Not Hashimoto's?

[Panya]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed hypothyroid a few months ago.

My initial results were:

Free Thyroxine 3 pmol/L (12-22 U)

TSH 64.65 mU/L (o.27 - 4.2 U)

At the time the doctor didn't want to bother giving me an antibody test ("It's not worth it because the treatment is the same whether or not it's Hashimoto's") but I recently persuaded him to include one in my latest test.

Result:

Thyroid autoantibodies

Anti Thyroid Peroxsidase 17 IU/mL (0 - 34 U)

That is the only test on offer.

Now I am confused. As my antibodies are well within the normal range does that mean I definitely DON'T have auto-immune thyroid disease? Or is it not that simple? I assumed I would discover I had it as I had a spate of anaphylactic food reactions a while back (which stopped when I drastically purified my diet).

If my thyroid hasn't been trashed by an auto-immune attack, what else could have caused it to fail so comprehensively?

Thanks!

[greygoose]

It's not that simple. Antibodies fluctuate. So, just because they were in-range in that test, doesn't mean they will always be. And, even if they're never over-range, you can still have Hashi's. It's one of those occasions where you can't prove a negative.

All sorts of things apart from Hashi's can cause a thyroid to stop working properly. Injury - whiplash, for example - or endocrine disruptors in food, water, cosmetics, cleaning material - even in the air we breath. Certain drugs can have an effect on the thyroid. Most people never find out why they're hypo if they don't have Hashi's. But, whatever the cause, the treatment is the same. And it's rarely reversible, anyway. It is pretty complicated.

[Panya in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, I suspected it wasn't simple from other answers I've read. I will just have to be content to abide in the unknowing then.... as you say, it doesn't affect the treatment, I just wanted to have a neat diagnosis.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many people with Hashimoto's only have high TG antibodies. But NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative.

One in five Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

See your GP is unhelpful and refuses to test vitamins either

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

So first step is to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing

If BOTH antibodies are low, request Thyroid ultrasound scan

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Did I read in previous post you are gluten free or on AIP diet?

[Panya in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the sound advice. I am on a 100% wholefood diet, including being gluten and sugar-free. It is not specifically the AIP diet but pretty similar and makes me feel great (plus I shed all my extra weight). I eat raw and cooked veg, whole grains (not wheat), starchy veg, a modest amount of legumes, and fruit. I hope to get the private testing in the near future but right now I am short of cash (I spend it all on fresh food, lol!).

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Panya]

So your TPO antibodies may be low because you are gluten free

[Panya in reply to SlowDragon]

Aha. Didn't occur to me.