Hypothyroid

[delfinamaltese]

Hi, I has just been diagnosed a few days ago of having hypothyroid. My TSH level is 3.41 mIU/L -normal values are up to 3.00, Free T4 is 11.70 which is normal. Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies is 115 which is very high and Thyroid Antibodies is 92 which is high too. Doctor started me on Eltroxin 50 mcg daily. Can someone please tell me if Hypothyroid can be diagnosed with slightly high TSH and very high TPO and TA results? or high TPO and TO can be a sign of another auto immune disease?

Thanks

[delfinamaltese]

Thanks Barb135 and goolarra, I forgot to say that I have iron deficiency anaemia, my hgb is 9.6 gm/dl and my ferritin and iron levels are both low, my Vit b12 is normal and RA normal too. I do also had peptic ulcer and am on nexium 20 mgs daily and I discussed with my Doctor re the possibility that nexium is interfering with the iron supplements. I do take my treatment in different times, so they won`t interfere with one another.
Another important thing which I find strange is that when I was doing blood tests of which I did alot-before I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia my TFT`s levels were all normal, I was diagnosed with CFS some years after and still my TFT`s were normal. Let`s see how I`ll feel with Eltroxin and see from there.

[goolarra]

What’s more telling than your TSH, TPOab and TGab, as far as a diagnosis of hypo is concerned, is your very low FT4 level.  The original “normal” population contained undiagnosed, but symptomatic, hypos and asymptomatic Hashi’s.  As a result of that, the whole lower half of the range is often unacceptable.

TPOab and TGab can be elevated with other autoimmune diseases, which might be why your doctor hasn’t diagnosed Hashi’s.  However, there is no arguing the fact that your FT4 is hypo.

As Barb said, fibro and CFS symptoms are often relieved once thyroid hormone levels are optimized.  That’s prompted many of us (not doctors or medical professionals, just fellow patients) to wonder if they really are even separate diseases.

I’m rather favorably impressed by your medical consultant actually.  Many doctors use obsolete TSH ranges (that often go up to 5.0 or higher) and wouldn’t recognize your TSH as hypo.  Also, many think that if you’re in range on FT4…anywhere in range…your symptoms are not thyroid-related.  Your consultant seems relatively enlightened.  I agree with his approach of starting you on a relatively low dose.  Once your FT4 is closer to midrange, it will be interesting to see how many of your symptoms go away.  I’m willing to bet you might be very pleasantly surprised.  

[Barb135]

Both you and your medical consultant are correct; you have Hashimoto's, which attacks your thyroid and causes you to be hypothyroid. The symptoms actually come from being hypo.

'Both fibromyalgia and CFS are often considered to be caused by thyroid issues, since symptoms often go away, once thyroid levels are restored to a level that's right for you.

Since you already have celiac and Hashimoto's, you might want to ask for vitamin B12 levels to be tested as well, to rule out Pernicious Anemia.  Once a person has one autoimmune disease, the chances of them having more are greater.  Fatigue and weight gain/inability to lose, are both hypo symptoms.

You might also want to be tested for vitamin D, selenium and magnesium, since deficiency in these vitamins/minerals often goes with being hypo, and can cause similar symptoms.

[delfinamaltese]

Thanks for your reply. The FT4 normal range is between11 to 18.

I was suspecting of having Hashimoto`s thyroiditis because I read and as you said according to the TPO and TG abs are both elevated. Obviously I didn`t want to argue with the Medical Consultant who made the diagnosis of Hypothyroid.

I do also have Cealiac, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, so fatigue I have regularly, about weight I had been overweight for many years only lost 2 kilos.
I think I need a second opinion after all it`s my health.

[goolarra]

What is the range on your FT4?  Most of our members find that FT4 has to be midrange before symptoms are relieved.  I suspect your 11.70 is pretty low in the range.

Both TPOab and TGab are elevated, which is considered positive for Hashimoto's thyroiditis.  

Do you have hypo symptoms...fatigue, intolerance to cold, unexplained weight changes, etc.?