Overactive thyroid - help

[HealthUnlockedHello]

Hi all,

I was recently told by my GP I have an overactive thyroid.

My TSH levels were wavering on normal apparently, but my serum thyroid peroxidase is 99.5iu/ml.

I can see on the results that it should be 0.0 - 35.0, but I'm getting absolutely nowhere with my doctors (they told me it's 3x normal but they don't know if that is a lot or not...). I've asked for a referral with an endo but been told it can take months to see someone.

We're hoping to start a family soon, so looking for any advice on whether this is high, any experiences etc.

Thanks in advance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High TPO antibodies far more likely due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

Overactive thyroid- called Graves’ disease….is diagnosed by testing TSI or Trab antibodies

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) or with Graves’ disease

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

In U.K. medics never call it Hashimoto’s, just autoimmune thyroid disease

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease). Ord’s is autoimmune without goitre.

You can have mildly raised TPO antibodies with Graves’ disease

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

Graves Disease antibodies test

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

Please add your actual thyroid and vitamin results

[PurpleNails Administrator]

When is come to antibodies it can get very muddled.

Your immune system attacks your thyroid, releasing foreign substances into you system. The antibodies are “cleaning up”. The levels of antibodies fluctuate and don’t directly correspond to the severity of symptoms.

Most doctors don’t understand them and there no method to manage them. doctors treat the thyroid levels which can be treated.

So really they are used for diagnosis and often never repeated. There’s a normal threshold but above that limit your have positive levels.

Above is high 3x is fairly high and an unequivocal positive for diagnosis for something autoimmune but antibodies can reach the thousands so in that respect it’s high but not extremely high.

TPO isn’t unique to Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s) it can appear with Graves too. Positive TSI or Trab is accepted evidence of Graves.