Bood results for Tyroid

[mandr]

I have just had some blood tests done and the results are a little confussing. The TSH was 8mU/L the Anti Thyroglobulin AB was 320U/mL and the Anti Thyroid Peroxidase AB was 2400U/mL. My GP has told me to come back in 2 months to do another blood test. Should I be waiting this long?

[mandr]

thanks

[goolarra]

Well, the whole endocrine system is interrelated.  However, with the elevated antibodies, this is definitely a thyroid disease.  You might start shopping for a new doctor who treats more by symptoms.  Because of the antibodies, I would consider this a separate issue.  I'd see an endo and ask some questions before making an appointment, like if he has experience and expertise in dealing with both thyroid and estrogen issues together.  It's often a considerable wait to see an endo, so don't let this go for long...you'll only feel worse.

[mandr]

I do have a lot of the symptons but I alway put it down to arimidex which is a drug I take for breast cancer.  It stops my body from producing estrogen.

[goolarra]

FT4 is quite low...bottom quarter of the range, and the rule of thumb is that FT4 should be about midrange.  FT3 is right in the middle of the range (rule here is upper half to upper third).  Your TSH of 8.0 is saying that your pituitary thinks your FT3 and/or FT4 is too low.

You've tested positive for TPOab and TGab, which indicates that you have an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis.  Your immune system is attacking your thyroid, so you will lose more and more thyroid function as time goes on and will eventually have to be on meds.

Your labs don't look all that great, even though they are technically "in range".  Whether to wait two months or not depends on how you feel, if you have hypo symptoms yet.  I certainly would monitor it very closely at this point.

There's a lot of information on the web about the controversy on when to start hormone replacement for Hashi's.  Some think it should be started early before symptoms are present, while others think it's best to wait until you are symptomatic.  Read all you can on both sides of the issus.

Do you have hypo symptoms?  You can google and get a list.

[mandr]

fT4 is 10-20
T3 is 2.8-6.8

[goolarra]

What are the reference rnages on your FT3 and FT4?  These are specific to your lab and have to come from your own lab report.

[mandr]

I did have them done at the same time and they were ok.  The free Thyroxine (fT4) was 12 pmol/L and the free t3 was 4.8 pmol/L.  Does that mean I don't need to worry about it?

[goolarra]

No, your TPOab and TGab indicate that you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis.  With a TSH of 8.0, you must have symptoms.  I don't imagine you feel well.  You should have FT3 and FT4 tested right away.  These are the actual thyroid hormones and much more important than TSH.  FT3 and FT4 will tell you what your thyroid is really doing.  TSH is a pituitary hormone and can be influenced by many factors other than thyroid hormone levels.  Get this checked out now.