Thyroid results feedback needed

[Rosalee11]

Told I have depression thanks

TSH 22.0 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 10.1 (12 - 22)

TPO ANTIBODY 84 (<34)

TG ANTIBODY 266,000 (115)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Rosalee11 Welcome to the forum.

Are you diagnosed hypothyroid and on Levothyroxine?

Can you please add the reference ranges to your results, they're usually in brackets or to the side of the test result. As ranges vary from lab to lab we need the range from your particular lab to interpret tests. However your TSH is obviously high and your FT4 is either at the low end or maybe under range.

Can you please clarify your antibody results, are the actually 84 thousand and 266 thousand or should they be 84.00 and 266.00

[Rosalee11 in reply to SeasideSusie]

No not diagnosed hypothyroid or on levothyroxine and only TG antibody is 266,00 thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rosalee11]

Rosalie - so your TG antibody is 266 and not 266 thousand then? There's a big difference between 266,000 (266 thousand) and 266.00 (two hundred and sixty six). It's confusing the way you've done it, but regardless both your antibody results are postive which means that you have autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's disease. Hashimoto's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that's treated. The antibody attacks will eventually destroy your thyroid.

Most doctors don't understand Hashi's and dismiss antibodies as being of no importance; however, each antibody attack will destroy a bit more of your thyroid and cause fluctuations in your symptoms and test results.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Some information so that you can help yourself (you're unlikely to get any help from your doctor regarding Hashi's)

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

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TSH 22.0 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 10.1 (12 - 22)

If your GP has not diagnosed hypothyroidism and told you that you have depresssion, then run away as fast as you can and find yourself a decent doctor who can read guidelines and understands hypothyroidism.

Your TSH is way over range and your FT4 is under range, both confirm hypothyroidism.

From the NICE Guidelines cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

◦Overt hypothyroidism (OH) — TSH levels are above the normal reference range (usually above 10 mU/L) and free T4 is below the normal reference range.

And from bestpractice.bmj.com/best-p... - click on High TSH - associated with a low FT4 and/or FT3 and you will see

High TSH - associated with a low FT4 and/or FT3

•Suggests primary hypothyroidism. Underproduction of the thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) may occur with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease), which is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism. More than 90% of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have positive TPOAb.

Go back and see a decent doctor armed with this information and ask for a prescription for Levothyroxine. Unless you are elderly or have a heart condition who need to be started on 25mcg, do not accept less than 50mcg.

You will need retesting with an increase of 25mcg every 6-8 weeks until you feel well and your symptoms abate. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo.

When having thyroid tests, always book the very first appointment of the morning, fast overnight and leave off Levo for 24 hours. This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction. This is a patient to patient tip which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

Take your Levo on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only, no tea, coffee, milk, hot chocolate, etc for an hour as absorption will be affected. Take Levo two hours away from other medication and supplements, some need four hours.

[Rosalee11 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks much appreciated will go to GP today

[jimh111]

You have autoimmune hypothyroidism. You should be prescribed 50 to 100 mcg levothyroxine as a starter dose, if you are elderly or have a cardiac problem they may start you on 25 mcg. There's no point the doctor running these tests if they don't prescribe (perhaps you have run these tests yourself and doctor hasn't seen them?).

[Rosalee11 in reply to jimh111]

Doctor has seen them waiting on his comments