Hello
My name is Laurie Stubblefield, and I am a speech therapist in a very rural
part of Arizona.  I was originally diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
approximately 8 or 9 years ago and prescribed .125 mg. of Synthroid daily.
About a year and a half ago, the following symptoms became apparent:  1)
decreasing listening comprehension, 2) significantly reduced short and long
term memory, 3) hair loss, 4) increasing fatigue, 5) joint pain in the
hands, knees and feet, 6) decreased tolerance to heat and cold.  I went to
see my doctor and he tested my TSH level-within normal limits.  No change in
meds was prescribed.  (I did not know of any other tests until I joined this
listserv in April.)  Since March, the following symptoms have been added to
those above:  7)  joints going out or damage/pain to joint areas with
prolonged or poor healing, 8) significant bruising, 9) mild anemia, 10)
depression, 11) light intolerance/night blindness, 12) skin rashes, 13)
"pinprick" pain.  I saw 7 doctors-the seventh one prescribed iron
supplements for the anemia.  The rest said I was fine.  Yeah, right.
For the eighth doctor, I knew to ask for labwork on T-3 and T-4.  But he was
great-he also recommended T7 and TPO.  The results are as follows:
T3:  32 (WNL)
T4:  10.2 (WNL)
T7:  3.3 (WNL)
TSH:  4.17 (WNL)
TPO:  221  The normal range is 0-34
Based upon the TPO result, my Synthroid was raised to .175 mg. daily.
My questions:
1)  Can anyone give me information or direct me to a source of information
on exactly what TPO is and how it relates to the other tests.
2)  I would be interested in hearing from others who have had this test done
and their results.  How did it relate to their symptoms?
3)  I have read the various letters listing symptoms experienced by other
Hashis.  I am most concerned about the problems with listening comprehension
(mumbling), the visual problems and the skin rashes.  Has anyone else
experienced these?  Are they permanent or do they subside with time?
4)  I am still very tired-sometimes so much so that it seems like all I can
do to keep my head up.  I have only been on .175 mg for a little over a
month.  How long does it take to take effect?
5)  Last, can you recommend any further tests?
Sorry for the length of this letter-thank you for your patience-
Laurie

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