Making sense of my results: I’ve just received my... - Thyroid UK

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Making sense of my results

Shirvi profile image
9 Replies

I’ve just received my results from my thyroid blood test and I’m not sure how to interpret them other than I have an extremely high tgab level of 425.0 kU/L.

TSH 1.42mIU/L

FT4 14.9pmol/L

FT3 5.04pmol/L

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase antibodies 9.0kIU/L

T4 78.0 nmol/L

Tgab 425.0 kU/L

Everything seems to be within range (some things at the lower end of the scale) except the tgab but also my vitamin d level is at 41.0 nmol/L which is a bit low. I have ordered a vitamin d supplement however unsure what to make of my thyroid results and wondering how tgab is so high yet everything else seems to be ok. Any help/advice would be most welcome.

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Shirvi
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Shirvi

We need the reference ranges please so that we can interpret your results, as ranges vary from lab to lab.

Are you diagnosed hypothyroid? Are you on Levo?

What dose Vit D are you intending to take? Have you also ordered D3's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?

Have you ordered a D3 oral spray as that gives better absorption when Hashi's is present.

Your raised antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed. The antibodies fluctuate and cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

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.

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

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

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

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. As you have tested Vit D, it would be a good idea to have the following tested

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Shirvi profile image
Shirvi in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi

The ranges are as follows:

TSH 0.27 - 4.3 > 4.3 Me 1.42mIUL

FT4 <12 12 - 23 >23 Me 14.9pmol/L

FT3 <3.1 3.1 - 6.8 >6.8 Me 5.04 pmol/L

Anti-thyroidperoxidase antibodies <34 >34 Me 9 KIU/L

T4 <66 66 - 181 >181 Me 78 nmol/L

TGAB <115 >115 Me 425 kU/L

I am not diagnosed hypothyroid and so not on Levo.

The dosage of Vit D I’ve ordered is 1000 IU but it’s perhaps not strong enough to get my levels up and I’ve not looked into taking the cofactors, I take a generic vitamin everyday (when I remember!) I did have my b12, ferritin and folate tested as well and they seemed to be in range:

B12 66.6 pmol/L range 25.1 - 165 > 165

Ferritin 45.5 ug/L range 13 - 150 >150

Folate 34.6 nmol/L range 8.83 - 60.8 >60.8

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Shirvi

Shirvi

TSH 1.42mIU/L (0.27 - 4.3)

FT4 14.9pmol/L (12 - 23)

FT3 5.04pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

Unfortunately, there's no way you'll get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and a prescription for Levo with those results. Technically, they're euthyroid (normal). When Hashi's is present, if the TSH is between 4-10, some doctors will prescribe Levo as you'd be classed as subclinically hypothyroid and when antibodies are present with subclinical hypothyrodism you can start treatment (with an enlightened doctor).

So for now you need to concentrate on lowering your antibodies if you can, as mentioned above, and that may help.

But also, your nutrient levels need attention so work on optimising them.

Your Vit D has been mentioned above, and no, 1000iu wont help much, it's barely a maintenance dose for someone with a good level. I have a good level and my winter maintenance dose is 5000iu D3 daily.

With your current level of 41.0 nmol/L, to achieve the level recommended by the Vit D Council - which is 125nmol/L - they recommend you take 4,900iu daily. You can't get that strength and the nearest is 5000iu. As mentioned, for best absorption use the oral spray by BetterYou. Retest after 3 months to check your level. Once you've reached the recommended level (125nmol/L) then you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

B12 66.6 pmol/L range 25.1 - 16

According to this article, Active B12 below 70 should be tested for B12 deficiency

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Check for signs of B12 deficiency here

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

and if you have any then list them and ask your GP to do further testing.

Ferritin 45.5 ug/L range 13 - 150

For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range. You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate and black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

Folate 34.6 nmol/L range 8.83 - 60.8 >60.8

Folate should be at least half way through range so yours is just about there.

What is your "generic vitamin". If it's a multivitamin, please check the contents and see if it contains the following

Iron

Iodine/Kelp

Calcium

If it does then it's advised not to take it. Iodine and calcium should be tested before supplementing, and the iron will affect absorption of everything else. I imagine that the actual amounts of the other active ingredients are very low and unlikely to be of any use even if they were absorbed.

Do you have Hypothyroid symptoms? I see you run. Strenuous exercise is not recommended - only gentle exercise such as walking and/or swimming.

Your TSH looks ok and your Free T3 looks ok. But as already said - you need to add in all ranges.

Shirvi profile image
Shirvi in reply to Mary-intussuception

Hi

I have not done any running since August due to ongoing pain in my thigh. I finally went to a physio last week and she said it was a weakness in my glute muscles. I wouldn’t go running or do any strenuous exercise at the moment due to the fact I feel so fatigued (doing my physio exercises is exhausting!) hence why i ordered blood testing kits to figure out what the problem might be and what I can do about it.

Mary-intussuception profile image
Mary-intussuception in reply to Shirvi

I read on this forum that strenuous exercise can deplete T3. However your FT3 result is good.

Your FT4 is low in range. But your TSH is also low in range.

Your Thyroglobulin Antibodies is HIGH - an indicator of Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

If this were me - I would ask GP for an Ultrasound scan of my Thyroid and a referal to an Endocrinologist.

Do you have any other symptoms?

With Low TSH and Low FT4 I would ask about Pituitary Gland? - Is further testing required. Because usually as FT4 drops then the Pituitary Gland produces more TSH. However as yours are in range, GPs aren't usually concerned. See what next tests reveal.

If refused the scan - ask for the Endo referal. If refused, ask when your next Thyroid Function blood tests will be. Ask if your diagnosis is Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

If you get more symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid then see GP.

Have you looked at the list of symptoms on the Thyroid UK website?

You can also Google search Low TSH and Low FT4 (remembering that yours are still in range).

You can also Google search HIGH TGAB.

Have you got your Vitamin D result?

B12jab profile image
B12jab

Hi I’ve just come across your post,I hope you are well I also have normal thyroid function but paid for the antibodies test and my Tgb antibodies come back high I’ve been so worried as I’ve read and been told it’s Hashimotos if both antibodies are raised my tpo is normal,what was the out of your high Tgb? X

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

But your previous posts say that you have had, or are having a thyroidectomy due to cancer. Having your thyroid removed and having thyroid hormone replacement because you no longer have a thyroid to produce hormone is very different from someone who still has their thyroid.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

I'm sure it does change things. NHS guidelines wouldn't allow prescribing of Levo with those results, it's not primary/overt hypothyroidism nor is it subclinical hypothyroidism.

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