Thyroid Antibodies levels = 2097

[Guest guest]

Hello

I've been struggling to get help from my GP's for years regarding my thyroid (my

mum has problems & always believed i did too) & finally managed to get him to do

a antibodies blood test last week. I got the results today & they are 2097 (I

believe the normal range is 0-35?) I'm not really sure what this means exactly,

but it sounds pretty high to me & from what i've read might indicate autoimmune

thyroiditis? I've had symptoms for years & never been able to do anything to

help myself feel better & lose weight; so i'm pretty sure this has something to

do with it.

I just wondered if anyone had any info they could share with me about this?

I have been referred to an endocrinologist in 3 wks; but until then i just want

to get as much info as i can.

Thanks in advance

x

[Guest guest]

Hello Serena and welcome to our forum where I hope you get all

the help and support you need.

Having antibodies to your thyroid means you have Hashimoto's

disease. The antibodies attack only your thyroid gland but they set about its gradual

destruction. The antibodies see your thyroid gland as public enemy number one.

You certainly have a very high level and it is likely your endocrinologist will

start you on levothyroxine. The majority of sufferers of hypothyroidism have

antibodies and we need to take thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of our

lives - but in most cases, that is not a problem.

Get ready to see your endocrinologist by getting all the

information together that you can. First, make a list of all your symptoms and

the signs you are showing. You can find a list to compare yours with in our web

site www.tpa-uk.org.uk . Just click on 'Hypothyroidism'

in the Menu and then on the drop down Menu, click on 'Symptoms and

Signs'. Mention in your notes for him any members of your family who have

a thyroid problem or an autoimmune disease as it runs in families. List

all the supplements you are taking. Make a list of the following blood tests

and ask him if he will do these because if any of them are low in the reference

range, your thyroid hormone will not be able to be absorbed properly into your

cells. These are: ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium,

copper, zinc and folate.

Read the information in our web site about hypothyroidism and

the associated conditions that go alongside it. Also have a look at the

information in our FILES section of this forum - there is a wealth of

information there.

Luv - Sheila

I've been struggling to get help from my GP's for years regarding my thyroid

(my mum has problems & always believed i did too) & finally managed to

get him to do a antibodies blood test last week. I got the results today &

they are 2097 (I believe the normal range is 0-35?) I'm not really sure what

this means exactly, but it sounds pretty high to me & from what i've read

might indicate autoimmune thyroiditis? I've had symptoms for years & never

been able to do anything to help myself feel better & lose weight; so i'm

pretty sure this has something to do with it.

I just wondered if anyone had any info they could share with me about this?

I have been referred to an endocrinologist in 3 wks; but until then i just want

to get as much info as i can.

Thanks in advance

x

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19:41:00

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Sheila - i'll take a look through all the info.

I've now got the full set of test results & my T3 is 6 (range 3.8-6) T4 is 10.6

(range 9-21) & TSH is 2.73 (in March is was 1.41)

Are these results anything worth noting? I know that the higher your TSH the

slower your metabolism, thats right isn't it? But i'm not sure what the T3/4

results mean?

Also, could i just ask; i've felt pretty dreadful these past 10 yrs & have

suffered with anxiety/depression (due to the anxiety & inability to feel better)

which came on with no trauma-do you think this might be linked to thyroid?

x

>

> Hello Serena and welcome to our forum where I hope you get all the > help and

support you need.

>

> Having antibodies to your thyroid means you have Hashimoto's disease. The

> antibodies attack only your thyroid gland but they set about its gradual

> destruction. The antibodies see your thyroid gland as public enemy number

> one. You certainly have a very high level and it is likely your

> endocrinologist will start you on levothyroxine. The majority of sufferers

> of hypothyroidism have antibodies and we need to take thyroid hormone

> replacement for the rest of our lives - but in most cases, that is not a

> problem.

