Hashimotos

[DollyM]

My TPO antibodies are raised at 288 (<34) but my TG antibodies are in normal range, 102 (<115) and I read that both sets of antibodies need to be elevated for a confirmation of hashimotos so since only one set of antibodies is raised does that mean I don't have hashimotos please
I am on 100mcg thyroxine a day and I am also looking to take T3 but only if i need it hence why i am here. Can anyone help me with my symptoms and blood test results please I don't understand them thank you. 

Dec 2014 TSH 7.2 (0.2-4.2) FT4 13.6 (12-22) FT3 5.8 (3.9-6.7) was on 50mcg thyroxine moved up to 75mcg, folate 4.2 (4.6-18.7) doctor notes say folate is a little low but should be corrected when eating more veg, Vitamin D3 67 (50-75) doctor notes say suboptimal no action needed, B12 345 (180-900) doctor notes say normal no action needed, calcium 2.32 (2.20-2.60) doctor notes say normal no action needed. 

Jan 2015 TSH 4.1 0.2-4.2), FT4 17.8 (12-22) FT3 5.1 (3.9-6.7) doctor notes say normal no action needed so no dose increase.

symptoms constipation, dry skin, acne, joint ache in my hips and ribs, breathless, slow heart, low body temp, feeling cold, heavy eyes, headaches, blocked nose, heavy periods, painful periods, early periods, late periods, long periods, early periods, painless periods, short cycles, no ovulation, tired, no energy, heavy legs, forgetting things, dark circles under eyes, pale skin, hair loss, thin hair, hair on face and body growing, bruises, blood in stool and doctor knows about this but didn't say anything when I told him, urinary urgency, pins and needles, sores on corner of mouth, sores on tongue, sore throat, dry eyes, dry mouth, dry throat, acid reflux, swollen neck on one side, chest pain and tender skin on right side of chest and weight loss.

[DollyM]

Thsnk you,  I have ferrous fumarate in both dissolvable and film coated, the dissolvable is 210mg and the film coated is 322mg. I would have taken the 322mg but when I found out they were film coated that meant to me that they don't dissolve so I think I'll take the 210mg even though it's less than the 322mg.

[gimel]

Your ferritin is way too low.  Should be about 60 minimum for women.  So you should supplement with iron as necessary.  Some good forms of iron are ferrous fumarate, ferrous biglycinate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous glutamate.

I take ferrous fumarate in gel cap.  Not difficult to swallow with water.  I would suggest that you start taking one of these at about 25 mg per day and then increase every couple of weeks up to 50 and 75 mg.  Along with the iron you should take some Vitamin C to prevent any possible constipation from the iron.  I wouldn't worry about the effect of tea/coffee.  If it affects absorption, then you will just need to take a bit more iron.  Night time is a good option for taking part of the needed dose.  

[DollyM]

Ferritin last checked was 17 (30-400) but I can't take the iron tablets because they don't dissolve and I don't know how to take them. I'm meant to take them twice a day but I drink milk and tea and coffee and I know this will affect the iron tablets.

[gimel]

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis shows up as elevated results for either TPO ab or TG ab.  So your TPO ab shows you have Hashi's.  

Hypothyroidism can be associated with a very long list of symptoms.  In this link, 26 of the most typical symptoms are listed.  You will notice lots of symptoms you listed above.   So you are hypothyroid.  

http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html

Looking at your lab results, your Vitamin D is adequate.  Your B12 is lower than recommended, which is the upper part of its range.  You need to also test for ferritin.  Ferritin needs to be about 60 minimum for women.  Low ferritin can cause symptoms which can mimic some hypo symptoms.  Ferritin is also important for metabolizing thyroid hormone.  

When already taking thyroid meds, TSH tests are basically a waste of time and money.  Free T3 and Free T4 are the important ones.  Your most recent Free T4 is adequate, since middle of the range is recommended; however, your Free T3 is too low in the range.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.  Free T3 needs to be in the upper part of its range, or as necessary to relieve symptoms.  So you need to add some T3 to your meds and then gradually increase as necessary to relieve symptoms.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  You can get some good info from this link written by a good thyroid doctor.  

http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html

So you need to discuss all this with your doctor and request that T3 be added to your meds.  You also need to find out if the doctor is going to be willing to treat clinically, as described.  If not, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.