Newbie with high antibodies

[Chlo119]

Hi I have high TPO and TG antibodies they are TPO 849.5 (<34) TG 258.3 (<115) I also have memory loss tiredness pins and needles dry skin increase in bloating weight gain hard stool is it likely I need increase in meds from 25 mcg Levo diagnosed 2013 with hypo thankyou

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you only ever been on 25mcg?

That is not even standard starter dose of 50mcg

What are your most recent blood test results

TSH, FT4 and FT3

Do you have high thyroid antibodies? This is Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamins stop thyroid hormones working

The aim of Levothyroxine is to be retested after 6-8 weeks on starter dose. Then it's increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3

Private tests are available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Vitamindtest.org.uk - £28 postal kit

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Link about antibodies

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

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

See Box 1. Towards end of article

Some possible causes of persistent symptoms in euthyroid patients on L-T4

You will see low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 listed

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[Chlo119 in reply to SlowDragon]

TPO and TG antibodies they are TPO 849.5 (<34) TG 258.3 (<115)

[Chlo119 in reply to SlowDragon]

Just told undermedicated by GP no idea what levels are

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Chlo119]

Always get actual results. Keep good records of what you were taking with each result

The only person who can manage your illness is you.

[Chlo119 in reply to SlowDragon]

Was previously on 175 mcg levo

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Chlo119]

What idiot reduced your dose by so much. Maximum dose should change up or especially downwards is 25mcg

You are seriously under medicated. Almost certainly have extremely low vitamin levels

Did you have T3 started and then stopped?

Why was dose reduced

Make an urgent appointment with GP for 25mcg Levo dose increase and get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

You will need bloods retesting after 6 weeks on increased dose, further 25mcg dose increase etc until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way through range

Your high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[Chlo119 in reply to SlowDragon]

GP reduced my dose by that much, the endo was happy with my levels. Yes I was taking T3 and had it stopped. Endo believed I would manage without it but since then levels never stabilised thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Chlo119]

Your GP should not be altering dose

Endo is specialist

When T3 is removed vitamin levels crash right out. This prevents thyroid hormones working

You will need to build back up slowly and essential to get vitamins back up before restarting T3

See these typical posts

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid UK are collecting evidence of malpractice due to removing clinically needed T3

Please consider sending a brief outline of this. How T3 improved you and the subsequent disaster since it was stopped. I would include the dire vitamin levels

thyroiduk.org/tuk/get_invol...