>

[Edit Abbrev Mod]

[Guest guest]

I got the results today & they are 2097 (I believe the normal range is 0-35?) I'm not really sure what this means exactly, but it sounds pretty high to me & from what i've read might indicate autoimmune thyroiditis?

Hello,

Do you remember if those autoantibodies were TPO or TgAA ? I would guess that it was a TPO count. But either way - you are correct .... positive autoantibodies means that you are suffering from Hashimoto's disease (or autoimmune thyroiditis - same thing). With AA's (autoantibodies) that high (and yes, this count is very high.... most people only have a few hundreds) you are more than likely to be put onto thyroid medication by your Endo when you see him in 3 weeks .... but since that appointment is still 3 weeks away, can't you persuade your GP to get you started on Levothyroxine straight away? Why wait 3 more weeks? There can't be any doubt about your diagnosis, particularly since you say you've had symptoms for years. I would definitely ask the GP. He can't do more than say no.

As I said, the presence of autoantibodies alone is diagnostic for Hashimoto's disease. Your AA's are very high, but the actual number is of less importance (or so I understand) than the fact that AA's are positive (in whichever number), although I suspect that high AA's means high autoimmune activity. The role of the AA's is to attack and destroy your thyroid gland and that is what they will do in the fullness of time. When they have finished their "job" they will have burnt themselves out and will vanish - but that can take years. You can't stop this process. However, taking thyroid medication will help keeping the numbers down and to reduce the severity of the attacks.

You haven't posted your other thyroid test results - what were your TSH, FT4 and (if done) FT3 (with norm ranges please)?

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Oh , thank you so much for such a helpful reply. I really did think i

was going mad - it has been the most frustrating experience.

My other results were:

T3 : 6 (3.8-6)

T4 : 10.6 (9-21)

TSG : 2.73 (0.1-5) I had this tested in March 09 & it was 1.41 (not sure if that

is helpful or not?)

I'm not sure if the GP will prescribe me anything, she didn't have any idea what

a high level of antibodies even meant!

I'm thinking of changing my doctors anyway, as one of them treated me so badly.

He told me last week when i asked again to be tested, that i was clutching at

straws hoping for a thyroid problem to put my symptoms & inability to lose

weight down to! He said that maybe i'm just eating more than i realised &

needed!! He also read my test results yesterday & left a note on my record

stated they were all normal & there was no need to follow up; i only found out

about these results today, because i decided to go in & ask what else they could

do for me (thinking they had all come back normal)

Do you know how long it might take to start to feel better once on meds?

Thanks again for everything

xx

> I got the results today & they are 2097 (I believe the normal range is

> 0-35?) I'm not really sure what this means exactly, but it sounds pretty

> high to me & from what i've read might indicate autoimmune thyroiditis?

>

>

> Hello, Do you remember if those autoantibodies were TPO or TgAA ? I

> would guess that it was a TPO count. But either way - you are correct

> .... positive autoantibodies means that you are suffering from

> Hashimoto's disease (or autoimmune thyroiditis - same thing). With AA's

> (autoantibodies) that high (and yes, this count is very high.... most

> people only have a few hundreds) you are more than likely to be put

> onto thyroid medication by your Endo when you see him in 3 weeks ....

> but since that appointment is still 3 weeks away, can't you persuade

> your GP to get you started on Levothyroxine straight away? Why wait 3

> more weeks? There can't be any doubt about your diagnosis,

> particularly since you say you've had symptoms for years. I would

> definitely ask the GP. He can't do more than say no. As I said, the

> presence of autoantibodies alone is diagnostic for Hashimoto's disease.

