Hi all, after some advice as GP is rather unhelpful/ lack of knowledge/reactive rather than pro-active;
symptoms- bit of weight gain, espesh tummy, tired, very hungry especially at night (my main reason for blood tests). miscarriage 14 weeks last november.
had TSH of 5.2, insisted on a repeat and extra tests given mum's autoimmunie disorders (inc hypo+hyper thyroid).
repeat test came back:
TSH- 2.8, T3 - 4.6, T4 - 12 (was told all normal levels)
But, thyroid peroxide antibodies at 199, so I may or may not develop autoimmune thyroid disease, but don't worry unless you have symptoms................errr I do have symptoms thats why I asked for blood tests...end of conversation with GP and any further assistance!
Can anyone give any advice? is it possible to have symptoms with just raised antibodies? feel like I'm going mad and not feeling myself but there doesn't seem to be a solution. what do you do if you think you have symptoms but not presenting with any more abnormal results that require treatment? is there anything I can do to practively help myself?
thank you in advance
xx
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candyfloss21
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“TSH- 2.8, T3 - 4.6, T4 - 12 (was told all normal levels)”
The FT4 & FT3 look low by most ranges. But ranges vary between labs & we need them to interpret accurately.
Antibodies are a results of autoimmune activity not cause. A positive level is confirmation of autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s) but this aspect can’t be treated. Doctors wait until TSH is is very high & thyroid struggling or thyroid hormones low.
As you have positive antibodies you can argue for replacement before level reach clinical abnormal levels. Especially as you have symptoms. It indicates level are likely to decline.
There may be different guidance if trying to conceive as levels need to be good to support pregnancy. (Sorry for your loss)
Having optimal nutrients will help prevent compounding of any symptoms.
Optimal is not same as just in range.Have you had folate, ferritin, B12 & vitamin D tested?
This link has info In sub clinic hypothyroidism & pregnancy
Thank you so much for replying, could you recommend where to look for the normal and optimal ranges? google is a maze and I'm not sure where to look at or at what units?
I haven't had vitamins tested but maybe I can do that next, thank you
Either fom practice or from lab which completed test.
There’s quite a variation so has to be accurate.
Always get printed results or see if practice offers online access to record.
If you are in England practices are contractually mandated (other areas it’s optimal) to offer access to online record - very useful as can also view notes & letters. Don’t trust verbal or handwritten results as (can often incorrect)
Will doctor test nutrients? Many won’t agree especially refusing vitamin D?
Many make progress by testing privately. Here’s a link with some private companies & discount codes.
Order blood test option (online or phone) and will include kit for finger prick sample. (Can pay extra fee for venous draw)
Complete test after fasting overnight (drink lots of water) ideally just before 09.00 as this will show TSH at daily highest.
Post back early in week to avoid weekend delays & avoiding hot weather & postal strikes.
There’s lots of options, some include thyroid function, nutrients and Antibodies, eg “medichecks thyroid advanced”. Others basic function only eg monitor my health.
Firstly I'm sorry you lost your dear baby. This was the situation I found myself in years ago. Antibodies but apparently 'normal' results and I had 2 late miscarriages. I was also not feeling myself at all!
I would encourage you to get your key vitamins tested - ferritin, folate, B12 and D3. There are private companies online you can do this very easily. Supplementing these vitamins to get them to optimal levels - at least 50% of range and above may help you feel a bit better.
The key vitamin for pregnancy is folate. I know they now recommend supplementing with Folic Acid, but certain people do not benefit from this as its an inactive vitamin and requires the body to convert it to an active form. Better to take the active form - Methylfolate. This alone might help you carry anther pregnancy to term.
As far as your thyroid results, I had to get retested every 6 months until my TSH peeped out of range on 2 tests, then I got medicated. They have since changed the guidelines for treatment so you may have to wait longer. If you do get pregnant again I would flag it with your GP that you need thyroid bloods done then as your requirement will increase at that point. Some antenatal clinics I think do have an Endocrinologist working with them and I would push to be seen by them. I wish you a lot of luck.
Were the two tests done at the same time of day? Because TSH is higher before 9 am - when we recommend you have the blood draw - and then drops throughout the morning until it reaches its lowest point around midday. So, unless the two blood draws were done at the same time, you cannot compare them. This is just one of the many things doctors can't seem to get their heads round concerning thyroid!
You are not at risk of developing autoimmune thyroiditis, you HAVE autoimmune thyroiditis, but doctors don't admit it until the TSH goes over 10, they are so very reluctant to diagnose thyroid problems. And, when you have autoimmune thyroiditis - aka Hashi's - levels can jump around, so the TSH cannot be entirely depended on for diagnosis.
However, what you should know is that a 'normal' (euthyroid) TSH is around 1, never over 2, and you are hypo when your TSH reaches 3. So, yes, you could very well have symptoms with those levels.
Having said that, it's not the TSH itself that causes symptoms. It's low FT3, and yours looks like it's probably lower than euthyroid, which is around 50% through the range. And, as I said, with Hashi's levels can fluctuate. But, what is most important in a pregnancy is the FT4 level. And yours looks like it could be much too low.
So, what can you do to help yourself? Keep testing those levels, but make sure the blood draw is always before 9 am, and do it on an empty stomach. Others have already said that you do need to test nutrients and make sure they are optimal. So, the only other thing I can add is to educate yourself. Research your disease so that next time you encounter your ignorant doctor, you can argue him into the ground to get what you want - i.e. thyroid hormone replacement. Keep reading on here, click on all the links and read the research and the articles. It won't take you long before you know a hell of a lot more than your doctor!
thank you so much for the reply, given that we have one child and I'm nearly 41 I think this could be a major factor in us risking trying again, the impact on general immunity in pregnancy makes me concerned the affect it could have and what it might trigger, and not really sure I've got time now to work through all this with an endocrinologist etc, dr has suggested coming back in a years time, but I'm going to call back for more tests before then or get them done privately just for more information!
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.
The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).
The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.
……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.
The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.
so sorry for your loss. You’ve got some amazing advice here already, I just want to wish you well and encourage you to be FIRM with your GP, they clearly need CPD, their knowledge of Auto immune /Hashimoto’s is woeful, have agency, advocate for yourself and your family. As your Mum has been hyper/hypo too - what is your GP thinking 🙈
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