Hi everyone,
I’m hoping someone can help me. I’ve had recurrent miscarriages and it has been suggested this is because of high thyroid antibodies - mine are 255, my TSH is 1.6.
I have had one successful pregnancy but was on steroids and a small dose of Levothyroxine. Does anyone know if there are any ways to lower my antibodies without steroids again? Thanks for advice anyone has to share!
Welcome to the forum
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
Low vitamin levels highly likely
what vitamin supplements are you currently taking
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Request GP/fertility clinic test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together and Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Thank you so much for all of this information
Hashimoto's 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.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to 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 may 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
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...
Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/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
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.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
Hashimoto’s and leaky gut often occur together
Post discussing gluten
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thank you very much for this information
If you have high antibodies, you have Hashi's - Autoimmune Thyroiditis. And it's more than likely that it is the hypothyroidism stopping you getting pregnant than the presence of antibodies. Antibodies have a job to do, they clean up the blood after an autoimmune attack on the thyroid, where the proteins needed for the manutacture of thyroid hormones leak into the blood. As far as I know, they don't affect anything else.
Your TSH may only be 1.6 - which is moving towards the high-side - but that does not tell you the levels of your thyroid hormones - whatever doctors may think. They could be quite low. So, what you need is full thyroid testing:
TSH
FT4
FT3
You probably need more levo now in order to become pregnant. 
Miscarriage often linked to low iron/ferritin
Pregnancy guidelines
thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby-2/
NICE guidelines that if hypothyroid or subclinical you should see endocrinologist BEFORE TTC
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
gp-update.co.uk/files/docs/...
See pages 7&8
btf-thyroid.org/Handlers/Do...
Also here - dose increase in levothyroxine as soon as pregnancy test confirms conception
cuh.nhs.uk/patient-informat...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Low ferritin, low thyroid levels and miscarriage
preventmiscarriage.com/iron...
Low iron and hypothyroid
endocrineweb.com/news/thyro...
Folate and B12 and Neural tube defects and autism
Not clear from your post….are you still taking 25mcg levothyroxine or did that stop after pregnancy
I stopped taking the Levo after pregnancy and my GP stopped testing my levels…
That’s what I thought
Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
Ideally via GP ……
but thousands upon thousands of U.K. patients find they need to test privately
Some people find low dose naltrexone (Ldn) can work in lowering antibodies. Especially, if you've tried everything else, maybe look into it. It is perscribed at a low dose - usually up to 4.5mcg as an 'off label' use. There is an informative Facebook page for the Ldn network, maybe share your story there and see what the community has to say on the subject. Best of luck.
Thyroid antibodies
Thyroid Antibodies
Thyroid antibodies.
