Thyroid antibodies

[Jampot]

i found alump in my neck in about April/May of this year, went along to GP and to cut a long story short ended up having ultrasound on my neck to see if it was attached to thyroid. It seems to be an enlarged lymph node but my thyroid was "grainy". I went back to GP a few weeks ago as was feeling cack generally, they did blood tests and although thyroid hormone level is just within normal parameters, my thyroid antibodies are measuring at 191 (normal being 0-34). Doc seems confused by such a high reading along with "normal" hormone level. does anyone have experience of this?

ask to see an endocrinologist as GP's rarely know much about thyroid problems. unless the GP has ordered more than just a Tft4 (T4) blood test, he will not know what is going on. with thyroid anti body's like this you will need a TSH, TRH, Tft4, T3 (and or rT3) a repeat anti body test and a liver function test to be able to work out what the problem is

Mmmm sort of.
You need to see an endocrinologist consultant.
Also try www.thyroid.uk
Also www.thyroid-disease.org.uk

I would need to know what your blood results actually were to comment really.
What symptoms do you have -palpatations,sweating ?

My daughter was in a similar situation but fortunately we also go for other reasons to the local hospital and the consultant there explained that the antibodies are sort of result of your brain telling your thyroid to work harder in which case the the levels of the hormone can be normalish for a period but not in the long run. I could be wrong there,but that's the way we were told.Go and see a specialist.

he has referred me to an endocrinologist but the appointment is in december.

my liver, kidney and calcium were all fine. thyroid hormone was 4.5 (top of normal is 4.6). dont know about other numbers im afraid although I may pop to the GP surgery and ask the receptionist to write it down for me

You need to see a specialist sooner than that

for the 4.5 - do you mean your TSH? (thyroid stimulating hormone?)

I don't know much about thyroid antibodies but there is more than one test

4.5 is a strange value for a thyroid test if the GP says its normal?????. if TSH there is no normal but anything under 0.3 or 0.4 depending on which scale they use is over active for sure, but over 0.4 ok. people without thyroid problems can have TSH's of 2,3 4 or more and be ok, but people diagnosed with hypothyroidism should keep their TSH at between 1 and 2.5.
If it was a Tft4 test then the ranges for that test is 0.7 to 1.9 if serum T4 it should be 4.6 to 12, so that being if a serum T4 test, it is UNDER the lower limit meaning hypothyroidism yet your GP says its normal?
there is no test I know of that has a top range of 4.6.

a high level of anti bodies suggests hashimotos thyroiditis to me. for this to be confirmed, you would need to have a high TSH reading, low T3 and T4 readings too along with your high antibody results. it is an autoimmune condition which first causes an overactive thyroid before it slows right down to being underactive. if you some time ago went through a manic period, lost weight, and became a bit hyperactive amongst many other things but are now slowing down and feeling lethargic, this is likely to be the reason why, hashimotos. you will need a full thyroid panel blood test to make sure but if so it is easily treated.

www.4woman.gov/FAQ/hashimoto.htm

Um, yes there is a normal range for TSH link
0.5 to 5.0 approx
although in the US they now recommend 0.3 to 3.0

ive been to fetch print out of blood test results.

TSH is 4.5

Anti thyroid TPO abs is 191

IF your TSH is 4.5 you ARE hypothroidic especially with anti bodies that high, your doctor does not know what he is saying. if you have an appointment at the endo clinic, call the consultants secretary, explain your situation and ask if they can bring your appointment forward. first appointments for THS and anti bodies that high SHOULD be within weeks not months!!

theblonde, there are many scales that are used for thyroid tests around the world. the figures I gave above are the ones common in england and account for around 90% of blood tests results. the site you gave is an american site and they use a completely different set of ranges as the tests are conducted differently and have no bearing on UK blood testing. it is why you have to be careful when buying books on thyroid problems as most are american written and have different and possibly confusing info for UK based sufferers.

misi - I think I misread your msg as saying there was no norm range for TSH
The TSH norm range varies from hospital to hospital in the UK

Jampot - I would agree with misi, you are hypothyroid and waiting til Dec for appt and treatment is not on