Anti-TPO after treatment

[k82002]

Hi Doctor,

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in April (free t3 & t4 high, Anti-TPO over 1000 and a small goiter on right side).  I began tapazole, 3 50mg. tablets daily and by June, my t3 and t4 was normal, TSH continued at 0.  My dosis was slowly reduced because I was entering hypothyroid a few times and by December was taking 1 tapazole daily and began a small dose of levothyroxin.  By February, my goiter was gone, t3, t4 and TSH all normal and anti TPO 887.  By July, my doctor suspended the tapazole and was taking 92mg. of levothyroxin.  Here it is August and my anti TPO is 776, t3 &t4 normal (2.61/1.14) and TSH 0.42.  He reduced the levothyroxin to 81mg. daily.  

My question is how can I continue to reduce my anti TPO levels since this is still indicative of an anti immune process?  Is there anything else I can do to increase my chances of staying in remission from Graves?  I do not want to do the radioactive iodine treatment since it would not be addressing the anti immune problem so I will go back on Tapazole if I have to.  However, any help that I can give through diet and/or supplements or any other ideas would be very welcomed.  Thank you.

[Barb135]

I'd be interested in the TSI test, since that is the definitive test for Graves.

If your thyroid is back to normal size, it sounds like, at least the inflammation is going away.  

I doubt the TPOab will go down until the thyroid is completely disabled and there's no more healthy tissue for the antibodies to destroy.

[k82002]

Thank you for your response.  I have to check my TSI test , I believe that I did have one done and it came out negative, but I need to check again.  Initially, at diagnosis, my TSH was 0.00 and my Free t4 and Free t3 were very high ( I have to look in my records to see what they were).  Two doctors diagnosed me with Graves, so I trust that I was diagnosed well.  

The doctor has recently told me that after my ultrasound, the thyroid looks to be normal size and that and the fact that I was going hypo with only 1/2 of a tapazole pill was a good sign I might go in to remission permanently.  However, he said that the high TPO isn't so good because it indicates that I can relapse at anytime.  That is why I am looking for ways to lower it, if possible.

Thanks

[Barb135]

First off, there are no doctors that monitor this forum.  We are all fellow patients who try to help others through the things we've already been through.

On what basis were you diagnosed with Graves?  Did you have a TSI test?  While TPOab can be elevated with Graves, TSI is the definitive test.

Your high TPOab indicates that you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Hashimoto's is often characterized by periods of hyperthyroidism, then swings to hypo.

There's nothing you can do to reduce the antibody levels. Once you have them, you will always have them, though there may be varying levels.

Some people do have both, Graves and Hashi's, but that's relatively rare.

What are the reference ranges for the T3 and T4.  The results look like Free T3 and Free T4, but please verify that they are FREE.... Reference ranges vary lab to lab so must come from your own report.