Newbie thyroid results feedback please

[Marie7789]

Thank you

TG ANTIBODY 677.3 (<115)

TPO ANTIBODY 208.5 (<34)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Marie

Antibodies positive for autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's.

What about TSH, FT4 and FT3?

[Marie7789 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks I take 25mcg levo diagnosed 2012

TSH 0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 23.6 (12 - 22)

Free T3 4.1 (3.1 - 6.8)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Marie7789]

Marie

Are those results from while you were on 25mcg Levo?

Why are you on only 25mcg Levo? Have you been on that dose since diagnosis in 2012?

If you've been on higher doses, why have they been changed? Can you post results from when you were on other doses.

Have you had vitamins and minerals tested? If so can you please post results - ideally for

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Iron Panel

Full Blood Count

[Marie7789 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks they were when I was taking 150mcg levo. The endo told me off for having overmedicated results. Dose usually changed if thyroid levels over or under range.

[Marie7789 in reply to Marie7789]

Results from when I was taking 175mcg levo. Dose was changed about when TSH was below range or above range.

[Marie7789 in reply to Marie7789]

50mcg levo (OCT 2017)

TSH 6.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 12.8 (12 - 22)

150mcg levo (SEP 2017)

TSH 0.03 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 21.4 (12 - 22)

150mcg levo/10mcg T3 (JUN 2017)

TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 38.8 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 11.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

150mcg levo/10mcg T3 (JAN 2017)

TSH 1.65 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 16.1 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8)

150mcg levo/10mcg T3 (NOV 2016)

TSH 3.87 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 17.2 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 5.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

125mcg levo/10mcg T3 (JUL 2016)

TSH 3.95 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 13.3 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 4.6 (3.1 - 6.8)

100mcg levo/10mcg T3 (JAN 2016)

TSH 0.08 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 22.3 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 4.7 (3.1 - 6.8)

75mcg levo/10mcg T3 (NOV 2015)

TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 20.3 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 5.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

75mcg levo/10mcg T3 (SEP 2015)

TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 20.8 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 5.6 (3.1 - 6.8)

175mcg levo (AUG 2015)

TSH 1.20 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 19.3 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 4.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

150mcg levo (JUN 2015)

TSH 5.36 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 25.3 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 5.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO ANTIBODY 675 (<34)

TG ANTIBODY 355.3 (<115)

125mcg levo (MAR 2015)

TSH 3.80 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 13.1 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Marie7789]

Marie7789

Unfortunately, your story is very familiar, we see it here almost on a daily basis. You have an endocrinologist who doesn't understand Hashimoto's, he is probably a diabetes specialist as most of them are.

Your high antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

You can see from your results how these fluctuations have affected your results by comparing the different results you've had from taking the same dose of thyroid meds, this is a perfect example

150mcg levo/10mcg T3 (JUN 2017)

TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 38.8 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 11.2 (3.1 - 6.8)

150mcg levo/10mcg T3 (JAN 2017)

TSH 1.65 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 16.1 (12 - 22)

FREE T3 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8)

In January 2017 everything was in range, in fact your TSH could be a bit lower and your free Ts could be higher. Yet on the same dose in June your TSH was suppressed and your free Ts both way over range. This happened because of a "Hashi's flare" which is what happens when the antibodies attack - the dying cells dump a load of thyroid hormone into the blood and this can cause TSH to become suppressed and Free T4 and Free T3 to be very high or over range. You may get symptoms of being overmedicated (hyper type symptoms) to go along with these results that look as though you are overmedicated. Unless a GP knows about Hashi's and these hyper type swings, then they panic and reduce or stop your thyroid meds.

These hyper type swings are temporary, and eventually things go back to normal. Test results settle back down and hypo symptoms may return. Thyroid meds should then be adjusted again, increased until you are stable again.

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo only. Add T3 into the mix and TSH may well be suppressed, FT4 can lower and FT3 should be nearer the top of it's range. Any changes to dose should be gradual, usually 25mcg Levo at a time and 5mcg T3. Reducing your Levo from 150mcg to 50mcg is madness and will be a shock to your body and send you very hypo, as your latest results show.

50mcg levo (OCT 2017)

TSH 6.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

FREE T4 12.8 (12 - 22)

Dosing by TSH is wrong. TSH is a pituitary hormone, the pituitary checks to see if there is enough thyroid hormone, if not it sends a message to the thyroid to produce some. That message is TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). In this case TSH will be high. If there is enough hormone - and this happens if you take any replacement hormone - then there's no need for the pituitary to send the message to the thyroid so TSH remains low.

Unfortunately, this information seems to have bypassed most doctors who deal with thyroid disease.

FT3 is the most important test, if FT3 is in range then TSH is irrelevant. See below *

You need an immediate increase in your Levo, 25mcg now, retest in 6 weeks then another 25mcg increase, repeat retestisng/increasing until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well. In support of asking for an increase in dose, see thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... > Treatment Options:

* According to the BMA's booklet, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders", many people do not feel well unless their levels are at the bottom of the TSH range or below and at the top of the FT4 range or a little above.

The booklet is written by Dr Anthony Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. It's published by the British Medical Association for patients. Avalable on Amazon and from pharmacies for £4.95 and might be worth buying to highlight the appropriate part and show your doctor. However, I don't know if this is in the current edition as it has been reprinted a few times.

Also -

Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine, "The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

**

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. They like to play this game of "Blame the Patient" because they don't understand what's happening or how to deal with it. We've had members who have been accused of non-compliance, abusing their medication and even having a mental health condition.

You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

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 and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. This has obviously happened to you and I will respond to your nutrient levels on your other post. The fact that you have had T3 removed will also have played havoc with your nutrient levels.

For thyroid hormone to work, all nutrient levels need to be optimal. For nutrients to be absorbed you need to address the gut/absorption problem. Please see SlowDragon 's reply to this post for information and links on how to deal with this healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...