Thyroid removal and Antibodies?

[jqqhp]

Might be a silly question but can't find any answers.

What happens to antibody (anti-TPO and TgAB) levels if you have your thyroid removed?

Thank you in advance

[Clutter]

Jqqhp,

I had thyroid cancer so the surgeon removed as much thyroid material as possible which means there was no thyroid material for Hashi's to attack and antibodies quickly died out. Thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin antibodies have been undetectable since my thyroidectomy.

If a less radical thyroidectomy is done and much thyroid material is left in the thyroid bed Hashi attacks might still continue and antibody levels will fluctuate.

[jqqhp in reply to Clutter]

Thank you very much for replying.

My Mum has Hashimotos Encelopathy and has gone from euthyroid to hyperthyroid so it's a treatment we are considering.

[Clutter in reply to jqqhp]

Jqqhp,

This link suggests that treatment should be steroids verywell.com/hashimotos-enc...

[JGBH in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter,

Sorry to hear about your thyroid cancer, and glad you are feeling better at last!

So do I understand that if the thyroid has been partially (nearly all) removed then it is not possible to develop hashimoto thyroiditis? In 1980 i was diagnosed with a multinodular goitre (4 nodules, you could not miss it!). No scan then at the hospital so straight into surgery to remove nearly all the thyroid + nodules. Then lab test. Was told i had carcinoadenoma andput on thyroid replacement. Levothyroxine. I have been on these since then. Haven't had a recent thyroid function test for a while but have been feeling very ill, dragging myself, no energy at all, fainting even when sitting down.. dizziness, loss of balance, tinnitus, strange noises in my head (no not hallucinations) feeling like pressure, headaches often, feeling sick, not able to even go for a walk (which I used to do. All this fr the past 15/18 months (perhaps even before, looking back). I had been telling useless GP for a long time how exhausted I feel, the feeling I'm about to collapse at any time, lightheaded, dizzy, etc... NO HELP. Had blood tests done recently at y insistence. GP said all test NORMAL... had a copy of tests which showed low B!", folate, ferritin levels, low haemoglobin, MCV but RBC above range. NO HELP. Am about to do some private blood tests and hope GP will have to do something about problems after results of those tests. I take 100 and 75 mcg levothyroxine in alternate days. Could Levothyroxine be slightly "poisonous" to the system?

You seem to know a great deal about this type of problem, so I would appreciate all the advice you or anybody from the Forum could give me. Already many people have been very supportive in giving much needed and useful information.

Thank you, and take care.

[Clutter in reply to JGBH]

JBHG,

As you have some thyroid remaining it is possible to develop Hashimoto's. Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibody tests should confirm or rule out Hashimoto's.

Normal is a very broad range. If you write your own post and include your recent test results and ranges (the figures in brackets after results) members will advise whether you are optimally medicated.

Levothyroxine isn't poisonous to the system but some people may be intolerant to it or to the filler ingredients in it. If you were intolerant to Levothyroxine I think you would have had adverse effects as soon as you started taking it.

[JGBH in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Clutter. Will request new thyroid function tests when I next see GP or may just do private tests to accelerate process and get more accurate therefore more helpful results. Was not aware I may have Hashimoto's as most gland removed. Good to know and check it out.

Do you happen to know if there a better form of thyroxine replacement than Levothyroxine, on NHS?

Best wishes.

[Clutter in reply to JGBH]

JGBH,

When you have confirmed you are optimally dosed it may be worth asking your pharmacist to dispense a different make of Levothyroxine to see whether it suits you better. Makes available in the UK are:

Mercury Pharma 25, 50 & 100 mcg.

Actavis (also known as Almus) 50 & 100 mcg.

Teva 12.5, 25, 50, 75 & 100 mcg.

Wockhardt 25mcg.

[JGBH in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter - Thanks again for prompt reply.

The thyroxine I have been taking is manufactured by Actavis for the 100mcg tablets and from Wockhadt for the 25 mcg tablets (to make up 75 mcg on alternate day). I suppose if I haven't had any (known and visible) reaction since 1980 then perhaps not a good idea to change...I just asked because I've read so many posts whereby people do not seem to be happy with their thyroxine brand. The most important action now is to get my tests for optimum dosing which I'll do very soon together with other blood tests.

[jqqhp]

Yes steroids have worked well.

But the long-term effects of steroids are not something we or the neurologist and endocrinologist want. As Mum is hyperthyroid surgery is possibly the best option as we understand the immune suppressing drugs can't be taken with drugs for suppressing the thyroid.