antibodies- elevated how high can cause problem?

[EleGirl]

How high does the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin antibodies have to be before you may see the TSH and T4 become abnormal. My TSH is 2.11mIU/L (normal 0.4-4) and free T4 is 1.3 ng/dL (normal 0.8-1.8) I feel like I have some hypo symptoms. Ultrasound showed mild increase vasculitis, no nodules?

I understand once you have them they don't go away, but can fluctuate?

Mine are TPO 54 IU/mL (normal <35) and Thyroglobulin antibodies is 130 IU/mL (normal < 20)

What do you all think? What have you found for those that have positive antibodies?

Thanks for sharing!

Lori

[goolarra]

How much your TPOab and TGab are elevated is not the determining factor in when your TSH and FT4 will become abnormal.  Rather, FT3, FT4 and TSH will become abnormal when the antibodies have destroyed your thyroid to the point that it can no longer produce enough T3 and T4.  This does not correlate to the number of antibodies.

The currently accepted range for TSH is 0.3-3.0, so, at 2.11, you're getting close.  However, if you have symptoms, you should be being treated regardless of your numbers.  The trick is in getting your doctor to see it that way, too.  Many treat purely by the numbers and act like they don't know what a symptom is.

You're right - once you have antibodies, they're yours for the duration.  The levels will fluctuate somewhat, but I don't believe that makes a whole lot of difference in the progress of the disease.

[memmerline]

My T4is normal at 1.34, my TSH is abnormal at 0.0381L, and the thyroblobulin is abnormal at 392.0 HH....Anti-thyroglob <20.0...the US shows bilateral multinodular goiter with multiple nodules...ranging from less the 1cm to 4cm. My right lobe is now 2.5 cm larger then the original US showed. My symptoms are at this time debilitating. Fatigue, muscle pain, can't breath right (been sleeping on 2 pollows so I can breath), food gets stuck in my throat...and my voice is hoarse ( I constantly have to clear my throat). My doctor sees me every 3 months and all he does is up the levothyroxine....88 at this time...and more blood tests.I have not seen my doctor since May (he canceled)...and he does not return calls about my condition!!! I requested a referral to an endo specialist since he is an ENT.Someone please give me advise...what is going on with me?

[goolarra]

Can you have another doctor give you a referral or can you refer yourself (some insurance allows this)?  It sounds like you are feeling awful.  You need a doctor who is more responsive and will address your concerns.  Certainly, if your breathing and swallowing are affected, it is time to get immediate attention.  In addition to having FT4 tested, you should also insist on FT3.  FT3 is the test that best correlates with symptoms.  Have you made an appointment with your ENT and told him of your symptoms when making the appointment?  I'd call the ENT, insist on an immediate appointment, and if they cannot accomodate you, insist on an immediate referral.  

It looks like your meds need to be adjusted.  ENTs don't often manage thyroid conditions on a long-term basis.  They do the surgeries, and then usually turn patients over to another doctor for management.

I think you should see someone as soon as possible.  

[Zet1]

Hello regarding your thyroid peroxidase and thyroid antibodies they can get quite high.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's back in 2006 in 2007 my thyroid peroxidase was 450 and Thyroid antibodies 160  now 2 years later and 6 months after my 3rd child things have gone completely chaos for me.  Thyroid peroxidase is now 3300 and thyroid antibodies 210.  With the result that my thyroid glands have both enlarged due to inflamation (inflammation) to the point that i have a constant lump in my throat, i have a semi systic nodule and my blood work has gone abnormal.  Tsh 30 free T4 11 and free T3 3.8.  

Information i can find is that the antibodies get suppresed during pregnancy but after pregnancy it looks as if they just "explode"

Make sure that they keep an eye on your bloods every 6 weeks or 2 months do complete blood works and antibodies - it can stay at the range you are in now or suddenly change like in my case you never know

All the best  

[memmerline]

Thank you so much for responding! I did exactly that...went to see a different doctor and had him explain to me what my test results mean. I have been misdiagnosed to begin with..I am not hypothyroid, I am hyperthyroid! (This now makes sense to me as well...every time I applied the results in my research it came up Hyperthyroid....never occured to me that the original diagnosis was wrong!)So for 1 year I have been on the wrong meds. I was asked to stop my daily meds immediately so we can establish a baseline. We did take another blood test (T3) and the results are not in until Tuesday. I have been referred to UCSF, and the new dr  will treat me until that time!  Yhank you again...~K

[goolarra]

I'm so glad to hear you got your referral.  Keep us posted on how it's going for you!