High TSH, TPO of 900- new to all this...

[Qwerty11]

Evening all, I posted last week for the first time to ask what happens next after a check at GP (to investigate trying to conceive for 2 years with no success) showed up TSH of 6.2.

I've now had antibodies test which has flagged up an email for me to make an appointment with GP.

My blood tests are now:

TSH 5.6, retest 4 weeks later 6.2 (scale 0.2-5)

TPO 900 i u m/l in a range 0-59 I u m/l

I gather this 900 is pretty high. It's not a surprise to be honest- I had started to worry I'm missing something as after a difficult pregnancy & birth- with major placenta abruption, I've been unwell for a few years, catching everything going- I've had sinusitis repeatedly, a crash of vitamin D and needed major dose tablets and I also had glandular fever 18 months ago. Can anyone tell me does this all 'make sense'? Is 900 very high? Is it 'controllable'? Will I be given medication? What should I be asking for? Do I need any other blood tests- maybe a recheck of my vitamin D? That hasn't been done recently. Thank you for any help.

[Jenbot78]

Hello, did you get anywhere with trying to conceive? I have been in the same boat so can only share my experience! Let me know and I will fill you in (long story you see!)

[shaws Administrator]

As you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease commonly called Hashimoto's which is the commonest form of Hypothyroidism. It is diagnosed through antibodies. These antibodies attack the thyroid gland until you become hypothyroid.

Going gluten-free can help reduce the attack on the gland. As your TSH is 5.6 - in the UK doctors have been told not to prescribe thyroid hormone replacements until the TSH is 10 but if antibodies are present, you should begin on levothyroxine. 50mcg to start with blood tests every six weeks and an increase of 25mcg following.

If you email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's Online Pulse Article. In this he states (he was President to the British Thyroid Association) he advises that if antibodies are present we should be prescribed. Many doctors are unaware of this so take it with you and highlight the part on the page.

Blood tests have always to be at the earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take it afterwards.

This keeps your TSH at its highest as doctors are apt to only look at the TSH and they may reduce our dose unnecessarily.

Always get a print out of your results.

If you've not had B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these too. Everything has to be optimal.

Always get a print-out of your results for your own records and post if you have a query.

[Qwerty11 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for the information- I will email for that document.

Is it something the gp has to take note of or is it just advice?

I feel a bit stuck at the moment, gp said he won't medicate because TSH isn't unacceptable enough, we have a fertility appointment (which started all this) but I've been told the referral will be rejected until TSH is acceptable, and gp said endo may only say to start medication if I get pregnant, which I gather is mightily unlikely at the moment anyway.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Qwerty11]

I doubt GPs know much more than TSH and T4.

I hope you emailed [e-mail] to ask for a copy of Dr Toft#s Pulse Online article. Within it he states that if antibodies are present we should have a prescription to 'nip things in the bud'.

Highlight the appropriate part and leave for your GP to read and hopefully he will prescribed. It is ridiculous situations that even though we have clinical symptoms they know none.

Also tick off the ones you have and also leave with him - at least they'll learn something.

[Qwerty11 in reply to shaws]

Sorry another question- I did ask him about special diets to help and he said no, other than try to include iodine, seaweed, fish or apparently you can get a salt with iodine added? Are these useful ideas?

[Qwerty11]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. Will I feel different?! From your experience? Livelier or with more energy would be great!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Qwerty11]

Sorry I took a little while to respond. Iodine is good for thyroid gland but not if we already have a thyroid disease. You cannot take iodine if we thyroid hormone replacement.

Your GP doesn't know much like most of the doctors/endos in the UK.

[Qwerty11]

Thanks for your very full reply- I've been to GP appointment to discuss results this morning. He said 900 for TPO is high and TSH at 6.2 is going up. But he said as it's below 10 it doesn't need medicating.

He said as we've been trying for a baby for 2 yrs he will refer to endocrinology to decide- they may decide to start me on levo something so that TSH levels are below 2 for a pregnancy. I was expecting to come away with something a bit more concrete than that to be honest, especially given my history over the last 2 or 3 years. From your experience is this an appropriate pathway or response? Thank you