> Your AA's are very high, but the actual number is of less importance (or

> so I understand) than the fact that AA's are positive (in whichever

> number), although I suspect that high AA's means high autoimmune

> activity. The role of the AA's is to attack and destroy your thyroid

> gland and that is what they will do in the fullness of time. When they

> have finished their " job " they will have burnt themselves out and will

> vanish - but that can take years. You can't stop this process. However,

> taking thyroid medication will help keeping the numbers down and to

> reduce the severity of the attacks. You haven't posted your other

> thyroid test results - what were your TSH, FT4 and (if done) FT3 (with

> norm ranges please)? Best wishes,

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Serena, The T4 is only one from the bottom of the range and TSH is too high- around 90% of healthy folk have a TSH of around 1.0 So IMHO you should start T4( levothyroxine) as soon as possible- as you appear to have no problem in converting T4 to T3 which is the active hormone this should help you recover. Depression is a hypothyroid hormone usually associated with low T3 levels- it should life as soon as you get the right amount of replacement thyroid meds- that was my experience. In this case antidepressants are not helpful until the underlying thyroid problem is sorted. > thyroid treatment > From: serena_mitchell@...> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:21:57 +0000> Subject: Re: Thyroid Antibodies levels = 2097> > Thank you so much Sheila - i'll take a look through all the info.> > I've now got the full set of test results & my T3 is 6 (range 3.8-6) T4 is 10.6 (range 9-21) & TSH is 2.73 (in March is was 1.41)> > Are these results anything worth noting? I know that the higher your TSH the slower your metabolism, thats right isn't it? But i'm not sure what the T3/4 results mean?> > Also, could i just ask; i've felt pretty dreadful these past 10 yrs & have suffered with anxiety/depression (due to the anxiety & inability to feel better) which came on with no trauma-do you think this might be linked to thyroid?> x> > > >> > Hello Serena and welcome to our forum where I hope you get all the > help and support you need. > > > > Having antibodies to your thyroid means you have Hashimoto's disease. The> > antibodies attack only your thyroid gland but they set about its gradual> > destruction. The antibodies see your thyroid gland as public enemy number> > one. You certainly have a very high level and it is likely your> > endocrinologist will start you on levothyroxine. The majority of sufferers> > of hypothyroidism have antibodies and we need to take thyroid hormone> > replacement for the rest of our lives - but in most cases, that is not a> > problem.> > > > [Edit Abbrev Mod]> > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Hi serena, This is the problem with NHS docs are supposed to take account of symptoms signs AND bloods, not using bloods as the only criterion. Agree that changing doc may be benficial as this one has his mind firmly shut. There are two ways of dealing with ignorance- educate or run away- fast! Once medicated you may start to feel better quite soon, but if you have residual thyrois activity then the level of meds has to rise above what you were making naturally before much benefit is felt, as the presence of artificial thyroid hormone will shut down natural production and this has to be compensated for first. It is usually reckoned 9 months, but benefits can often be felt long before that. > Subject: Re: Thyroid Antibodies levels = 2097> > > I'm not sure if the GP will prescribe me anything, she didn't have any idea what a high level of antibodies even meant!> > I'm thinking of changing my doctors anyway, as one of them treated me so badly. > Do you know how long it might take to start to feel better once on meds?> > > > >> > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Hello Serena,

***I'm not sure if the GP will prescribe me anything, she didn't have any idea whata high level of antibodies even meant!

That's sad but unfortunately quite common. Doctors are not taught much about thyroid conditions at med school, and what they *are* taught about thyroid disease, is to a large degree wrong.

I am not surprised that your GP said your results are "normal". All the figures are within the given ref ranges and unless you know that the upper TSH ref range is set much too high, then how would you know any different?

So let's look at your results:

T3 : 6 (3.8-6)T4 : 10.6 (9-21)TSG : 2.73 (0.1-5) (That's a typo, it should read TSH)

I had this tested in March 09 & it was 1.41 (not sure if that is helpful or not?)

To go up from the bottom.... The TSH (Thyroid Stimulation Hormone) is a hormone that the pituitary gland sends to the thyroid gland when the body cries out for more thyroid hormone. The current level to diagnose "Hypothyroidism" is set at least at 5.0, often at 5.5 and some doctors won't diagnose until the TSH has reached 10. Yours is 2.73 currently, so you can appreciate that your GP said all is well.

