subacute thyroiditis? test results -

[bellybelly]

who knows about subacute thyroiditis? My levels are all normal except thyroid peroxidase is 120, should be below 35 and thyroglobulin is 88 should be below 20

I did have a virus when my thyroid became enlarged as far as I know, havent seen endo yet, have appt.

help?

thank-yoU!

[bellybelly]

Thank-you for your info, the TSH says it's within range on this test but I did read that the norm tsh is lower on a lot of tests, thank-you for your info!

[Jenipeni]

Hi there,
Sorry to read that your daughter is only 12 and starting down this road.
I'll say the same again to about Antibodies;

Positive antibody involvement can indicate autoimmune thyroid disease.  This is where the body's immune system gets confused and attacks the thyroid gland as if it is a foreign invader (doesn't recognise as 'self').  In Graves disease this stimulates the thyroid gland to overproduce (hyper), in Hashimoto's while there may be an initial increase in activity, the gland slowly decreases in function over time and usually renders the gland underactive (hypo).  

Really high antibody levels usually mean that the immune system is actively causing inflammation (by attacking the thyroid gland) - this happens in the thyroid gland itself.  Many White Blood Cells may aggregate within the tissue of the thyroid gland and may cause swelling, and intermittent pain.  

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done to treat antibodies - we can only treat the symptoms they cause - hyper or hypo.  When you have one autoimmune disease there is also a slightly higher chance (only slight - don't be alarmed) that another autoimmune disease may also be present eg. pernicious anaemia (low Vitamin B12 levels aftecting Red Blood cell production as enzyme is lacking for absorbtion of B12).

That same site I mentioned to bellybelly has a whole chapter on 'Autoimmunity to the thyroid' but it is pretty complicated.
http://www.thyroidmanager.org/

Try this resource;
http://www.mythyroid.com/bloodtests.html

http://www.mythyroid.com/thyroiditis.html

*Dont forget to keep a medical dictionary onhand!  A lot you will just scroll through (as I have) but keep going and pressing Next for more pages - you might just find exactly what you are looking for!  

Keep learning and being an advocate for you daughter's health!!
Best wishes
Jenipeni

[Jenipeni]

Hi BellyBelly,

You need to consider the laboratory values for normal with each test - and different labs have different values because they have different machines and are callibrated differently (there is also a big debate about what the normal range should be).  It's reccommended to get copies of all your labs for this reason AND forevermore you'll need to take responsibility for educating yourself about your health.
Regardless, a TSH of 4.49 appears to be heading towards hypo - but some docs may still consider this number normal and acceptable.  Dr's will only dose meds according to these lab numbers not on how you are feeling.  

Positive antibody involvement can indicate autoimmune thyroid disease.  This is where the body's immune system gets confused and attacks the thyroid gland as if it is a foreign invader (doesn't recognise as 'self').  In Graves disease this stimulates the thyroid gland to overproduce (hyper), in Hashimoto's while there may be an initial increase in activity, the gland slowly decreases in function over time and usually renders the gland underactive (hypo).  

The following site is an absolute wealth of information - but is written for doctors.  If you can wade through it you should find the answers to many questions - not a bad idea to keep a medical dictionary onhand (there are many available online).  This resource also has a whole chapter on Subacute Thyroiditis.
http://www.thyroidmanager.org/

The chapter on Subacute Thyroiditis
http://www.thyroidmanager.org/Chapter19/19-frame.htm


Here's some info on Subacute thyroiditis;

Verbatim from [http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/180_04_160204/top10414_fm.html]
Medical Journal of Australia.

'Subacute thyroiditis'

Subacute thyroiditis is a self-limiting, postviral condition, which can vary from a mild disorder to a debilitating disease lasting up to a year. Thyroid pain and tenderness are usual but not ubiquitous. Because the hyperthyroidism results from leakage of preformed hormone from damaged thyroid cells rather than increased production, the circulating T3/T4 ratio is lower than in Graves disease and toxic multinodular goitre. Thyroid radionuclide uptake is reduced or absent. This finding is often considered diagnostic of subacute thyroiditis, but is also seen in patients ingesting large quantities of iodine or taking suppressive doses of thyroxine. The conditions can be differentiated by serum thyroglobulin level, which is usually raised in subacute thyroiditis but low in the others. Antithyroid antibodies can appear transiently at modest levels.
Antithyroid drug therapy is inappropriate and ineffective. Beta-blockers, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs provide symptomatic relief. Glucocorticoids, such as prednisolone (20 mg per day), provide symptomatic improvement in those who do not respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs. The hyperthyroid phase is characteristically followed by a hypothyroid phase (not usually requiring treatment), then eventual return to euthyroidism. Further episodes can occur.

Best wishes on your journey
Jenipeni

[smsjr]

Forgot to add our daughter is 12.

[bellybelly]

28 yr old female

thyroxine-free 1.1
TSH 3rd generation 4.49
T3 Free 232
T3 total  143
Thyroid peroxidase 122
thyroglobulin   88

Nodules -

right thyroid lobe slightly prominent 5.3 x 1.3 x 1.6 cm numerous 3 and 4 mm nodules scattered

left thyroid lobe similare to right measures 4.7 x 1.3 x 1.7 scattered tiny nodules
no dominant nodule

thanks!

[smsjr]

Sort of piggybacking on bellybelly's question.  What exactly is the significance of the anitbody levels (tpo & tg).  We are trying to get our daughter in to see a Endo, but would like to know the answer to this question.  Our daughter originally had a TSH number of 13+ and the follow up test had the following numbers:

TSH: 6.36
T4: 7
TPO(I think it was TPO):  7000 - this is the one that is supposed to be <35 so obviously this has us alarmed.  What is the significance of 7000 vs 700 vs 70.

[Nyxie63]

It's really hard to tell anything without the rest of your bloodwork (and ranges).  Would you mind posting them?  TSH, FT4 and FT3.  Thanks! :)