General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - TPO - what does it really tell you?

In response to TPO - what does it really tell you? posted by macurious:
Hi,
Ideally you don't want to have any TPO antibodies. I have no idea where the 35 came from.
Normal people don't have TPO antibodies but they're seen in 70 percent of people with Graves' disease and nearly everyone with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. They're an indicator of inflammation so you'll have them whenever there's an ongoing thyroid process. This test has various reference ranges so you have to look at your results and compare them to the reference range. Some tests use a range of 0-10 which would make a 10 borderline. With most ranges used a 10 would be a nice low result. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Graves Rai induced Hypo,TTC

In response to Graves Rai induced Hypo,TTC posted by macurious:
Hi,
IVIg therapy is used in people after RAI who have severe pretibial myxedema. Mostly, this treatment is used for people with kidney disease related to autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
In people with ovarian antibodies and similar causes of infertility IVIg would be used to reduce antibody titers but specific monoclonal antibody therapies would be more likely. Best, Elaine

» macurious - TPO - what does it really tell you?

In response to TPO - what does it really tell you? posted by daisyelaine:

Apparently the person who gave me that info (about the 35) was wrong about something else too, so it's clear that I can't trust her information. Thanks for the clarification.

-- posted by macurious

» cowlover614 - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cybee:

Hey I just now seen this. Hope your doing ok! Me not so good. I've never felt so bad in my life!! And I mean that! If I don't end up at the ER I'm trying a new doctor this Friday. I'm not sure I can go two more days like this. I thought I was having a heart attack last night. The body aches are awful swelling is worse and I'm breaking out in sweats. No energy what a nightmare this has been. Gosh where did normal go and will it ever be back. I'm hangin in here but it isn't easy. Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» u25000 - Graves Rai induced Hypo,TTC

In response to Graves Rai induced Hypo,TTC posted by macurious:

I also have heard of this, I spoke w/someone who took it 10 times, its an IV of immunoglobulin that lasts about 6 hours each time and costs approx 1500 ea time. Its done by Antibody specialist REs. Mine doesn't get involved and he's a director for the RE Dept,has been in practice 20 years. I'm obviously concerned that he's not familiar or interested, as if he's too conventional, and I've already suffered from "too conventional" re: RAI. The woman did say that every since she started IVig she couldn't stop getting preg. even w/other obstacles. And that her first attempts w/IVF (no ivig) were neg. So its hard to tell. She couldn't really confirm either what helped for sure, but agrees w/IVig.

-- posted by u25000

» u25000 - TPO - what does it really tell you?

In response to TPO - what does it really tell you? posted by macurious:

I know the same stuff your first post says
My range does say 0-35, in 2003 I was at 11, in 2007 I was at 18. So if 0-10 is a truer range, I guess I should be concerned. Someone had told me that TPO is a natural AB, so I thought thats why my 0-35 meant I was "normal".

-- posted by u25000

» cybee - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cowlover614:

I certainly hope the doctor you see on Friday knows what he/she is doing! I certainly understand how dreadful this feels! Just now I wondered if I was having a heart attack too! I want my health and sense of normalcy back! I hate going into such anxiety so oft and so I wonder what my new labs will tell me (new labs not yet taken)(have to wait until X amount of time after I quit taking synthroid)and I hope (like you) that I can get to feeling normal again! Don't you miss those "good old days"? Didn't know I had it so good before! (just feeling normal!) ha! One takes health for granted. Is the doc you are seeing an Endo or ?

-- posted by cybee

» cybee - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine,
Thank you for your excellent information! I have to wait 2-3 months after I quit taking (on my own accord) my low dose synthroid before I get my new labs (so that means in this next month I go in to get new labs). I am hoping that something can be done to alleviate the stress that I feel so oft. I appreciate the articles you have written also, especially the TED articles! You are something of a lifeline of info! Thanks! B^)

-- posted by cybee

» Elaine Moore - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cowlover614:
Hi,
There is the possibility that your hypothyroidism is steadily worsening. Can you call the endo you went to and ask if he or she would order outpatient labs? Just tell them your symptoms and your last TSH result. You wouldn't need an appointment. They could call the orders in to your local hospital outpatient lab. Let us know what you end up doing, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Graves Rai induced Hypo,TTC

In response to Graves Rai induced Hypo,TTC posted by u25000:
The only place I ever recommend for fertility treatment is Dr. Beer's clinic which I mention in my 2001 book on Graves' disease.

Blood Testing

"The Beer Clinic"
Reproductive Medicine Program
Finch University of Health Sciences
Chicago Medical School
3333 Green Bay Rd
Chicago, Illinois, 60064
Phone: (847) 578-3233
Fax: (847) 578-3339
E-mail: info@repro-med.net
www.repro-med.net

The people I've sent there have had treatments similar to general IVIg treatment but that target the specific proteins interfering with fertility. Immunoglobulins are proteins from which antibodies are made. Best, Elaine