Do I have Hashimoto's?

[Theauthoress]

After reading the responses to a post I made on here a few weeks ago, I raised my Levothyroxine from 75mcg to 100mcg a day. Then I waited two months for everything to settle down, and took a private test. The results surprised me, and it seems to me that after more than twelve years on much lower doses, I may actually have it right at last, because I feel absolutely fine, and the lab's comment is that my thyroid hormone levels are euthyroid, which sounds good to me. The results are:

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: 0.34 mu/L (TSH range 0.27 to 4.2mU/L)

Thyroxine 19.9 pmol/L (FT4 range 12 to 22pmol/L)

Triodothyronine 4.8 pmol/L (FT3 range 3.1 to 6.8pmol/L)

TPO antibodies 280 IU/mL (TPO antibodies range above 35 IU/mL) The notes from the test say that I may have an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid.

What I wanted to ask you all is this:

As my TPO antibodies appear to be quite high, I wondered if this means I have Hashimoto's. It sounds a bit sad, I suppose, but I'd like to have a name for whatever it is. My doctors have never talked to me about it, so I don't know, you see. Anyway, after years of 'borderline' test results, this feels like the ideal dose, I'd just like an official label too!

[RedApple]

'As my TPO antibodies appear to be quite high, I wondered if this means I have Hashimoto's.'

Yes you do. Although I personally prefer to call it AITD (Autoimmune Thyroid Disease)

Good that you've finally found your sweet spot and feel fine. Long may it last!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin too……especially with Hashimoto’s

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were these last tested

as vegetarian you are highly likely to have low iron/ferritin and B12

[Theauthoress in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm not taking any vitamins at the moment, but I've started eating fish, so my diet is pretty good. I'm not vegan, only vegetarian (well, technically pescatarian) for now. But you're right, and I'll look at getting the other things checked too, thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Theauthoress]

Come back with new post once you get results

Don’t start any vitamin supplements until tested

With Hashimoto’s it’s not how good (or bad) our diet is ….but how poor gut function is……and frequently how badly we absorb nutrients as direct result

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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...

Test B12 before starting any supplement

academic.oup.com/nutritionr...

The present review of the literature regarding B12 status among vegetarians shows that the rates of B12 depletion and deficiency are high. It is, therefore, recommended that health professionals alert vegetarians about the risk of developing subnormal B12 status. Vegetarians should also take preventive measures to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin, including the regular intake of B12 supplements to prevent deficiency. Considering the low absorption rate of B12 from supplements, a dose of at least 250 μg should be ingested for the best results.3

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron 

Medichecks iron panel test 

Test early morning and only water between waking and test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

[TSH110]

you might find this article helpful in explaining the antibodies:

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/04/...

[Theauthoress in reply to TSH110]

Thanks, that IS interesting. I still don't know where I fit in the spectrum, but that's okay. At least I know more than I did, which helps when talking to medics!

[TSH110 in reply to Theauthoress]

I don't think most medics even know anything about what’s in the article the fact is is usually autoimmune in origin is totally ignored as irrelevant. We have a way to go I’m afraid

Her other items are also very good but can be hard to grasp it’s worth trying though as the more you know about your condition the better you can address it