Hi everyone! I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid in South Africa in 2012 and have been taking medication ever since. When I arrived in the UK (2022) I was prescribed Levothyroxine (125ug- they have just decreased this to 100ug). I have been struggling with a bunch of symptoms that I was seeking answers about from a GP through the NHS. The symptoms I have been struggling with are: a very sore stomach ache every 4/5 months (this used to be more frequent but has changed since making diet changes), numb tongue, sore gums, sore mouth, swollen lips (I thought mouth symptoms were a Vit B12 deficiency but my blood tests show levels in the normal range- this is recurring), dry skin, thinning hair. I have also been diagnosed with Raynauds. I have done a bunch of tests through the NHS to understand these symptoms in more depth but everything comes back 'normal'. I recently, Jan 2025, got diagnosed with Hashimoto's- despite having an under active thyroid since 2012, this was the first time Hashimoto's was mentioned to me. I am now wondering if all my symptoms are linked to Hashimoto's. As I am relatively new to the UK, I am uncertain as to how best to manage this within the NHS so would value any advice. I am also wanting to make sure I keep my body as healthy as possible (I am slightly concerned about the impact on fertility if I don't monitor things closely).
My recent blood results are as follows:
THYROGLOBULIN AB (ABBOTT) 12.3 IU/mL < 4.1 H
THYROPEROXIDASE Ab (ABBOTT) 405.2 IU/mL < 5.6
Serum total 25-OH vit D level:
82 nmol/L (October 2024)
Serum vitamin B12:
630 ng/L (October 2024)
Serum ferritin:
95 ug/L (October 2024)
Serum TSH level:
1.89 mIU/L (October 2024)
Serum free T4 level:
17.2 pmol/L (October 2024)
Serum folate:
3.9 ug/L (October 2024)
I would value any advice on things I should be doing or exploring in more depth in terms of managing this going forward. Also, should I be requesting that I get seen by a specialist who deals with Hashimoto's for on going care?
Thanks so much!
Written by
SA_Kirsty
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
We really need the ranges for these results as they vary from lab to lab but on first glance your folate is really low, along with Vit D which is better around 125nmol/L
Hashimoto's won't actually get you any different treatment but you might find dietary changes help either cutting out gluten and or dairy
Your fT4 looks to be low and TSH too high but if you add ranges we can be of more assistance the other thing is I don't suppose you have ever had a fT3 result which is the active hormone?
These are the only things they tested in October 2024 so no fT3. Is this something I should ask for? I unfortunately don't have any ranges for the thyroid antibodies test but there is a 'H' next to each one which I'm assuming means high as Hashimoto's was confirmed.
Ah thanks SO much TiggerMe! This is incredibly helpful. I will try organise that test and then come back here. Thanks again for your support and guidance 🙏
Also, don’t start taking the B vitamins until you’ve been tested, or stop taking at least 4 days before testing as biotin can affect the results. Best of luck!
I'd be inclined to get folate levels up first before testing to get a better picture and yes stopping supplements a couple of days before testing is a good idea (Igennus Basic B doesn't contain a huge dose of biotin)
Hi TiggerMe. I have found the percentages that you have given super helpful! Would you mind letting me know how you did this so I can do this for future blood tests? Thanks so much!
Just one more thing to add to all the excellent advice you've been given - getting a T3 reading - it's not done routinely here, and most of us end up having to get a private blood test, ( through the post is easy ). One possible route is to mention you think you might be a poor converter ( the NHS does a three month trial for this ), but you need to get the vitamin side of your intake up into the optimum range first, just in case it's simply that affecting your health. I have Hashimotos, and am a poor converter, and it took a while to get straight. Major diet changes needed too. Good luck.
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)
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine
If yes ….Which brand
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
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)
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
Thanks so much for this very informative response! I have been tested for coeliac in the past and that was negative. I currently don't eat a lot of gluten at all in my diet (although this was due to working with a personal training and nutritionist and not actually linked to Hashimoto's - although I feel my body has really benefited from this shift). I haven't tried cutting out diary so this may well be something for me to consider. Thanks so much!
What type of thyroid medicine were you taking in South Africa? Was it a consistent brand of Levothyroxine? I came over from the US for 2 years and on the NHS was switched to 125 of levothyroxine. It didn't go well, back in US now so back on previous combination of medication, and have a better idea what I'll do when back in the UK. If you can do a finger prick test that does fT3 it will give good information about all three levels TSH, fT4 and fT3. You will get good support here.
Thanks EchoWs. I was prescribed Euthyrox in South Africa and was taking that from 2012-2022. I have wondered if the type of medication could be impacting things 🤯
I'm so sorry you're having these symptoms. I can certainly relate to the sore mouth/lips and the digestive issues, although I don't have Hashis or Reynauds, just Hypo.
I found the Nhs unhelpful and reluctantly went private eventually. The nurse who does my blood tests (ex Nhs)said on her last visit 'the Nhs only does very basic tests compared to the private labs'. I have no way verify this, but it does seem that nearly ALL Nhs tests come back normal these days. I met with 2 Nhs Endos - one started treatment when TSH was 4.5, the other when it reached 5.5 - maybe! Ranges vary from lab to lab, too, which further complicates the issue.
I would be inclined to take some blood test privately (Medichecks, Blue Horizon etc) and compare. as a starting point.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Test results
How do my results look?
After more than 5 yrs on 150mg Levo my dose has been reduced to 125. I was surprised.
Could you pls help with my results? I don't know where to go from here...
Hair loss is really upsetting me! Any info pls? :'( 
