How do you know if hashimotos ?

[Yogibo]

Hiya probably a Very daft question but I’m trying to understand my under active thyroid condition and wonder how do you know if it Hashimoto's or something else ? thanks

[Treepie]

If your antibodies are high you have Hashimotos . However ,I have read on here that low antibodies do not necessarily mean you have not Hashimotos.

Most hypo folk have Hashimotos.

[Yogibo in reply to Treepie]

so My blood test said this for antibodies and the report didn’t say they abnormal ... so was still puzzled ....

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES < 115 R. 12 kIU/L

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES < 34 R 15.2 kIU/

thyroid hormones are normal as are my thyroid antibodies revealing no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease....so don’t understand why my thyroid is not working effectively ? Very confused

[Hidden in reply to Yogibo]

How do you know your thyroid isn't working properly? What is your diagnosis and what kind of treatment are you on?

[Yogibo in reply to Hidden]

I have a prescription of 125 thyroxine....thyroid has been underperforming for 25 years and the latest bloods say:

TSH 0.27 - 4.2 R. 0.097mIU/L

FREE T3 3.1 - 6.8 R. 4.47

FREE THYROXINE. 12 - 22 R. 17.1

[Hidden in reply to Yogibo]

Why does it matter if you have Hashimoto's or not? If you've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and on thyroid hormone replacement you should go by symptom-relief. I would need my FT3 higher than yours to feel well but we are all different. What are your symptoms?

[Yogibo in reply to Hidden]

I was just trying to understand the triggers of what effects the thyroid more... I have been pretty ignorant and accepting up to now but feel that I need to take some control and push back to optimise my health .... to start this I’ve had some blood done via mediscreen but the doctors was less than supported and just dismissed the whole thing ...so I’m going for a full blood screen to pursue the quest to feel better and get my hormones and victims to a improved level....

[Treepie in reply to Yogibo]

So not obviously Hashimotos ,but as I said it cannot be ruled out.

Your FT3 is a little low in the range but with that TSH GPs will not be likely to increase your dose.

If your thyroid was working properly you would not be taking levothyroxine.

If you still have symptoms you should test B12,D3 ,folate and ferritin. These need to be optimum to get the best from the levothyroxine.

[Yogibo in reply to Treepie]

Thank you... I am very low on both the ferritin and b12 but I didn’t appreciate they would influence the effectiveness of tge thyroxine ... I’m just waiting on some more test .... the info is very much appreciated 💚

[Treepie in reply to Yogibo]

Your’e welcome.Have a look at the Thyroid UK web site for more information.

[Yogibo in reply to Treepie]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your vitamin levels are all low and that suggests poor gut function

Poor gut function often linked to gluten intolerance, very common with Hashimoto's

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal

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

The only way to know if you are gluten intolerant is to try it

Assuming coeliac 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...

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

[Yogibo in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow I also have Lichen Planus, this is greatly improved by removing gluten from the diet ... although I’ve slipped of late and not been so focused on what I’m eating... another wake up call...❤️

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yogibo]

Yes lichen planus is another autoimmune disease that has gluten link

Same for vitiligo, type one Diabetes, arthritis etcetc