hi everyone
I posted previously about my blood results (ft4 19 (12-22). Ft3 5 (3.1-6.8)
I was advised that my conversion is really poor and asked to get some vitamin blood results and come back with them. They have come back this week and I have posted them below , is it ok if someone checks them for me please ? I have posted my blood results in a previous post but no one has replied to it
Free T4 (fT4) 19 pmol/L (12 - 22) 70.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 51.4%
What’s the TSH result
Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
you have perhaps room for small increase in Levo
How much levothyroxine are you taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine
Vitamin levels not bad
What vitamin supplements are you taking
Aim to improve vitamin D at least over 80nmol
Have you had coeliac blood test
Or Are you on GF diet already
Morning ! Thank you for the reply slow dragon
I went gluten free almost 3 weeks ago.
The test I always take properly the way you said above. My tsh is always under the reference , this one was 0.19
I am taking 100 and twice a week 88
I had celiac test years ago but not one recently. It was negative back then.
If vitamin D and folate are low (mine are a bit rubbish) can that cause conversion issues like I have ?
Thanks for the support , it’s nice to know I can come here and ask for help.
I didn’t know I had thyroglobulin antibodies though. What are those please ? I have been on google but I find it hard to make sense of it sometimes.
Thanks
Are you currently taking any B vitamins?
How much vitamin D are you currently taking
Improving vitamin levels can often improve conversion a bit
Are you noticing any improvements on gluten free diet yet
Antibodies
Do you have high TPO and high TG antibodies
Both are often present in autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)
Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG 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.
I’m not currently taking anything except folic acid but it doesn’t seem to be doing much. I’m off out today to buy some vitamin d and a decent iron supplement.
I am noticing a difference on gluten free yes! I made a previous post about how much it was helping me , I’m not longer feeling bloated in my stomach and feel clearer headed. I can concentrate at work so much better.. I feel like my face look less puffy too and more energy.
I have posted my antibodies above in this post
Far wider choice and cheaper to buy vitamins online
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid supplements
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
Post discussing different B complex
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...
Amazing !! Thank you so very much
Thyroglobulin Antibodies are one of four types of antibodies that help us determine whether our thyroid issues are autoimmune.
That’s important because there are various reasons our thyroid might be malfunctioning… many of us are autoimmune, but not everyone. But when it’s of an autoimmune cause, then we know that our body will over time continue to think our own thyroid is foreign/harmful and hence it will “attack” it. Not sure if that is the best description. But you can think of something like a virus… you body knows it’s an invader! So it send out the troops to attack and eliminate it. Well… with “autoimmune “ the body mistakes something healthy for bad.
Simply put, if you test positive even just once for Thyroglobulin antibodies as you have - that means your thyroid issues are autoimmune.
Antibodies are also a little complex and sometimes misunderstood. I like the pic I attached for showing the overlaps. Some are more indicative of Hashimoto (under active) vs graves.
AB tests when above the range provided are “positive” and are conclusive for autoimmune cause for your thyroid disorder. Like yours.
When they are negative, it doesn’t mean anything conclusive, other than an autoimmune cause can’t be confirmed. Antibodies fluctuate, they do go up and down.
Net net, regardless of the reason for your underactive thyroid, the treatment is largely the same: optimizing your Free T4 and Free T3, monitoring your tsh, and optimizing key vitamins and your iron /ferrtin.
Thank you. Does it matter that my antibodies are both below the range or do they have to be over a certain number to be autoimmune ?
your Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies (TPOab )are over range 44 [0-34] so that is a positive result, indicating autoimmune thyroid disease.
it's only a weak positive as TPOab can be in the hundred / thousands, but it is still positive .
your Thyroglobulin antibodies (TGab) are within range ( negative)
Oooh ok. I thought they were pretty low.
I feel a bit better than I did a few weeks ago so I’ll continue to do my best with vitamins and monitoring and see if I can get to feeling 100% well.
Thank you all so much
If TPO antibodies go away, and stay gone , what does this mean ?
I can’t live without my levothyroxine, I’m on that for life.
But if the antibodies went below that range and stayed there (not far off !) , what would this indicate please
That your immune system is no longer "seeing" thyroid peroxidase that needs to be cleaned up.
Could be that you no longer have any thyroid tissue.
TPOab can occur in several circumstances such as when there has been physical damage (operation, seatbelt injury, etc.) and would be expected to reduce as when it recovers.
would it mean I have to reduce my levothyroxine ? Or would it mean that I stay on Levo but there is no further damage being done to my thyroid ?
(Sorry, edited this. I misread your reply, I though you said “it might mean you no longer have any thyroid issue” )
Antibodies do not dictate need for, nor the dose of, thyroid hormone.
In the days before antibody tests they (obviously) would not have been available to be considered!
We have generally poor information about the possibility of transiently raised antibodies. On the one hand, if you don't have a thyroid issue, they won't be tested. And probably most who are tested and have a positive result are only seeing confirmation of the cause.
That makes it difficult to provide a decent answer.
Thank you for this information. I am very interested in transient antibodies but I understand everyone has different experiences and points of view. My sister had transient antibodies after having my niece and she had to take levothyroxine for 18 months and then she came off it. I wonder if that could be the same for me ? I wouldn’t dare reduce my levothyroxine though, I do feel I need it.
help with where to go from here
Is this poor conversion? 
Sick thyroid syndrome
Medichecks result different from Bupa? Taken at same time!
Is this poor conversion?
