Is this right??

[Paolatello]

Hello everyone!

I am diagnosed with Hashimoto’s (elevated TPO antibody reading of varying levels up to 1500 at one point). However I have never been offered treatment as my TSH and Free Ts have largely remained within the acceptable NHS ranges despite remaining symptomatic for the past 10 years or more. I’ve had a few times where it’s been hyperthyroid but it’s always returned to “normal” levels on its own and the NHS have called it an anomaly.

Fast forward to today and I’m 17 weeks postpartum with my second child. My thyroid is absolutely huge. It’s so swollen that people can notice it immediately without me mentioning it first. I have a lot of my typical symptoms including joint pain, heart palpitations, irritability, poor sleep, low mood etc.

I had my bloods done at 1 month postpartum (October) when I still felt ok and the results were:

TSH 0.52 (0.35-3.0)

T3 4.9 (3.5-6.5)

TPO 25 (range less than 35)

They didn’t do Free T4.

I’ve now had them done again since the swelling of the thyroid began and this was the result from last weeks bloods:

TSH 0.44

T3 5.3

T4 14.5 (12-22)

TPO has also been done but isn’t back yet.

I am having a thyroid scan on Tuesday for the swelling. I’ve had plenty before and I have a large nodule on my left side. It’s been biopsied clear many times and my consultant said he can remove it if I wish but it would be mainly for aesthetic reasons as he’s not concerned about it and it hasn’t grown over ten years.

The GP of course says my results are normal and so here I am with symptoms, antibodies, and a huge neck and no one seems to think it’s my thyroid. Very sad! ☹️

Any opinions would be beneficial even if just to reassure me that I’m not crazy! I’m sure this is my hashimoto's playing up!

Thank you very much for sparing some time on your Sunday to comment.

[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

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

Recommend you get full testing privately

[Paolatello in reply to SlowDragon]

My vitamins were all fine. My vitamin D was top quarter of range as I take it every day during and since my pregnancy

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Paolatello]

Optimal vitamin levels

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 at least over 70

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

[Paolatello in reply to SlowDragon]

All of mine are fine 👍

[Paolatello]

So, update ....

My TPO antibodies were 25 in October and are now 128. Doctor says thyroid is fine. Redo bloods in 3 months 🙄