High antibodies and high B12

[Linzi-loo]

Hello, I had some routine tests recently and it came back that I have high thyroid antibodies. I was already taking 25mg of thyroxine a day due to doing ivf treatment for 1.5 years, but this is the first time I’ve had my antibodies checked. My tag is 2.48, but my doc recommended increasing my thyroxine to 50mcg per day. I am concerned that the high antibodies are why I’m not getting pregnant though? Does anyone have experience this as my doctor doesn't really Seem to know.

My b12 also come back high at 1226 - this seems unusual. Again my doc didn’t really have a plan of action for that, but I’m concerned after looking on line about the incensed cancer risk. I’m not sure if this is connected to my thyroid or not?

If anyone has experienced this it would be great to heat your thoughts.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See my reply to post above yours

High antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate , ferritin and B12

These frequently need improving by supplementing

Strictly gluten free diet may be beneficial, get coeliac blood test first

TSH must be under 2.5 pre conception

Most people need to increase dose levothyroxine slowly upwards until on full replacement dose

Guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight is 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo of your weight ....

[fuchsia-pink]

High antibodies indicate Hashi's, the biggest single cause of an under-active thyroid. This means that, slowly,slowly, your antibodies will attack and kill your thyroid - so you will need to be on thyroid meds for life. Your antibody levels will fluctuate up and down - but you can't "cure" Hashi's, so you don't need to re-test for this. There are LOADS of posts here about Hashi's - but it's very common so don't worry.

Because it is so common I can't imagine that having Hashi's will stop you getting pregnant - but I understand that the "usual" NHS approach it that your TSH shouldn't go over 2.5 if you are trying to conceive. [It shouldn't go over 2.5 anyway in my opinion...]

You will manage you situation best if you can get proper blood testing - TSH, free T4 and free T3, and check you are getting the right level of medication - you are still only on a starter dose - so get a re-test after 8 weeks on 50 mcg: the earliest test in the morning you can get, fasting, and take your levo 24 hours beforehand. And in the meantime, take you levo just with water, with nothing else to drink and no food for 2 hours before or 1 hour after.

Good luck x

[greygoose in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the TPO/Tg antibodies themselves that attack the thyroid:

"When lymphocytes infiltrate the thyroid gland, mistakenly taking it for a foreign bacteria invader, they damage the thyroid gland and release thyroid peroxidase &/or thyroglobulin into the blood stream. These don't belong outside of the thyroid gland so antibodies are developed to mop them up.

The antibodies are a result of the attack on the thyroid gland, the antibodies don't cause the attack."

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