Not obvious query

[mle121]

This question applies to Hashimottos and it may be a strange one but I can't find the answer anywhere on the Internet. For those that have Hashimottos does it eventually get to the stage where our antibodies completely destroy the thyroid and then we are left on a stable dose of levothyroxine without the need for further adjustments? If not then this probably answes the next question but if eventually our thyroids are completely not functional would it not be better for us all just to have our thyroid removed at time of diagnosis then for the correct dose of replacement achieved then let us just get on with our lives without this constant fluctuation in our symptoms? It may come down to cost but I would say having it removed is in the long term cheaper than countless blood tests and a lifetime of free prescriptions 🤔 Sorry if this question seems daft or obvious but I have been pondering it for a while and would like to know the answer. Thank you 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you did have thyroid removed you would still be on levothyroxine (and free prescriptions) for rest of your life

A few people with very enlarged goitre due to Hashimoto’s do have to have their thyroid removed

Also removing the thyroid doesn’t remove the autoimmune disease ……

What should happen is you get prescribed a high enough dose levothyroxine to “in effect” shut your malfunctioning thyroid off

Many Hashimoto’s patients do best when on high enough dose of Levothyroxine (and sometimes T3 as well) so that TSH is very low or suppressed

Most important results are always Ft3 followed by Ft4…..and all four vitamins at optimal levels

[mle121 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slowdragon. It all makes more sense to me now 😊

[greygoose]

Well, it's not actually the antibodies that destroy the thyroid. It's the lymphocites produced by the immune system. The antibodies just come along and clean up the traces of TPO and Tg that have leaked into the blood during the attack.

But, yes, eventually the thyroid is completely destroyed and you end up completely dependant of exogenous thyroid hormone. If you live that long, that is. The time it could take varies from person to person. It depends on at what age you developed Hashi's, whether you would live to see the complete destruction or not.

But, just because you are without a thyroid doesn't mean that you're going to need exactly the same dose of levo every day for the rest of your life. There are so many variables that can affect dosage, like losing or gaining weight, varying levels of activity, etc.

So, would it be better to have the thyroid removed immediately on diagnosis? I think not. For one thing, imagine that the worse comes to the worst and for some reason you are unable to get hold of your thyroid hormone replacement. The thyroid - what's left of it - is there as a back-up and will start making as much hormone as it possible can. I speak from experience, here.

Also, best not to have any sort of surgery if you can possibly avoid it. It's not a good thing to have for many reasons: risk, trauma, possibility of complications, etc. Not to mention the scarring.

I would say having it removed is in the long term cheaper than countless blood tests and a lifetime of free prescriptions

But, you would stil need the free prescriptions and blood tests. So, it really wouldn't end up cheaper in that way.

I would say, hang on to your thyroid for as long as you can!

[mle121 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much for explaining that to me greygoose. It is much clearer on my head and I will just learn to live with the ups and downs 😊

[greygoose in reply to mle121]

Yes, that's all we can do, really.

[Blissful]

A wise doctor (but now sadly recently deceased) used to say (paraphrase) "Never willingly get your throat cut".

In about 2004, I asked the same question to my Ayurvedic doctor - he said much the same thing (but in a different manner)

[mle121 in reply to Blissful]

It's good to know that I'm not the only one that has thought this question 😀