Any idea what’s going on?

[SharonAA]

Does anyone know what these results may mean- feeling confused right now. I have

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 116 klU/L (Range <34)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 55.0 klU/L (Range :<115)

TSH 5.2 mlU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

FT4 14.5 pmol/L , (Range: 12-22)

but FT3 is 8.1pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

GP says results are normal but I feel so poorly xxx thanks for your help xx

*edited to include ranges*

[NatChap]

Can you please provide the ranges for those results? (the numbers in brackets)

[SharonAA in reply to NatChap]

Thanks for your reply- have included ranges now x

[Lora7again]

Your TSH is too high it should be around 1 to feel well. I would go back and insist you are referred to a endocrinologist he might do more detailed tests. Good luck!

[SharonAA in reply to Lora7again]

Thank you for your reply x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Guessing that the range on TPO antibodies is 34. If so your high TPO antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's

Can you add the ranges (figures in brackets after each result)

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Or do you have results for these already?

Thyroid levels should be retested in about 6 weeks to see how much levels are fluctuating

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

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

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

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

Hashimoto's often affects the gut and can lead to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormones

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Come back with new post once you get vitamin results and ranges

[SharonAA in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your reply and all the information , very kind of you. And I do know they said my vitamin D was still low even have now started on supplements xx

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SharonAA]

Next step ...get all four vitamins tested and come back here with new post once you get results

Plus do coeliac blood test.

How much vitamin D are you supplementing? How low was vitamin D when first tested?

[Lora7again in reply to SharonAA]

when I first had this disease 12 years ago my vitamin D level was 7 and my hair was falling out and I felt very ill .... read my profile

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

The first question has to be - are you diagnosed hypothyroid and on Levothyroxine? That will make a difference as to interpretation of your test results.

For an accurate interpretation of your results we need the reference ranges please. But from a quick look it would seem

1) Your TSH is possibly over range.

2) Impossible to say anything about your FT4 because ranges vary so much we don't have a clue whether it's low, mid-range or high.

3) Your FT3 is possibly over range.

4) Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are probably over range therefore that would suggest autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

5) Your thyroglobulin antibodies are possibly within range.

[SharonAA in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your reply and yes I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after a short phase of being hyperthyroid and since then about 10 years ago I take levothyroxine (used to be underweight but have put on 5 stone since then!)