Testing & Diagnosing Hashimoto's

[mattioso]

Hey guys!

I’ve been on Levo for a year now and am still battling to try and find the correct balance for me, I’m currently at 125mcg. My question however is about diagnosing the cause and Hashimoto’s.

After receiving help from a lot of people on here, I learned about Hashi and began reading into it. I went into my GP recently to beg for more tests on levels he’s never done for me, and I also asked about looking into Hashimoto’s and the cause of my condition. I was met with a rather patronizing “you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism, we just need to manage this”.

So my question is, is it important that I have a solid diagnosis of the root cause of my thyroid condition? I’m concerned that it could be something else causing it that we’ve yet to look into and maybe requires different treatment or lifestyle changes, rather than this umbrella treatment we’re all on. What do I need to say to him to get this test? How do they even test for Hashimoto’s? I can’t seem to find a clear answer online.

Thanks for the help!

Matt

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[Clutter]

Matt, Thyroid peroxidase (TPOab) and thyroglobulin (TgAb) are the antibody tests for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). NHS primary care will usually only test TPOab but some people are negative for TPOab and highly positive for TgAb. You can order private thyroid and antibody tests from Blue Horizon and Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Most people have a few antibodies but being above the ref range determines positive antibodies. Antibodies will fluctuate, being highest following a Hashi attack and then subsiding until the next. Some patients have negative antibodies but thyroid damage shown on an ultrasound scan may nonetheless be consistent with Hashimoto's.

Autoimmune diseases can rarely be treated. The conditions caused are treated and managed to prevent further damage, ie thyroid replacement for hypothyroidism. Given the 90% likelihood your hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's you could make the recommended lifestyle and dietary changes without a confirmed diagnosis.

Autoimmune diseases tend to hunt in packs which is why some Hashi patients may also have/develop pernicious anaemia, coeliac disease, Sjogrens etc. Having one AI disease may predispose you to others, so it may be useful to know whether you have positive Hashimoto's antibodies.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[mattioso in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter!

Having looked over the services contained within that link I think it's best to leave it a month or so to get the most accurate read of my current levels, and then I'll get the full "Thyroid Plus" blood tests to check over everything!

Thanks so much for your help with all of my past posts also, you've helped me more than any GP has!

[Clutter in reply to mattioso]

Matt, your GP will have had around 8 weeks on endocrinology in med school and about 10 mins will be been devoted to thyroid. You probably know more than he does now

[shaws Administrator]

This may be helpful:

best-detox-diets.com/turmer...