Uncertain results

[Bean1981]

I have a prolactinoma however my levels of prolactin have dropped to below 1000 so I don’t require medical intervention. When I went to endo I highlighted that I was also concerned about my thyroid as my mother and sister have underactive thyroid glands I have many symptoms of low thyroid and symptoms of prolactinoma. As my referral was initially for the prolactin when my tsh can back within range it was discussed no more. My prolactin has lowered and the symptoms of an under active thyroid persist. I ended up paying for a private blood test and it has come back with my thyroid antibodies at twice the normal level. The endo I went to said that sometimes of if levels of hormones are higher than normal they don’t always treat. Should I go back to my gp but then the endo will turn me away saying it’s nothing to worry about?

[Nanaedake]

Would you be able to post your results here, including the lab ranges? It will help people to give you a better answer to your questions. It sounds like you have elevated thyroid antibodies but we can't be sure without viewing your results. If you post your results for TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies someone will be able to interpret them for you.

[Bean1981 in reply to Nanaedake]

mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20 tsh

pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00 free

pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80 t3

IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00 thyroglobulin

IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00 peroxidase

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 1.99

FREE THYROXINE 12.700

FREE T3 4.77

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY *248.000

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES*154

My results are at the bottom. The ranges have appeared at the top but they are in the same order as my results

[Nanaedake in reply to Bean1981]

So your TSH is normal in range. Thyroid antibodies are elevated confirming autoimmune thyroid disease. Is this the firt time your Thyroid hormone has been tested? If so, I would ask for a retest in 3 months time to see if TSH is elevated. Ensure blood test is fasting and first thing in the morning (This is a patient to patient tip). Free thyroxine is very low in range indicating the thyroid is struggling.

Your symptoms may, however, be low vitamin levels so ask your GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels. Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

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...

High Prolactin ccan be linked to Hashimoto's

Google the two together

Your FT4 is very low suggesting you are hypothyroid

Getting vitamins tested is next step

Then ask for them to consider central hypothyroidism

[Bean1981 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m already permanently low iron since I had my little boy. I also have dairy intolerance.

Thank you for the advice. I feel more confident going to the gp to ask them to test my antibodies as that isn’t usually done.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bean1981]

Dairy intolerance is 2nd most common food problem with autoimmune thyroid disease

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Persistent low vitamins with supplements suggests coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

gluten.org/resources/health...

What iron supplements does GP prescribe. Taking vitamin C at same time as each dose can improve absorption

Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve ferritin levels

Other things to help heal gut lining

Bone broth

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Vegetarian broth

wallflowerkitchen.com/gut-h...

yogajournal.com/practice/as...

Probiotics

carolinasthyroidinstitute.c...

Don't be surprised if you can't get both antibodies tested by GP. They may refuse to test either. Or if TPO antibodies are negative then NHS won't test TG antibodies