Hey everyone, I'm new here, and only being 21 years old this whole ordeal has been rather overwhelming. To include a backstory: A few weeks ago I went to the hospital to get some allergy tests done, and was later diagnosed with Oral Allergy Syndrome. The specialist said she was going to do some blood tests to check for a few more things she was concerned about. I received a call from the hospital a few days ago with my results, and she said that as part of the blood test, she tested my TPO levels, and they came back "significantly elevated at >1300", what does this mean? I don't recall her saying anything about the TSH levels, just that my TPO levels are extremely high and that I am also iron deficient (I'm not sure if those correlate?)
I was just hoping that somebody could shed some light as to what my TPO level means, and what I should do next? I haven't received a call from my GP asking me to come in, so that's good news right? Then again, my GP is my university doctors and they're pretty slow anyway, especially over the christmas period.
Again, I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I also have HS (Hidradenitis suppurativa), another autoimmune disease, how many autoimmune diseases can a person have? My mother also has lupus, an autoimmune disease I am aware hashimoto's for example, can progress onto.
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If 'high' antibodies are in our blood it shows that the person has an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. Usually two types of antibodies are tested. I shall give you a link and you seem to have Hashimoto's - due to antibodies in your blood - the treatment is the same as for hypothyroidism and that is levothyroxine also known as T4.
High TPO antibodies mean that there is a gut issue. You'll need a dairy-free and gluten-free diet to get those antibodies down. This will also get the thyroid hormones return back to more normal. Nothing happens overnight though. More like a couple of years. And a functional naturopath and a functional medical doctor can help you with your diet, supplements and gut repair. Gut repair is the most important part of fixing the antibodies. There could be more to this so I've found that it's best to find good help for these areas and do lots of research yourself so you can understand the causes and treatments.
If vegetarian are you supplementing B12 or a good vitamin B complex?
With high thyroid antibodies our gut function is often badly compromised
Your Anaemia is likely due to this
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid. Also a cause of Anaemia.
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Insist that GP tests TSH, FT4 and FT3
All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
I take feroglobin capsules daily, but that's about it, I've never had a problem with iron until recently, and have been a veggie for 5 years. Wow that's interesting, I don't suppose it could also cause acid reflux could it? I've been dealing with a "medical mystery" for years now, where I get severe pain in the upper right quadrant, endoscopy came back clear as did other tests, so you don't suppose any of this could be connected do you?
Thank you for your reply, it's greatly appreciated!
First step is to get actual results and ranges on all tests that have been done
Come back with new post once you have these
Ask GP to test anything not done
Ask for coeliac blood test.
Then trying strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If it helps stick with it. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Yes, it can, as your digestion is likely to be poor with Hashis and your muscles, including the ones that close off your stomach will be "lazy" and weak. Also, if you have been eating a low fat veggie diet, you will be more prone to gall bladder problems (unless you eat a decent amount of fat regularly to keep the bile moving).
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TSH level of 37 - What does this mean?
TPO ANTIBODIES, what does it mean? 
TPO ab 1300, fluctuating TSH
TPO antibodies have reduced- is this significant?
Elevated TPO
