Need help!!

[Irch85]

I have had my Thyroid Antibodies checked with Immunology and they came back Negative with no range, is this normal??

I thought there is usually a range??

I am still suffering with an enlarged goitre and have many enlarged lymph nodes within my neck... no one seems to even care.. I'm at a total loss.

So here is what I've been told

T3 - is 5.3 Range (2.10-6.00pmol/l)

TSH - is 1.29 Range (0.10-5.00mU/L)

T4 - is 14 Range (8.00-19.00pm/L)

Thyroid Antibodies - Negative

Here attached is a photo of my ever growing enlarged thyroid that changes every day in size...

Any advice would be welcome

Thanks

[greygoose]

Nothing is normal when talking about thyroid! Usually, they do give a range, but who can tell what a lab is going to do, these days - they are a law unto themselves! You don't have a result, either, which isn't very helpful. But, I would say that, with a goitre, assume that you do have Hashi's, and act accordingly.

Try a 100% gluten-free diet. This lowers antibodies for a lot of people, helps them lose weight if necessary and generally makes them feel better. It doesn't hurt to try. If it doesn't help at all, you can always go back to eating gluten again.

And, you could always try taking selenium. See if that helps. It does improve conversion, but you don't seem to be having much of a problem with that. However, you don't say if you've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism nor what you are taking, if anything. So, not much I can say about your hormone levels.

[Irch85 in reply to greygoose]

Not diagnosed with anything grey goose. I have however been referred to ENT. I'm hoping they will ultrasound my lymph nodes.. I'm due back to work next week but the fatigue is absolutely crippling me.

Thanks

[greygoose in reply to Irch85]

Well, your thyroid hormones, themselves, aren't too bad - your FT3 is well over mid-range, and doesn't look as if it should be a problem. However, a blood test only tests what's in the blood, not what get's into the cells. To know that, you'd have to have a urine test, and I don't know of any bog-standard NHS GPs or endos capable of doing that.

It would be a good idea, though, to get your nutrients tested : vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. If they are low, they can cause hypo-like symptoms, and can limit your body's ability to use thyroid hormone.

Going back to the antibodies, there are two different types : TPO and Tg. The NHS will only test TPO, but if either of them are high, then you have Hashi's. Also, you cannot rule out Hashi's on the basis of one negative test, because antibodies fluctuate. You would need at least three negative tests on each of them. And, even then, not all Hashi's people develop high antibodies, and are only diagnosed when they have an ultrasound scan - and only then if there is visible damage - so not in the early days of Hashi's. So, given that Hashi's is the most common cause of hypo in the Western World, I always think it's best to assume you have it, until proved otherwise, and try the measures I mentioned above to see if they help.

[Irch85 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for all your advice x

[greygoose in reply to Irch85]

You're welcome.