Do I have hashi's?

TSH : 4.58

Tested again after a month:
TSH:2.72
AntiTPO : 44.15

I am confused,what does this mean?
My doctor is on leave >_<

[LazyMoose]

Need the limit on that TPO test. It says on the printed sheet.

You also need TG antibody or TGab test. Has this been done.

TSH does not reflect antibody level, its just a signal that tells the thyroid what to do. TSH going down reflect less hypo state, but TSH is not very accurate. Free T3 and Free T4 are used to test the actual thyroid hormones T3 and T4 - get these tested too.

[AishaPThyroid]

Thanks for the reply :)
The AntiTPO reference ranges are 0 to 34.
Mine is 44.15, when I searched online I saw that people have AntiTPO levels in 700s and 1000s.
My TSH was 4.58, I stopped ALL the goitregenic foods possible and now I'm 2.72 in a month :)
I'm kinda getting freaked out now,I'm only 20.
I heard that having those AntiTPO antibodies signifies Hashimoto's :(

[AishaPThyroid]

and no I haven't done the T3 T4 and the TGab :)

[LazyMoose]

The presence of over the limit Anti TPO means antibodies are attacking the Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme in your thyroid.

It usually means Hashimoto but can also mean Graves. TGab is also a good  to test, especially in those that are close to the limit in Anti TPO results.

The level of actual thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are also tested to help in the determination of Hashimoto or Graves. These tests are called Free T3 and Free T4 - they are more accurate than TSH which is just a signal hormone not one your cells use and consume. Find some Dr that will run Ft3 and Ft4 tests.

Look at it this way - In some ways people that get treated / manage a thyroid disorder early have it a little easier than if it went undetected for years.

Do you have symptoms?

[AishaPThyroid]

I almost cried when I read this, its okay I have to deal with it, so basically you mean I do have some disease right? I have to lead a gluten free casein free life forever? >_<
YES i do have the symptoms, always snappy, pissed, lazy, bad bowel movements,periods were 8 days late but the most recent one was a cycle of 31 days.
I had nearly no hairfall, now i lose 20 strands a day or more, I want to feel normal again, Thanks for replying so nicely :)
And I also feel pathetic and depressed most of the times..
Will I be able to live the same way? I start working from next year..

[LazyMoose]

Dont freak out, try to relax. **Like I mentioned, get those other tests done. Anyone that knows this stuff here will tell you the same thing.** Then, all these blood tests together will help in determining what is going on.

If it does look like Hashimoto, I'd say about 80% of people live life fine taking T4 hormone replacement and never even seek online help- because they dont need it. Maybe 10% have a few issues and the remaining 10% are the people you see with difficulties seeking better health via online forums like this one. No one comes here saying I feel great! - why would they?

Not all feel better going gluten free. I realize this is the craze right now. Some feel better just limiting gluten and starch and sugar. It has its own effects that may or not effect the thyroid - regardless what you read tghis is still a conrtovery. I do limit the items above, but when I went gluten free for 4 months, it did nothing for my thyroid symptoms, but did help digestion.

[AishaPThyroid]

Thank you so much Mr.LazyMoose :D I think I am getting to terms with this :P The way its described everywhere 'Autoimmune disease which has no cure'.
They make it sound like its the end of the world, maybe I'll take a while to get used to it, but I can have gluten like once a month maybe?
I heard no dairy either, if I can lead a healthier life with having a few meds and no other problems (i.e. being able to have a normal baby when I'm 27 or something) and no eruptions on my face its cool, I heard that some people feel energetic and happy with the meds, also I have no muscle,joint pains, normal/good libido and my weight has is 56kgs since a long time (I dont move an inch)
Also, I will get the other tests done asap :)
Thank you again, made me feel much better, I'm just looking at this as a healthier lifestyle option and that people go through worse things like AIDS cancer etc, so I should just stop being whiny :)

[flyingfool]

hashimoto's is the most common cause for Hypo or low thyroid.  It is simply treated with supplementing with Thyroid hormone.

Hashi's is an auto immune disease where for whatever reason your immune system thinks your thryoid gland is a foreign invader. And like a good immune system is supposed to do with invaders to the body is send out antibodies to kill it. In the case of Hashi's your own body is trying and is slowly reducing the ability of your thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone.

The treatment is simple in concept. That is replace the reduced ability of your thyroid gland with oral supplements (medication).  Getting to the proper dosage for you to feel well, and keeping up with the progress of the disease which will require additional increases in dosage of medication as your thyroid becomes less and less effective is another matter. Some people it is easy to zero in on the correct dosage, for others it is more trial and error.  And unfortunately for a few it is more error as they have a hard time finding that optimization.

Don't let the word Disease freak you out.  It really isn't that big of deal as long as you can get medication.  You will likely have to be on medication the rest of your life. But there are far, far worse things!

