High TPO results but total thyroidectomy was done a year ago.

[CareerMom1]

Is it normal to have thyroid peroxidase antibodies even if you had a total thyroidectomy a year ago? Can the presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies be indicative of something other than a thyroid problem?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Link about high TPO antibodies

healthline.com/health/antit...

You might find strictly gluten free diet slowly lowers TPO antibodies

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

Also have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested recently

Are your thyroid levels ok. How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking and do you have results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4

[greygoose]

May I ask why you had a total thyroidectomy? And how high are your TPOab exactly?

[CareerMom1 in reply to greygoose]

I found out I have Graves after having a thyroid storm in July 2017. After the storm I could never seem to regulate my levels along with what I thought were palpatations. I was petrified of having another storm so I was given the option to have it removed. I wish I had not had surgery because it turns out the palpataions were actually PVC's that were happening every other heart beat. Of course after having surgery I still can't regulate my levels. 2 months ago my TSH was 16 and yesterday I got a call saying my TSH was less than .01, T3 is 7.21, T4 was normal and TPO was 84. I'm 37 and have never been sick like this.

[greygoose in reply to CareerMom1]

I see. Well, TPO antibodies can sometimes be high with Grave's. But, it's not the antibodies causing the problem because you don't have a thyroid anymore.

Are you now on thyroid hormone replacement? Is your doctor dosing by the TSH? I can't comment on your results, because you haven't put a range.

[CareerMom1 in reply to greygoose]

I will get the ranges—I just got a call from the nurse. I am on Synthroid 125mcg and Liothyronine (cytomel) 25mcg. My doctor (he’s a GP) is one of the few that is dosing off of TSH and T3, but he’s not an endocrinologist because I fired my last one. My ob/gyn took this bloodwork and is trying to get me into a new endo.

[greygoose in reply to CareerMom1]

Well, you won't necessarily be any better off with an endo, unless he is a thyroid expert. Most of the are diabetes experts and know nothing about thyroid.

It sounds as if you are on a good dose. If the GP doses by the T3, it doesn't sound as if there's much more an endo could do.

[MaisieGray]

As part of The Danish Investigation of Iodine Intake and Thyroid Diseases, two cross-sectional population studies with identical protocol were performed during 1997–1998 and 2004-2005, looking at the positivity of thyroid peroxidase- or thyroglobulin-antibodies (TPOAbs or TgAbs) in association with non-thyroidal autoimmune disease (such as RA, PA, diabetes etc). Of 8105 participants, 16.1% were TPOAb- or TgAb-positive. Hypo- or hyperthyroidism was reported by 2.8 and 2.9%, respectively; and 0.6% reported both. Of the 11.6% participants reporting non-thyroidal autoimmune disease, 20.3% were thyroid antibody-positive 6.7% reported hypothyroidism, and 4.5% reported hyperthyroidism. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, thyroid antibody-positivity was associated with a significantly higher odds ratio of non-thyroidal autoimmune disease. The study conclusions were that more than 16% of the general population were thyroid autoantibody-positive, which (also without history of thyroid dysfunction) was associated with non-thyroidal autoimmune disease. Especially participants with reported hypothyroidism or TPOAb-positivity, but not those with isolated TgAb-positivity, had increased prevalence of non-thyroidal autoimmune disease. Attention should be paid to polyautoimmunity in patients with hypothyroidism and TPOAbs.

[Hoxo]

My TPO antibodies are still high 25 years after diagnosis of Graves and 22 years after thyroidectomy. The autoimmune disease process is still ongoing in the body despite surgery.