Thyroid help

[thyroidnodules]

My daughter has been unwell, eye probs, buest blood vessels in eyes weight gain high BP etc. There are lots of family members, including myself with thyroid conditions. She is 43 and docs are saying she is pre menopausal. Her tsh last years has been 1.7 but according to new results it is 2.6. They only tested that. She has dry skin and her hair is thinner. I suspect she is becoming underactive but there is not a hope in hell that docs will treat this. She is going to arrange thyroid blood tests but in the meantime does anyobe know of any thyroid supplement that might help her. Many thanks in advabce

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So first step

Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Low vitamins go with thyroid issues

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH (which is incorrectly all many medics look at)

Get vitamin levels tested and improve to optimal levels first

If thyroid antibodies are high confirming autoimmune, get coeliac blood test BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet

For full Thyroid evaluation she needs 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

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)

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

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

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

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

[thyroidnodules in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. She has been tested for coeliac and her vit d is good also. She stopped taking vit b12 as it caused flushing of her face. We will get the blood tests done

[Jazzw]

I’d avoid any supplements for now—get a baseline not only on thyroid levels but also on Vit D, Vit B12, folate and ferritin if possible.

And don’t let any well-meaning person persuade her to try iodine or kelp supplements as that can be the worst thing to do (it’s amazing how often you hear that advice, especially in places like health food shops).