Truth is, that a patient will get hypothyroid symptoms long before (often years before) the TSH has risen to such heights. By the time the TSH is 10, most patients will be severely debilitated. The whole system is rotten... don't get me started

A "healthy" TSH would lie at "zero.something", but usually no higher than 1.5. But because the TSH is a pituitary hormone and not a thyroid hormone, you might get a very healthy looking TSH and still be very hypothyroid. This particular measurement is useful when diagnosing a thyroid condition, but it should NOT be the be all and end all tool for diagnostic purposes .... unfortunately for us all, it currently is

T4 is short for "thyroxine". This is the hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland. There is another measurement called FT4 (free thyroxine). The FT4 is the more accurate parameter as it is not so much influenced by certain medication, diet or illness. I wonder if your T4 figure above is in fact an FT4, because very few laboratories still use the T4 in human thyroid panels.

The same goes for the T3 - it might in fact be an FT3. T3 is short for tri-iodothyronine, which is a bit of a tongue breaker. The F stands again for "free" and likewise, it is less influenced by medication, diet or illness - so that is the measurement of choice usually.

Both, T4 and T3 are produced in the thyroid gland - roughly 80% T4, 16% T3 and 4% accounts for T1 and T2, and all of it is released into the blood stream on demand as needed. T4 is then converted into T3 (mainly by the liver, but also the kidneys and on cellular levels), because it is the T3 that is needed inside each and every cell for our bodies to function. - Think of the T4 as the fuel in the tank and of the T3 as the fuel that actually drives the body.

Looking at your T3 and T4 figures above (and you always need to look at those figures in relation to the ref ranges. Most labs use different ref ranges) you will see that your T3 appears to be at the high end and your T4 appear to be at the low end of the norm. I would question the validity of those readings. I would imagine that your high autoantibody count has something to do with such a constellation (making the T3 erroneously look very "healthy"). It is very possible that you might have had an AA attack on your thyroid gland around the time you had your blood test. This would have caused the release of thyroid hormone into your blood stream due to the destruction that the AA's have caused in the thyroid gland and it might have skewed the reading and made the Ts look higher than they really are. This happening is speculation on my part, of course, but I believe this is what happened when I look at those figures.

***Do you know how long it might take to start to feel better once on meds?

This is difficult to say. If all goes to plan and there are no hic-ups, you 'should' start feeling better after a few weeks (3-4) on thyroid medication. You should start with a lowish dose of 25 mcg or 50 mcg and after 4-6 weeks your bloods should be checked again, and perhaps the dosage should be upped. You would go up in increments of 25 mcg every 6 weeks or so until you have reached your optimal medication. The amount differs greatly and depends on weight and age, but most people feel right on between 100 mcg and 200 mcg of Levothyroxine. In an 'uncomplicated case' you would expect to be back to "normal" in about 8-12 months - but that is best case scenario. All along the way, though, you should feel better and better.

If you are going to change GPs, don't wait too long. A more clued up GP might send you on your way with thyroid medication, and by Christmas you might even feel half human again

All the best,

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much. I can't tell you how good it is to have someone listen & take

me seriously. You've been so helpful (as has everyone on here so far) I will

print this off & have another read tonight & move doctor's next week.

xxx

Thanks again

>

>

>

> Hello Serena, ***I'm not sure if the GP will prescribe me anything,

> she didn't have any idea what

> a high level of antibodies even meant! That's sad [] but

> unfortunately quite common. Doctors are not taught much about thyroid

> conditions at med school, and what they *are* taught about thyroid

> disease, is to a large degree wrong. I am not surprised that your GP

> said your results are " normal " . All the figures are within the given ref

> ranges and unless you know that the upper TSH ref range is set much too

> high, then how would you know any different?

