They have flagged the antibodies test with a little star and a note to say “Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are elevated. This antibody is commonly associated with autoimmune thyroid disease. It is frequently seen in conditions such as Hashimoto’s disease (where the thyroid becomes underactive) but confusingly can also be seen in Grave’s disease (where the thyroid becomes overactive).“ and they recommend another thyroid check in 6 months.
Can anyone offer any comments on these results please? Is this worth my following up with the endo I’ve seen on the antibodies result (he didn’t do an antibodies check) or should I just wait 6 months?
Well, if it were me, I wouldn't make a special visit to the endo on the basis of these results. If he didn't test the antibodies, it probably means he doesn't attach much importance to them. And yours are only just over-range, so he'd probably say 'inconclusive'. And, although your TSH says your thyroid is struggling, it doesn't say you're hypo, yet. So, I'd wait the 6 months, if I was you.
During that time, you could top up your vit D a bit, and take some magnesium.
Great thank you for your advice, I don’t fancy another visit anytime soon tbh I keep coming away feeling like a hypercondriac and a pain in their bum!!
Hey ho, hopefully in 6 months I won’t need to go back at all, fingers crossed!!
Because, your thyroid hormone levels have not yet reached a point where any doctor would be willing to treat you. Your FT3 is almost mid-range, and if your endo knows anything at all about T3, he would consider that adequate. And, your TSH, to him, would be just fine. And, as I said, as your antibodies are only just over-range, he would probably side-step them - if he mentioned them at all - by saying that they were 'inconclusive'. That's what they usually say because they know nothing about it. It is very very doubtful that anything in those results would catch his attention, so he would be very unlikely to offer you any treatment. It would be a wasted visit.
However, in six months, things could have changed considerably. The antibodies could be at a level where they are unequivocally autoimmune thyroiditis (doctors in the UK don't use the term Hashi's). And, your TSH could be higher. And, if he knows anything about thyroid, he should take the two together, and conclude that you need thyroid hormone replacement. But, at the moment, I doubt he would think there's anything to discuss. You have to know the way these people think!
I understand, but as I said, use this time to improve your vit D, and that could make you feel a bit better. And your body will be better able to use thyroid hormone - that which your thyroid is making, now, and that which you will be giving it in the future - if your vit D is optimal.
What’s really strange is I’ve been supplementing vit D, I had a loading prescription from the doctor in December and have been on a spray since then! Maybe I need to up the number of sprays I’m doing!
A vit d deficiency was the original diagnosis from the gp but when I queried this because this didn’t explain the neuro symptoms I’d been having he just shrugged and said it’s probably a bit of depression then!
Oh, the good old fall-back depression! According to them, 99% of the population is depressed! Doesn't it ever occur to them that that's a wee bit strange?
If you were deficient, your level has certainly come up a lot. Just not quite far enough. It would be better up around 100. But, the last diagnosis a doctor would entertain is a diagnosis of hypo - or even suspect that thyroid might be the culprit, so I wouldn't read too much into what he said.
Sorry to gatecrash another post but could you (and some of the other experts) take a look at my results on my earlier post? I need some advice on mine too.
(I realise it takes a while for people to see and reply 😉, I’m just dying to start the improvement process!)
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Edited to show results in text: Blood results advice please
Help with Private Test Results
Relitavely new Help needed understanding results please
