Hi all,
Was told I had hashimotos a year ago following an ultrasound, I had a private blood test done which showed TPO antibodies were 350 iu/l, I have just had them redone at my doctors and it’s not 278 ku/L so different measurements, is this a normal level?
Thank you!
Do you have the ranges for those tests?
Usually a positive result is something like anything >35. But the ranges would confirm things.
I don’t I’m afraid, that’s all that was shown and they’ve asked me to book in to see a doctor!
And this was them a year ago, when it says normal range under 35 does that mean 350 or 35 because if it’s 35 that means they are really high?
It doesn't matter what the actual level of the antibodies is. All you need to know is if it's postive (over-range) or negative (within rangej). Antibodies fluctuate all the time, but if you've once had a positive result you have Hashi's, and that doesn't go away regardless of antibody levels.
A level of 35 or more means a positive result so, yes, your levels are elevated.
Do you have any other thyroid test results that you can share? TSH/FT4 and FT3? Don’t forget to include ranges.
TSH was fine, I have never had FT3/FT4 done!
So on the face of things your results do iindeed look ‘euthyroid’ (eg indicative of someone without a thyroid problem) but unfortunately things aren’t that straightforward. To gain a better insight you’ll need to have your FT4 and, ideally, your FT3 levels tested.
How do you feel? That’s the most important factor in this.
Presumably you’ve previously sought help from your GP about particular symptoms, otherwise why would you have had antibodies/TSH tested…..
I feel absolutely terrible 😂 that’s why I went to the doctors - I do have a goitre and have 3 nodules that were measured last year at over 2cm but I was then discharged from the clinic, they did think it might be the menopause but agreed to test my thyroid aswell but said they couldn’t request T3/T4 as they are specialised tests! I have a follow up in a months time so will see what they say!
specialist tests! What a load of twaddle. FT4 is pretty standard, it’s FT3 which the NHS seems reluctant to test.
When’s your appointment?
*Many* of us on the forum undertake private, finger prick home tests to check our levels. They’re pretty inexpensive - c. £30. I’ve linked a couple below.
Unfortunately - scandalously - thyroid conditions are poorly understood and treated on the NHS, hence why this forum has upwards of 140k members! It’s above and beyond the most active forum on healthunlocked. Which speaks volumes. We have to be our own advocates, but fortunately the help and support on this forum is completely brilliant. You’ve done well to end up here 😊
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
randoxhealth.com/en-GB/at-h...
completely agree - I have been suffering symptoms for a good couple of years and really had to push for an ultrasound, still don’t like the thought of these nodules in my neck with no one keeping an eye on them but hey ho! Thank you for the support I will have a look at those finger print monitors and will see if they need T3/T4 when I go for my appointment at the beginning of September!
So you have a bit of time to ‘gen up’ prior to your appointment. I’d recommend reading posts here and, if I were you I’d also do a home test.
Sorry, something which just occurred to me regarding the thyroid test(s) you’ve had at your GP surgery: what time of day was the blood drawn and had you eaten prior to it? TSH has a strong circadian rhythm and fluctuates to a surprising extent throughout the day. Practically speaking the optimal time to catch your TSH at its highest is when your phlebotomy department opens for business at the drs; this is 8.30 in my case. GPs are TSH-centric so it’s vital to capture it at its ‘worst’.
it was 2.30 in the afternoon so just after my lunch! Didn’t even think that might have a negative effect on the results! I will mention all this when I see the doctor 😀
It’s quite likely that your TSH will be higher in the morning, prior to eating or drinking anything other than water. Please be aware that this is very much a ‘patient to patient’ tip, rather than something the vast majority of drs are aware of.
you can normally call the lab and ask for the reference range. Call the hospital and ask to be put through to pathology
GP will also have the ref range; it’s just annoying they don’t put it on the print outs that patients get which means the results are meaningless
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TSH levels.
