Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Need Help Figuring Out Thyroid Results


writerspice

Recommended Posts

writerspice Newbie

Hi everyone,

Have been off gluten for about a year now, with a bit of a summer relapse (boy, did I feel like crap!), but only now taking it really seriously. Right now I'm trying to figure out my ongoing thyroid problems... Just got some lab results back and am wondering if anyone can comment. I really can't figure them out and am unsure what to do. While my TSH is high, my Free T4 looks normalish and the only symptom I seem to have is constipation.

TSH: 6.76 (ref. range .35 to 5.00 mU/L)

Free T4: 12 (10 to 20 pmol/L)

Also had antibodies checked back in the summer (with another test scheduled for January) and they were:

Thyroid Peroxidase AB: 157 IU/mL (ref range: <60 = negative, 60-100 = equivical, >100 = positive)

Thyroglobulin AB: 103 IU/mL (same ref range as above)

I was taking Eltroxin since 2003 but went off it this summer because my prolactin levels were consistantly high - in the mid to low 20s (13 in the last bloodwork) - and my body seemed to be in overdrive. Am now trying to figure out what this suggests while also looking for ways to reduce my TSH without screwing everything else up...

Any thoughts are so appreciated.

Thanks.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Nyxie63 Apprentice

It looks like you probably have Hashi's, which is an autoimmune disease. Basically, your body is attacking your thyroid. You need to start on thyroid meds in order to suppress your thyroid and, subsequently, the antibodies in order to prevent any further damage. Your TSH needs to be around 0 (yes, zero) in order to have the antibodies fully suppressed. Just so you know, Hashi's can cause swings between hypoT and hyperT, which may be why your body feet like it was in overdrive.

Your TSH is high, although TSH really isn't the gold standard most docs want to make it out to be. It has its uses tho. Unfortunately, TSH can be affected by the time of day the test was done, medications, illnesses, and even the time the test was done during your menstrual cycle.

Your FT4 is low. Yet another reason to be on supplementation. Talk to your doc about testing your FT3 as well. That's the active thyroid hormone and is really more important than the FT4. Most folks feel best when their FreeTs are in the upper 1/2 to upper 1/3 of the range.

Hope this helps! :)

Hi everyone,

Have been off gluten for about a year now, with a bit of a summer relapse (boy, did I feel like crap!), but only now taking it really seriously. Right now I'm trying to figure out my ongoing thyroid problems... Just got some lab results back and am wondering if anyone can comment. I really can't figure them out and am unsure what to do. While my TSH is high, my Free T4 looks normalish and the only symptom I seem to have is constipation.

TSH: 6.76 (ref. range .35 to 5.00 mU/L)

Free T4: 12 (10 to 20 pmol/L)

Also had antibodies checked back in the summer (with another test scheduled for January) and they were:

Thyroid Peroxidase AB: 157 IU/mL (ref range: <60 = negative, 60-100 = equivical, >100 = positive)

Thyroglobulin AB: 103 IU/mL (same ref range as above)

I was taking Eltroxin since 2003 but went off it this summer because my prolactin levels were consistantly high - in the mid to low 20s (13 in the last bloodwork) - and my body seemed to be in overdrive. Am now trying to figure out what this suggests while also looking for ways to reduce my TSH without screwing everything else up...

Any thoughts are so appreciated.

Thanks.

loraleena Contributor

It is sounds like Hashimotos hypothyroidism. Your antibodies are high and should be below 20 not 60. Also the TSH range your doc is using is several years outdated. The range should be between .3-3. Over 2 can cause hypo problems. You are def. hypo. I urge you to go to Dr.Lowe.com and Stopthethyroidmadness to read more and get on a more helpful med. Armour is the best. Dr.Lowe and Dr. Gina Honeyman are my thyroid doctors. The info. on the site is eye opening. It is common for a TSh to be at zero when on meds. Mine is and my doctors say this is fine. Feel free to ask me any questions as I have Hashis myself.

georgie Enthusiast

You have Hashimotos and you need that TSH to be 0 to suppress the Antibody attacks and damage. Your FT4 is too low - it should be midrange. And was Free T3 tested ? FT3 is the energy ...and if you don't convert T4 to T3 - then you don't get well.

I wasn't sure what Eltroxin was so looked it up.

Open Original Shared Link

Its a T4 med. Have you tried a combination of T4 and T3 meds together ? Or Armour ?

Why is your prolactin high ? Have you been tested for Pituitary disorders ? Have you had a Pituitary MRI done with and without contrast ? Don't wish to worry you but one cause of high Prolactin is a Pituitary tumour. You need the contrast dye to detect the small tumours..

