Blood test results- have been referred to endocrinology based on these!

[sunshineisbetter]

I went back for my thyroid blood tests 6 weeks after elevated TSH levels had been flagged up on my last blood test. (See previous posts)

My TSH levels are just in range this time but my GP has referred me to an endocrinologist based on my thyroid peroxidase antibody being very high. (See previous posts- they were also high on my private medichecks test which I shared with my GP along with a list of symptoms in writing with a request that my GP tested my antibodies again)

Thank you to everyone for your support to get me to this point. I just want to have some energy back!

[tattybogle]

good .. presumably GP can see you are becoming hypo and want's to help...but isn't allowed to treat while TSH back in range, so has passed the buck to Endo. The 'high' Thyroid Peroxidase antibody levels .. don't worry about them .. they are not 'really high'... 500 (ish) is conclusive for but not weird... i had <3000, and i've read of someone on here who had 6000.

Previous results show TSH wobbling around top of range ,and now they have two TPOab results at a very significant level , there should not be any doubt that you will eventually become overtly hypothyroid if left untreated , so it's just a question of how long they will leave you to suffer before treating you .

NHS guidelines (NICE) for 'subclinical hypothyroidism' say they Can Consider treating before TSH get's to 10... if you have symptoms and they have;-

2 x over range (but under 10) TSH results taken 3 months apart..... I'm not sure an Endo would be willing to override this requirement either, no matter how high your TPOab were.

Over range TPOab also help to convince them as they confirm a cause. (Autoimmune)

So you can thank your impressive antibodies levels for getting you referred to an Endo, as GP would not be able to prescribe Levo until TSH goes over and stay's over range .

I suspect Endo will not be able to prescribe either until TSH is over range.... how annoying it just went back within range... i expect Endo will want another repeat test anyway because it's not yet been 3 months since the first over range TSH result.

... but with those antibodies and clear history of raised if not actually over range TSH there is no reason for them to wait until TSH is anywhere near 10 .

LOL....It's too hot .. i think i've just written same thing 3 times.

Anyway ... previous results:-

4 March TSH 4.99 [0.36 -5.33] in-range ....................................FT4 10.2 [8 -16] 27%

19 April TSH 6. 52 [0.36 -5.33] over-range by 24% ................FT4 11.2 [8 -16] 40%

28 April TSH 4. 59 [0. 27 -4.2] over-range by 10% ................ FT4 15.3 [12 -22] 33%

TPOab >600

27 May TSH 4.40 [0.38 -5.33] in-range.......................................FT4 11.8 [8 -16] 47.5%

TPOab 444

In case it helps with anyone else's replies.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you for your reply. I am not sure how long the referral will take. Perhaps I’ll get my own medichecks test again in the meantime if necessary? Dependent on timescales x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water ?

[sunshineisbetter in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes it was x

[McPammy]

A TSH above 2.5 is hypothyroidism. NHS range is set too wide. My private only Endocrinologist informed me of this. In other countries you would be treated with a TSH above 3. You need treatment with Levothyroxine now. But the NHS will not treat you until your TSH is 10. By then you’ll be feeling a lot worse. If you can go private I’d do that. Otherwise you’ll probably be waiting for ages.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to McPammy]

I have considered it but I hear such mixed things about going private. I will see what happens with my referral first.

[McPammy in reply to sunshineisbetter]

Thyroid U.K. have a list of Endocrinologists that are sympathetic. Maybe this might help if you don’t get anywhere.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to McPammy]

I have that list already just in case. I’m in such a tricky situation as I’ve been signed off of work for a few months for the first time ever and no longer feel like I can manage the career I have been doing for 14 years. If I leave and find alternative work that is more manageable, I’ll be on a lot lower salary so then won’t be able to afford private healthcare x

[McPammy in reply to sunshineisbetter]

I totally understand. I had a very good job in a managerial position for Rolls-Royce. I had to take a long time out of work due to not being medicated properly for Hashimotos. I was hospitalised 3 times but they still did not pin point my issue. I could barely walk or sit up. After many months of NHS failures I went private only. It was only then I was helped. I’m now fitter than ever and all my levels both thyroid and vitamins are finally optimal. Also now my GP surgery will do all my blood tests and check them every 3 months. This has all been down to private only route.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to McPammy]

That’s so great to hear that you came through the other side and managed to get on track! I have 2 young children and really need some energy back for them. I’m usually fit and active. What did you end up in hospital with? X

[McPammy in reply to sunshineisbetter]

I kept collapsing. Not fainting. My muscles wouldn’t work I had virtually no energy. They had no clue what was wrong with me. When is collapsed I couldn’t get myself off the floor. I’d only recover after hours of laying flat. Then I’d only be able to walk a few steps. I spent all the summer of 2018 on my back virtually. It was only when I found this site that I went private and was diagnosed in 2 consultations as being a very poor converter of Levothyroxine T4 to active T3. As soon as I was put on a T3 trial I could walk normally and do almost anything. I piled on a load of weight as no metabolic rate to talk of then. I’ve now lost 4st and feel younger than I’ve felt in decades. I did the DIO2 gene test through Regenerus Laboratories too and that came back positive. I have the faulty gene. I’d had Hashimotos for 10 years prior to all this and really struggled on just Levothyroxine. Now I’m on T3 plus Levothyroxine and all is very well indeed. All down to private intervention and help from lovely administrators on here.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to McPammy]

Wow that’s extreme! What were your levels at your worst point? They must have been really out of sync!

[McPammy in reply to sunshineisbetter]

I can’t remember the figures right now. I do know my TSH was too high. My T4 was over the range also but my T3 was just about within range at the bottom. When calculated I was only converting 8% of Levothyroxine to active T3. That is really low. My T3 figure now without taking medication prior to a blood test is 50% through the range and if I take T3 meds prior to the test I’m 90% through the range. My TSH was 0.85 on my last blood draw a few weeks ago. Everything was in range and optimal for me. I feel truly amazing these days and can’t believe sometimes how bad I got from not being medicated properly.

[RoboTh]

My TSH was hovering just below the out of range at 9.5,7 etc for a long time and I was symptomatic but GP wouldn't treat.. During lockdown my children got into baking and I ate flour on a daily basis. my TSH finally went over 10 and my antibodies to 1300. I'm not advocating a diet high in fat/flour it's just an observation that finally after years of being subclinical I'm now finally treated with levo. I really do think my change in diet pushed me over the range. Now trying gluten free to reduce antibodies. Good luck

[sunshineisbetter in reply to RoboTh]

That’s really interesting. Thank you for sharing!