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!
Written by
Panya
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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.
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.
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
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!).
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