My Thyroid peroxidase antibody level is above range 337 ku/L what does this mean? my TSH is 0.1 myT4 13.4 been told not bad enough to treat

[LavineHill]

I feel terrible suffering lots of hashimoto's symptoms but not enough to treat is this right?? please help as im starting to feel confused.

[shaws Administrator]

This is an excerpt from an article by Dr Toft. If you need a copy to give to your GP, email [e-mail]. The article was in Pulse Online:-

2 I often see patients who have an elevated TSH but normal T4. How should I be managing them?

The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat the thyroid function tests in two or three months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.2

But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured. If these are positive – indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease – the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.

In the absence of symptoms some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow-up.

Treatment should be started with levothyroxine in a dose sufficient to restore serum TSH to the lower part of its reference range. Levothyroxine in a dose of 75-100µg daily will usually be enough.

If there are no thyroid peroxidase antibodies, levothyroxine should not be started unless serum TSH is consistently greater than 10mU/l. A serum TSH of less than 10mU/l in the absence of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies may simply be that patient’s normal TSH concentration.

[LavineHill in reply to shaws]

Thank you so much for your reply. I will Show this to my Doctor on Monday :o) And my husband. The specailist i saw said eat wheat? i feel lost as every thing I've read said don't. Iv have weight gain ,memory lost, brain fog, very itchy skin some times i cant stay awake other times my body spastums and i cant sleep.

[Marz]

...take a look at the website thyroidlifestyle.com - where you will read about Izabella Wentz who has Hashimotos. She is also a Pharmacist so she is coming at the condition from both sides. You can sign up for her Newsletter which is informative and her book is an excellent read helping you to unearth the root cause. It all starts with healing the gut. I have Hashimotos and in the beginning everything was in range - now feel better with a suppressed TSH. I just focus on the gut health and hope for the best !

[LavineHill in reply to Marz]

Thanks Marz I was gluten free until I saw specialist Tues and she said no need too?! She also said no need to give me treatment yet! Are you gluten free?

[Marz in reply to LavineHill]

I'm not completely gluten free - but do avoid as much as possible - I am fortunate I do not have bad reactions but just try my best for my general health. Why would your specialist tell you not to continue ? I find that very negative if you are feeling better following that regime. Did you look at the website ?

Must say your Specialist sounds a bit out of her depth. There was once a school of thought that Hashimotos Thyroiditis remained untreated. I live in Crete and when I was diagnosed all the TFT's were in range - just high anti-bodies. Was prescribed T4 as a support to the thyroid that was being attacked - explained my GP !

[LavineHill in reply to Marz]

My thoughts the same. I was sent to her by my GP.

[Heloise]

youtube.com/watch?v=3_uaUXi...(Not working as expected?)

This insightful doctor talks about TPO in this short video.

[LavineHill in reply to Heloise]

thank you

[shaws Administrator]

I only got well when I stopped levo altogether. It is such a struggle when you are so unwell and taking meds which is supposed to help. Many do feel o.k. on levo but they will not be looking on the internet for help/information.

You will also see on question 6 that Dr Toft does say that if we still feel unwell some T3 can be added.

[LavineHill in reply to shaws]

I see my GP Monday.Hope he finds me another Speacilist who is more educated in this field.

[Marz in reply to LavineHill]

In my experience Docs etc have very little knowledge about Hashimotos . Best to follow your nose and read books - learning from others.....did you look at the website I suggested - what did you think ? You will learn more there than from any Endo.....

[CruelJoke in reply to Marz]

Hi! I know you replied to this thread four years ago so I'm not sure if you still read it. But I'm a pastry chef who was just diagnosed with hashimoto' (hence "crueljoke"😉) and I've discovered the website you mentioned above prior to stumbling upon this thread. I'm relieved to find someone who seems to have the same approach as I do (research and find my own equation for what works along with, hopefully, the helpful guidance of a good doc). That website was the first thing I've come across today that felt clear and motivating.

I'm geared up to make all the changes I need to my diet to immediately start trying to take control of this. Changing diet has always been hard for me but now with the diagnosis, I'm very committed. So relieved to know where to start and that website has been very helpful.

I'm curious if you can speak to the potential ability of ever being able to resume a mostly normal diet.

I'm hopeful but also don't want to be delusional. I am just getting started and really, truly have no idea what I'm up against.

Thank you for reading and for any information you can provide!

[Marz in reply to CruelJoke]

From what I have read most people quickly feel better giving up gluten. I am now gluten free - still have anti-bodies - feeling good. Healing the gut takes time and is very individual. Some also have to give up dairy too.

Are you on any treatment ? Have you had B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD tested ?

If you are on a phone scroll down and down to find the TOPICS heading - then down to Hashimotos 😊 Lots of reading.

A normal diet to me is lots of fresh food and meals made from scratch - if it doesn't grow then don't eat it 😊

You can click onto my name above to read my Profile /Posts/Replies ....

[CruelJoke in reply to Marz]

This is all very helpful! Thank you for replying so quickly. Haven't started any treatment, just found out today.

Will scroll down and read, read, read.

Onward!