Hi, looking for some information. I have been suffering from quite severe symptoms of underactive thyroid, but most tests are normal, TSH 2.39. However the last tests have shown a border line low T4 (12.4/against a scale 12 - 22) and a positive test for TPO of 14.3 (scale of 0-34) My question what does the positive reading of TPO suggest - if anything? Struggling to get any answers I can understand about TPO on line
Thanks
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Tabby11
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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
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
You will need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative.
Your TPO antibodies are negative
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
For FULL thyroid including antibodies and vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
14.3 in a range of 0-34 is negative - over 34 would be positive. But it looks as though you could have central hypothyroid (which GPs don't understand and are not trained to recognize) where the problems is with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, with normal TSH and low FT4 - ask for an endo referral for this.
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