Hashis question

[SleepyKitty]

After nearly 13yrs of being hypo I did an at home test to check antibodies, but I've not got much of an idea if the high antibodies are really high or just a 'normal' level for having Hashis? I've never had a goitre, was told I had a few nodules on the RHS of my thyroid when I was first diagnosed. I'm on 125mcg levothyroxine atm and was relatively stable until the 25mcg suppier started changing every prescription, so I'm having another blood test (with antibodies) next week. Can anyone advise on this antibody level? Thanks in advance lovely people.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Free T4 (fT4) 15.5 pmol/L (12 - 22) 35.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.76 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 44.9%

Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Results show you need dose increase in levothyroxine

Most people when adequately treated on just levothyroxine will have Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60% through range or higher

Request “trial” increase to 150mcg

Even if you initially only increase to 137.5mcg (125mcg and 150mcg on alternate days

Which brand of levothyroxine is your 100mcg

Are you still on HRT

[SleepyKitty in reply to SlowDragon]

9am test and no levo for 24hrs, only water before and no biotin either. Still on HRT but considering reducing dose as I think it's aggravating PCOS symptoms.

After those results, I found out I'm B12 deficient and can't absorb it, just had my loading dose injections after getting a GP to understand tablets weren't working. I've always been low on ferritin, which I've been addressing along with vit D, folate and the rest of the necessary cofactors for B12 injections.

I'm now wondering if the B12 deficit has had a much bigger impact on my thyroid than I'd thought?

100mcg Levo is either Accord/Almus and the 25mcg was Mercury from December-March, from then until now it's been Teva.

After writing this, I know I'm going round in circles! Thought of asking the GP if they'd consider prescribing me 150mcg of Accord/Almus but only take 150mcg alternate days so it averages out.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

[greygoose]

but I've not got much of an idea if the high antibodies are really high or just a 'normal' level for having Hashis?

There's no such thing as 'normal for Hashi's' because antibodies fluctuate all the time, so once you know they're positive and you have Hashi's, the actual level doesn't matter.

TPO antibodies have a job to do: during an immune system attack on the thyroid, the dying cells leak thyroid hormone into the blood, causing what we call a Hashi's 'hyper' swing. And, at the same time, some of the protein Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) also leaks into the blood, where it shouldn't be. So, the TPO antibodies come along in force to clean it up (simplified version). Once their job is done, their numbers reduce again.

I've never had a goitre

In which case you probably have Ord's, rather than Hashi's. It's the same as Hashi's but minus the goitre.