Normal antibodies???

[Gnome9]

Hi guys.

Had blood test for antibodies levels to check out cause of my hyper. But antibody levels are ok, had routine scan which is normal any ideas what cause could be??

Awaiting to see an endocrinologist but there’s a lengthy waiting list!

Thanks

[greygoose]

But, which antibodies were tested? Every autoimmune disease has its own set of antibodies. So, for Grave's it is TRAB or TSI. For Hashi's it is TPOab or sometimes TgAB.

Now, if she tested for Grave's and the antibodies were negative, you don't have Grave's. But, if she tested for Hashi's - which GPs normally do - and it was negative, that doesn't prove anything, because TPO antibodies fluctuate. Also, you can have Hashi's without having raised antibodies.

The only actual results you've given us are:

Thyroid function 0.02 (0.38-5.50)

T4 28.4 (10.0-18.7)

Now, your TSH (which is wrongly called 'thyroid function', it isn't, it's a pituitary hormone!) is suppressed. But, that doesn't prove anything. But, your FT4 isn't high enough to be Grave's. It looks more like a Hashi's 'hyper' swing result. I'm surprised the lab didn't do the FT3. I thought they were supposed to do it when TSH was suppressed, and FT4 high. You can't prove anything without having an FT3 tested. So, your 'diagnosis' doesn't hold water, I'm afraid.

[Gnome9 in reply to greygoose]

To be fair my doctor doesn’t sound very clued up on the condition. The blood results you’ve quoted were my first set which my diagnosis came from. Had antibodies one and just told no antibodies present.

Going for some more bloods in next few weeks for a comparison to my first. I should maybe ask for the FT3 to be checked then? Let hope when I see an endocrinologist I’ll get a better picture! Thanks

[greygoose in reply to Gnome9]

Yes, ask for your FT3 to be tested - although you might not get it. But, do ask for a print-out of all your tests. That way, you'll get all the necessary information. Your doctor just saying 'no antibodies present' doesn't really tell you very much if you don't know which antibodies she tested for. If you live in the UK, it is your legal right to have a print-out.

[Gnome9 in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks for your input. Requested my results only thyroid peroxidase tested 19 (0-35) so you think they should have tested other antibodies?

[greygoose in reply to Gnome9]

If they think you are truly hyper, they most certainly should have tested the Grave's antibodies.

TPOab is a Hashi's antibody, and although they are low, I would put my money on you having Hashi's.

Your doctor really doesn't know very much about it all.

[Gnome9 in reply to greygoose]

Our lives in there hands! 🤷‍♀️

Right I shall have to mention this to him.

Ok why would you say you think hashi’s? Do you think this reading is low?

[greygoose in reply to Gnome9]

Which reading?

I think it's Hashi's because after years of reading people's blood test reports on here, I've notice that Grave's levels - Grave's confirmed by high Grave's antibodies, that is - of FT4/3 are a lot higher than Hashi's 'hyper' swing levels. Typically, someone on a Hashi's 'hyper' swing will have an FT4 around the 30 mark - give or take a few points - and an FT3 of around 12 ish. Over-range, certainly, but then you would expect them to be. But not high enough over-range to be Grave's, which would probably be treble figures.

Also, without an FT3, in your case, there's no proof of anything. Your FT3 could be low - which would be weird, but weird things happen.

A suppressed TSH is no proof of anything, because it will be suppressed if your FT4 is 130, or if it's just 30. Or even is it's 13, depending on what your FT3 is. A TSH cannot get any lower than 'unreadable', so that gives no indication of the levels of your Frees. And yet, doctors always think you're 'hyper' if your TSH is low, because they don't know that much about thyroid.