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

All the best. change Drs ...

loraleena Contributor

Georgie,

Could you explain the FT3 to me. I get it tested every 6 months with everything else. Where should it be? I wonder if I have an issue converting and maybe that is why I still have hypo symptoms. I take 175mg of cytomel a day and am adding 12 mg every 2 weeks. My antibodies have come down from 765 to 199, but still high.

georgie Enthusiast
Georgie,

Could you explain the FT3 to me. I get it tested every 6 months with everything else. Where should it be? I wonder if I have an issue converting and maybe that is why I still have hypo symptoms. I take 175mg of cytomel a day and am adding 12 mg every 2 weeks. My antibodies have come down from 765 to 199, but still high.

Cytomel IS T3 - so doesn't need converting to show up as Free T3 on a blood test. Most HypoT people seem to feel best when FT3 sits at the top or slightly over the top of the high normal range of your blood test. 175 mg Cytomel is a LOT of T3 - is it slow release at all ? The fact that your antibodies are coming down is good but am surprised you need so much but this raises the question that I have also - how do Celiacs absorb their meds ? Do we absorb medications the same as non Celiacs ? I am Folate Anemic and need 10x the normal dose to be well and keep my blood tests normal. So .... your high dose Cytomel may be related to your Celiac. Do you take any T4 meds at all ? Some people find they need a small amount of T4 as well as the T3. The goal is to remove HypoT symptoms, keep the blood tests mid range or higher, and get Antibodies to 0.

nutralady2001 Newbie

Iam on 390mgs Armour ( 6 and 1/2 grains) My TSH is <0.01 FT3 a titch over the top of the range and FT4 well up in the range. Your FT4 is way too low

I agree with the others with Hashi's you need TSH suppressed as TSH feeds the antibodies attack

I was previously on 300mcgs thyroxine so am looking forward to maybe reducing my Armour once I get this Coeliac stuff well and truly sorted.

I believe now I've had major absoprtion porblems due to un-Dx'd Coeliac


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Donna Moxley commented on Scott Adams's article in Latest Research
      2

      Study Estimates the Costs of Delayed Celiac Disease Diagnosis (+Video)

    2. - cristiana replied to Mell2's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      Rectal pain

    3. - Rogol72 replied to Butch68's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      6

      Guinness, can you drink it?

    4. - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      6

      Related issues


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,276
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Sandra Hawn
    Newest Member
    Sandra Hawn
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      When I have had what I think are episodes of this (I've never had a formal diagnosis for PF) it seems to be triggered by bloating caused by something I've eaten - a friend had an episode of this after eating too many apples, for me corn and rice cakes seemed to give me IBS and trigger this.  I am not a medical person but it seemed like the extra pressure down there perhaps added pressure to already sensitised pelvic and rectal muscles. Coeliacs can suffer from bloating when they are first diagnosed due to the inability to digest food properly.  Lactose for me caused a lot of bloating and when I came off it temporarily after diagnosis it helped reduce bloating.  Iron supplements and the timing of taking them also caused discomfort and I had to experiment a bit with type and timing before my gut felt comfortable.   Maybe something to think about?   Some coeliacs suffer from constipation - again, just a thought, but perhaps if you had issues with that it might be a contributor.
    • Rogol72
      At a family wedding in Italy last year I was drinking gluten free Peroni which was fine for me. From the Daura Damn website ... " Our guarantee less than 3ppm: each batch is analyzed and certified by the CSIC using the R5 Competitive ELISA test before hitting the market. This way, we ensure that its gluten content is always below 3ppm "
    • Mari
      Hi jmartes, I brought up doTerra's website and see that they do have many supplements, offer  support and help. And using their organic products has been helpful. and yet you are not able to work enough to support yourself when, if you were healtht, you could work for another 20 years. It does not seem that they offer a program to follow and instead are offering supplements for your symptoms. This has helped you but you are not able to work very much.  The Programs I have seen  online usually have 3 parts. The first is a Parasite cleanse. The 2nd is the Kidney cleanse and the  3rd is a Liver cleanse and gallbladder cleanse. You need to doall these cleanses to have your whole body functioning well. I can only reccommend the program I gave you because that is the one I used and still do. (drclark.net)  When I see a newprovider and tell I have Celiacs and they look skeptical I tell them that when I am gluttoned the reaction happens 8 or more hours later with intestinal painful cramping followed by diarrhea. Providers are willing to accept tha I probably have Celiacs and are more likely order tests such as vitamin levels. Is this what happens if you eat only a small amount of Gluten? You mentioned going to Mayors. 20 years ago many Dr.s wanted to include a celiac screening as a standard test so that more people eould diagnosed and not become disabled. It did not happen but the Federal levgislature did pass a law so that Celiacs could claim deductions for the gluten free food they bought. What were you going to ask the Mayors to do?
    • Colleen H
      How bad can this get ?? Does it go away??  How long ? Thank you 
    • Clear2me
      Thank you for all the excellent information. I moved from Wyoming to California. May be its where I am located but So far none of the Costco Kirkland brand I have looked at is labeled gluten free. Same with the Sam's Members Mark. The Kirkland nuts you mention all say they are processed in a plant that processes wheat.  I am going to keep checking. Thank you. The Azure Market looks promising 😁 Take care S
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.