Confused newbie ;)

[debsdoyle71]

Hi Everyone,

I have just recently been told that my thyroid antibodies are 311 (should be <35), my other results are as follows:-

TSH 3.9

Serum Free T4 14.7

I have not been diagnose with anything, GP said it's just a sit and wait situation. I have googled, and I think it might be Hashimoto's but not sure??

I have a strong family history of thyroid problems. Mum over active in her 40's, but ok now. One sister over active and sister under active.

I think I have been battling with this for years, but never had TPOab done before.

2012 TSH 3.0

2016 TSH 3.2

I have most of the symptoms and feel totally rubbish at the moment, but I don't know what to do for the best, should I get a second opinion or go private? Or have more bloods done?

Thanks in advance

Debs

[plokmijnuby]

Hi Debbie. I had similar when I was diagnosed although my more extreme tsh and t4 led the doctor to conclude hashimotos pretty quickly.

Hopefully someone here who understands the figures better can give you some advice on how to proceeds.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

debsdoyle71 You have a rising TSH over the years plus high antibodies, this means you have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

From ThyroidUK's main website

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

"There is a paper discussing the fact that early treatment of euthyroid (normal thyroid hormone levels) Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis with thyroxine may slow down the disease process. There is also evidence that shows that anti-thyroid antibodies can cause infertility and miscarriage. It is therefore a good idea to find out if you have high thyroid antibodies and discuss treatment with thyroxine with your doctor."

Plus -

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

'If thyroid antibodies are found, then you may have Hashimoto's disease. If there are thyroid antibodies but the other thyroid tests are normal, there is evidence that treatment will stop full blown hypothyroidism from occurring.

Dr A Toft, consultant physician and endocrinologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, has recently written in Pulse Magazine,

"The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat the thyroid function tests in two or three months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.2 But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured.

If these are positive – indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease – the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.

In the absence of symptoms some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow-up." '

So you could show this to your GP and say that you would like like to follow Dr Toft's advice to try and 'nip things in the bud'.

You can also do something to help reduce the antibodies -

1) Adopt a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin which is a protein thought to trigger antibody attacks.

2) Supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can help reduce antibodies.

[debsdoyle71 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the reply SeasideSusie and plokmijnuby

I have been reading lots over the last week and it all points to Hashimoto's but GP won't do a thing, as TSH is in normal range <6.00. I am convinced that 3.9 is way too high for me, as I have had symptoms for so long now.

Do GP's in the UK actually recognise Hashimoto's or not?

I have just started Selenium, so hopefully that will help with the TPOab.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to debsdoyle71]

Deb's, some doctors attach no importance to over range antibodies, some recognise them and say it makes no difference to the treatment which, of course, is correct because you will get Levo for the eventual Hypothyroidism that will happen as your thyroid gets destroyed. Very few are willing to start treatment before the TSH goes over range though: