Got my Medichecks results - High Antibodies

[Blahfeelingblah]

Hi wise owls!!

I have been suffering a lot with the following symptoms:

- Weight gain (difficulty losing weight)

- Fatigue

- Chills/Sensitivity to the cold

- Irregular cycle

- Paleness

- Pain/tenderness in the throat

And I opted for the Ultra thyroid test at medichecks because my symptoms have been getting worse over the last few years and I thought enough is enough.

I wondered if anyone could look at my results and help me understand what to do next. I think this means I may have Hashimotos !!

Just feeling a little lost and overwhelmed!

Thanks in advance!

[MissFG]

I think you could be subclinical but someone more experienced might be able to confirm this.

I didn’t get diagnosed until I had a full on hashimotos attack and my TSH was 147.9. But with positive antibodies I’d say you have hashimotos. But doctors don’t treat until your TSH is over 10 stupid I know especially when your suffering with symptoms.

Your FT3 and FT4 are low in range too so supports why you aren’t feeling well. Have you spoken to your GP, though they’ll use only test TSH! X

[Blahfeelingblah in reply to MissFG]

Hi MissFG thank you so much for your reply!! I have a GP appointment booked for a couple of weeks from now and I’m just trying to think about how to approach him on this. I suppose I want to find out what I can do to start feeling better! I read a gluten free diet may help? Any advice?

[MissFG in reply to Blahfeelingblah]

Your welcome I’m sure others will comment too! This forum will be a huge help to you. If it wasn’t for the advice and research I’ve done I’d still be bedridden.

Firstly get a quicker if not urgent appt with your GP. Write down all your symptoms and how you’ve been feeling. I’d show him your test results and say although your subclinical based on your symptoms you’d like to be treated and referred to an endocrinologist.

I’ve learnt over the past two years to pushy but polite. Yes I’ve broken down but that only helps them see just how poorly you are. No one should suffer from poor health and it’s obvious by your antibodies that you have hashimotos. GP’s know very little so you need to see an Endocrinologist and they should refer you. Ask your GP to also check your Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. These can all be affected by being hypothyroid.

It takes sometimes 3+ months to get an appt with an Endo but your GP could arrange these blood tests and even an ultrasound if they’re good whilst you wait for your appt. This will help your Endo when you get an appt.

Hope this helps and if I’ve got something incorrect I’m sure someone will clarify this for you.

But your already on the ball arranging blood tests etc so you must have had an idea it was your thyroid? X

[Blahfeelingblah in reply to MissFG]

So so helpful thank you!! Yes, well hypothyroidism runs in my family so when I started having symptoms about 6 years ago I went to the GP who got me a blood test but told me my levels were fine. The last year my symptoms have been worse and I started doing some research. I found out the GPS don’t test the T3 levels and found Medichecks and well, here I am. It is a very emotional time to actually have some evidence to back up my symptoms. All this time I’ve been told it’s just anxiety and all in my head.

[MissFG in reply to Blahfeelingblah]

Aww bless you I thought I had anxiety for 6 years and on beta blockers and it wasn’t although I have anxiety now being hypo.

Btw yes definitely go gluten free! It’s a must if you want to reduce your antibodies and prevent further damage to your thyroid. Changing my diet has been crucial to feeling better.

I said to my daughter only yesterday if I’d know years ago I’d be like this if have looked after my body years ago. So it’s not too late for you with your levels x

[greygoose]

You have Hashi's, yes. But, for the moment, anyway, you are euthyroid. Not even subclinical. And, as doctors tend to ignore antibodies, and fob them off, you won't get any sort of a diagnosis with those labs.

That's not to say that you haven't been hypo in the past, causing symptoms, because levels tend to jump around when you have Hashi's. And, you probably will be hypo again in the future. But, not at the moment. And, doctors know nothing about symptoms and are more likely to put you antidepressants than diagnose hypo. Sorry.

Everything else seems to be OK, except your folate, which is a bit low. You could try taking a B complex containing methylfolate.

[Blahfeelingblah in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your reply! I am ok with not being diagnosed anything for now I suppose, I am going to start a gluten-free diet and monitor my levels over the next 6 months and hope that my symptoms improve. My quality of life is absolutely horrendous.

[greygoose in reply to Blahfeelingblah]

I can imagine. Good luck!