Thyroid antibodies & just general info pls?

[KayS68]

Hi. Already posted - most recently was in hospital with acute thyroiditis. Sent home on prednisolone & propanolol. Still not feeling well.

Bloods re-done this week &

TSH still low - 0.04 (0.3 - 4.2)

FT4 reduced to 15.8 from 26.6 (12.0 - 22.0)

WBC count higher than when in hospital.

FT3 in hospital was 7.4 (3.1 - 6.8)

Just seen thyroid antibody tests from hospital - only 1 result so far, but I don’t know anything about antibodies.

Thyroid peroxidase abs 9 (0 - 34)

Does that mean a positive test for antibodies, or is it in the range so ok?

Seeing GP tomorrow, so wanted to have some info from anyone knowledgeable to take with me.

Thank you again!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You will need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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 vitamins

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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

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

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. Already done the vitamins & ferritin - in previous posts. I just wanted to know if the antibodies test result meant anything of note.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Yes...TPO are negative...

but a significant number of people only have raised TG antibodies

You will need to test privately as outlined above

Had thyroid ultrasound scan?

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

They’ve apparently done the TSH receptor antibody test, so I’ll see what that says when it comes back. They haven’t done an untrasound - they were saying as it’s “acute thyroiditis” it should go through this “hyper” thing then sort itself out. But obvs you had mentioned Hashis but I’m sorry, I am so confused by all the tests!

My white blood cell count is still increasing (and was already high) & my platelets.

Tbh I just want to know sorting what would make me feel better. I’m struggling (my MH is bad anyway, but not sure if this has made it worse too).

Thank you for being so patient with me & explaining!!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Many people who only have high TG antibodies struggle to get hashimoto’s diagnosed in UK

healthline.com/health/antit...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/303...

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common form of autoimmune thyroid disorders characterized by lower production of thyroid hormones and positivity to autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAb) and/or thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb).

Elevated TgAb levels are associated with symptom burden in HT patients, suggesting a role of thyroid autoimmunity in clinical manifestations of HT. Based on these results, we recommend screening for TgAb antibodies in HT patients with symptom burden.

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies so ultrasound scan should be done anyway

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Hashimoto’s almost always starts with transient hyperthyroid phase

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much. I’m lucky that my GP is very supportive & I think he’ll be open to helping me with this. They did mention ultrasound in A&E, but the endos apparently wanted to just treat as this sort of inflammatory “flare”.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

anxiety, depression and bipolar can all be linked to hashimoto’s

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Really? I have treatment-resistant depression (so on a combination of 3 meds now) & borderline personality disorder. My depression is horrific at the moment, suicidal ideation etc. Friend said steroids made her worse. I just am fed up. Thank you!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Mental issues including Bi-polar linked to Hashimoto's

Two specialists can initiate and prescribe T3

Most obvious is an endocrinologist

But also Psychiatrists can prescribe T3 for treatment resistant depression

Propranolol lowers conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 and slows uptake of thyroid hormones (I was stuck on propranolol just under 20 years...more on my profile)

drknews.com/when-hashimotos...

holtorfmed.com/mental-illne...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/when-hashimotos...

hypothyroidmom.com/miss-dia...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

GOOD vitamin levels are essential with thyroid disease

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Gluten intolerance can cause lots of mental issues. You do not need any obvious gut issues

everydayhealth.com/columns/...

psychologytoday.com/gb/blog...

BEFORE Considering cutting gluten out, get coeliac blood test via GP or buy online

approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms, sometimes significantly. Either due to 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 strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

If no noticeable improvement, 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...

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for all this info. I’m going to read it all now. So interesting all these links - I had no idea. Huge thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Low vitamin D can cause depression and insomnia

bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral...

Low vitamin D and low B vitamins may be linked as explained here

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

In YouTube video...vitamin D at 40ng/ml (USA units) is equal to 100nmol (UK units)

Dr Gominak

youtu.be/74F22bjBmqE(Not working as expected?)

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Saw GP, and thanks to your advice, I mentioned ultrasound. He had a feel & it’s still “swollen” on the right side, so he’s ordered an ultrasound & repeating bloods in a few weeks (inc FT3). The TSH antibody test css as me back negative which is great! He’s really not happy with my wbc & the individual breakdowns - he was so thorough & I feel better having him on my side. So thank you again!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Come back with new post once you get results of ultrasound and blood test results

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

I will do. Ty again.