advice re thyroid antibodies : Hi. I have... - Thyroid UK

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advice re thyroid antibodies

1839 profile image
1839
29 Replies

Hi. I have Hashimoto’s and my antibodies remain high, can anyone advise on the adverse affect this might have on me and how I might reduce them.

Thyroglubin are 4000.0 from range 0.0-115.0 with Peroxidase 216.0 from range 0.0-34.0

At last blood test my Free T4 was 7.7 range 7.0-17.0 and TSH 4.85 range 0.20-4.50 I was on 100mcg day of T4 and 20mcg day of T3.

Since blood test T4 has been increased 100mcg one day with 125mcg alternate days. (No blood result on this new dose as yet)

I am on GF , dairy free and caffeine free diets

Thanks

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1839
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29 Replies
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

What you need to understand is that antibodies don't cause symptoms. They are the result of the autoimmune attack on your thyroid which cannot be prevented.

The main way people try and reduce them if they are concerned is to go gluten free which you have already done. Well done on the dietary changes.

Have you recently checked your vitamin levels, if so what were they?

What are you supplementing with?

Thyroid medication needs vitamin levels at OPTIMAL to work well.

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toJaydee1507

Hi Thanks for your reply, haven’t had a recent check on vitamin levels but under the impression the levels are OK, I am taking B, C, Aloe Vera, D and Magnesium. How often should I have these checked and which ones will the NHS include in a blood test please? Thankyou

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to1839

The NHS will sometimes do ferritin, folate & B12 if you ask a kind GP. In some areas you can get vit D tested but not all areas.

Many people in this group pay for private tests to ensure their levels are where they need to be at OPTIMAL and not just within the reference range. They buy their own supplements to do this.

GPs get no training in nutrition so what a GP says is OK is likely not at all. They will tell you you are fine with your level one point above the lowest point.

I suggest you get a copy of your results and post them here or if it was while ago then ask for new tests or buy your own. See link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost.thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

There is also a new company offering walk in (includes free blood draw) & mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

You also really need to see where your FT3 is at if you are taking T3. Clearly at the moment you aren't taking enough as your TSH is too high. Best to raise your Levo as FT4 is very low.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Antibodies don't have any adverse effects. They have their job to do - i.e. cleaning up the blood after an immune system attack on the thyroid - so I question whether it is wise to even try to reduce their number. They're there for a reason. :)

At last blood test my Free T4 was 7.7 range 7.0-17.0 and TSH 4.85 range 0.20-4.50 I was on 100mcg day of T4 and 20mcg day of T3.

That's a very high TSH for someone on 20 mcg T3. Did they not test the FT3? Rather stupid if you're taking it, but that's the medical profession for you! It rather suggests that you're not absorbing it very well.

1839 profile image
1839 in reply togreygoose

Hi, Thanks for the advice, the NHS check distant include FT3, however, on a recent private test FT3 was 3.2. Range given at 3.1-6.8.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to1839

Was that before or after starting 20 mcg T3?

1839 profile image
1839 in reply togreygoose

Hi The blood test was whilst taking 20mg of T3 and after reducing the T3 dose from 30mcg daily (split 20 & 10) to the 20mcg.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to1839

Then you are not absorbing it properly, and that is why your TSH is high. That plus your ver low FT4.

So, how do you take your thyroid hormone? Do you always take it on an empty stomach and wait at least an hour before eating? Do you take any other medications/supplements at the same time?

1839 profile image
1839 in reply togreygoose

Yes I do take it on an empty stomach, also take at same time 2.5 mg Bisopropol to steady my heart rate and 5mg Apixaban blood thinners. Both prescribed because my heart is not in sinus rhythm. I take some supplements later on, at least an hour after.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to1839

Well, it's probably those two medications that are blocking absorption, then. Can you not take them at anothing time? Or take your thyroid hormone at another time.

1839 profile image
1839 in reply togreygoose

Yes I can take them at a seperate time and will start that from tomorrow. Thanks for your help

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to1839

You're welcome. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

Strongly recommend you take levothyroxine and T3 well away from all other medications and supplements

You can take levothyroxine at bedtime

T3 at least an hour away from other medications

As TSH drops TG antibodies will lower

Get vitamin levels checked at least annually

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

See detailed reply by SeasideSusie

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Timings of testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks very much, is it OK to take the T4 and T3 at the same time on a daily basis? which I do now.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to1839

Yes

But

Many need to split T3 as 2-3 doses spread through the day

If you start to take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks

LucyYoga profile image
LucyYoga

Try LDN

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toLucyYoga

It might help to say what LDN is!

And why it should, in your opinion, be tried?

(Low Dose Naltrexone)

1839 profile image
1839 in reply tohelvella

Hi I have tried Low dose Naltrexone as it was suggested it can lower antibodies and currently on a low dose when the blood test was drawn, not convinced it is effective.

LucyYoga profile image
LucyYoga in reply to1839

Ah… I didn’t need to explain it! You know what it is

LucyYoga profile image
LucyYoga in reply to1839

think everyone reacts differently to it- sone have great success, others not so much so.

For me I’ve discovered it’s the mycotoxins that are driving the attack and high levels of antibodies than flare up when I’ve come off LDN. However, now, as I detox from the Mold they are naturally lowering

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toLucyYoga

Can I query how did you identify mycotoxins were a big issue,

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toLucyYoga

Why do you think LDN can help? I have tried it to help reduce antibodies but not convinced it is effective. Would be interested if you know of any studies or anything that could change my mind.

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador

For me, antibodies are helpful at diagnosis and then later on help to make sense of changes with Hashimoto’s. Over the last 2 years my TPO have varied from 155 at diagnosis to around 240ish, over the summer I had a phase of being over range, transient hyper symptoms and my TPO went up at the same time, suggesting the clean up crew had been busy. They are now a bit lower 181 so from that I deduce they have less work to do. 🌱

LucyYoga profile image
LucyYoga

low dose naltrexone is an opioid antagonist and immunomodulator. It’s binds to opioid receptors, upregulates endorphins and could help lower your antibodies- it did mine.

For over a year I tried to lower my antibodies by following strict AIP, avoidance of personal food intolerances/ allergies, myo inositol, selenium, photobiomodulation..,, all the usual things to lower antibodies… and nothing worked. In 3 months LDN brought my TPOAb down from over 1000 to less than 200.

I disagree that we should we should just accept they are there - indeed they are a result of the autoimmune attack on the thyroid and not the cause of symptoms, however they give a valuable picture of how aggressive the autoimmune attack is which I believe can very much be prevented with the right knowledge. If you can find the root cause/causes of why your immune system is going crazy and attacking your thyroid (mycotoxins, heavy metals, chronic low grade infections, viruses, industrial and environmental toxins etc), then you can deal with the source of the attack and prevent it.

It all depends how far upstream you want to go and whether you are happy to accept that your body will just eventually completely destroy your thyroid or whether you believe that it can be stopped and ultimately reversed.

I fall into the latter camp and am making huge strides by addressing my root causes which for me is a huge mycotoxin load that I am currently detoxing from .

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toLucyYoga

Thanks. All makes sense. Have you undertaken anything to reduce heavy metals?

LucyYoga profile image
LucyYoga

No - I don’t have elevated levels of heavy metals. With me it seems to be all mold

LucyYoga profile image
LucyYoga

Although I’ve yet to test for glyphosate which is prob high from all the years in the past of eating non organic food and lots of grains!

If you are interested in environmental medicine I recommend great book called Toxic by Dr Neil Nathan - he’s an amazing Dr

1839 profile image
1839 in reply toLucyYoga

Thanks I’ll look that up.

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