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Hashimotos?
Can someone please help, I was told by an endo I have hashimotos because I have elevated antibodies in TPO but my
doctor says that to have hashimotos I would need to have a biopsy on my thyroid. I am on synthetic thyroxine 100mcg.
Serum TSH: 3.47 (.2-4.20), Serum Free T4: 13.5 (12-22), Serum Free T3: 3.7 (4.1-6.8), TPOab: 165000 (<34)
Symptoms: constant runny nose, headaches (exploding pain behind eyes), dry skin, fatigue, no appetite, weight gain, dark circles under eyes, constipation, heavy periods, early periods, spotting between cycles, heavy eyes, cramps, stiff muscles.
doctor says that to have hashimotos I would need to have a biopsy on my thyroid. I am on synthetic thyroxine 100mcg.
Serum TSH: 3.47 (.2-4.20), Serum Free T4: 13.5 (12-22), Serum Free T3: 3.7 (4.1-6.8), TPOab: 165000 (<34)
Symptoms: constant runny nose, headaches (exploding pain behind eyes), dry skin, fatigue, no appetite, weight gain, dark circles under eyes, constipation, heavy periods, early periods, spotting between cycles, heavy eyes, cramps, stiff muscles.
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Thank you gimel, yes I'm interested in doctors in the London area. I can travel there via the train link where I am.
Meant to add that I have collected a few names of patient recommended doctors in the UK, most all in the London area. If interested, let me know.
I'd say that some of your symptoms may be partially related to low B2. Note the following:
A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But if untreated, it may cause symptoms such as:
Weakness, tiredness, or light-headedness
Rapid heartbeat and breathing
Pale skin
Sore tongue
Easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums
Stomach upset and weight loss
Diarrhea or constipation
But I'd also say that most of your symptoms are related to your low levels of Free T4 and Free T3. Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all. Many members say taht relief from hypo symptoms required Free T3 in the upper part of its range and Free T4 at the middle of its range, at minimum. And of course don't overlook Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.
A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But if untreated, it may cause symptoms such as:
Weakness, tiredness, or light-headedness
Rapid heartbeat and breathing
Pale skin
Sore tongue
Easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums
Stomach upset and weight loss
Diarrhea or constipation
But I'd also say that most of your symptoms are related to your low levels of Free T4 and Free T3. Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all. Many members say taht relief from hypo symptoms required Free T3 in the upper part of its range and Free T4 at the middle of its range, at minimum. And of course don't overlook Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.
Thank you, is it possible some or all my symptoms might be because of low B12? If so I will supplement with this.
"A study in the year 2000 indicates that B12 deficiency is far more widespread than formerly believed. The study found that 39 percent of studied group of 3,000 had low values.[10] This Tufts University study used the B12 concentration 258 pmol/l (= 350 pg/mL) as a criterion of "low level".
However, a recent research[86] has found that B12 deficiency may occur at a much higher B12 concentration (500–600 pg/mL). On this basis Mitsuyama and Kogoh[48] proposed 550 pg/mL, and Tiggelen et al.[87] proposed 600 pg/mL. Against this background, there are reasons to believe that B12 deficiency is present in a far greater proportion of the population than 39% as reported by Tufts University."
Wikipedia - Vitamin B12 deficiency
However, a recent research[86] has found that B12 deficiency may occur at a much higher B12 concentration (500–600 pg/mL). On this basis Mitsuyama and Kogoh[48] proposed 550 pg/mL, and Tiggelen et al.[87] proposed 600 pg/mL. Against this background, there are reasons to believe that B12 deficiency is present in a far greater proportion of the population than 39% as reported by Tufts University."
Wikipedia - Vitamin B12 deficiency
My location is United Kingdom. I'm no longer under the care of the endo but I'm going to see an immunologist in June.
Thank you.
I didn't realise the importance of other vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin B12: 246 (180-900)
Ferritin: 18 (30-400)
Vitamin D: 61.5 (25-75)
I have been prescribed iron but the doctor didn't advise me on how I need to take this apart from needing to take it 3 times a day.
Doctor says Vitamin B12 and Vitamin look ok.
I didn't realise the importance of other vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin B12: 246 (180-900)
Ferritin: 18 (30-400)
Vitamin D: 61.5 (25-75)
I have been prescribed iron but the doctor didn't advise me on how I need to take this apart from needing to take it 3 times a day.
Doctor says Vitamin B12 and Vitamin look ok.
Well, I don't agree with either doctor. Your Free T4 is too low in the range, and your Free T3 is even below range. Free T4 and Free T3 are the biologically active thyroid hormones, so how could that possibly be interpreted as well medicated? Further, targeting a TSH range as a way to dose a hypo patient is also wrong.
TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less with symptoms, so how can a target TSH work for a hypo patient? It can't. Scientific studies have even shown that TSH frequently becomes suppressed below range when taking thyroid meds adequate to relieve hypo symptoms. That does not mean hyperthyroidism unless it is accompanied by hyper symptoms due to Free T4 and Free T3 levels that are excessive.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo 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 test results, and especially not TSH levels. You can get some good insight from this link written by a good thyroid doctor. In the link note that he says, "In the best tradition of clinical medicine, a physician should prescribe thyroid hormones as needed to eliminate the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism without producing any symptoms or signs of thyroid hormone excess."
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
So your 100 mcg dose may not be enough and you may even need some T3 added to your meds. The main thing you need is a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically as described. That does not necessarily mean an Endo. If you will tell us your location, perhaps we can provide the name of a doctor based on patients' recommendations.
Last, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. If not tested for those, I highly recommend doing so. D should be about 60. B12 should be in the upper part of its range. Ferritin should be about 60 minimum for women.
TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less with symptoms, so how can a target TSH work for a hypo patient? It can't. Scientific studies have even shown that TSH frequently becomes suppressed below range when taking thyroid meds adequate to relieve hypo symptoms. That does not mean hyperthyroidism unless it is accompanied by hyper symptoms due to Free T4 and Free T3 levels that are excessive.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo 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 test results, and especially not TSH levels. You can get some good insight from this link written by a good thyroid doctor. In the link note that he says, "In the best tradition of clinical medicine, a physician should prescribe thyroid hormones as needed to eliminate the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism without producing any symptoms or signs of thyroid hormone excess."
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
So your 100 mcg dose may not be enough and you may even need some T3 added to your meds. The main thing you need is a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically as described. That does not necessarily mean an Endo. If you will tell us your location, perhaps we can provide the name of a doctor based on patients' recommendations.
Last, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. If not tested for those, I highly recommend doing so. D should be about 60. B12 should be in the upper part of its range. Ferritin should be about 60 minimum for women.
Thank you.
My dose of thyroxine is 100mcg and it was increased 2 weeks ago.
My doctor thinks I'm well medicated but my endo has told them to optimize my TSH to be around 1 and my Free T4 to be in the top half of the range. I think I'll be on a lot more thyroxine to achieve this.
How long would it take for my symptoms to improve on the 100mcg?
My dose of thyroxine is 100mcg and it was increased 2 weeks ago.
My doctor thinks I'm well medicated but my endo has told them to optimize my TSH to be around 1 and my Free T4 to be in the top half of the range. I think I'll be on a lot more thyroxine to achieve this.
How long would it take for my symptoms to improve on the 100mcg?
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