my latest two private tests have showed I now have thyroglobulin antibodies
Jan 2022 159 (range <115)
Apr 2022 220 (range <115)
thyroid peroxidase antibodies are normal as are my TSH, T4, FT3 and T4 total. I currently take alternate 75mcg and 100mcg Levo daily.
All vitamin, ferritin, folate etc levels are normal range.
the private blood test Dr notes suggest possible Hashimotos but also could be rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc.
I feel dreadful, aching joints and feels like slight fever each evening mainly. My GP has no idea about antibodies and has filed results. The increase from Jan to Apr worries me, can anyone else help, suggest what I should do?
Many thanks
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JoJoH69
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Hi Yes I’ve been a member for a while and use Medichecks and Blue Horizon.
From my older posts I take b12, selenium, magnesium, Vit d, Vit c, zinc, all levels been normal for a while. All the brands that are recommended on here.
Yes have same brand of Levo, been Northstar for last year.
All results are normal, happy with those, it’s just the new antibodies that have recently appeared. Yes test was taken at 9am before Levo dose.
I didn’t have antibodies before when my vitamins were low, now appeared recently. Jan and Apr results:
As suggested I have been on 100mcg daily for a while now and here are todays latest results along with Jan & Apr, i wanted to see if thyroglobulin was still increasing and it is: Jan, Apr & May 2022
thanks for your reply, I didnt get vitamins tested this time as they were all fine back in April (see earlier results) and i take daily vitamins, selenium and now added NAC since April.
yes i have the same brand each time. I havent actually been diagnosed with Hashimotos as my Drs havent done anything with the results I sent them suggesting it. So shall I carry on with 100mcg then? Thank you
Elevated TgAb levels are associated with symptom burden in HT patients, suggesting a role of thyroid autoimmunity in clinical manifestations of HT. Based on these results, we recommend screening for TgAb antibodies in HT patients with symptom burden
Thyroid antibodies fluctuate and come in many combos. You may have unknowingly experienced previous elevated TPOAb's that have now dropped.
Its sounds like your private doctor is considering rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc, because of your symptoms. There is a lot of cross-over between certain groups of autoimmune conditions as the same inflammatory cytokine groups are raised but the antibodies will be different and need to tested to confirm each diagnosis.
Hashi can be immensely destructive but if antibodies (inflammation) is controlled, then associated conditions can be discouraged. Members use a gluten free diet ro reduce reactivity & supplements selenium, Vit D, fish oils, etc. Another member has just reminded me of the merits of NAC. I also use curcumin & Vit C.
Your TFT's to SlowDragon show you are under medicated. Raising Levo to optimise dose will reduce activity in the thyroid gland and help discourage further Hashi attacks. A good read is 'The Root Cause' by Isabella Wentz to gain understanding of autoimmune issues and how to manage them.
The supplements recommended by SeasideSusie in the other post (link above) look good.
I take mine in a cycle, supplementing about half the pot, have a few weeks/months off and start again. Again SeasideSusie is knowledgable about sups and may know more about dosing. I have tagged her..
Those NAC capsules I mentioned in the post radd linked to are all brands that I have used and been happy with.
Because I take mine for my lung disease I use them for their mucolytic benefit so I take one capsule daily regularly and have no breaks. I take it because my GP refused to prescribe Carbosysteine for this purpose stating that it was "expensive". I can't suggest what dosing regime is appropriate for any other condition I'm afraid as I have no experience of them.
For your 75mcg dose, do you have 50mcg and 25mcg tablets to make up the dose? If so, you need to know that Northstar 25mcg are actually Teva brand. It could be those making you unwell.
I hadn't really, I've just notice over the last 2 months, aching all over but feeling worse in the evenings, like I have a slight temperature when all your joints hurt as if flu is coming, that's why I got the extra antibody test. I also feel a slight ache on left side of neck but have had an ultrasound that was clear.
It’s a mystery why we all seem to get different symptoms with this pesky hypo 😱 As others have said, perhaps an increase to 100mcg per day might help. I personally had awful side effects from Northstar and Mercury Pharma. The only Levo I can tolerate is Wockhardt (I take 4 to make up 100). I discovered that by trial and error as I had some left over from my 75 dose.Have you tried Mercury Pharma, it may well be that the Northstar (Accord) don’t actually suit you.
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, or Aristo (100mcg only) are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation.
Many members have note add to all prescriptions “No Teva brand “
But Pharmacies often unaware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
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).
Hi JoJoMy Tg antibodies were in the 450's before I went completely gluten free, they are now usually between 10-20. I did get glutened when out once and they rose by a bit, so if you're not completely gluten free maybe that might help.
Also agree with everything above regarding needing an increase to 100mcg of levo daily.
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 a further 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
Before considering trial on gluten free diet get coeliac blood test done FIRST just to rule it out
If you test positive for coeliac, will need to remain on gluten rich diet until endoscopy (officially 6 weeks wait)
If result is negative can consider trialing strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months. Likely to see benefits. Can take many months for brain fog to lift.
If no obvious improvement, reintroduce gluten see if symptoms get worse.
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.
Thank you, I have had a recent endoscopy and no evidence of coeliac, I do have bad acid reflux and have been on omeprazole for a year or two after an upper GI bleed.
So it’s always worth trying strictly gluten free diet
And/or
Dairy free
Omeprazole will tend to lower vitamins, especially B12, magnesium and possibly iron
So it’s essential to test and get actual results on vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year. GP will say anything “within range” is normal
We need optimal
Folate and Ferritin at least half way through range
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