Hi new here; High antibodies but normal TSH

Hi, I'm not new to healing well but I am new to this side of the forum. Here is alittle about myself; I haven't been healthy since I was 18(29 now). I would get aches and pains all over, chest pains, always tired. I had blood work that showed positive ana and low C4. After years of this I started treating with a dr for lupus. I went on plaquinil and started to feel better and went off of it about three years ago. This year I have been very sick. I started having severe acid reflux, and now I eat only liquids since I feel like I'm choking when I eat. I only weigh 85 pounds (5ft) but I have always been very thin(under 95) despite eating everything in site. I also have had very bad anxiety for months now, its awful.

I have been to all kinds of docs and while some believe there is something wrong like an autoimmune issue others act like I'm nuts. I've had a dr even laugh in my face once and leave the room. What brings me here is that my primary found that my TPO antibodies are 200 however my TSH are normal. Anyone else expierence this? I also not only have low C4 serum but also have low C3 as well.

I'm just so tired of being sick and I feel like I'm wasting away and everyone is just watching. Even with the lupus diagnose I still get treated like I have an imaginary illness at times, like just last week I had a dr argue with me that strep throat could be the cause of a positive Ana but I don't think I've had strep throat for a decade!

hypoHashimoto said...
Hi,
Can you please post the actual value of your TSH test ?

Positive antiTPOab indicate hashimoto's disease , which can cause both hyper and hypothyroidism .

Hi, yes I can. I will request that my blood work be sent over to me today for the exact TSH values.

hypoHashimoto said...
Good , do post them here and we will be able to help you interpret them .

With hashi that causes hypo , you will need to be on thyroid hormone replacement therapy like Synthroid Levoxyl and Tirosint , insist on being on brand name and not the generic form .

Also you will need to start on a small initial dose depending on your initial TSH and to increase gradually , you should test your TSH and Free T4 six weeks after each increase in the dose , and since some times that is not enough time to see the TSH rising again it might need 12 weeks after each dose change to see the full effect on the TSH , and your target for the tsh should be around 2.5 .

Best wishes for now ,

Hi here are my results;

TSH - 2.80 reference range 0.40-4.50 mIU/L

T3 Reverse, LC/MS/MS - 13 Reference range 8-25 ng/dL

T4, Free - 1.2 Reference range- 0.8-1.8 ng/dL

T3, Free- 3.3 Reference Range 2.3-4.2 pg/mL

Thyroid Peroxidase AB - 250 Reference Range <9


My doctor is suggesting I go see a endocrinologist but I have had such bad experiences with doctors basically brushing off how I feel and acting as if I am the picture of health. Is it worth going to the specialist even though my TSH is normal? I just cant take another appointment of someone telling me everything is fine and getting no help. I also wanted to add I have noticed that my time of the month sometimes lasts for 2 weeks, its not heavy but it just wont stop this has been going on for about a year. I also get short of breath.

Post Edited (LAWCHICK) : 10/7/2015 8:06:33 AM (GMT-6)

hypoHashimoto said...

Somebody said...
I have noticed that my time of the month sometimes lasts for 2 weeks, its not heavy but it just wont stop this has been going on for about a year. I also get short of breath.

These can be indeed symptoms of thyroid .

Your TSH is optimal , so it is not possible to start you on Levothyroxine , since you will eventually become hyper , however , I would recommend repeating the TSH test each six weeks .

Seeing an Endo is also an option , but since your numbers are optimal , I doubt he will put you on any medication.

Since you have positive thyroid antibodies , it would be wise to perform thyroid and neck ultra sound to see whether you have nodules on your thyroid gland .

Best wishes ,

Thank you for the reply. I really hate autoimmune issues. I mean this figures I feel like crap I cant even eat solid food anymore and yet another thing wrong with me that probably isn't treatable because there isn't enough lab proof. I really am at the end of my rope with along im sure with many others who must feel the same.

I am getting an ultra sound done, hopefully this week.

ansay9 said...
Hi there,

Have you looked into whether it could be Lyme Disease? A lot of these symptoms sound similar, and I am being treated for Lyme. My thyroid is normal, but my antibodies and C4a are insanely high (vs. low like yours). Just throwing out a thought! :)

I have tested positive for lymes I took doxycline for a week and no one ever discussed it again with me this was 10 years ago. I have read c4 is high in people with lymes but it's low for people with autoimmune disease.

One week on doxy isn't enough to treat lyme, even if you caught it right away. All of your symptoms, the way doctors have treated you and your thyroid antibodies sound like you have an ongoing case of Lyme disease. Lyme is often misdiagnosed as other autoimmine diseases, including lupus.

Your best bet would be to find a lyme literate medical doctor. If you don't know of one in your area, you can post in the Lyme forum with the title of: Need help finding an LLMD in ________ (whichever city or state)