Thyroid Peroxidase Autoantibodies 1452?

Five vials of blood and a few days later and Dr. Hite called me to recommend I see a Rheumatologist to go over my labs and get some sort of treatment.  I asked her to send me a copy of the labs so I could look them over and see what I was dealing with, which she kindly did.  

The main thing that seemed to jump out, (on account of Dr. Hite circling it), was something called Thyroid Peroxidase Autoantibodies, also known as TPO.  The lab results indicated that my TPO was at an astonishing 1452, where as normal range is less than 61. This was alarming, needless to say, so I began to research what this number represented.

According to the Mayo Clinic , 

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO), an enzyme normally found in the thyroid gland, plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones. A TPO test detects antibodies against TPO in the blood. If you've been diagnosed with thyroid disease, your doctor may recommend a TPO antibody test — in addition to other thyroid tests — to help determine the cause.

The presence of TPO antibodies in your blood suggests that the cause of thyroid disease is an autoimmune disorder, such as Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease. In autoimmune disorders, your immune system makes antibodies that mistakenly attack normal tissue. Antibodies that attack the thyroid gland cause inflammation and impaired function of the thyroid.

Your doctor may also order a TPO antibody test if you are pregnant and have an autoimmune disease, especially one that involves the thyroid, such as Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease. In such cases, the TPO antibody test early in pregnancy and possibly again near the end of the pregnancy can help determine whether your baby is at risk of thyroid dysfunction.

Some people with TPO antibodies may not have thyroid disease. However, the presence of TPO antibodies may increase the risk of future thyroid disorders. If you have normal thyroid function with TPO antibodies, your doctor may recommend periodic checkups to watch for future thyroid problems.

So, I might have Hashimoto's, an autoimmune disease, which would explain the rashes. Next step, find a Rheumatologist.

Strange Rash...

For a few years now I have noticed a strange rash on my upper arms. It's disc shaped, very lightly raised and pink in color. It doesn't itch, but kind of stings sometimes, like a sunburn. It's more embarrassing than anything, especially when I wear sleeveless blouses.  I had asked my dermatologist about it in passing during my annual skin check up and she didn't think much about it at the time.

However, it suddenly started to appear in different places; my forearms, my shins, and I even started getting dry patches in the center of each hand.  I suspected eczema on my hands and decided to see the dermatologist once again.

Dr. Pamela Hite at The Dermatology and Laser Clinic in Newport Beach looked at my new lesions and decided to order some blood work.  She thought it looked like something autoimmune related, as opposed to contact dermatitis, so off I went to the lab to draw blood, something I was going to have to get used to in the months to come.