Many of the symptoms you have will likely be alleviated or minimized as you get the medication dosage optimized for you.

Like mentioned above. Be happy you found out now and are on the road to feeling better.

[Barb135]

Why are you gluten/casein free?   Do you have celiac disease, also?  

If you're gluten/casein free simply because of your thyroid, there's no need. You only need to eliminate those (and dairy), if you are sensitive or allergic to any of them or have celiac.

[AishaPThyroid]

Yay, so I can have gluten and dairy? :) not at all allergic to any foods :) its what I read, so I was like 'stop em before the damn antibodies increase'.
Most articles related to Hashi's said that the patients should avoid gluten,caesin and a whole bunch of other stuff, so I can have everything in limits right? and exercise and monitor my thyroid properly :)
Thank you so much I'm much better :D

[AishaPThyroid]

Hey there, Thanks for the post,its really great to hear that it isn't a big deal, I've been hearing 'Omg hashimoto's :O' since 4 5 days now :P
Oh they will put me on synthyroid? TSH is 2.72 :) I heard they prescribe selenium to reduce the antibodies :) My good friend's gf is 18 and she has a serious heart condition, I thought I was a fool to cry for this :)
Anyways this forum is great, great support, I hope you guys are always healthy and happy :* :D

[Barb135]

A lot of people insist that going g/f will get rid of the antibodies and that's not true.  

The only thing I totally recommend avoiding is any type of soy product.  You should also look at the list of goitrogens and eat those in lesser quantities, as they cause the thyroid to make less hormones.  Once your thyroid stops making hormones, completely, it won't matter.  I'm totally dependent on my replacement hormones, and I eat about anything I want to, within reason.

Some studies have shown that selenium has an effect on antibodies; I've taken selenium for several years and it did nothing for my antibody count.  Other studies indicate that selenium can help with the conversion of FT4 to FT3 -- I do find that to be the case.

[AishaPThyroid]

Hello everyone, I went to my doctor today, he didn't anything, I mean I don't get it, my family thinks I'm jumping to a conclusion about hashi's or grave's because today the doctor didn't say anything, he just told me to wait and avoid cabbage, broccoli and do the TSH  test again after 6 months, he said 'if you feel your neck is swelling up then come to me'.
BUT DON'T MY ANTIBODIES SIGNIFY THAT I HAVE SOME CONDITION? HE SAID THESE ANTIBODIES MEAN NOTHING APART FROM THAT I CAN GET THYROID PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
AND BECAUSE I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS CONCLUSION, MY FAMILY THINKS I'M CRAZY >_<

[gimel]

Just reading through this thread made me think of how difficult it is sometimes to find a good thyroid doctor, or to get your regular doctor to do adequate testing and proper treatment for thyroid problems.  This led me to recall the suggestion from a UK member who had been having difficulty getting her doctor to test and treat her thyroid problems.  She finally was successful, and this is her description of her successful approach.

"What I have learned from my experience is that you have to go to the Dr's office and TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT and to go backed up with knowledge.  You have to tell them that you have done your reading and looked into your condition and care about the long-term treatment of your health and thyroid.  If you fight for what you want, you will eventually find someone that is happy to go along with your wishes.  But we all have to take charge of our own health, right?"

If you do that and it doesn't persuade your doctor, then you need to find a good thyroid doctor that will treat you clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important not just test results and especially not just TSH results.

You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance after an initial evaluation and tests.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor, to help guide treatment.  

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[AishaPThyroid]

Yes, I was backed up with knowledge, he just made fun and laughed 'you guys google everything why do you even need to com here? and then you guys ask us stuff we cant even answer.'
Thank you gimel :))
I just want a clear answer about my test results, no seems to give me one though :/ he did not prescribe anything but multivits !

[gimel]

Your test result for TPO antibodies was over the reference limit, most likely due to early stage Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Doctors tend to react to Hashi's by waiting until the patient shows over signs of being hypothyroid, and then starting on thyroid meds.  The alternative is to start early and hopefully avoid the worst of hypo symptoms.  You can read about that approach in this link.

http://thyroid.about.com/od/hypothyroidismhashimotos/a/preventative.htm

Since you seem to already have symptoms, I don't understand why the doctor wants to wait and see if you get worse before starting meds.  

I think you might give the doctor a copy of the above link and also take a copy of this link and mark up the symptoms you are already having and give it to the doctor also, and request to be started on thyroid med.  

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/hypochecklist.htm

I would also give him a copy of the letter I linked above.  If all that doesn't push him into action, then you definitely need to forget him and find a good thyroid doctor.

[AishaPThyroid]

Thank you so much, I am leading a healthy diet these days, so I do feel better, but that's all I can do, I am definitely going for a second consultation, I don't feel normal as yet, I tweeted to Mary Shomon and she advised the same, thanks again gimel :)