Super elevated TPO - does this mean I have Hashimoto’s?

[Dudley2007]

Evening lovelies

Need advice on my test results. I’m not on any thyroid meds as GP doesn’t want to treat me as TSH is ‘normal’.

Tested TPO antibodies for the first time and it’s really elevated, does this mean I have Hashimoto’s?

TSH has lowered since June but the tests were done at different labs so might vary a bit I guess.

I’ve also been on 1 weeks course of antibiotics (Amoxicillin) the week before I did the tests in July, would that have effected the results, specially the TPO?

TSH 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L - 3.25 June

TSH 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L - 2.6 July

Free T4 12 - 22 pmol/L - 18.2 June

Free T4 12 - 22 pmol/L - 18 July

Free T3: 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L - 4 June

Free T3: 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L - 4.3 July

TPO-antibodies: >1300.0 kIE/L July

As of next steps - would a functional medicine/naturopath be the best fit to treat me? I’ve been on a gluten/dairy/caffeine/alcohol/sugar free diet for a few months now, will I need to go full on AIP as my TPO is super high? I’m also on loads of supplements as TTC and have been told I need my TSH to be lower, between 1-2 ideally.

Any advice & suggestions would be much appreciated! Xx

[Mirabela956]

If your antibodies are positive, then yes you have Hashimoto’s. I find it very difficult to do AIP, but I think is worth it. My TSH is 5.2 on medication and they say it’s fine. 🤦‍♀️

I haven’t been yet, but I would recommend to find a functional doctor in your area to help you. 😊

[Dudley2007 in reply to Mirabela956]

Thank you Mirabela.

That’s what I thought! 😞

It’s nuts that GPs class everything as normal but your TSH 5.2 is definitely not!! I’ve been told that on meds it should be suppressed and as close to 0 as possible.

Hope you manage to get it under control soon! 🤗 xx

[greygoose]

I’ve been on a gluten/dairy/caffeine/alcohol/sugar free diet for a few months now

Why? And, did you cut out all that at the same time? If so, and something helps, you won't know what it is. Things like diet changes should only be done one at a time.

will I need to go full on AIP as my TPO is super high?

It's rather doubtful that any sort of diet will actually bring antibodies down. It's hard to prove, anyway, because antibodies fluctuate all the time. But, even if you got rid of them all, you'd still have Hashi's.

You need to be eating foods that are full of nutrients and that make you feel good. There is no one diet that is good for everyone.

would a functional medicine/naturopath be the best fit to treat me?

Right this moment, I doubt you'd find anyone to treat you. Your FT4 is good. Your FT3 is less good but doctors don't understand T3, anyway. It's in range and that's all they care about.

I would be wary of functional medicine/naturopaths. They don't know any more about thyroid than allopathic doctors, but do tend to have some rather weird ideas on the subject - weird ideas that don't help, I hasten to add!

With Hashi's, numbers tend to jump around. So, keep an eye on them. You could go hypo any time soon.

[Dudley2007 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your reply Greygoose!

Yes I’ve cut out all of these things since March as wanted to heal my leaky gut and wanted to reduce the inflammation as trying to conceive.

I wasn’t aware I had autoimmune issues then, was actually hoping to reintroduce things, one at the time slowly and then see if I have any flare ups and monitor it that way.

Will do another test in a few months to check my numbers, thanks for all your advice! 🤗

[greygoose in reply to Dudley2007]

Ah ok. An illimination diet. Yes, good idea to reintroduce them after a few months. It's just that a lot of people with Hashi's think it's compulsory to cut these things out.

[Zazbag]

Are you having hypothyroid symptoms?

[Dudley2007 in reply to Zazbag]

Yes loads!

Fatigue, Increased sensitivity to cold, Dry skin, Weight gain, Muscle weakness, joint pain, Puffy face, depressed - the list goes on! 😔

[Zazbag in reply to Dudley2007]

You have Hashimoto's and you're having hypothyroid symptoms. Tell your GP you would like a trial of levothyroxine. If they can't offer you one, ask to be referred to an endocrinologist.

[Zazbag in reply to Dudley2007]

You could trial something called low dose naltrexone, it's an immunomodulator and there is evidence that it lowers antibodies. If it works for you, you may end up never becoming hypothyroid. You can get it on private prescription from Dickson's Chemist. Have a read here: ldnresearchtrust.org/

[Dudley2007 in reply to Zazbag]

Hi Zazbag

Thank you very much for all the info!!! Am really interested in LDN as know several people who are on it and feel great! 🤗

[jimh111]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where antibodies attack the thyroid and cause inflammation 'itis' as in thyroiditis. This thyroiditis can attack the thyroid and damage it causing hypothyroidism.

Having raised antibodies does not mean you are or will become hypothyroid although you are much more likely to develop hypothyroidism than someone with low antibody levels. Your blood test results suggest your thyroid is working fine.

However, some people with high antibody levels seem to have signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism even though their blood hormone levels are fine. Nobody knows why this is, whether it is early stage thyroid disease or the raised antibodies are a red herring.

There isn't any evidence that any of your dietary restrictions have much effect on antibody levels and they haven't worked for you. Sometimes moderate selenium supplementation can help lower antibodies.

Why are you testing thyroid hormone levels? Do you have any signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and if so what are they?

For patients on levothyroxine it is recommended to keep TSH below 2.5 / 3.0 during pregnancy. This doesn't apply to patients who have not been diagnosed hypo. However, there are anecdotal reports that having a TSH a bit lower helps with conception, these are just reports we've seen on the forum.

You say you have 'leaky gut' what symptoms does this present with. There was a study that showed eliminating helicobacter pylori infection reduced thyroid antibodies in patients with very high (>1000) TPO levels.

[Dudley2007 in reply to jimh111]

Hi Jim

Many thanks for your reply, it’s very informative, really appreciate for taking the time to explain it so well!

Yes I have loads of hypothyroidism symptoms as my comment above.

Have found the study of eliminating helicopter pylori and I think it’s this bacteria that caused my peritonitis when I was 11 and almost died, so will go to my GP and ask for a referral to have some tests done, as I have constant pains in my lower abdomen and struggle with inflammation there for many years.

Many thanks! 🙏🙏🙏