Hi everyone I’m new to the site as I’m trying to seek some help with the possibility that I have an under active thyroid. I have recently had a second blood test to confirm whether I have under active thyroid, the initial one was done 3 months ago by private consultant investigating another condition with my back and the latest was done by the NHS, the results have come back saying levels satisfactory but I still have all the symptoms I previously had, gaining weight, lethargy, feelingery emotional. Can anyone shed some light on whether my results are satisfactory or not please? as I don’t understand the numbers. Thanks in advance
Just to add I have recently been diagnosed with coeliac too
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MummaM
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Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are over range, therefore positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). No idea why they've said it's satisfactory when they've also said abnormal.
Hashimoto's is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed. At some point you will get symptoms of hypothyroidism. Here is a list of signs/symptoms of hypothyroidism
To get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, normally doctors wait until TSH reaches 10, with FT4 low. So you need the following tested:
TSH
FT4
FT3 (may not be done)
When raised antibodies are present, a TSH over range and normal FT4 should get you a diagnosis of Subclinical Hypothyroidism and because of raised antibodies, if symptoms are present, Levo should be started, although not all doctors will.
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine (the magazine for doctors):
Question 2 asks:
I often see patients who have an elevated TSH but normal T4. How should I be managing them?
Answer:
The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat thyroid function tests in 2 or 3 months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.
But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured. If these are positive - indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease - the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.
In the absence of symptoms, some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow up.
Treatment should be started with levothyroxine in a dose sufficient to restored serum TSH to the lower part of it's reference range. Levothyroxine in a dose of 75-100mcg daily will usually be enough.
You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
print it and highlight question 2 to show your doctor.
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.
Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.
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.
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, so it's important to test:
Thank you, I was thinking the numbers and the outcome didn’t tally. I previously had a test and the TSH was 7.210. I’ve got an appointment with my GP today to discuss the results especially as I have had the symptoms for over a year! And life is pretty miserable trying to raise my 3 kids when I have very little energy.
OK, that's very important. With Hashi's the test results can fluctuate (as can symptoms). So you've previously had an over range TSH which is classed as Subclinical Hypothyroidism and if your antibodies had been tested at the same time and you were symptomatic then you should gave been given a diagnosis and started on Levo, as explained in my previous reply. It's worth pointing this out to your GP. You may now know more about autoimmune thyroid disease than your GP (which may or may not go down well!), but if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism now you need TSH and FT4 testing as a minimum.
With Hashi's you can swing from a hypo phase - with hypo symptoms and high TSH/low FT4 to a "hyper" phase - with symptoms of overactive thyroid and low TSH/high FT4 - this is just how Hashi's works and once on thyroid meds they may need adjusting when these swings happen.
Good luck with your appointment, let us know how it goes. Make sure you ask for Vit D, folate, ferritin and B12 and if GP hesitates point out that you understand Hashi's can cause low levels or deficiencies. By the way, UK doctors tend not to use the term Hashi's, they tend to say autoimmune thyroid disease or autoimmue thyroiditis.
Good luck with your GP. I went numerous times and was told prob menopause and no bloods taken. On my 3rd visit told GP that I kept thinking I was gonna die, his reply was 'We're all going to die my dear' 😠
Finally on 4th visit bloods were taken with a comment of 'I don't think for one minute we'll find anything'
Well, wrong.........I have underactive thyroid and now after 3 years take 125 daily!!
Yes High TPO antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease
Your result is 152. A result over 60 is positive for autoimmune thyroid disease
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
And with coeliac low vitamins are extremely likely
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