Should you still have out of range TPO antibodies on thyroxine?

[Rubble86]

Hi everyone, this has puzzling me for some time. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease 10 years ago and put on synthetic T4 (levothyroxine); TPO antibodies were not checked prior to taking thyroxine but were 8 months down the line. Normal range <34, mine were 134. I was wondering if TPO will continue to be raised even with treatment with levothyroxine?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Rubble86

Hashi's is where the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid. The antibodies come along and mop up the mess after the attack. So as long as you still have some of your thyroid for the immune system to attack you will continue to have antibodies as they have a job to do. Once your thyroid is completely destroyed (and nobody knows how long that takes) then there's nothing for the antibodies to do so they should remain at a low level.

Have you done any research into Hashi's at all? Some information to start you off:

Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily is said to help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. It's essential to test Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin and address any problems. You are welcome to post these results, including reference ranges (plus units of measurement for Vit D and B12), for comment and suggestions for supplementing where necessary.

[Crazy_CatLady in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry to be pedantic, but antibodies are part of the immune system, and actually direct the immune attack against the thyroid, rather than have a benevolent role in clearing things up 🙂

[Laundretta in reply to Crazy_CatLady]

That’s what I assumed initially, but Seaside Susie educated me and is right! T cells attack the thyroid cells and this releases TPO into the bloodstream, which is ordinarily contained within the thyroid gland. The body produces TPO antibodies to tidy up the mess.

[Laundretta in reply to SeasideSusie]

My TPO antibodies were at a high of 243 in June 2019, but have gradually reduced to the point of being mid green zone (18.9 lab range 0-34) as of yesterday’s test … has my thyroid gland now completely died I wonder? The reduction also coincides with my TSH being suppressed since adding t3 to my life in June 2019.

Also since adding t3, my body seems to be able to hold onto vitamin b12 and and folate and make vitamin D. Ferritin still stubbornly low at 29 (range 13-150).

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Laundretta]

Laundretta

has my thyroid gland now completely died I wonder?

I imagine it's impossible to say, antibodies fluctuate all the time so next test they may be raised again.

[Rubble86]

Hiya Seaside Susie, Thank you very much for your post; I have done some research and am trying to go down the gluten free route - (difficult when all you can think about is hot buttered toast!).

Any knowledge or any links are much appreciated, there is always something i can learn.

I have a lot of reading to do : )))

[SlowDragon Administrator]

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking.

high antibodies confirms cause of your hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

healthcheckshop.co.uk/store...?

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

hypothyroidmom.com/how-to-l...

Eliminate Gluten. Even if you don’t have Hashimoto’s. Even if you have “no adverse reactions”. Eliminate gluten. There are no universal rules except this one.

There’s loads of good gluten free bread options these days.

Need to use separate GF toaster

Also can get GF crumpets, croissants and hot x buns too!

Many people on GF diet see TPO antibodies slowly reduce