difference between hashimoto and other HypoT

[kayw]

Hi I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroid, and I have raised antibodies I understand that mean Hashimoto, and that it is an auto immune disease. What I don't understand is the relevance of this. Is the treatment different, are there other things that might arise because its hashimoto?

Any advice appreciated.

[Hidden]

No, as far as I know (and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, or autoimmune hypothyroidism, 16 years ago), the treatment is no different. This disease means that your body has come to see the thyroid gland as an intruder to be destroyed, so it created antibodies which attacked the thyroid gland and destroyed the hormone-producing cells, leaving you hypothyroid.

The antibodies/inflammation themselves are not treated in any way; you are just put on thyroid hormone replacement.

Some doctors (but far from all) believe your TSH should be kept on the lower side to calm the antibody activity down. From my own experience, a low TSH will lower antibody levels. Therefore, just having a TSH "anywhere in range" might not be such a good idea. From my own personal experience, TSH should not be above 0.5, but that is just my own personal view, and others might disagree. But I do know this; at one point, after I had started treatment, my TSH (which was over 20 when I was initially diagnosed), went from below 1 to 3.5 (which is still considered in range/normal), and antibody levels immediately flared up.

Some also claim that you should not take NDT when you have autoimmune hypothyroidism, as that will make the inflammation worse, but that has never been my experience. I feel better on NDT than on T4 drugs only or even a combination of synthetic T3 and T4 drugs, but that is also highly individual.

[kayw in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the rely thecat346, my TSH was over 24 when diagnosed. Your reply has been very useful, to say no difference in treatment and no treatment for the antibodies. I thought I was missing something! I will keep in mind what you have said about getting TSH at the low end of the range as the journey progresses. Once again, thank you

[Clutter]

Kayw,

90% of hypothyroidism is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's). There is no cure or treatment for Hashimoto's but adopting 100% gluten-free diet can reduce symptoms and antibodies. The Levothyroxine treatment you have is to replace low thyroid hormone caused by Hashimoto's.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.