What does all of this mean?TPO antibodies of 1625

[onmybike]

I don't understand what it means. My doctor said my TSH is in range so there is nothing to worry about. He will test me again in a year. I've just gone over my test results from a year ago and the same TPO appear on the sheet and they say 1359. Hadn't noticed them at the time as it was a very busy and difficult time for me, had gone through some major personal issues.

The range is 0-150. How can these results be ok. Is there really nothing I should be doing for this? I don't feel great, haven't for years actually which is why I went to the see my GP. I'm exhausted all the time, have annoying whining in my ear, my throat feels uncomfortable at times bu t isn't swollen in any way I can see or feel, my body temperatrue  is either one extreme or the other (either a block of ice or boiling for no reason), my heart is often racing so much I feel like it's going to jump out of my chest. Almost feels like a panic attack but isn't if that makes any sense. My other half insisted so much that I went and all I was told a year ago and again this year is that everything is fine but no explanation to these TPOs. Doctor said there isn't anything for it whilst my TSH is in range. TSH is 3.7 by the way with a range of 0.4-5.5.

Can someone shed some light on these TPO antibodies? Does everyone have them?

[Red_Star]

Life Extension - Thyroid Regulation...

"There is evidence that the standard blood TSH test reference range may cause many cases of hypothyroidism to be missed. Most physicians accept a reference range for TSH between 0.45 and 4.5 mU/L to indicate normal thyroid function. In reality, though, a TSH reading of more than 2.0 may indicate lower-than-optimal thyroid hormone levels.34

According to a study reported in Lancet, various TSH levels that fall within normal range are associated with adverse health outcomes.26

TSH greater than 2.0: increased 20-year risk of hypothyroidism and increased risk of thyroid autoimmune disease

TSH between 2.0 and 4.0: hypercholesterolemia and cholesterol levels decline in response to T4 therapy

TSH greater than 4.0: greater risk of heart disease"


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MedicineNet - Thyroid Peroxidase Test...

"Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is an enzyme made in the thyroid gland that is important in the production of thyroid hormone. TPO is found in thyroid follicle cells where it converts the thyroid hormone T4 to T3.

Thyroid peroxidase test is a test that measures the level of an antibody that is directed against thyroid peroxidase (TPO).

Autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) are produced within the body. The presence of TPOAb in the blood reflects a prior attack on the thyroid tissue by the body's immune system.

Most people with chronic thyroiditis (70%-90%) display a positive TPO test. The test is also positive in lesser numbers of people with other thyroid diseases.

Other autoimmune disorders that may cause a positive TPOAb test include:
Sjogren's syndrome,
lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and
pernicious anemia."

[gimel]

From your symptoms and your TPO results I'd say that you have the most common cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism which is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  With Hashi's the autoimmune system erroneously identifies the thyroid gland as foreign to the body and produces antibodies to attack and eventually destroy the gland.  Along the path to destruction, the gland's output of thyroid hormone is diminished and the pituitary gland starts producing more TSH to try and stimulate increased output from the thyroid gland.  As serum thyroid diminishes, you start to have typical hypo symptoms like those you listed.  Unfortunately your doctor has been taught that TSH is all that is necessary to diagnose and medicate a hypothyroid patient.  That is very wrong.  

TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that, at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.  Due to the influence of the NHS, most of your doctors only test for TSH.  If they do go beyond TSH it will be to test for Free T4, and then they will tell you that a Free T4 that falls anywhere within the reference range is adequate, and that your symptoms must be due to something else.  That is also very wrong.  The reference ranges are far too broad to be functional across the entire breadth of the range for every patient.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  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 after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

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

So the first thing you need to do is to get tested for Free T3 and Free T4, and make sure it is done each time you go for tests.  Note that those are not the same as Total T3 and Total T4.