wonder if it was due to my test being at 10am. I will send my latest info to the Drs if I can fathom out how, or as you said take the results in and ask them to scan in. I'm at the point were I'm barely functioning

[Bearo]

Nice guidelines do suggest considering treatment when a patient has two tests 3 months apart with over range TSH.

The guidelines are easily googled. Suggest showing these to your GP and, as said above, insist your results go onto your notes with GP reason not to treat.

[CustardTarts in reply to Bearo]

I do have a copy of the guidelines, and will ask for these results to go in my records

[pennyannie]

Hello Custard Tarts :

Your thyroid is struggling to function and am guessing you have limited ability to comfortably get through the day.

A normal functioning thyroid ( euthyroid 0 thyroid and not on any medication would see a TSH at around 1.20 - 50 with a T4 at around 50% and a T3 tucked in behind at around 45% through the ranges.

Your results are inverted - meaning your T3 @ 43% is higher in the range than your T4 @ 3% - so currently you have too little Free T4 circulating in your blood stream to convert with ease to more T3 - as and when needed for you to function -

and you are with too little T3 and T4 circulating and likely dealing with symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Since you have over range antibodies indicative of having Hashimoto's - a thyroid Auto Immune Disease - I would think your doctor needs to start prescribing some T4 thyroid hormone replacement to rebalance your T3/T4 and hopefully relieve the symptoms being tolerated.

Many forum members find the research and advice of Dr Izabella Wentz of value and she writes as thyroidpharmacist.com