Could someone please explain why it is important to have TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested?
I finally found a decent endo. who accepts that more than TSH needs to be tested. Only he doesn’t think it necessary to check TPO & TG. He explained why at the end of a long conversation a few weeks ago but I was tired and brain foggy and didn’t retain his explanation. I’ve had RAI.
At this point, on paper, aside from a slight iron & folate deficiency which I’m supplementing, everything else is in range and a good range.(TSH, FT3, FT4/ Vit B12, D) But I’m not feeling any better! My next labs will be in 2 weeks.
Next question: Has anyone had good results with St. John’s Wort for the depression or is it better not to take it at all? I’ve read contrary opinions. What about a “harder” med like Remeron ( brand name Mirtazapin.) I’m desperate to find a way to stop the downward spiral of physical exhaustion bringing about depression that further exhausts mind and body etc.
Thanks for the help!
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Koola
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What medication are you now taking, and do you have any current thyroid blood test results including T3 and T4 - depression can be because of low T3.
As you know, I am also post RAI and became very unwell some 8 years after my thyroid was ablated.
It is essential that you are not monitored on TSH blood test results -
It is essential that your ferritin, folate, vitamin D and B12 are optimal and not just anywhere in the range -
Considering the length of time you have been struggling I think you might also need some adrenal support - I take Adrenal Extra tablets by Nutri Advanced -
I have been on NDT for over a year now and much improved.
I am on 1 + 1/2 Thyroid " S " grains/tablets = 57 T4 + 13.50 T3 :
When I trialled T3/T4 combo I was ok on 100 T4 + 6.25 T3 :
I don't think you can compare NDT to the synthetic T3 and T4 - though I read 1 grain is said to be equivalent to 100 T4 - we are all different with different issues to contend with :
It's a slow build back to wellness but it can be done.
I think previously, I mentioned Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield's book to you -
Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy ? It has helped my understanding of all things thyroid and though we don't now have this little amazing gland we do need to try and compensate where we can.
The medical establishment do not have the ability to control our antibodies - they may test for them to confirm a diagnosis, but ultimately any control and reduction of these is down to the individual suffering the attacks.
The Elaine Moore website offers various suggestions on the control of auto immune disease conditions - you might like to take a look at her website for Graves Disease.
Depression is often linked to low FT3....very common on just Levothyroxine
Can you add your actual results and ranges on these "normal" results
St. John's wort is not recommended with Levothyroxine
Endocrinologist and/or psychologist can prescribe T3
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially after Graves' disease
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 .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Make sure to do next tests this way
If taking any supplements that contain biotin (e.g. Vitamin B complex) remember to stop taking a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results
Many thanks for that tip. I started taking Vitamin B complex with biotin. Now I'll stop because I'm due for another lab test soon. It's terrible that we get so desperate that we're ready to take anything that someone recommends. I was taking a normal Vitamin B1, B6, B12, till I was told that I needed a more "potent" Vitamin B complex which includes Biotin...
Anyone on levothyroxine frequently has high Ft4...yet low Ft3
Essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together. Testing as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Optimal vitamin levels improves conversion of Ft4 to Ft3...so important to test vitamin levels regularly
In answer to your original question, if you don't have a thyroid, there's no point in testing TPO and Tg antibodies. If there's not thyroid, you can't have Hashi's, and the antibodies usually go very low - although can be slightly raised if you have Grave's.
Testing Hashi's antibodies is important for hypos who want to know why they are hypo, or why their hormone levels keep jumping around. And, it's important for them because if they have a Hashi's 'hyper' swing, they need to know what it is, what's causing it, and how to stop their GPs panicking and slashing their dose of levo. I don't suppose that that last bit was included in your GP's explanation, but that's the way I see it.
Do the anti-bodies themselves give any symptoms? Or can they be high but you're ok as long as medicated and T3/T4 under control. Or is controlling the anti-bodies more about slowing down the damage to the thyroid? Thanks
I would love to know the answer to this. I read a paper that found that elevated TG antibodies associated with a higher symptom burden so I think they do affect how you feel.
Since I posted this I’ve read more and I agree. When I got my results back from Thriva recently (I use different services depending on price!) the GP said this “The level of TPO antibodies have also been linked to a number of symptoms including dry hair, and fatigue.
” I’ve been meaning to email them and ask for the research papers this comes from. I will ask and let you know!
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TPO antibodies 
TGAB and TPO antibodies - seem to fluctuate!
TPO antibodies
T3 and TG results 
