Interpreting blood results: Hi everyone. I'm new... - Thyroid UK

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Interpreting blood results

JoSmi profile image
4 Replies

Hi everyone. I'm new here. I was hoping to get some explanation/insight on my bloods, any help would be lovely.

Anti TPO- 427

Vit D- 66

TSH- 7.45

T4- 15.4

T3- 5.4

I had been on 75mg of Levothyroxine prior to these results and am now taking 50mg Levo and 5mcg of T3 since receiving them. One week in trying T3 and I feel like an energised zombie (the only way I can describe it).

I guess my question is am I right to be concerned about the TPO levels?

The reason I'm wondering is for the past 6 months I've also been reading as "mildly elevated" for ESR, CRP, cortisol (despite being off work) and had potassium levels between 6.4 and 6.9 consistently. Have also been hospitalised twice with " acute electrolyte imbalances" but no more insight into that either.

I've been put off thinking that something else is at play by my GP but I'm not convinced. Currently seeing a private consultant in NI in the hope he can provide some answers.

Any insight, direction or help would be greatly appreciated! Even advice on what to ask my consultant the next time I see him would be great.

Thank you!

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JoSmi
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greygoose profile image
greygoose

Your raised antibodies mean that you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Did you not know that before? They have nothing to do with your electrolytes. As to whether you should be concerned about having Hashi's, I would say not more than having any other form of hypothyroidism, the treatment is the same. The only problem is that doctors understand Hash's even worse than they understand thyroid in general.

You haven't put the ranges on your results - please, always put the ranges, because they vary from lab to lab - but your TSH is very high. Do you take any form of biotin?

It might have been a mistake to reduce your levo when you added T3, you weren't on a very high dose, and as you're now feeling so tired, that could be the reason. But, impossible to say for sure without seeing the ranges. :)

JoSmi profile image
JoSmi in reply to greygoose

Hi greyhoose!

I did know I’d Hash yes, but I’m just wondering does a high TPO mean your thyroid is being actively attacked and lead to increased symptoms? As far as I know blood TPO level is meant to be <32?

With the rest of my bloods the tactic of my dr is to control the thyroid then look at the other stuff- but I’m not sure the thyroid is the issue.. and something else is going on. I’ve read that having one autoimmune disease means you’ll likely develop another. Sorry that bit was badly written in my first post.

Does biotin really help? I’d be willing to give it a go!

My labs ranges aren’t published anywhere and I’ve found my GP desk to be very cagey when asking questions about bloods, but I’ll endevour to find out. Literally all I get when I ask for specifics is “it’s high”, “it’s low” “it’s in range” and that’s it. Usually have to go for an appointment for a vague explanation (and who has the energy 😂)

Thank you greygoose!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to JoSmi

I’m just wondering does a high TPO mean your thyroid is being actively attacked and lead to increased symptoms?

That's high TPO antibodies, not the TPO itself.

Antibodies fluctuate all the time, but they are highest just after an immune system attack on the thyroid, when they come in to clear up the traces of TPO that have leaked into the blood during the attack.

Also, during the attack, the dying cells dump their stock of hormone into the blood, causing the levels of FT4/3 to rise sharply, and the TSH to drop. What that does to symptoms varies from person to person. Some people get hyper symptoms, some find they feel much better.

With the rest of my bloods the tactic of my dr is to control the thyroid then look at the other stuff

And, he's right in that approach. As long as his idea of controlling isn't just to get the TSH somewhere in-range. It's more complicated than that. At the moment, your TSH is much too high - should be down to 1, or under, so he's not doing a brilliant job with the controlling, is he! And, with a TSH of over 7, I would be on my back, screaming for more thyroid hormone! I wouldn't be worrying about 'something else'. You are very hypo and, I think, your problem IS the thyroid.

Yes, when you have one autoimmune disease, you are more likely to develop another one. But it's not an inevitability. I have Hashi's, but I don't have any other autoimmune disease.

Does biotin really help? I’d be willing to give it a go!

I didn't ask you if you were taking biotin because it will help, I asked you because it can skew blood test results. Biotin will only help if you need it. You give a vit D result, which is low, but did you also have your vit B12, folate and ferritin tested?

When asking for blood test results, ask for a print-out - it's your legal right to have one if you live in the UK - I think in most other countries you're automatically given one - you certainly are in France. It's only in the UK where doctors play their cards close to their chests, and prefer that patients remain ignorant. But, the law says otherwise. They are YOUR results. And, if you get a print-out, rather than a verbal account, you will get the ranges. Just saying 'high', 'low', 'in-range' is totally inadequate, and you should not put up with that! And, it's is breaking the law. Perhaps they need reminding of that? :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

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, sometimes 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...

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