thyroid antibodies To: jimlow

[bonniejean]

jimlow I'm not sure what you mean by testing my antibodies but I suspect that that would be in a T4 Free test. my question was why would a doctor order a T4 when a T4 Free test is much more accurate.

[Jimlow]

Hi Bonniejean, You already had an abnormal TSH reading, so even if all the others were normal range, it still indicates a thyroid problem. Your Doc seemed to think possibly Hashi's Disease but your tests indicate hyperthyroid (possible Grave's), rather than the hypothyroidism that's caused by Hashi's. The reason diagnosis becomes difficult is because Hashi's sufferers can have HYPER swings, then go back to HYPO.
The antibodies tests are the "Anti-Thyroglobulin and Anti-ThyroidPeroxidase", that indicate Hashi's when they are elevated however, Grave's Disease sufferers can have these elevated too, so they need tested for "thyroid Stimulating Antibodies" too, if tests have not already revealed hypothyroidism.
Any of these antibodies being elevated means autoimmune throid disease but Docs look at the combinations of them and your symptoms, to determine if it is Grave's or Hashi's Disease (most common cause of hypothyroidism).
This is why thyroid antibodies tests are so important. You could get the other T-4 test done but an "iffy" reading will still result in need for antibodies tests.
I hope that helps.

[bonniejean]

Thank you for your comment I will take that into concideration and talk to my doctor about it tomorrow. Since my TSH is so low (.003) could that be dangerous. I have so many thyroid systoms,and have for I think years now but have been put off by doctors, saying there's nothing wrong that when I finally got a thyroid test (by the way--I had to tell the doctor I wanted my thyroid tested it was not recomended) even with the low TSH I'm almost relieved.