Thyroid antibody's.

[jessiejakes]

Hi I had a thyroid blood test recently .the doctor said I need to repeat the test again as my TPO antibody was positive.but didn't tell me what it was.but my TSH receptor ABS was 0.3 iu/L ( o.o -0.9) serum TSH level 0.559 miu/L ( 0.38 -5.33) can anyone help me please as I can't understand what these results mean.my mother had thyroid and my brother and his daughter do.but doctor said come back in 6 months to repeat blood test.my anxiety has been bad last few years and keep getting tension headaches/ feeling like I'm walking on a boat.any advice much appreciated. Thank you.

[greygoose]

Looks like your doctor thinks you're hyper. But, your TRAB antibodies (Grave's) are negative. On the other hand, if your TPO antibodies are high, that means you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - aka Autoimmune Thyroiditis. However, you don't appear to be hypo, yet, according to your TSH.

[jessiejakes in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose for your reply very much appreciated. Does this autoimmune cause any symptoms ? As have felt really anxoius / headaches for over a week now.or just my anxiety.

[greygoose in reply to jessiejakes]

Yes, many people say they do. Quite which symptoms, I couldn't tell you, though. Anxiety could be one of them.

[jessiejakes in reply to greygoose]

Thank you I have a appointment to see my doctor next Friday 27 April.I will tell him of my concerns I will also look up Hashimotos.

[greygoose in reply to jessiejakes]

You're welcome. But your doctor probably won't know that antibodies cause symptoms. However, he's a very good doctor for having tested them! Not many will. Now, you just have to get him to test your FT4 and FT3.

[jessiejakes in reply to greygoose]

He is a nice kind doctor trouble is everyone wants to see him as the other doctors are rubbish.I will ask him about FT 4 and FT3 or see if I can get them done privately.

[Highland49]

When you say it feels like you are walking on a boat, do you have balance issues? Only that this could mean that you have b12 deficiency alongside thyroid issues. Sadly this is a neurological symptom that should be treated sooner than later. You could always post on the pernicious anaemia site any b12 results you may have or have tested in the future, plus folate, ferritin (iron stores), iron and vitamin D. Lots of other things to mention about b12 but loads of information on that site.

All the best.

[jessiejakes in reply to Highland49]

Thank you I haven't had B12 checked as far as I know.had blood test last week when I went to walk in centre also ECG and they said they were fine.but don't know what they checked on blood test.yes the balance issue is like I'm walking on a boat and they checked my ears and said they were fine.but I've had balance problems in past caused by build up of fluid in ears.

[Highland49 in reply to jessiejakes]

Did your GP refer you to ENT in the past? The ENT consultant I saw was really thorough. If you do go for a b12 blood serum test, you need to not take any supplements for at least 4 months otherwise it gives a false higher reading. GPs don't realise this, so you could be in range but "propped up" by the supplement floating around your blood and not getting to the cells.

You can request a copy of your blood results and post in PAS if you continue to get problems.

Because your vitamin D is particularly low, you need to supplement with D3 softgels and take K2 and magnesium alongside. Folate level can be raised by either folic acid or folate tablets.

[ShootingStars in reply to Highland49]

I think you must mean closer to 4 days, not 4 months? You only have to sustain from B12 supplements 36 or 72 hours, depending on the test, not 4 months.

[Polaris in reply to ShootingStars]

Sorry, but Highland49 is correct. It can take between 3- 4 months, depending on how long it takes to get rid of B12 in your blood, and everyone is different, especially if B12 supplement is high dosage.

Problems with balance, tinnitus, if together with other symptoms, can be caused by PA/B12 def.

[ShootingStars in reply to Polaris]

Really? Which test and in which country? If Serum B12, it's 0-48 hours even in the UK, depending on the lab source. Serum B12 is not used to determine true B12 deficiency anyway. It measures TOTAL B12, both active and inactive. Universally (even in the UK) it is acknowledged that Serum B12 is misleading and inconclusive. Three tests are used to determine true B12 deficiency in all countries. In truly B12 deficient people, holotranscobalamin will be low. The test is called Holo TC or holotranscobalamin, the active form. If that is low, then Methylmalonic Acid (MMA)is measured. In truly B12 deficient people, MMA is elevated. Homocysteine is also tested because this will be elevated in B12 deficient people. Folate is also tested.

