Autoimmune thyroid

[Jillycee]

Hi, I have been diagnosed as hypothyroid for about 3 years and then was told by my GP after having a blood test that I had an autoimmune thyroid condition.

After taking advice on this forum, I went gluten free and my antibodies have reduced greatly.

I have had all sorts of funny changes recently eg swelling of my hands when walking, ulcers in my mouth for a couple of days then disappearing, feeling of all fingertips burning as if I’ve burnt them on a cooker and then they all dried and peeled and had small blisters on some fingers then disappeared!! Small sore lumps appearing on a couple of fingers then disappearing after a few days, hip joint suddenly hurting then better after a couple of days etc etc. I went to the doctors and she ran some blood tests - one being ANA. The results have come back and they are all clear and she said I don’t have an autoimmune condition. Is this correct - my autoimmune condition has gone?? She said to keep an eye on any changes. I originally went in asking for an increase in my Levo but she said I don’t need one.

[greygoose]

Autoimmune conditions don't just come and go. How did she diagnose it in the first place? Did she test your TPO antibodies? Do you always ask for a copy of your results? If not, best go and ask for one, so that you know for certain what she's talking about.

[Jillycee in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose. I thought that was the case! The first gp said I had raised TPO antibodies and diagnosed me autoimmune. This GP tested ANA and said they were clear so no autoimmune. I do always get a copy of my results but haven’t had a copy of the ANA test results as I’m away at the moment. Will definitely get a copy when I’m home.

[greygoose in reply to Jillycee]

I'm not sure about the ANA test - and it seems a strange choice of tests to do when she could have just tested the TPOab. I often wonder about their motives with the tests they chose to do.

The ANA test, basically, just tells you if you have an autoimmune disease without telling you which one. However, I've seen other test results where people have known Hashi's, yet their ANA is negative. So, I'm not quite sure how that works.

On the other hand, if your TPOab were positive, then you do have Hashi's, and no amount of quibbling on the part of your present GP can change that.

Even so, I'm not sure that any of that has anything to do with your fingers. Have you had your B12 tested? If that's low, that can cause burning sensations in the extremities.

[Jillycee in reply to greygoose]

Ok thanks greygoose. Yes my b12 is tested and they always say it’s too high in the 700,s but I carry on taking my supplements as I know I feel much better the higher it gets

[greygoose in reply to Jillycee]

Well, they just don't know anything about B12, that's all.

[Jillycee in reply to greygoose]

😊 thanks greygoose

[greygoose in reply to Jillycee]

You're welcome.

[Marz in reply to Jillycee]

Once supplementing B12 - further testing is of very little value as the results are skewed/inflated So save the NHS some dosh and keep on supplementing