Second blood test

[Milpol]

Morning all, I have just got back from having my second blood test, first one was TSH 5.1( borderline, though this test was taken after eating and after lunch) only to be told my TSH wasn't being tested, only my antibodies for Hashimotos disease. I am nothing short of livid!

I thought regular testing of TSH was routine so you could build up a picture. I had fasted as you good people had said I should do and had it taken at 8.30 this morning.

So, do you have to have Hashimotos disease to only be classified as being Hypothyroid ?

I am very confused by my gp not requesting to test my TSH levels again. I've only been tested once for this, so is that sufficient for her to base a have / have not decision regarding my health ? Despite having many symptoms and it running in my family, I don't know what I should do now.

I am totally stunned and very, very annoyed.

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) BOTH need checking,

TPO is rarely checked and TG almost never checked. More common to have high TPO or, high TPO AND high TG, but negative TPO and raised TG is possible, though rarer.

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results.

Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. Especially if the recent test shows you do have Hashimotos. These vitamins all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately- as well as full Thyroid tests and both types of antibodies

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

[Milpol in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for this info. What happens if I don't test positive for antibodies? Is that it for me ? Despite having many symptoms?

[startagaingirl]

Hi - it may actually be an encouraging sign that your GP is testing anti-bodies, at least they know enough to realise these are important. As your Tsh has already been tested as borderline, your GP may be accepting that as raised and doesn't need to see a pattern over time. A raised Tsh combined with a positive antibody result could then justify treatment. In the absence of anti-bodies, guidelines say no treatment.

Hang on in there, you just may have a GP who has at least a modicum of knowledge of the thyroid.

Good luck and come back to us with results when you get them

Gillian xx

[Milpol in reply to startagaingirl]

Thanks Gillian, true I hadn't thought of that. I'm new to all this . I still have a lot to learn. I will post results when I get them.

[Milpol]

Thanks. I am confused with all this . My gp said I was borderline as the range was 0.2 - 5.0. However I found out yesterday that the lab my gp uses has just dropped their reference range to 4.2. So maybe now I would be over the new reference range.!

[Milpol]

Wow ! Thanks for that. I will take this info on board for when I next see the gp. Many thanks 😘

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You can apparently still have Hashimoto's, even with low antibodies- according to The Thyroid Pharmacist, Izabella Wentz. Diagnosis can be via scan of thyroid

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[Milpol in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks SlowDragon for taking time to help me . I will post when I get my results. Will read the link you've sent. Thanks again x

[Milpol]

Many thanks 😊