Help regarding Antithyroid peroxidase antibody

[leannemcc19]

Hiya, I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid 14 years ago and always well maintained. last year it went over and it took until September this year to come back to normal levels but still I had some anxiety issues and then last week I had a huge panic attack and was unable to get out of bed without heart racing and extreme fatigue. the doctor tested thyroid levels and t4 and tsh are normal (16.4 and 1.1) but my thyroid antibodies are 299. the doctor who called to give me my results is not my own doctor and he said the high antibodies was irrelevant as I have a thyroid condition but I am concerned with this answer. can anyone shed any light on whether he's right or am I right to be concerned. all advice is welcome thanks so much

[Clutter]

Leannemcc19,

Antibodies are not irrelevant. They are an indication of autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

I was very ill with euthyroid Hashimoto's (normal TSH, FT4 and FT3) for more than a year prior to a thyroidectomy. My doctors insisted symptoms were non-thyroidal but they improved immediately after thyroidectomy, probably because there was no longer a target thyroid to attack.

medscape.com/viewarticle/76...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/resear...

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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[leannemcc19 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much for your reply. I had thought of hashimotos myself but I guess I'm not sure if you can develop this so long after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. my thyroxine has always maintained my thyroid function well but these antibodies have thrown me, I have an appointment with my own doctor next week and I will ask her to refer me to an endocrinologist. I juat wasn't sure if he was correct that anti bodies would be present with the underactive thyroid. I'm sure developing hashimotos would not be good for my immune system and this would help explain why I have been feeling so ill recently and I would like to obviously deal with it and try to help myself as much as possible. I have been tested for coeliac a few times over the years as my brother has it but thankfully I don't have it but I will consider all of this when I read all the links fully, thanks for them too! it's so difficult to find a doctor who understands the thyroid and the problems it can present!

[Clutter in reply to leannemcc19]

Leannemcc19,

You're unlikely to get any help from an endocrinologist in managing Hashimoto's. Like the doctor you saw, most think antibodies are irrelevant.

You don't have to have coeliac disease to benefit from a gluten-free diet. It's worth trying it for a few months to see whether your symptoms improve.

[leannemcc19]

I will try it thanks. sorry for all the questions but as I say I've never had much bother before even though it was underactive for years. who diagnoses hashimotos? I live in Northern Ireland if that's relevant? and would it not be an endocrinologist who would decide to take the thyroid out? or was this something you did privately?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Quite likely you always had Hashimoto's, but no one bothered to tell you - got any test results from when first diagnosed?

If they have not been done ......Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.(£99)

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible

As you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too. You don't have to be coeliac to still find significant benefits

You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption or low stomach acid or gluten intolerance

Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this.

You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's (& Grave's) too.

Worth reading:


The Immune recovery plan by Susan Blum,

Amy Myers

Isabella Wentz - The thyroid pharmacist

hypothyroidmom.com/92-of-ha...

[leannemcc19]

Hiya thank you so much for your reply so are you basically saying the antibodies definitely mean I have hashimotos? I always thought it was a more severe form of hypothyroidism and was more serious as it is auto immune. I'm sorry if I sound stupid but this is all new to me, as I say I have been well maintained with levothyroxine for almost 15 years! I don't have any levels when first diagnosed but I did have elevated prolactin levels at the time (off the scale) which led to galactorrhea but that all was investigated and thankfully has never impacted my life. I've had my b12 levels checked with the most recent round of blood tests and I was told these were normal but u will double check the levels of these next week when I can see my own doctor. I think I will ask about the other tests too and post he reaults as you say because I am completely useless at deciphering all of the information but I want to help myself as much as possible as any sickness I've had the last year has hit me hard and I am not usually so affected! thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me