Thyroid antibodies

[geordieclaire120573]

So after two conversations with two different GPS ..got nowhere..raised antibodies doesn't mean thyroid...people can go on and have no problems with thyroid even though antibodies are raised...he said he has raised antibodies but doesn't mean his thyroid is causing issues!! My symptoms could be menopause...I'm 3 and a half years post menopause as I started at 45. When period stopped my mum was the same...I'm getting a holter put on few weeks for palpitations...my symptoms started at Christmas..docs have dismissed it so many times. I'm within normal range 😩. I'm getting bloods don e on Thursday checking all vitamins. If I'm in normal range then antibodies are not tested they say .. think this is the worst I've ever felt..I'm sat this morning with pins and needles I'm tired I've muscle aches I'm getting pain in my feet? And I've got a rash on my leg...think I wake up every day with a new symptom 🙈 I did my test at 8 am

[tattybogle]

3months ago .... "I had tests done with medichecks and both antibodies are raised and I have low folate, high b12 borderline vitamin d... thyroglobulin 154. Range 115. Thyroid peroxidase 36range 34. TSH 1.32 range 0.27- 4.2. Free t3 4.51 range 3.1-6.8. Free thyroxine 13.5 range 12.22. My TSH was 0.9 about 8 wks ago "

So TSh was 0.9

Then 1.32

now 2

(but fT4 has not fallen )

were all these test's done similar time of day ?

if so, they could show a trend of rising TSH.. which can be an early indicator that the thyroid is starting to struggling due to autoimmune thyroid disease.

(TSH~ Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ~ is naturally highest middle of the night then falls gradually to it's lowest around 1-3pm each day , then slowly rises again, so always testing early a.m is advisable for comparability and to get highest TSH. )

You GP is correct .. plenty of people have raised TPOab and / or TGab without ever developing any symptoms of hypothyroidism. Raised TPOab do indicate an increased probability that someone may eventually go on to become hypothyroid. Raised TGab are a bit more ambiguous , they could be indicative of a lot of things . So GP's will tend to pay more attention to raised TPOab , rather than TGab .

But if someone has raised TPOab / TGab and the TSH continues to show a rising trend over several months when tests are done at same time of day (ie 9 am) , and they have symptoms of hypothyroidism , and then later their fT4 levels start to fall too .. then it shows there is a problem developing .

GP's cant offer any treatment for it until TSH has gone over range for 2 consecutive tests .

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to tattybogle]

All tests were done in the morning

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to geordieclaire120573]

geordieclaire120573

All tests were done in the morning

I'm not sure if you are aware of the difference the timing of the test makes to TSH.

TSH is highest between midnight and about 4am then lowers then the next highest point is 9am then it lowers throughout the day.

You can see the circadian rhythm in the first graph here:

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/07/...

So for diagnosis you need the highest possible so TSH test at 9am if possible and do so every time.

Although you said all your tests were done in the morning, if not all done at the same time the graph will show one reason why your TSH levels differ.

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks I'll do my next one at 9 am

[tattybogle in reply to geordieclaire120573]

ok ... so while you have to accept that GP can't do anything about it yet unless / until TSH goes over range (4.5 / 5ish) , you should definitely keep an eye on it by retesting every few months to see if this is a trend that continues to rise .. (and so should they, but they probably won't because annoyingly your slightly raised TPOab have gone back under range for the moment ). If you ever get another raised TPOab ,especially if it's significantly higher than the previous 36 was , then make sure you stick it under your GP's nose, they will give that more weight than TGab and with evidence of raised TPOab they should then test annually if you have symptoms , to monitor for any raise in TSH).

In the meantime , you are left with trying to improve whatever else you can, as per seaside susies reply re. Nutrient levels .

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to tattybogle]

What does it mean when the other one has gone back in range

[tattybogle in reply to geordieclaire120573]

nothing much.

most'healthy' people would be expected to have some TPOab.. you won't very often find anybody with 0, and the levels of them will fluctuate all the time .

Your 36 was so close to range that they might well have ignored it as 'borderline' anyway while your TSH is still range.

a strong positive/ conclusive result for TPOab would be ? over about 50 . many hashimoto's patients will have a few hundred ,and some will have thousands.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

geordieclaire120573

You had lots of replies when you posted these results 4 days ago here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You were asked but didn't answer the question about what your nutrient levels were.

You said you were prescribed folic acid for low folate and 800iu D3 for low Vit D and SlowDragon replied that wouldn't be enough D3. 800iu is barely a maintenance dose for someone with a good level already.

So if you post the results of your vitamins and tell us exactly what you are taking then we may be able to help.

Pins and needles can be low B12.

Muscle and joint aches and pains can be low Vit D.

So please tell us your results, with their reference ranges, plus units of measurement for B12 and Vit D if you want us to help you.

[Hedgeree]

Hi geordieclaire120573,

It was a few years ago now but I do remember the muscle pains and weakness I had in my arms when my vitamin D levels were very low (7 or 8) so I was very deficient.

I also had daily frontal headaches which started in the morning and lasted most of the day. I struggled to raise my arms above my head and I had no strength in them whatsoever. I had some joint pain also.

My regular GP was away on maternity leave and I saw a locum instead. She was brilliant and suggested I got my vitamin D levels checked. (My regular GP kept fobbing me off with headache tablets!) I was found to be very deficient.

Apologies for the waffling on but what I'm trying to say is don't underestimate how ill you can feel with low vitamin D levels. Once I got loading doses sorted out and started supplementing I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly most of my deficiency symptoms lessened.

So I'd recommend starting with the vitamin D supplement first. If your GP is no help take the knowledge and advice from the experienced members of this forum.

Best wishes.

[geordieclaire120573 in reply to Hedgeree]

I've asked for a higher dose of vitamin d and they have refused said I don't need it

[geordieclaire120573]

It's just so frustrating to keep getting brushed off...your fine it's menopause. It's all normal...I said to my husband the other I think I'm depressed...just so sick of feeling awful