I'm new to this community - really impressed. I have had a fairly comprehensive blood test privately as am feeling pretty awful in spite of going gluten free and any advice would be extremely welcome.
My symptoms are fatigue, brain fog, worsening eyesight, heartburn, weight loss, frequent bowel movements, insomnia, anxiety, waking at night very hot with racing heart rate. My results are as follows:
TSH 2.8 (0.27 - 4.20)
Free Thyroxine 19 (12 - 22)
Total Thyroxine T4 85.8 (59 - 154)
Free T3 4.07 (3.10 - 6.8)
Thyroglobulin antibody 334 (0 - 115)
Thyroid Peroxidase antibody 89.4 (0 - 34)
Vit B12 128 (140 - 724)
Folate 5.15 (2.91 - 50)
Vit D 55.4 (50 - 200)
Ferritin 109 (13 - 150)
Written by
Beanz1
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We have to read, learn and ask questions to become well.
The professionals we expect to be more knowledgeable than the patients but that doesn't seem to be the case if levothyroxine doesn't improve our condition.
First, I will say your TSH is too high for you to feel well. The aim is 1 or below. Some may need it suppressed. However doctors believe if TSH is suppressed we will have a heart attack but they cannot understand that if someone has thyroid cancer they HAVE to have a suppressed TSH and I don't think they've come to any harm.
Your B12 is far too low - the aim is a B12 of 1,000. You will have to ask your doctor to test you for the 'intrinsic factor' which will confirm or not whether you have Pernicious Anaemia.
Don't supplement till you get confirmation. Vitamin D is also dire and both B12 and Vit D are essential pro-hormones and I'll add in @SeasideSusie who is excellent on blood tests. Folate isn't much good either.
Due to you having antibodies, you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's, the commonest form of hypothyroidism. The antibodies attack your gland and wax and wane until hypothyroid.
Blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting, (you can drink water) and allow 24 hours gap between thyroid hormones and the test and take them afterwards.
Deficiencies in your vitamins/minerals also give us disabling symptoms.
You have autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's disease which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it.
Hashimoto's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that's treated. The antibody attacks will eventually destroy your thyroid and you will develop full blown hypothyroidism.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Dr Toft (ex president of British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist) wrote an article in Pulse Online magazine which says that if antibodies present then patients should be prescribed levothyroxine to nip things in the bud. Email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk and ask for a copy which you can then show to your doctor and ask for a trial of Levo (if undiagnosed).
You should take these results, plus any signs of B12 deficency, over to the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked for further advice. You may need testing for Pernicious Anaemia, you may need B12 injections, you may need folic acid prescribing. Whatever they advise discuss with your GP.
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Vit D 55.4 (50 - 200)
The recommended leve is 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Council.
When you've reached the recommended level, reduce to 5000iu alternate days as a maintenance dose, you may need less, it's trial and error. Testing once or twice a year is recommended to keep within the recommended level.
There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 vitamindcouncil.org/about-v... D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds naturalnews.com/046401_magn...
Check out the other cofactors too.
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Ferritin 109 (13 - 150)
This is a good level and needs to be mainained. Make sure you include iron rich foods in your diet. Ferritin needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work.
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