Anti-thyroglobulin <20... Help understanding was diagnosed with Hashimoto's

[Jaclyn2]

Hey everyone! I'm somewhat new to this and a little confused.  My thyroid peroxide ab (TPO) is 14 lab reference range is (0-34) my antithyroglobulin ab is <20 lab reference range on this is (0-40) I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's after putting 30 pounds on in eight months. My MD sent me for an ultrasound which found my thyroid to be swollen on one side and a small nodule on the other. My problem is when I speak to other people who have Hashimoto's they tell me my numbers are all in normal range...?!?... Could I have a different autoimmune problem?

[Red_Star]

"In subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and negative antibody results, fine-needle aspiration biopsy remains useful in establishing the diagnosis." - Correlation of thyroid antibodies and cytologic features in suspected autoimmune thyroid disease. Am J Med. 1983 Jun;74(6):941-4.

[gimel]

Not sure why you started a third thread.  In one of your prior threads you said you were going to seek a second opinion.  Thought you meant another doctor, not here on the Forum.  LOL  I don't understand.  I think prior responses were accurate and directionally correct.  

I haven't gone back and read everything in your prior threads, but your initial tests for Free T3 were much too low for many people.  Your TSH, coupled with antibodies testing did not evidence Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. so I am not quite sure why your doctor diagnosed that.  It could have been based more on your ultrasound testing of thyroid.  At this point, what difference does it really make for now?  If it is Hashi's, it will manifest soon enough.  At any rate, your initially reported test results showed TSH that, coupled with your Free T3 and Free T4, was more like that seen with central hypothyroidism.  But again, at this point in time, what difference does that make.  The most important thing for you is to get your doctor to treat you clinically, by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve your symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief needs to be your predominant focus right now.  

Toward that end, you should be going back for re-testing four weeks from your last med change.  At that time you should insist on being tested for Free T3 and Free T4, and make sure both are done.  You should also find out if the doctor is going to be willing to treat clinically as described above.  If not, you need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.  Also you need to be supplementing your Vitamin D to get it up to around 55-60.  

When test results are available, please post them, along with reference ranges so that we can help interpret and advise further.