Thyroid antibodies

[Lunetta]

TPO antibody 275 (<34)

TG antibody >1400 (<115)

Not sure what these are? Blue Horizon advised me to speak to GP/endo but no one seems to know and there was nothing in the report to tell me what these mean.

Thanks

[greygoose]

Oh dear, oh dear! They get worse! I thought endos at least knew that those antibodies mean you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, even if they didn't know what to do about it!

Hashi's it an autoimmune disease, and most doctors call it Autoimmune Thyroiditis, for some reason. It's when the immune system goes a bit wonky, and starts attacking the thyroid, causing slow - but complete - destruction of the gland. There is no cure for Hashi's, but you can help yourself by adopting a 100% gluten-free diet, and taking selenium.

Have you been diagnosed as hypo?

[Lunetta in reply to greygoose]

Hi yes I take 100mcg levo diagnosed 2013

TSH 7.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 13.9 (12 - 22)

Free T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

[greygoose in reply to Lunetta]

When were those labs done? If recently, then you're under-medicated and need an increase in dose.

[Lunetta in reply to greygoose]

Oct 2017

[greygoose in reply to Lunetta]

OK, so you need an increase in dose.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lunetta

Hashi's information:

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.

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

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

Hashi's and gut/absorption problems tend to go hand in hand with low nutrient levels often the result. You should test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Iron Panel

Full Blood Count

then post the results for comment.

[Lunetta in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou for any feedback.

Ferritin 12 (15 - 150)

Folate 2.3 (2.5 - 19.5)

Vitamin B12 197 (190 - 900)

25 hydroxy vitamin D2 <6.0

25 hydroxy vitamin D3 21.6

Total 25 OH vitamin D 21.6

(<25 severe vitamin D deficiency. Patient may need pharmacological preparations

25 - 50 vitamin D deficiency. Supplementation is indicated

50 - 75 vitamin D may be suboptimal, and long term may lead to clinical effects. Advise on safe sun exposure and diet. Supplementation may be indicated

>75 adequate vitamin D)

Nothing taken

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lunetta]

Lunetta

Nothing taken

I'm assuming these are from your Blue Horizon test. You need to speak to your GP and ask for something to be done. If he doesn't like the fact that these are private tests, invite him to do his own on the strength of these awful results.

Ferritin 12 (15 - 150)

For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range.

You need an iron supplement and as your level is so low you should ask for an iron infusion which will raise your level within 24-48 hours, tablets will take many months. You can also help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

Low ferritin can suggest iron deficiency anaemia so you should ask your GP to do an iron panel and full blood count.

**

Folate 2.3 (2.5 - 19.5)

Vitamin B12 197 (190 - 900)

You are folate deficient with very low B12. Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency - b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

You need to post these results on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice, also quote your ferritin result and mention any signs of deficiency you may be experiencing from the list in the link.

You may need testing for pernicious anaemia, you may need B12 injections, you should be prescribed folic acid for the folate deficiency. If prescribed folic acid, don't start it until other investigations have been carried out and B12 should be started before folic acid.

I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:

"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."

And an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

**

Total 25 OH vitamin D 21.6

YOu have severe Vit D deficiency and you need loading doses of D3, do not accept a prescription for 800iu - see NICE treatment summary for Vit D deficiency:

cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

"Treat for Vitamin D deficiency if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are less than 30 nmol/L.

For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU] given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenace treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders. Several treatment regims are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

Each Health Authority has their own guidelines but they will be very similar. Go and see your GP and ask that he treats you according to the guidelines and prescribes the loading doses. Once these have been completed you will need a reduced amount (more than 800iu so post your new result as the time for members to suggest a dose) to bring your level up to what's recommended by the Vit D Council - which is 100-150nmol/L - and then you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work and comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

When you buy your own D3, as you have Hashi's and what appears to be an absorption problem, you should get an oral spray for best absorption. BetterYou do D3 alone, they also do a combined D3/K2-MK7.

[Lunetta in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou done by GP

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lunetta]

Lunetta

As those tests were done by your GP, what has he said and why aren't you taking anything for the deficiencies?

[Lunetta in reply to SeasideSusie]

He hasn't said anything.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lunetta]

Lunetta

So make an appointment and discuss them, you now have the information about what should be done with links to where you can find it. Print it off, take it with you and produce it of necessary. Show your GP you have done your research and know what you're talking about.

I forgot the link for the PA forum on my last post, you need to discuss your B12 and folate with them healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[riannabri]

Are you still having menstrual cycles?

[Lunetta in reply to riannabri]

Yes they are very heavy and clotty. I am 32 years old

[riannabri in reply to Lunetta]

Ok, it figures why your so anaemic - and goes hand in hand with Hypo your need for Folate/Ferritin/B12 is so important see what I wrote below

[riannabri]

You need to ensure you see someone that specialises in optimising all of these levels as they need to be monitored as you are so low in B12/Folate/Ferritin they all interact and interlink, this article explains how b12deficiency.info/assets/p... so get yourself under the care of an expert - doing it alone is not the best or safest option.

It would be good to start on the Vitamin D and I would recommend the drops by Carlson Labs, Super Daily D3 One drop contains 1000 iu and you just drop them on food, pills are not easily absorbed

[riannabri]

What area are you in? as in our area (essex) we have the most amazing NHS Dietician gateway mine is so knowledgeable she knows more than any doc I know, she replaces everything until its in good range, she works with patients in ITU and specialises in Autoimmune illness - Hopefully you can be referred to someone similar

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to riannabri]

riannabri It isn't this lovely, knowledgeable dietitian by any chance is it? healthunlocked.com/user/cat...

[riannabri in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

The lady is called CH she is at Essex North NHS I have her contact details if you want them I can PM them

[ Although done with the best of motives, we do not allow individual medical practitioners to be identified without their permission. Changed name to initials. ]

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to riannabri]

riannabri,

That is most excellent to read. Some online dietary information is dire - including contributions from the NHS and some who work within it. Sadly.

[Lunetta in reply to riannabri]

Thankyou I am in south west UK

[riannabri in reply to Lunetta]

I suggest you ask to be referred to a senior Dietician that specialises in Autoimmune Problems and Vitamin Supplementation if that fails PM me and I will put you in contact with Cherry and she will speak to your area x

[maypole66 in reply to riannabri]

Riannabri would you be so kind as to pm me with info on this lady/dietician please. Many thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to riannabri]

How refreshing 😀