Can T3 medication or NDT increase Anti-TPO antibodies?

[CrimsonMacaw]

I have Hashimotos and have been on Tertroxin (Australian T3 med) and Thyro Gold NDT (previously on a different NDT) for several months now and have seen my anti-TPO and anti-Tg numbers skyrocket over this same period. In March my Anti-TG was 27.3 (reference is <4.1) and now it is 232. Similarly, my Anti-TPO went from 40.2 (reference is <5.6) to 376.

I haven't made any large dietary changes during that time (I still mostly stick to a gluten free and low dairy diet), and the only real change was that I began taking those medications listed above. My TSH has been supressed since March when I began taking them, and that would seem to go against the prevailing opinion among some here that a Hasimoto's antibody flare is impossible while the TSH is suppressed.

I have heard that NDT may cause an increase in autoimmune antibodies but I haven't really experienced it myself when I experimented last year for a short while with a few different brands of NDT. That would only leave the T3 medication as a possible culprit but I've haven't read anything that would indicate that line of argument.

I'd appreciate any feedback on this and if indeed T3 meds can cause a spike in autoimmune antibodies.

On a side note, this also explains why I've been needing to constantly increase both my T3 and NDT dosage over these past few months. I had assumed that I was becoming accustomed to the dose, but it's more likely that the increasing antibody attack on my thyroid meant that I was unable to naturally produce enough thyroid and needed to rely more on meds.

[Chippysue]

I have vastly reduced my thyroid antibodies.

I have removed gluten and dairy.

I no longer use a microwave oven.

I only use natural makeup, body products, laundry and cleaning products.

No fluoride in water and toothpaste.

No chemicals so no perfumes or air fresheners.

No antibacterial anything

No bleaches

No plastics, so no plastic straws, flip flops, water bottles, food storage.

No package meals, just organic fruit and veg

In other words not consuming or inhaling anything toxic as many are endocrine disrupters.

This is all in dr Izabella wentz books but I learnt this and more from the truth about cancer docu series

[jimh111]

NDT is believed to increase antibody levels on the basis that you are consuming the substance that the antibodies are designed to attack. As I don't take NDT I haven't read any research on this so I don't know for sure.

[greygoose]

NDT might, but I see no reason why T3 itself would. A lot of Hashi's people take T3 because having Hashi's often means you're a poor converter.

Besides, fluctuations in antibody levels don't mean much. Have a look here:

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

My TSH has been supressed since March when I began taking them, and that would seem to go against the prevailing opinion among some here that a Hasimoto's antibody flare is impossible while the TSH is suppressed.

I don't think anybody has used the word 'impossible'. What is usually said is that a suppressed TSH should reduce the swings from hypo to 'hyper' and back.

[diogenes Remembering]

Regarding NDT, this shouldn't have any direct effect on stimulating TPO antibodies. You are taking it by mouth, so the NDT goes into the stomach and small intestine, by which time all the proteins in the NDT will have been broken down to their constituent amino acids. Leaving just smaller things like T4, T3 etc to enter your blood stream. Added to that the proteins in pig or cow are not identically the same as in humans, so the TPO antibodies in you are unlikely to recognise them and flare up even if some protein did get in.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to diogenes]

I am glad you wrote that, diogenes.

It is as I have long thought.