Help with understanding antibodies

[bourneville]

I'm hoping someone maybe able to help me understand about Tgab, I'm getting a bit confused. I will try to be brief and concise. A year ago started feeling unwell, had a private thyroid check (results have been posted previously) all within range except Tgab that were 1300 iu/ml (range 0.00 - 115.00 IU/ml). I saw endo in Jan this year, not concerned told me lots of people have high thyroid anti bodies floating about and not to worry, but I could have a yearly TFT with GP and email the results to him if I liked. Anyway actually started to feel better, started taking vit d, b12 and folate, hair improved energy levels improved, so all good I thought. however 8 weeks ago started to feel unwell, hair very dry and falling out, dry skin, palpitations, extreme fatigue, keep forgetting things, sometimes half way through a sentence (very embarrassing). sorry this is getting long winded - and my point is do high TGab effect the thyroid or not? is it possible that I can feel well and then not well. I am thinking of having a private check again. I hope this makes sense to anyone that may read it, finding it really hard atm to keep my brain focused

[Treepie]

The high antibodies show you have Hashimotos or Auto immune thyroiditis. The treatment is no different .Many on here reckon a gluten free diet will help but it had no effect for me.

Your symptoms suggest you are under medicated. Post details of how much levo you are taking and your TSH ,FT3 ,FT4,D3 ferritin and folate foradvice.

[bourneville in reply to Treepie]

Thank you, I am not on any treatment as my last results in September for thyroid function were ok, just the high anti bodies

thyroid peroxidase 15.5 greater than 34

ferretin 256 15.00 - 300.00 ug/L

folate 3.8 greater than 3.00 ug/L

TSH 0.6 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L

Free T4 22.7 11.00 -25.00pmol/L

B12 (serum) 250 180-900 ng/L

[Treepie in reply to bourneville]

Your B12 is too low even if in range.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to bourneville]

Folate and B12 way too low - could cause your symptoms

[greygoose]

Neither TPO antibodies nor Tg antibodies affect the thyroid themselves. They are just indications that you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Slightly high Tg antibodies can be caused by several things, but yours are very high, so that is Hashi's. Doctors, do not know anything about Hashi's and antibodies, not even endos.

[bourneville in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, so should I just keep an eye on my thyroid function through private testing and what should I be looking for? I mentioned Hashimotos to my GP, who said no it was not that. Could I have fluctuating symptoms? as I did feel better for about 3 months, sorry for all the questions

[greygoose in reply to bourneville]

Most definitely you could have fluctuating symptoms - and levels.

You need to keep testing to see when you go hypo. Go back to your doctor when your TSH goes over-range, and remind him that over-range TSH plus symptoms plus high antibodies means he should start treating you. But, doctors know nothing about Hashi's. They don't 'do' it in med school.