My first post. Here goes...hope someone can help.

Was feeling depressed, weak and unmotivated and at the same time overly anxious so I took my wife's advise and scheduled an appointment with my Wife's DO. She naturally attacked my diet and suggested that I do an "Elimination Diet" to see what my "triggers" were. I'm working on that.

Everything on the internet and every book I've read says not to trust your doctor when it comes to thyroid numbers...

TSH 4.75
T4, free 1.1
T3, free 2.9

Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) 177
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPOAb) 26

So everything I've read says if antibodies are present I have an auto immune disease called Hashimotos, which I have many symptoms of. My doc says my numbers are way to low and I can take care of this with the proper diet. I'm off gluten, coffee and sugar. So who's right? Do I have Hashimotos?

I should also mention that I had a neurotransmitter test and my cortisol is very high and my serotonin and dopamine are very low so I've been taking Neuroscience products called Calm CP, TravaCor and Kavinase. I'm feeling worse on these, no doubt. Dizzy, brain fog, confusion. Need to quit these.

I'd really appreciate an opinion on this because I don't know who to believe and I'm tired of feeling like hell.

Thanks.

Hi spongepolka

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Other members who live with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis will be able to offer you advice and support.

As an immunologist, I am puzzled by your antibody levels. Your TPOAb level looks fine (the reference range is <35 IU/mL). But, your TgAb level is very high (the reference range is <20 IU/mL so you are apparently 9x above that range).

I wonder about that. It might be an idea to ask your doctor to arrange for a re-test - maybe the lab which did it made a mistake.

Your T3, T4 and TSH levels look OK to me. I am not an endocrinologist but my understanding is that their reference ranges are quite wide.

All the best.

--from where I am sitting, that you have Hashimoto's, or more generally, autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Certainly, the anti-thyroglobulin anitbodies point in that direction, though a re-test wouldn't be a bad idea. But given the newer guidelines of the American Endocrinological Society developed in 2007, I believe, about TSH numbers, which recommended, due to feelings about undertreatment of low-grade symptomatic hypothryoidism, that "normal" ranges for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone levels be revised downward from 0.5-5.0 to 0.3-3.0, I think your TSH is also too high, given how you are feeling.

You will find, though, that many doctors, even endocrinologists, are still unaware of the new ranges, and many labs don't reflect it, either. You need to have doctors who are not only aware of this but will treat to symptomology, as well.

Welcome spongepolka.

I am scheduled to see an endocrinologist soon and I should be getting the results of some follow up bloodwork early next week so I'll post the new numbers soon.
Thanks for all of the excellent information!

About 15-16 yrs. ago I was Hyperthroid (Graves Disease). I took a med for about two years (Tapazole). Went into remission for a short time; then became Hypothroid.

I see my Endocrinologist every 4 - 6 months for retesting. I have been on Synthroid for the past 10 or more years. My doctor has been testing my TSH only since he feels the T3-4 is not as reliable as the TSH.

The normal on the TSH show 0.450 - 4.500 . According to these numbers, you are a little on the high side. My last test went up a bit and was 4.0l in December 2014. It has gone up a bit since My previous test in August, 2014 which was 3.1. I see my Endo in June with lab work a week prior.

Glad you will soon be seeing an Endocrinologist soon.


Gerry

So it looks like things have calmed down quite a bit:

TSH 3.29
T4, free 1.0
T3, free 2.9

Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) 11
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPOAb) 23

What say you now? Hashimotos or just Hypothyroid?

I'm off of the Neuroscience stuff. Feeling a little better actually, but still have morning headaches, joint pain and stiffness, anxiety and a full feeling in my head along with dizziness. Anxiety has increase actually. Not as depressed.

Any opinions greatly appreciated!

Hi spongepolka
re your changing thyroid numbers I'm going to copy below a reply I gave to another poster on the same subject:

"Re your hyperthyroid symptoms - like you I was getting varying high and low results on 3 monthly blood tests - my thyroid is monitored because I have another auto-immune condition. The doctor didn't want to medicate because of the side effects plus the medication (thyroxine) interferes with my other meds. I found a dietary solution in Adele Davis' book "Let's Get Well". To put it simply: I take 1 teaspoon of kelp flakes daily plus 200mg Vit E capsule. Started this two years ago and blood tests have been consistently normal since. The kelp provides iodine and the Vit E assists with iodine absorption. Keep monitoring it because I found after a while I was able to take the kelp a little less frequently. I get my kelp flakes by buying a packet of dried seaweed sheets (used for sushi), tear them roughly then shred them in a blender - store in an airtight container, (a pack of 10 sheets lasts about 6 mths - very cost effective!). I add them to porridge, smoothies, soups, scrambled eggs, stir fry etc. I started this with my doctor's knowledge and she commented that the soils in our country were known to be iodine deficient so depending on where you live that could be a factor."

In your case as your numbers are fairly recent and only slightly over/under I would ask for 3 mthly tests and monitor them for a year before changing anything. If they continue to vary up and down then you could discuss the diet changes outlined above with your doctor. Note the TSH test indication works in reverse to natural thinking. ie: Higher TSH means not enough iodine.

Hope this is useful and that you don't actually have Hashimoto's - just a 'wobbly' thyroid.
cheers bluesfan

Thanks for the replies everyone.
The kelp suggestion is great for normal Hypothyroidism, but not so good for Hashis at least according to what I've read.
And that's why I'd really like to know is what are the typical antibody numbers for people with Hashimotos? My #s are above the reference range but what exactly is high enough to be called Hashimotos? It seems so vague...my doctor says I'm too low to be Hashis and that I should stop reading so much on the internet, but that's not going to happen

I can't wait for my Endocrinologist appointment. Maybe she can lay it on the line.

Hi spongepolka

Your TgAb and TPOAb levels look comfortably within the normal ranges to me.

See: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2086819-overview