Thyroid Test Help Please!

[LazyDoll]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone can help me decipher these results most specifically the thyroid antibodies result and what they mean?

GP appointment tomorrow but would like to be fully armed with understanding prior to going in.

Many thanks 🙏🏼

Your TSH is over 10, so you're officially hypothyroid by those results. Your GP will start you on Thyroxine. How are you feeling? Dreadful?

The out of range thyroid antibody result just tells you that you have autoimmune hypothyroidism which is the most common type. It will all improve when you start treatment although it can be a bit hit and Miss until you get to the right dose of thyroxine.

Not a Dr. but I would say you have autoimmune underactive thyroid.

Aka Hashimotos

Your body is attacking it's own thyroid gland....so antibodies are raised (above reference range).

Therefore you thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormones...so your T4 levels are low (even though technically in range...with T4 at 12.04 you probably feel like shit).
To try and get your thyroid to produce more T4 you body has upped the THS (thyroid stimulating hormone) - hence this is above range.

I have this.
My DC has this.

You will probably be prescribed levothyroxine.

You will be on it for life.
Make sure you get them to treat the symptoms, not just your blood test results....so if they say after a few months of treatment you are "within range" this means your TSH has lowered and your T4 is within the normal range...however, if you still have symptoms (tired/cold/hairloss/heavy periods) you should ask to try a slightly higher dose for a few months, see how you feel/re-do bloods. If I am below 18.5 T4 I feel like shit. My DC has to be 16-17 T4 or they feel like shit (on either too little or too much).

A daily pill and a bit of advocating for yourself is worth in compared to how crap you feel before diagnosis.

Yes as pp's have said. Tsh level shows underactive. But also totally agree with pp's re advocating for yourself. As you'll probably be told your in range so fine. But in levothyroxine you should be at the lower end of the acceptable range. And trying to get rid of symptoms. Often that's not the case though!

Thank you all so much for this.

I have been on thyroid meds for the last 20 years. It is in both sides of the family. All woman so far (5). This is my DCs results. I am terrified of him being fobbed off as he is indeed feeling godawful and has since Christmas and it is so hard seeing him so unwell and not himself.

This is a repeat bloods which I have pushed for. I agree he needs to be medicated.

May I ask how old are your DCs that have been medicated. My hypothyroidism wasn’t discovered until my late 20s.

My DS was 10. Now 13
Paed endocrinologist has been great.
DS useless at understanding he has to be aware of how he feels to help him advocate/me advocate for him...but probably an age thing. Am hoping the message will get through to him.

Oh wow. So young. Mine is 15 almost 16. And really really struggling. The first dr said after initial bloods that they’d re test in 4 months. I’ve demanded he be retested after 4 weeks as he’s struggling to even get up for school (GCSE year) so 4 months more of this is totally not an option for us.

BrowniesnitBlondies are you in the U.K.?

Yes - UK.
You are doing better than me. Well done for pushing for the tests.

DS's bloods were T4 3.4, TSH150 and antibodies 1300! So he must have been struggling more than we will ever know. He had a bit of a goitre..but because it was winter and he always wore hoodies (no school uniform) we didn't spot it. Took him to the GP in the end as he wasn't growing in height.

He is absolutely fine now....albeit in a teenage way 😀

Just to warn you, the getting up for school hasn't necessarily improved! But again, think that is teenager thing rather than anything else.

Just a little update. Went in with my big girl pants on. Came out very pleased and relieved. He’s now on daily 25mg of thyroxine with bloods and review in 6 weeks time. Also referral to paediatric endocrinologist to check dosages and plan of action. My boy is hopeful of feeling somewhat normal sometime soon. Feeling very relieved right now and thankful for the pre appointment support x

Glad they are treating him. 25 is a very low dose to start on though. My DS, even aged 10 and less than 130cm tall, started on 50 (with phone advice from Paed endocrinologist) from the day his results were in. Then just had to wait to see the consultant a few weeks later.

They called me just after I posted…now starting him on 50mcg after liaison with a colleague thankfully.

Good luck with it. I am glad to hear that. I hope he starts to feel the benefits soon.

I would also say, I think men need a slightly lower "norm" than women - as they do not have to contend with oestrogen interfering with uptake.

With my DS we tend to use his coldness and bowel activity as a marker for how he feels. In that, albeit slight, constipation was an issue for him before diagnosis..but things are a lot "easier" now (sorry if TMI).

As a woman I found it trickier working stuff out as periods/aches and pains and tiredness were all symptoms pre-hashimotos. And used to be my go to for "do I need a tweak?" Now with peri-menopause in the mix all bets are off!

Brownies I’ve PM’d you. Hope that’s ok 🙂