Immune response

[Angelic69]

If a diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism is given before any antibodie tests have been done, what other indication would the gp be going of. Also wouldn't they then also prescribe something for immune suppression or is that already added to the thyroid meds.?

[radd]

Angelica,

Hashimotos can not be diagnosed without the presence of thyroid antibodies TPOAb and//or TGAb. Your doctor is simply guessing because Hashi is the biggest cause of hypothyroidism.

A journey to wellness can take a long while that necessitates the unravelling of long-established cycles of inflammation, restoring immune balance, addressing nutrient deficiencies and gut bacterial//viral infections.

We often don't know our trigger for Hashi but life style adjustments (e g/f diet, etc), optimal iron and other nutrients, adequate cortisol and the all important thyroid hormone replacement that suits, is generally enough to reduce the bodies immune response and thyroid antibodies will lower (unless there remain many other health issues not addressed)..

It is important to keep antibodies low as raised levels encourage other auto immune disease.

[Angelic69 in reply to radd]

I think I may have been testosterone dominant asvi was very lean and strong, a good protector for my family. I'm no longer physically strong so I'm thinking that levothyroxine has reduced my testosterone levels and increased progesterone which would fit nicely into physical manifestations I've encountered.

[shaws Administrator]

If we have hypothyroidism also called Autoimmune Thyroid Disease we've no antibodies. The doctor diagnosis according to a higher TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which informs doctors we aren't producing sufficient thyroid hormones to feel well.

Levothyroxine is also called T4 which converts to T3 (liothyronine which is the active hormone required in our receptor cells) and should increase the dose about every six to eight weeksuntil we have no clinical symptoms - not until the TSH reaches somewhere 'in range'. The aim should be a TSH of 1 or lower - not somewhere in the range.

Levo is taken with one full glass of water first thing and wait about an hour before eating. It can also be taken at bedtime as long as we've not eaten for about 3 hours.

When having a blood test allow about 24 hours between the last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to shaws]

I think your first line should read: If we have hypothyroidism due to Autoimmune Thyroid Disease we have above range antibodies.

[shaws Administrator in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Thanks for mentioning it to me Smallbluething.

[Angelic69 in reply to shaws]

Tsh levels are correlated to environmental factors that need to be addressed. No good to just fix one hole of a sive

[DonnyJam]

The horrible and shocking thing is doctors and endos aren't interested in finding root causes. All they do is look at TSH and medicate you accordingly with t4.

[SilverAvocado in reply to DonnyJam]

It is shocking, isn't it? I agree with others, I think the doctor will have concluded it's autoimmune because it's the most likely thing.

[Angelic69 in reply to DonnyJam]

Doctors, specialists know root cause even if only at a clinical and not an environmental level. Unfortunately doctors do not create or account for every member of a community and thyroid disease is a community disease.

[shaws Administrator in reply to DonnyJam]

They also keep you within the range and don't ensure your dose is sufficient to be 1 or lower.

[Redditch]

ANA positive test or already present Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis or Addisons would also tell you it was immune.

[Kiwidel]

I tested positive for Antinuclear Antibodies which was one of the tests carried out when I was first diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis. As far as I am aware I haven't been tested for hasi's but was told by one doctor that I don't have it (?). I'm not on any additional medication, just had a multitude of tests for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis etc, all negative. Maybe you've also had a positive ANA test? A dr here in Canada recently told me that they just say something is autoimmune if they can't confirm what it is!

[Heloise]

Hi Angelica, those are really good questions. I didn't even know I had Hashimoto's for several years and whether they even took any antibody tests twenty years ago. Normally prednisone is used for other autoimmune attacks but as far as I have seen here, it isn't used for Hashimoto. I'd like to know that myself.

I'm not a medical professional but there are other reasons for having low thyroid production. If you use functional medicine, it looks for the underlying reasons for this disorder and this man points out 24 reasons for Low Thyroid if you care to go to you tube. Here is #1.

youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_CP7l...(Not working as expected?)

[Angelic69 in reply to Heloise]

Thanks

[DonnyJam]

I believe low stomach acid could be the root cause of hashi's for lots of people.

[MaryMary in reply to DonnyJam]

Or maybe having hashi's reducing the amount of stomach acid produced in the same way that it reduces other functions?

[DonnyJam in reply to MaryMary]

The reason I believe it begins with low stomach acid is because the immune system has a lot to do with the stomach so when stomach acid gets low for whatever reason the stomach gets out of balance and so does the immune system then the out of balance immune system starts having problems dealing with certain foods like gluten and dairy containing foods which obviously in tern causes immune responses and our hypo or other auto immune conditions. This is just my opinion from what I've read though, I'm not claiming to be an expert lol.

[Angelic69 in reply to DonnyJam]

I thought perhaps issues at nerve endings that may slow down muscle contraction and create faulty system like a parasympathetic issue.like when you pull the choke out of an old car and the engine floods and then everything shuts down until excessive petrol evaporates or is burnt.

[MaryMary]

Thanks for replying. Hopefully, one day we will understand exactly hat's going on!

Mary

[Katepots]

Research leaky gut. Nearly 100% of people with Hashis are found to have it looking at the info I've read.

You must be gluten free and find your other food triggers to inflammation, makes a huge difference.