I have been suffering from extreme tiredness, can't exercise, putting on weight etc for years. My GP diagnosed depression and has never really listened to me over the year and has never referred me anywhere else for further tests. I then experienced severe joint pain and have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I can't help thinking that all these years there was something wrong with my thyroid and I was never treated. It may have led to the RA as my body has constantly been fighting itself. I do feel that the tiredness has improved since I've been on Methotrexate for the RA however I'm really angry as I had a miscarriage a few years back and often wonder if the thyroid problem was to blame. I recently paid Medichecks for thyroid tests and these are the results. Medichecks does say the following which I find really confusing -
'Your thyroglobulin antibodies are positive. This can be associated with autoimmune thyroid disease and in particular Hashimoto’s disease. Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are elevated. This antibody is commonly associated with autoimmune thyroid disease. It is frequently seen in conditions such as Hashimoto’s disease (where the thyroid becomes underactive) but confusingly can also be seen in Grave’s disease (where the thyroid becomes overactive). Your thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxine and T3 are all normal which suggest healthy thyroid function.
Your rheumatoid arthritis also makes it more likely that thyroid autoantibodies will be detected, although your thyroid function is normal. '
Can anyone help with the reading of these results? I want to take them to my consultant but I'm worried that he will say they are useless. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Well, I don't think they're useless. I think it's helpful to know you have thyroid auto antibodies. It may mean that your thyroid will begin to fail in the future. With Hashimotos, thyroid results can vary so it might be worth doing 3 or 4 more blood tests, maybe 3 months apart to check the antibodies are not active. It would also be worth getting a thyroid function test once a year or if you feel unwell. If you find your thyroid status changes you can correct it before you become too unwell.
There seems to be an association between various autoimmune conditions and thyroid disease. A lot of people find it helpful to go gluten free even if they don't have coeliac disease. I don't know a lot about it but have heard people have a lot of success with it, mainly people on this forum but also I've heard it elsewhere.
You could also check your vitamin levels as many people with autoimmune thyroid conditions find they have low Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin. I don't know about arthritis you would need to post on another forum for that.
Your thyroid results are o.k. but thyroid antibodies show that your thyroid gland is under attack. It is due to an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's and the antibodies attack your thyroid gland - they wax and wane - until you are hypothyroid. The treatment is the same as hypothyroidism, levothyroxine.
Most doctors would not prescribe levo for you because your TSH and others are 'normal' but Dr Toft, ex President of the BTA, states that if we have thyroid antibodies we should be given levothyroxine. email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk for a copy.
Any condition ending in * itis * - indicates inflammation - as in your RA. So inflammation normally starts with the gut - do you have any issues ? If so I would suggest going gluten free and eating only foods that grow
As mentioned above your levels of B12 - FOLATE - FERRITIN - VITD need to be optimal for you to feel well and for your body to work well.
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Medicheck results. Ignoramus here would like your help! Do I have to confront my GP?
Help with test results please.
Thyroid results help please?
Help with results please
Help with test results please
