just told i had Hashis

[kira314]

Hi everyone, I just started browsing this site and have found a lot of caring people who seem to want to help us understand our Thyroid better. Today I started on Nature thyroid 1/2 gr. to take AM on empty stomach. I went
to a bioidentical hormone doc for menopause symptoms and was told I also had Hashimotos with subnormal thyroid results. Can anyone out there shed some light on this. I have more labs but did not want to send unneeded info. Thanking you in advance!
My labs are different then other Hashi sufferers which is why I am confused.
My TSH is 0.98 (0.40-4.5 mIU/L)
T4, Free  is 1.3  (0.8-1.8 ng/dl)
T3, Free  is 2.7  (2.3-4.2 pg/mL
Thyroglobulin Antibodies <1  (<1 = 1 IU/mL)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies  17H  reference range <9 IU/mL
Vit B12 374 (200-1100 pg/mL)
Vit D, 25-OH,Total,IA result is 35   reference range 30-100 ng/mL

[gimel]

I think you should be aware of this information I got from some prior threads on the Forum.

The suggested dose of selenium per day if you want to try some is 200mcg. That should include any you get in vitamins. The maximum safe daily intake is 400mcg. Above that and you risk toxic effects. 200mcg per day is considered safe, even if you get more in your food.  

Also each Brazil nut contains slightly less than 100 mcg of selenium.

[kira314]

Wow thanks for the comparison. I will skip the Selenium and eat brazil nuts instead. Thanks for your help!

[gimel]

Be careful with the selenium.  Excessively high levels can be toxic.  Also, Brazil nuts are a good source.  I am not aware of the contention that Naturethroid uses hypoallergenic fillers.  Following is a listing of what I have found about their ingredients:
Naturethroid:
Porcine Thyroid Powder, U.S. Pharmacopeia
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Dicalcium Phosphate
Sodium Starch Glycolate
Magnesium Stearate
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Stearic Acid
Carnauba Wax
Polyethylene Glycol

Armour's filler material:
Porcine Thyroid Powder, U.S. Pharmacopeia
Dextrose, Anhydrous (anhydrous means any water has been removed and makes the tablet more stable)
Microcrystalline Cellulose, NF
Sodium Starch Glycolate, NF
Calcium Stearate NF (stabilizer and lubricant)
Opadry White (Titanium dioxide used as whitening agent, but also contains trace amounts of PEG (polyethylene glycol), Polysorbate 80, and Hydroxypropyl Methycellulose.

Armour Thyroid does not contain gluten or lactose. Neither does Westhroid-P.

Beyond this I don't know how to evaluate the two regarding hypoallergenic filler material.  

[kira314]

Yes I do mean NatureThroid
and I just started Zinc 50mg but couldnt find Selenium. Will go to healthfood store for that. Ditto on the ferritin test :-)

[gimel]

Among your symptoms you have a number that are frequently related to hypothyroidism, which should not be a surprise, given your low Free T3 level.  I really do recommend testing for ferritin and supplementing as needed to achieve a level of 70.  Ferritin, selenium and zinc are important in the process of conversion of T4 to T3, which you seem to have a problem with.  If you could get the ferritin tested and supplemented as needed, then perhaps you could see the effect by the next time you test for Free T4 and Free T3.  

Not sure what you mean by Natural Thyroid.  Do you mean NatureThroid?  

[kira314]

Thank you for your insight. My symptoms are the usual menopausal type symptoms moodiness, dry skin, hot flashes, 10lb weight gain, dry skin, outer eyebrows have changed to very thin, tiredness. I went to a new doctor who gave me very extensive blood work. My PCP always said thyroid normal and for menopause I take Estradial 0.05 patch weekly. I recently started to take vit D 5,000 and sublingual B12 tablets. Besides the natureThroid he started me on Testosterone gel  and natural progesterone 100mg.
I was nervous starting all of these meds since previously I was only on the Estradial patch and vitamins. I really thought my symptoms were just age related so I just tried to carry on. Like you said maybe the Hashis is just beginning. I have repeat labs in 3months. I think my iron is ok because I donated blood recently and they test for that. but I will ask about ferritin.
What are your thoughts of NaturalThyroid? I heard it is better than Armour due to hypoallergenic fillers.

[gimel]

Typically Hashi's patients have higher TSH levels as the antibodies destroy the thyroid gland and less thyroid hormone is produced; however, you may be in the early stages of Hashi;'s, which might account for the your TSH and FT4/FT3 levels.  So what, if any, symptoms do you have?

TSH is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3.  Your Free T4 level is at mid-range, which is what we generally recommend.  Your Free T3 level is at only 21% of its range, which is too low.  We usually recommend Free T3 should be in the upper third of the range, or as needed to relieve symptoms.  

The TPO ab test confirms Hashi's.  Your B12 is less than optimal.  Better if in the upper end of the range.  Your D is also low.  Optimal is about 50 min., so you can supplement for the B12 and D.  You also need to get tested for ferritin, and supplement with a good form of iron to optimize at about 70 min.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  So that is something you need to ask your doctor about:  the willingness to treat clinically as described.  Also you should ask the doctor if willing to prescribe T3 type meds like Armour Thyorid and Cytomel.  If either answer is no, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.