Further Tests Reassurance if possible

[josiebloggs]

Hi everyone, following my previous post about thyroid and high cholesterol my GP has agreed to further testing. My cholesterol was off the charts at 12.7 so she took further advice from the lipid clinic. They said that if I were to be prescribed statins (which I won't take) then hypothyroidism needed to be ruled out.

Initially my thyroid was ruled 'normal' with a TSH of 1.3 (0.2-4.5) and FT4 of 13 (9-21), but after further advice from you good people (thank you) printouts of information and a history of all the auto immune conditions my children have I've now had bloods taken for FT3 and anti bodies (can't remember which one).

My worry now is that I've started feeling a lot better (at my worst a few weeks ago I felt like I had fibro) does that mean any possible anti bodies won't show up in my bloods? I don't want to miss my chance for a diagnosis!

Also, is it possible to develop a goitre on one side of your neck? I think that's what I've got now.

Thanks for all your help guys, much appreciated.

[greygoose]

Not really sure what you're asking, here, josie. But, a goitre is just a swollen thyroid. So, yes, it's possible that it's swollen one side but not the other, one lobe is swollen but not the other.

Antibodies are unpredictable. Whilst they may cause some symptoms - although that has never been proved - the main source of symptoms is low T3, not the antibodies. The level of antibodies depends on the autoimmune activity. If there's just been an autoimmune attack on the thyroid, they will be high as they come in to remove the debris. They then decrease until the next attack. It could be that you are feeling better because there has just been an attack which has raised your Free levels, in which case, the antibodies should be high.

But, the antibodies are not the disease. They are the result of the disease. And, it is possible to have Hashi's without having raised antibodies - in which case, people are diagnosed by an ultrasound.

So, no point in worrying. What will be will be. The main problem is not what the antibodies are doing, it's the ignorance of most doctors in this matter!

[josiebloggs in reply to greygoose]

Ah, ok, thanks! I understand it a bit better now

[greygoose in reply to josiebloggs]

Good.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Make sure that vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 are tested too, especially if you do have high thyroid antibodies

[josiebloggs in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm waiting to test those again. All the levels were in range when they were tested in May but I've been supplementing for years. I stopped all supplements mid May and will wait at least 4 months to get everything tested again. Hopefully I'll then have a more realistic picture of what's going on. Thanks