Possible Hoshimoto’s (according to Google)

[WishfulThinkingToday]

I was tested last week, and my TSH was 8.3 (just before I got the flu, so might be high), T4 was low at 13.3 and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody is 53 (so positive).

So very tired all the time.

Is this a bad reading?

Im not a medical professional, just a patient. The easiest way to tell if this is a “bad reading” is to look at the NHS’s reference ranges, c/o Google again.
FWIW the TSH is high which means your thyroid gland is not responding to the instructions (from your pituitary gland) to produce thyroxine (T4).

This is often the case in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis aka autoimmune thyroid disease.
This condition will make you very tired, amongst other symptoms.
You must see your doctor & get a prescription for levothyroxine.
This is a tiny, daily tablet for the rest of your life, and it is essential.
Tbh it’s usually a pretty straightforward condition & responds well to replacement.

Have you been prescribed levothyroxine? Even if it is hoshimoto the treatment is to treat the thyroid. When I was tested my TSH levels were very high around 30 my TPO was positive. I would say after getting medication I feel a lot better and over the years I’ve got use to noticing changes in symptoms e.g fatigue and skin changes I find when I get bad dry skin and afternoon fatigue I request blood test and normally my TSH levels are high and I need meds upping.
hope you get sorted and feel better soon

Thank you both for responding - it is early days yet, and I am due to see the GP on Monday. I am just stressing about the thought of having an autoimmune condition - my mother suffers from lupus, and it is pretty bad (Hair falling out, corneal erosion), so I panic.

Oh - afternoon fatigue! Sounds so familiar, and the kids keep asking why I nod off at 4:00pm every day and the baby is bouncing on me and kicking my back.

I read on here that iron gets low too, and I always take extra iron when I get palpitations. It stops them. But then I can’t go to the loo (even worse lately with hoshimoto’s).

There’s a world of difference between Lupus & Hashimotos, please don’t worry!
There’s also ways forward re iron & constipation: take ferrous fumerate (not ferrous sulphate) as this is “gentler on your digestive system” to use the delicate phrase. Then increase your natural fibre (fruit, veg, whole grains, good old prunes etc) plus lots of water, and if you need more “help” then a senna tablet will sort you out 😁
Its really important that you have adequate iron stores (test is your ferritin levels, aim for a level of c75) so please take iron daily.
Both the iron and the levothyroxine will almost immediately make a big difference to your energy levels, as well as supporting other less-apparent organ functions.

Your GP will be familiar with this, it’s really common.
Best wishes for a quick improvement, please let us know how you feel after a week or so of taking them x