Hashi's antibodies

[chickenmitch]

I have just been reading this:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

Is that correct that both anti-TPO and TgAb have to be above range to confirm diagnosis?

[HarryE]

Not necessarily both, no. One or the other is diagnostic, although in the UK they tend to only do TPO. I had no TPO, but I had TgAb almost 100 times above range

[chickenmitch in reply to HarryE]

Thanks, Harry. I have TPO above range but, although I also have TgAb, they are just within range. I thought I'd found another reason for them not to treat me!!

[Eddie83]

No. Only one is needed to confirm diagnosis. But if either TPOAb or TGAb is non-zero, regardless of what the "normal range" says, you have Hashi's. The "normal range" is just a public-health trick to keep too many people from seeking treatment. I had TPOAb that was often within the "normal range", for decades, and it did eventually end up destroying my thyroid. After dietary changes, primarily the removal of gluten, my TPOAb went down to zero within 18 months.

[chickenmitch in reply to Eddie83]

I am Coeliac Eddie so have not eaten gluten for years yet I still have both antibodies. TPOAb is way above range and TgAb is about 70. Yet still no diagnosis. Grrrrrr........

[Eddie83 in reply to chickenmitch]

So has the doctor you see, actually refused to diagnose you as having Hashimoto's? If so, what was his/her logic? This sounds like a capitation strategy to me.

[chickenmitch]

It's because my TSH only reached 3.9 and they were waiting for the magic 4.5 that took it out of range so they decided to take the 'let's wait and see what happens' approach. My own GP didn't really have a clue so (after 18months) he referred me to an endo who, quite frankly, didn't seem to have much clue either. The endo ordered more bloods and wants to see me again in February. I went to the GP on Monday, to ask what I was supposed to do for 3 months as I can barely function at work. He looked at the blood test and my TSH had come down to 1.7. He was delighted. There you go then - everything's normal!!