Opinion on latest results please.

[Guineapiggy]

I have just had my Medichecks results.

On 3.9.20 when I was taking 90 mg Metavive they were

TSH 0.02 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 5.23 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 15.800 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22)

My private doctor advised reducing to 60 mg Metavive as he did not want to supress my own thyroid function.

My new results on 24.2.21 are

CRP HS 0.91 mg/L (Range: < 5)

Ferritin 189.00 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150)

Active Vitamin B12 150 pmol/L (Range: > 37.5)

Vitamin D 169.00 nmol/L 175 (Range: 50 - 175)

(They didn't include folate this time)

TSH 0.14 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 3.88 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 11.200 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22)

Thyroglobulin AntibodiesX 272.000 kIU/L (Range: < 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase AntibodiesX 170.00 kIU/L (Range: < 34)

Obviously, I am not doing so well but I don't feel any worse than before.

My antibodies, however, have increased from the last test in 2019 (TPO was 91.5 and TgAb 76.8)

Can being undermedicated cause an increase in antibodies?

I have put myself back on 90 mg Metavive as I thought my earlies results were OK but the doctor thought they could be decreased a bit.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Guineapiggy

Can being undermedicated cause an increase in antibodies?

Antibodies fluctuate so undermedication is not necessarily going to cause antibodies to increase.

There was nothing wrong with your September results and no need to reduce your dose of Metavive. I don't think your doctor understands how it works. Results from taking Metavive are generally interpreted the same as when taking NDT.

Reducing your dose has considerably reduced your FT4 and FT3 levels and it's the FT3 level that's the most important. 90mg Metavive is giving you much better levels.

[Guineapiggy in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply. That was my opinion but the doctor didn't want suppress my own thyroid function. I have since read that the thyroid may be suppressed on meds but, if the initial cause is removed and if the gland isn't damaged, then it will function normally and isn't permanently damaged by the medication.I still believe that my problem was due to long term stress. I wonder if the antibodies were my body's way of trying to compensate by slowing thyroid function?

I also wondered if my lower readings were related to being a lot more active during lockdown as I have been doing daily exercise classes on Zoom, something which I have never done so frequently before.

Do you think the ferritin level is cause for concern?

[greygoose in reply to Guineapiggy]

I wonder if the antibodies were my body's way of trying to compensate by slowing thyroid function?

Antibodies have nothing to do with thyroid function. They are an indication that you have Hashi's, that's all.

After a Hashi's attack on the thyroid, as I'm sure you know, the dying cells dump their reserve of hormone into the blood, but they also leak small amounts of TPO and Tg, proteins that help form thyroid hormone. The TPO and Tg antibodies then come along and clean up the trace of TPO and Tg, take it away and dispose of it. That's all they do. They don't do the attacking.

I have since read that the thyroid may be suppressed on meds but, if the initial cause is removed and if the gland isn't damaged, then it will function normally and isn't permanently damaged by the medication.

I can't imagine how you would even find the initial cause of hypothyroidism, let alone remove it. There are so many possible causes. But, you're right that the thyroid isn't in the least bit damaged by the medication. Taking thyroid hormone replacement will suppress thyroid function, but should you stop your medication at some point, for whatever reason, your thyroid will just pick up again where it left off. So, your doctor got it a bit wrong, there. You shouldn't try and struggle along on a sub-optimal dose on those grounds.

But your thyroid will already be pretty damaged by the Hashi's, or you wouldn't have needed the Metavive in the first place, and would not have got a diagnosis of hypo. And, there's nothing you can do about that. So, you might just as well take as much thyroid hormone as you need to be well.

I also wondered if my lower readings were related to being a lot more active during lockdown

Doubtful - or only partially - your lower readings were due to you reducing your dose.

[Guineapiggy in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks.

[greygoose in reply to Guineapiggy]

You're very welcome.

[Guineapiggy in reply to greygoose]

Do you think the ferritin level is a cause for concern?

[greygoose in reply to Guineapiggy]

I don't think so, but I'm by no means an expert on iron. It's a very complicated subject. Sorry.

[Bearo]

Suggest you create a new post with a heading like “ferritin too high?”