> So let's look at your results: T3 : 6 (3.8-6)

> T4 : 10.6 (9-21)

> TSG : 2.73 (0.1-5) (That's a typo, it should read TSH) I had this

> tested in March 09 & it was 1.41 (not sure if that is helpful or not?)

> To go up from the bottom.... The TSH (Thyroid Stimulation Hormone) is a

> hormone that the pituitary gland sends to the thyroid gland when the

> body cries out for more thyroid hormone. The current level to diagnose

> " Hypothyroidism " is set at least at 5.0, often at 5.5 and some doctors

> won't diagnose until the TSH has reached 10. Yours is 2.73 currently, so

> you can appreciate that your GP said all is well. Truth is, that a

> patient will get hypothyroid symptoms long before (often years before)

> the TSH has risen to such heights. By the time the TSH is 10, most

> patients will be severely debilitated. The whole system is rotten...

> don't get me started [>] A " healthy " TSH would lie at

> " zero.something " , but usually no higher than 1.5. But because the TSH is

> a pituitary hormone and not a thyroid hormone, you might get a very

> healthy looking TSH and still be very hypothyroid. This particular

> measurement is useful when diagnosing a thyroid condition, but it should

> NOT be the be all and end all tool for diagnostic purposes ....

> unfortunately for us all, it currently is [(] T4 is short for

> " thyroxine " . This is the hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland.

> There is another measurement called FT4 (free thyroxine). The FT4 is the

> more accurate parameter as it is not so much influenced by certain

> medication, diet or illness. I wonder if your T4 figure above is in

> fact an FT4, because very few laboratories still use the T4 in human

> thyroid panels. The same goes for the T3 - it might in fact be an FT3.

> T3 is short for tri-iodothyronine, which is a bit of a tongue breaker.

> The F stands again for " free " and likewise, it is less influenced by

> medication, diet or illness - so that is the measurement of choice

> usually. Both, T4 and T3 are produced in the thyroid gland - roughly

> 80% T4, 16% T3 and 4% accounts for T1 and T2, and all of it is released

> into the blood stream on demand as needed. T4 is then converted into T3

> (mainly by the liver, but also the kidneys and on cellular levels),

> because it is the T3 that is needed inside each and every cell for our

> bodies to function. - Think of the T4 as the fuel in the tank and of

> the T3 as the fuel that actually drives the body. Looking at your T3

> and T4 figures above (and you always need to look at those figures in

> relation to the ref ranges. Most labs use different ref ranges) you

> will see that your T3 appears to be at the high end and your T4 appear

> to be at the low end of the norm. I would question the validity of

> those readings. I would imagine that your high autoantibody count has

> something to do with such a constellation (making the T3 erroneously

> look very " healthy " ). It is very possible that you might have had an AA

> attack on your thyroid gland around the time you had your blood test.

> This would have caused the release of thyroid hormone into your blood

> stream due to the destruction that the AA's have caused in the thyroid

> gland and it might have skewed the reading and made the Ts look higher

> than they really are. This happening is speculation on my part, of

> course, but I believe this is what happened when I look at those

> figures. ***Do you know how long it might take to start to feel better

> once on meds?

> This is difficult to say. If all goes to plan and there are no

> hic-ups, you 'should' start feeling better after a few weeks (3-4) on

> thyroid medication. You should start with a lowish dose of 25 mcg or 50

> mcg and after 4-6 weeks your bloods should be checked again, and perhaps

> the dosage should be upped. You would go up in increments of 25 mcg

> every 6 weeks or so until you have reached your optimal medication. The

> amount differs greatly and depends on weight and age, but most people

> feel right on between 100 mcg and 200 mcg of Levothyroxine. In an

> 'uncomplicated case' you would expect to be back to " normal " in about

> 8-12 months - but that is best case scenario. All along the way, though,

> you should feel better and better. If you are going to change GPs,

> don't wait too long. A more clued up GP might send you on your way with

> thyroid medication, and by Christmas you might even feel half human

> again [] All the best,

>