Comments please on my sisters results.

[chrisbcw]

I have finally persuaded my sister to have her thyroid checked with Medichecks as results from her doctors are always normal. Whatever normal is. She has been referred to hospital may times for checks on her stomach and bowel with everything appearing ok. We have a history of thyroid problems in our family with our Mother, Aunt and me, her older sister having Hashimotos. She suffers from chronic constipation all the time. Her results are as follows. Test taking at 9.30am after a cup of tea and the school run.

TSH 1.08 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 5.13 (3.1-6.08)

TOTAL THYROXINE 15.1 (12-22)

THYROGLOBULINE ANTIBODIES 275 (<115)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES >600 (<34)

Do you think it might be worth putting an appointment on with her GP explaining the family history and maybe having a trial of Levo as it appears she is developing Hashismotos, Any comments most welcome.

Thanks

[Judithdalston]

With both those raised autoimmune antibody levels , she isn’t developing Hashimoto’s, she already has it. With time the antibodies will attack the thyroid gland itself and this will show up in future thyroid blood tests. Currently her results appear ok, but this could change next month or next year. Your sister could try a gluten free, even dairy free, diet, to reduce these antibodies and thus keep hypothyroidism at bay. Your GPs may not recognise the importance of the raised antibodies, and is unlikely to offer any treatment, as there is no drug that can make a difference to them, though some more ‘with-it’ doctors might offer levothyroxin at a 50 mcg starter dose, as getting her TSH down to 1 or under can also limit the antibodies. Hashimoto’s is characterised by poor gut absorption ( and gut problems: IBS, constipation etc) , so we have poor nutrient levels frequently- she might get her folate, ferritin, vit D and B12 tested with the view to supplement etc to get them up to optimal levels in the upper part of ranges. Her doctor may do these, but probably not all 4... many forum members DIY test thru private labs like Medichecks or Blue Horizon.

[chrisbcw in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you I'll pass your comments on to her.

[humanbean]

Your sister might find this site of interest :

thyroidpharmacist.com/

Izabella Wentz, the owner of the site, developed Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and managed to improve her health tremendously.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

The caffeine in the cup of tea would have affected her TSH level. Did she also have breakfast? And she would have been better doing the test no later than 9am for the highest possible TSH.

If she can get her TSH over range, then that would be classed as Subclinical Hypothyroidism, and that, together with raised antibodies, should mean than an enlightened doctor would start her on Levo. With an in range TSH she doesn't stand much chance.

[Cooper27]

I had a test last year, and I have high antibodies, but my TSH and T4/T3 results are pretty similar to your sisters. I had lots of symptoms too.

I worked my way through Izabella Wentz's Hashimotos Protocol, and now have my antibodies back under the threshold (Mine weren't as high as your sister's), and feel a lot better for it, so I would highly recommend your sister follows the plan too.

[HughH]

TSH is not a thyroid hormone. It is produced by the pituitary gland and travels in the blood to the thyroid gland where it signals to the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones. Your sister's TSH is close to 1 which is good.

Thyroxine (T4) is a thyroid hormone but is not an active hormone, it needs to be converted to T3 to become active.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone which controls the metabolism and therefore the symptoms. Your sister's Free T3 is in the top part of the normal range, which is good, so she is not hypothyroid.

Your sister's blood test results, her symptoms and the family history of thyroid problems point to a genetic condition: Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone (more often known as Thyroid Hormone Resistance). It causes hypothyroid symptoms and requires very high T3 levels (often above the top of the normal range) in the body to overcome the resistance.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Are you sure that is a total T4 result? it looks like a free T4 and a range for free T4. Total T4 is a useless test. Those results show no problem with the thyroid at the moment, but the high antibodies mean that there may be problems in the future. Cup of tea may have altered the results. Best to try gluten-free diet and optimize vitamins and minerals. Some people have high antibodies and auto-immune thyroid disease but never get ill. NHS will not even consider treating with those results, so no point asking.

[chrisbcw in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Yes sorry it is free thyroxine not total.