How much can a thyroid heal itself ?

[Danielj1]

I do get a sense that many here are on a similar journey to improve their general health to the greatest possible extent and support improvements to health and well being.

In that context, for those who have been on the journey longer than me and now have

Stomach working well - vitamins/minerals being absorbed B/C/D/E/ zinc /iron/copper/boron/selenium/iodine are all now at effective working levels

Liver working well and supporting t3 conversion etc

Adrenals fixed as best they can be and cortisol balanced

Good sleep and recovery

Exercising well

Excellent natural foods diet with gluten and dairy free focus - avoiding PUFA etc

So with the above 6 building blocks in place what then happens to the thyroid function - does thenthyroid start to repair and heal itself and therefore you need over time a smaller and smaller dose of thyroxine OR

Does nothing change as you have hashimoto and

Body is unable repair itself further due to damage done from hashimoto issues but body learns to function better with current dose and dose levels fail to change

Long post I know - but some on here are many years into taking thyroxine and fixing all of the above

[Hidden]

Good question, I am new so have no answer, but will be interested to see the replies

Wishing you all the best

[Clutter]

Danielj1,

If you have Hashimoto's it will progressively destroy the thyroid gland and you will need increasing doses of Levothyroxine as the thyroid fails. Gluten-free diet may slow progression but it is rare that Hashimoto's can be reversed and, even so, the thyroid can't repair damage Hashimoto's has already caused.

There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies. Although

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

[Danielj1 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks - what is your understanding if someone starts their journey with a test of antibodies of several hundred get this number right down - have they at least guaranteed things won’t get worse

Ie can you draw a simple correlation between very low TPO antibodies and no further deterioration in thyroid?

Or irrespective of what TPO levels are brought down to the destruction carries on ?

[Clutter in reply to Danielj1]

DanielJ,

There's no guarantee because antibodies fluctuate and will be high following an autoimmune attack and then will subside until the next but if they fall from the hundreds I think there will be fewer attacks which will delay progression.

[Naomi8 in reply to Clutter]

Clutter,I do think some "internet experts"who are promoting their books,online courses,conferences,supplements etc are misleading some into believing they can cure/reverse thyroid disease without using replacement medication.

I am always concerned when someone tells me they are not going to continue with their hormone replacement & are going to cure themselves naturally.I always try to make sure they know that if they have an underactive thyroid & don't take replacement medication,they are at risk of heart disease,stroke & arteriosclerosis.I am a great believer in natural medicine & alternaive therapies but only in addition to thyroid replacement.

[Clutter in reply to Naomi8]

Naomi8,

I'd like to see before and after thyroid and antibody results before I believe that Hashimoto's and/or hypothyroidism have been cured.

I don't worry too much when someone says they'll stop taking thyroid hormone. They'll usually feel so awful within 3 or 4 weeks at the most that they resume taking it. At least they then know that Levothyroxine is having some effect even if they are not feeling 100%.

[Danielj1]

So no guarantees then and hard to infer certainty over progress from blood tests

The most obvious way to confirm progress is to show no more flares and consistent appropriate metabolic rate / basal temperature readings - I assume that those who have addressed all the points above have reached this stage -

I for one have had no reoccurrence since sorting things out over the past 2 months

I suspect that is as far as anyone can get to prove they have got the symptoms under control

[Clutter in reply to Danielj1]

Danielj1,

I don't think temperature is an indication of improvement. Some people have persistently low temperature.

Relief of symptoms and euthyroid blood tests will show when Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism are under control.

[greygoose in reply to Danielj1]

You can go for years between Hashi's attacks. Doesn't mean you won't have another one. You can also have some considerable time in a euthyroid state, as the levels come down from 'hyper' to hypo. But, it won't mean that your gland is working properly again.

[Danielj1]

Wow - thank goodness you are being so frank over managing expectations

I will keep doing my best and let’s see where I end up in say 6 and 12 months