I had a blood test at a central London private lab recommended by the Thyroid UK website (Phoenix group) and the results was out of the range according to the lab normal range. TPO came at 8.70 for a normal range of 0-5.61 iu/mL according to the results.
My GP is claiming that my TPO is fine because the NHS criteria is that everything is fine if the TPO is <9.
I am not sure whether it is correct or whether the relevant data is the normal range provided by the lab, in which case my TPO is largely abnormal.
Dos anyone know the answer to this?
The same applies to my anti-Tg
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Lilly12255
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Labs have different ranges so the result can only be used with the range that lab uses. The fact that your GP is saying the range is <9 only refers to the lab your surgery uses. If you had used Blue Horizon, Medichecks or Thriva the range would be <34 for TPO and <115 for Tg antibodies. To clear this up your GP should do his own test.
TPO refers to ‘thyroid peroxidase’, which is the enzyme found in the thyroid gland playing an important role in thyroid hormone production. I think you are referring to the antibodies that may attack the TPO, commonly known as TPOAb or similar.
You would think your doctor would know different labs use different ranges! But then maybe not (sigh). You could ask him to retest but because antibodies fluctuate & your levels are only just elevated, it risks going either way (ie not over-range on another test). Also GP's rarely test TGAb's.
Given that you have already advised of Hashi so had previous confirmation, and Hashi is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, it would be prudent for your doctor to assume this to be the cause anyway. Silly doctor!
I am trying to conceive and it seems that antibodies prevent success. I have been taking dexamethasone since last year test. Was hoping the immunosuppressant would have stopped these antibodies
Well, it has! Don't worry about being just over because antibodies fluctuate. Your result is great.
Getting TSH low & adequate T4 levels are much more important or else risk raising TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone) to stimulate TSH hormone but by doing this the pituitary may also secrete prolactin that interferes with ovulation.
A good read is "Your Healthy Pregnancy With Thyroid Disease" by Dana Trentini and Mary Shomon. Also websites such as‘hypothyroidmom’ who all advocate to keep antibodies as low as possible through means such as eliminating cross-reactive foods, avoiding sugar spikes, supplementing selenium, fish oils, Vit D etc, that helps calm an over active immune response.
Have been on keto for over a year now, also vit D, omega 3, selenium, etc. Sadly, antobodies still elevated. So it hasn't worked for me. Is there anything else to try to lower these antibodies?
I've never seen any studies suggesting this could lower TPOab.. have you seen some research i'e missed ? I would be interested to see it if it exists. My current understanding is it's the raised TSH and accompanying low thyroid hormone levels that prevent success in conceiving , not the antibodies themselves.
you TPOab result is not vey high, even if it is a little over range.. 100's /500 would be 'high'... 1000's would be 'very' high.
I haven’t seen studies either. Was just hoping immunosuppressant could calm my immune overactivity. But apparently it’s not how it works.
There is also a school of thought that immune issues prevent pregnancies (your immune system expels the embryo). That is what I am also concerned about.
There are hundreds of people on here with Autoimmune Hypyothroidism who have become pregnant.. so it doesn't seem to be the case that autoimmunity itself prevents conception.
I think i'd be more worried about taking immunosuppressant's.
I think the best thing is to get stabilised on Levo , with TSH low as is recommended for conception (i cant remember what the number is , but certainly under 2, i think, and probably lower) and give the body time to sort the rest out itself once it is happy that it's getting enough thyroid hormone consistently.
I don't think we can equate autoimmunity with the way the immune system works in infection... it is too complicated for me to understand fully , but i think its a different 'bit ' of the immune system we are dealing with.
Yes, but my GP is claiming it could have been a one off event of high antibodies while the endocrinologist said last year that I have Hashimoto. I am tempted to think that t he GP is useless
Do you know a food place to do the test for coeliac? Have not tested for coeliac yet.
NHS is refusing to test T3 and t4. Only TSH. Have tested privately T3 and T4 last year and T3 was below the minimum range, abnormal. Have not tested again as NHS refusing to take it into account
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function with Hashimoto’s can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Eliminate Gluten. Even if you don’t have Hashimoto’s. Even if you have “no adverse reactions”. Eliminate gluten. There are no universal rules except this one.
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex
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