TPO results

[twelve3072]

My primary doctor ran a TPO test and said normal reading is 35 and mine was 1000.  I have several autoimmune diseases including this thyroid disorder.  TSH levels have run the gamut over the last 8 years - from underactive to overactive to normal & back again several times.  I took levoxyl when it was underactive but have not taken any medication for 6 years now.  What does this high reading from the TPO test mean for me & should I seek additional medical treatment from an endocrinologist?

Thank you.

[Blue Juliet]

I also agree with Dawn. One problem is that with Hashimotos, the thyroid and TSH levels are often within normal limits, and endocrinologists won't treat until they're abnormal. Sometimes it's difficult to find a doctor who will treat Hashimotos until the levels are definitely hypothyroid, even with the elevated TPO.

It's also true that Hashimotos frequently occurs along with with other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, meniere's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. Many of the symptoms (and the list is long) are caused, not by the borderline and fluctuating thyroid levels, but by a reaction to the antibodies, which can affect almost every cell in your body. That's why some people lose hair and eyebrows, have muscle pain, dry skin and nails, PVC's, and many other issues that are often misdiagnosed.

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in January, after over six years of having my thyroid checked and misdiagnosis of my symptoms, which included PVC's that were so bad I could hardly function (yet thyroid levels were low normal!). My TSH is finally so low now that I finally got an endocrinologist to treat me, and we've finally gotten it up to a normal level. They tell me the symptoms I still have are due to the antibodies .. and there's apparently nothing that can be done about them. I'm still investigating that.

In answer to your question about seeing an endocrinologist, YES, please do! Thyroid treatment is extremely complicated, with many interacting hormones to take into account, including adrenal hormones in come cases. You really need an expert to help you manage this condition. Good luck, and I hope you're feeling better soon!

[Kimmydee2]

Hashimotos Thyroiditis....probably a good idea to see an endocrinologist.  Let us know what your TSH, T3 and T4 are as well. Are you having any symptoms?

[Smilerdeb]

I totally agree with Dawn,

[dawnangela]

This would mean more than likely Hashimoto disease.The antibodies are attacking the thyroid gland. It is an autoimmune disease, It will be attacked until the gland itself has been killed off and no longer functioning at all, Hashi causes you to swing between hyper and hypo for many years.Then you will just be Hypo in the end, yes i would be seeing about treatment for sure..Do you still have symptoms of hypo?