Hello all,
I’m asking. For a friend who has been hypo for 11 years.
She’s received her results of 540 when the range was 0-60. She’s wondering what could have caused such high results. I’ve asked her to get her usual results even though she said they were in range.
She take 125 Levo a day with no issues over the last 11 years.
1 successful IVF baby who’s eight years old.
She’ll ask to see an Endo at Addenbrookes on Monday.
Any advice gratefully received.
Thank you 😊
The high antibodies mean that the cause of her hypothyroidism is Autoimmune Thyroiditis - either Hashi's or Ord's. These are conditions where the body's immune system slowly destroys the thyroid. There is no cure nor treatment for Hashi's, all you can do is replace the hormones that the thyroid can no-longer make enough of - which she is doing with her levo. But, the levo will have little to no effect on antibody levels.
You're correct in saying that she needs to get her numbers for other tests: results and ranges. Because just being 'in range' is not always good enough. And she needs to see exactly what was tested and exactly what the results were. 
Hello Greygoose,
Thank you for your swift reply. And lovely to see you still here (I’ve been off of here for a while).
Is there anything that causes such a high level? She’s got Hashimotos (gp advised). I’ve never ruined gluten free but 540 is such a huge jump.
Well, antibodies fluctuate all the time. But, they usually rise to high levels just after an immune system attack on the thyroid. The dying cells dump their stock of hormone into the blood, and some of the TPO - which is used in the manufacture of thyroid hormones - escapes with it. So, the antibodies come along and surround the traces of TPO in the blood - because it's not supposed to be their - and take them away to be disposed of. In other words, they clean up the blood after an attack.
Hello Greygoose,
I have screenshotted your response. That’s so clear for me to understand and saves me reading a lot of data to understand. 🙏🏾 My brain is frazzled at the moment so this means a lot.
Glad to be of help.
this just essentially means she has hashimotos. an autoimmine disease that destroys the thyroid gland. that is the root cause of the ‘underactive thyroid disease’ label she has. i like to think of it like this: i don’t have a thyroid issue i have an autoimmune disease.
the problem with medics and endocrinologists in this case, is they don’t tend to know why autoimmune occurs and so their only to/response is to give patients levothyroxine to ‘replace’ the hormones. for some people that works for a time, or they need t3 as well which is quite hard to get but is technically possible ( see my latest post where i started a poll to gather data on who takes what type of medication)
often if the autoimmune disease gets worse or the person doesn’t try to take a holistic approach then symptoms become worse as the thyroid gland is destroyed. and/or other autoimmune disease develop. sounds like your friend may not be symptomatic or hasn’t experienced severe s symptoms ? i have been looking into my hashimotos for 7 years. my dad has it, my sister has it and my daughter. luckily we have learnt more with each generation so now i understand how to help my daughter test her levels while she is relatively healthy, address deficiencies & food triggers etc. there is no cure as such it’s a case of testing and trialing things to see what works for the individual
this forum, tanya borowski ( on instagram) and izabella wentz website have taught me more than my GP or endo ever did ( including when i paid privately!)
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Hi London81,
I’ve printed the link. I had a quick skim through. That makes for great reading later. Very informative from the tiny bit I took in. Thank you so much. I’ve forwarded it to her. xx
you sound like a great friend xx
She needs to test vitamin levels too
Plus get coeliac blood test done BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Has she recently had brand change in levothyroxine ?
For full Thyroid evaluation she need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
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 .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
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 all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
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...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Good evening SlowDragon.
Lovely to see you here. Thank you for all of this I’ve copied it and sent it all including links. Super helpful and informative as always. I hope you enjoy your weekend.
Ebony xx
Hello, I can't advise on the symptom because I'm very new to thyroid issues however please let me know how her appointment went. I also live in the area and Addenbrookes is my local hospital (I'm assuming you mean Cambridge, UK). I have terrible experience with Endocrinologist there who didn't even have an appointment with me only did a small questionnaire before biopsy and 2 weeks later I received my chart notification that it was decided that I need surgery to remove half of my thyroid to exclude thyroid Cancer. She didn't even call to tell me this. I don't wish on anyone to get such message as email! I went privately because of my gut feeling and soon turned that I had Subacute Thyroiditis! No surgery needed! I'm still recovering from it but not from unnecessary surgery. Had she did a proper interview, she would perhaps knew what's the cause of my very specific to this illness symptoms. I don't think I can give names here but her first name is Isra. I just wanted to let your friend know. The trauma caused will always affect me.All the best to your friend.
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