Thyroid and Positive ANA Test

[Plug123]

I have an under active thyroid and have been on 150 Levothyroxine for a few years. Latest blood tests show my thyroid is where it should be. Last year my hands and feet got painful and swollen and X-rays of my hands show osteoarthritis. Doc ordered more blood tests to check,for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Flag for RA was negative but a “moderate ANA Titre of 1/640” was also reported and laboratory suggested further tests for connective tissues disease. Doc says no further tests needed and says the ANA results was probably a false positive. Does anyone have any information on Titre ANA?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Exactly what were your thyroid blood results? We are often told our results are normal and they are anything but.

[Plug123 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Not got it in front of me but from memory laboratory said all ok. The ANA test was done because I have osteoarthritis in my hands and my hands and feet are swollen and painful.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please add actual results and ranges for thyroid and vitamin levels

do you always test thyroid levels early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease?

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

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 and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[Plug123 in reply to SlowDragon]

27/4/ 2022

tsh -0.06 mU/L (0.35 - 5.00)

Free T4 19.5 0mol/L (9.0-21.0)

Total T3 - not tested

Comments: previous reports indicate patient on thyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Plug123]

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done including thyroid antibodies

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels last tested

Need testing at least annually

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

[SLS2103]

Hello, high ANA can also be linked to lupus, another autoimmune disease treated by a rheumatologist. I have lupus also. Worth asking a professional about as it's fairly rare and often overlooked.

[EchoWS]

I have hypothyroidism and psoriatic/nrAnkylosing spondylitis. My ANA recently came back positive, it was negative 10 years ago pre-menopause and arthritis flares. I'm HLA B27 positive which is associated with autoimmune diseases and specifically ankylosing spondylitis. They can do a blood test for it. They tested my for rheumatoid arthritis and this test came back negative so on the bright side not at greater risk for that. I have joint pain in feet, knees, back. Haven't gotten feedback from Dr yet on positive ANA.