Recent bloods - very high thyroglobulin antibodies? - help please

[EmmaFlowerPower]

Was on 25 Levothyroxine since May 2020 for possible hypothyroidism / possible sub clinical. I’ve not felt any better and felt very unwell all this time, with GP disregarding my concerns, so I stopped taking it on 4th Feb 21 in view to test my bloods privately and see what’s going on.

Both tests were fasting on Monday mornings and sent off straight away, and I have not been taking any supplements or medications for at least a month.

Finger prick with MMH sample taken 1/3/21:

TSH 0.47 (0.27-4.2) FT4 16.8 (12-22) FT3 6.6 (3.1-6.8)

Venous sample with Medichecks taken 8/3/21:

TSH 0.2 (0.27-4.2) FT4 20.5 (12-22). FT3 7.56 (3.1-6.8) THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES 356 (<115) THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES11.3(<34) CRP <0.3 (<5) Ferritin 115 (13-150) Folate 8.4 (>3.89) Active B12 101 (>37.5) VitD 75 (50-175)

I also had a positive pregnancy test on the same day as second test (have been positive every day since). I did a few tests prior to this and they were negative. So I’m assuming I’m definitely pregnant. Waiting on GP who told me to call back next week. Now really worried after reading stuff in the internet.

[knitwitty]

Hi EmmaFlowerPower, I wanted to respond so that I could send you congratulations on your pregnancy, it must be a very exciting time for you and the last thing you will be wanting to worry about is your thyroid health in relationship to your pregnancy.I'm sure some more knowledgable people will be along to help you with your results very soon , and I am not medically qualified but looking at your results you have posted it might be possible that you have had a Hashimoto's flare up as your Free T3 results have gone over the top of the range. I have Hashimoto's and I have only ever had high thyroglobulin antibodies , mine were around 450 when I was first diagnosed and my T4 and T3 were over the top of the range, they very quickly came down and I became more hypothyroid, so it's possible that you might be coming down from a flare up.

I doubt very much that 25mcg of levo would push your T3 over the top of the range especially as your T4 is not over range.

When did you take your levo prior to the blood test?

What results persuaded your GP to start you on levo if as you say you you were diagnosed as sub- clinical?

Try not to worry about your pregnancy, I'm sure your GP will reassure you when you speak to them and I'm also sure someone who knows more about thyroid and pregnancy will be along very soon. Good luck and best wishes.

[EmmaFlowerPower in reply to knitwitty]

Thank you for your response Knitwitty! My bloods tests as of last year were as follows

4/5/2020

TSH = 6.88 (0.4-4.9)

T4 = 10 (9-19)

27/02/2020

TSH = 8 (0.4-4.9)

T4 = 8.3 (9-19)

Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration <1 (0-6) NEGATIVE

I started 25 Levo in the May and stopped it on 4th Feb 2021 so that would be 4/5 weeks prior to blood tests.

[knitwitty in reply to EmmaFlowerPower]

Hi again, were you asked to stop taking the levo for 4-5 weeks prior to the blood test ? It seems a bit strange, those of us who are hypo usually stop levo for only 24 hours prior to testing.

Those results from last year would suggest that you do have hypothyroidism and that you would probably require replacement thyroid hormone going forward.

I can see that your T3 was not tested and it would probably be below the range as your TSH was High and your T4 low which could explain why you felt so unwell.

Did your GP not suggest re testing you around 8 weeks after you had been on the 25mcg of levo. The dose you were/are taking is very low and usually considered a starter dose. The aim of taking levothyroxine is to get your TSH down to about 1ish and your T4 and T3 to be in the upper part of the ranges.

I can see that the Thyroglobulin antibodies were not tested for last year , as your TPO antibodies were negative , autoimmune thyroid disorder may have been ruled out.

Don't be too concerned treatment whether autoimmune or otherwise is the same. I only discovered my Tg antibodies were high because I tested privately, the NHS in their infinite wisdom seem quite happy to only look at half the picture when it comes to our thyroids !

How do you feel at the moment ? If you stopped taking the levo 4-5 weeks ago it's likely that you will be feeling hypothyroid very soon.

The reason I mentioned a hashimotos flare up before was because when I was first diagnosed I had been feeling terrible for ages ( typical hypothyroid symptoms )and finally the doctor tested me for hypothyroidism and my blood test results came back as if I was hyperthyroid all over the top of the range and a low TSH, completely the opposite to what I was expecting, within a week I started feeling very nervous, edgy, hot and I was having palpitations I even lost some weight which I'd not done in years ( just how you'd feel if you were hyperthyroid) this did not last long and within a couple more weeks I had gone in the opposite direction and my TSH had risen and my T4 and T3 had fallen again. What I'm suggesting is that your results might be only temporary.

I hope you're feeling much better very soon and that you can enjoy your pregnancy.

[EmmaFlowerPower in reply to knitwitty]

I stopped taking it myself not on advice, as I was going to have my dose increased and wondered whether I every need Levothyroxine in the first place as was ? Sub clinical

[EmmaFlowerPower in reply to knitwitty]

GP did retest me in the July (all my blood results posted on my profile) and although my TSH improved my T4 was not really improving and low for me

[EmmaFlowerPower in reply to knitwitty]

Thanks for the info, found it really reassuring as was quite concerned. Also managed to get hold of GP today and he is referring me to consultant led clinic for my thyroid which is good to know

[knitwitty in reply to EmmaFlowerPower]

Hi Emma, very glad that your GP has referred you to a consultant led clinic they will be able to put your mind at rest.I would say looking at your earlier results that you were definitely hypo, a TSH of anything above 3 would lead to a diagnosis of hypothyroidism in many other countries and your T4 was below the range too. When I was diagnosed my TSH was only just above 4 and I felt terrible but we are all different.

However I wouldn't worry too much about last year other than to have your results available to show the consultant you go to see alongside your latest results especially those that show your antibody levels.

I hope all goes well and that you have. happy , successful and enjoyable pregnancy and that your thyroid function stabilises either with or without medication.

[shaws]

This is a link from our 'mother' site. i.e. They do the work behind the scenes to improve diagnosis/medications for those with dysfunctional thyroid glands. They also meet with The Lords etc for queries to do with improving/diagnosing dysfunctional thyroid glands.

thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby...

thyroiduk.org/?s=pregnancy

[glowing_cat]

I have a friend who became hyperthyroid at some point in her pregnancy and it was quickly dealt with by doctors (I do wish they give the rest of us as much attention and fuss-free treatment!). I don't think she had any particular thyroid issues before but it ran in the family, so it was bound to appear at some point. She is healthy and has a healthy child, although the delivery was difficult and she lost a lot of blood, but that was swiftly dealt with by the midwife.

I agree with the advice above as it may well be a Hashi flare and see what comes out of your appointment with the clinic. Hormones change with pregnancies so it's not an unusual reaction per se, but come back with posts for advice/test results as I'm sure there are many who can help you on specific issues.

Make sure you also check your vitamins (D, B12), folate, iron and ferritin as these are essential to the effectiveness of whatever thyroid treatment they put you on. You will also want to make sure you get enough iron during the pregnancy so that your child becomes healthy! My friend had to double the intake of iron during her pregnancy.

[glowing_cat in reply to glowing_cat]

This being said, I should point out that if you don't treat sub-clinical hypothyroidism, you will end up with a much worse form of the disease that may not be treatable in its entirety. The disease creeps up on you. My mum just about avoided developing an advanced version of hypothyroidism and she's already been very unwell whilst being sub-clinical hypo. She finally got treatment for sub-clinical last month.