"Serum methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels are also elevated in vitamin B12 deficiency states."

mayomedicallaboratories.com...

"Patients should refrain from taking nutritional supplements for 24 hours before venipuncture." :

biolab.co.uk/docs/vitaminB1...

"Do not consume any vitamin B12 containing nutritional supplements for 24-48 hours prior to testing.":

biolab.co.uk/print.php/cmsi...

States no fasting required for Serum B12:

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

Additional educational B12 deficiency info:

health.gov.au/internet/main...

aafp.org/afp/2011/0615/p142...

It's really sad that in some areas it's the trend that people are being harmed or permanently damaged by doctors conducting all the wrong tests. Examples: only testing ferrin (ferritin is only a small piece of actual iron status and analysis. results are inconclusive and misleading), only testing Serum B12 (measures total levels, a combination of active and inactive levels. results are inconclusive and misleading), or only Total T3 or Total T4 (measures total levels, combination of both unbound/available and bound/unavailable levels. results are inconclusive and misleading). Relying on only these tests for diagnosis is risky and potentially permanently damaging for patients.

[Polaris in reply to ShootingStars]

I believe Highland was referring to the serum B12 test, which is the first test done in the UK, to initially measure B12. Taking supplements will skew results and make it almost impossible to get treatment or further more expensive tests here, which is why all the experts advise not to supplement until tested.

b12-institute.nl/caution-no...

I'm fully aware that there is no gold standard test and symptoms are paramount but most GPs here are not. This is why so many of us on the PA forum self inject!

[ShootingStars in reply to Polaris]

Hi Polaris. (I had a Polaris snow mobile when I was a child. ). That's what I was wondering. Even in the UK, the protocol sustaining from ingesting B12 supplements averages only 24 hours, if not 48. Where is this idea of sustaining from B12 supplements coming from, since it's not even in UK or elsewhere Serum B12 testing protocol?

Unsaturated B12 Binding Capacity test is the one that requires sustaining from B12 supplements for 72 hours.

The other three tests are how true B12 deficiency is determined. Intrinsic factor is tested if malabsorption is suspected. Parietal cell antibodies, too, as 90% of people with pernicious anemia have positive parietal call antibodies.

It's such a sad shame that patient can't get proper diagnostics. What advantage is this to anyone, especially the patient? The doctor isn't getting paid more by short changing patients on lab work, for inconclusive diagnosis or misdiagnosis. I wonder what the motivation is behind this ignorance?

[Polaris in reply to ShootingStars]

Unfortunately, the IF test is only 40/50% accurate and Martyn Hooper, Chairman of the PAS, was tested several times but, by the time he was diagnosed, he was left with neurological damage.

A PAS survey found people with PA often waited years before a correct diagnosis was made. The PAS has done great work in educating professionals and patients but many doctors are still behind with research.

The health system here is geared towards higher payments to the surgery for mental health. Thyroid treatment attracts very little and B12 probably nothing.

Questions have been asked in the House of Lords re. the neurological damage done to patients by failure to treat. Nothing appeared to happen. I personally wrote to the Health Secretary but also received an unsatisfactory answer 🙁

[ShootingStars in reply to Polaris]

This is so incredibly ethically wrong, and so incredibly sad. Makes me very said and concerned for all the people in the UK! No wonder so many people are forced to do their own testing and to also have to self treat! So incredibly shameful that is has come to this!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jessiejakes]

Definitely get your B12 tested

It is common problem with hypothyroid or can be in its own right

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4, plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

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 ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting, This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten. So it's important to get tested.

[ShootingStars in reply to Highland49]

Walking on a boat feeling (vertigo) does not usually mean a B12 problem. Could be so many other causes. Vertigo is often an ear problem and she indicates this has been problem in the past.

[Highland49 in reply to ShootingStars]

Absolutely, which is why I mentioned referral to ENT to check all this out. From first hand experience, it took me many months to be seen by relevant consultants to rule out other causes. This was my first symptom to go after starting b12 supplements and injections but the connection was not made by GPs in my surgery or the ENT consultant.