Blood results

[Juliecg60]

Hi can anyone tell me what these blood results mean please

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Juliecg60

Looking back at your other posts, it seems that from these results your raised Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. You don't appear to have had the Graves antibody tests carried out. Some people can have both Hashi's and Graves but it's not that common.

With Hashi's, the antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results and you can go through "hypo" and "hyper" phases.

It would appear at the time those tests were done you were going through a "hyper" phase. When the antibodies attack, the dying cells dump a load of thyroid hormone into the blood and this can cause TSH to become suppressed and Free T4 and Free T3 to be very high or over range. These are called 'Hashi's swings'. The hyper swings are temporary, and eventually things go back to normal. Test results settle back down and hypo symptoms may return. When your results show hypo, your TSH will be high, over range, and your FT4 and FT3 low in range. Hopefully you will be prescribed Levo at that time.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. It would be a good idea to get these checked, see if your GP will test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[Juliecg60 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I was just very confused the first results said I was over active that was 4 weeks ago, I had another blood test for antibodies and that’s the one I posted I’ve been for another blood test today and asked the nurse what the results said and she said I was under active on that one that’s why I was confused, the only medication I’ve been prescribed is beta blockers the dr said she wanted to see what the Endo says. So it’s changed without medication. Does it mean I haven’t got it bad? Or could I manage it without medication? I have read some horror stories about the medication which scare the hell out of me I suffer severe allergic reactions to some medications resulting in anaphylactic shock so really worried

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Juliecg60]

Julie

Does it mean I haven’t got it bad?

Well, that's difficult to answer. Hashi's is Hashi's and antibodies fluctuate, so things change. The best thing to do is try and reduce the antibodies as described above, that will hopefully slow down the antibody attacks, but they will continue until your thyroid is destroyed so it just delays the inevitable.

Best thing you can do is read as much as you can about it so that you understand it, your wont get much help from your doctors, not even an endo as they are generally diabetes specialists not thyroid specialists. As I said, most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and really don't understand about Hashi's at all.

There may be times when you need medication dose changed - lowered if you are going through a hyper phase, raised if you go through a hypo phase. Again doctors don't tend to understand this and may want to stop your Levo altogether if you are going through a hyper phase, it just needs reducing, not stopping. The more you learn yourself the more you can discuss with your doctor and ensure you're not mis-treated by anyone who doesn't understand Hashi's.

There is no reason to be scared of Levo - first of all it's not a medication, it's a hormone, one which your body isn't producing correctly so it's being replaced - liken it to a diabetic and insulin. It's a life giving hormone. It's just that Hashi's complicates things.

You can check the ingredients of your Levo when prescribed, see if there is anything in the excipients that you may know you are allergic to. Some people get on well with one brand and react to another, some people do well on a brand others react to. If you do well on one brand then stick to it, don't let the pharmacy chop and change your brand.

[Juliecg60 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much, that as put my mind at ease, it’s just so confusing

[Marz in reply to Juliecg60]

When do you see the Endo ?

[Juliecg60 in reply to Marz]

October

[Juliecg60 in reply to Juliecg60]

Another question if people don’t mind, I haven’t really been unwell it was the heart racing and sweating that took me to the Drs but I’m really struggling with my legs going up and down stairs is very painful is this connected?

[Marz in reply to Juliecg60]

Pains in the legs on exertion can be a thyroid issue as it is often related to Low iron. So as others have mentioned - do get the tests done for B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD. If Ferritin is low in range then it is advised to have a Full Iron Profile done and also a Full Blood Count.

Oxygen is transported around the body by sticking to iron in the red blood cells - so low iron = low oxygen - so if oxygen does not reach the legs then they can feel heavy.

[Juliecg60 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi again, just had results from my bloods my t4 as gone down to 25.5 this is without medication? The dr as said she won’t prescribe Carbimazole till I see the Endo in October if it goes down again will I need medication? It’s all very confusing

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Juliecg60]

Julie

just had results from my bloods my t4 as gone down to 25.5 this is without medication?

Which again points to Hashi's where levels fluctuate. I believe you went through a "hyper" phase of Hashi's and you're now coming out of it.

If your GP says she is going to prescribe Carbimazole, insist on having TSI and TRab antibodies tested first. Only if those are positive does it confirm Graves disease (over active) when you would need Carbimazole.

You have raised TPO antibodies which confirms Hashi's. I explained in my original reply what Hashi's does and how the antibodies fluctuate causing fluctuations in results and maybe symptoms. The "hyper" phase of Hashi's isn't overactive thyroid nor is it Graves, it's a temporary raising of hormone levels due to antibody activity and it will settle down again.

The antibodies will gradually destroy the thyroid and eventually will cause full blown hypothyroidism. How long that will take is not a question that can be answered.

Whilst waiting to see the endo, I would read and learn as much as possible so you don't end up on a medication that is inappropriate for your condition.

To start off:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

And you have already been given information and links about helping yourself to reduce antibodies.

[Juliecg60 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’ve looked up hashi’s and I don’t have any symptoms of it, my symptoms were of over active I had 6 of the 8 symptoms this is why I’m confused, I know I’m being a pain and I’m trying to get my head round it, I told the dr over the pains in my legs she didn’t seem interested and said it’s not a symptom of the thyroid, sorry for being a pain x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Juliecg60]

Julie

When you have Hashi's, you can swing from hyper to hypo as and when the antibodies cause these fluctuations. So you can have symptoms of underactive and symptoms of overactive.

In the hyper phase you will get results and symptoms of being overactive.

In the hypo phase you will get results and symptoms of being underactive.

Sometimes you can get symptoms of both at the same time.

You have raised TPO antibodies which confirm Hashi's.

You have not had TSI and TRab antibodies tested to confirm Graves (overactive) so at the moment you don't know if you have Graves running in tandem with Hashi's, but you definitely have Hashi's.

Your over range FT4 and your symptoms of "overactive" are a result of the hyper phase of Hashi's - that is all that can be said until the TSI and TRab antibodies have been tested to rule out, or in, Graves.

[Juliecg60 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, you have explained it so I understand, sorry for being a bit thick haha it’s all new to me x

[Judithdalston]

Seasidesusie has explained beautifully the problem- many doctors don't understand this fluctuation between hyper- and hypo-thyroidism, and since Hashimoto's flares are so unpredictable it can be difficult to get blood tests that prove this swing is happening. You were hyper when these tests were done, next week your TSH might be high, frees low! Recommend you get your Vit D, b12, folate and ferritin tested, as possibly low as result of Hashimoto's poor gut absorption, too and supplement if necessary.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamins and poor gut function are common with Graves and Hashimoto's

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin next week

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...