Intro

CarterSC

Hi, i just joined. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos two months ago, after TWO years of having symptoms and a tsh between 4 and 5 every time so it was 'normal.' It finally got up to 9, which triggered the antibody test. my antibodies arent as high as i see most peoples are, so hopefully thats a good thing- but my dr said the number doesnt matter. They were 250 at first test, and 285 three weeks after that. Im taking levo, and trying to get healthy again. Ive struggled for so long, Im hoping now that im medicated I might can start having some progress. Just wanted to introduce myself to everyone on here!

CSARdiver

Welcome!

Request a full thyroid panel including TSH, fT3, fT4, and rT3. Normal range for TSH is between 0.2 - 2.0 since 2002. Note that if you feel fine outside this range there isn't much to worry about, but that doesn't sound like the case here. What is critical is to find a physician that you can work with and will communicate effectively with you.

As for the levothyroxine it will take about a week for you to feel the effects and you should follow up with additional testing in about 6 weeks. During this time take control over what you can - stay within your calorie budget, drink plenty of water and engage in some light exercise.

Hoping you feel better soon.

Fuzzipeg

I agree with the need for a full thyroid panel as mentioned above but I know The Antibody Numbers do matter. Its these which are doing you ill preventing your body working properly. In any other situation doctors would be wanting to find out what is causing them but not when its possibly Hashi. As far as they are concerned the treatment has to be the same as for dietary low thyroid function.

Hashi slows the metabolism and goes on to causes many more problems. I would like to think you can get this thing under control because you have said, you have had the symptoms for two years. The low number of antibodies could also indicate recent onset too.

If you look at the front page of this group there are several references which could help you discover the cause of your antibodies. Unfortunately not every one responds in the same way to foods. Many find going gluten free helps. It can take at least 6 weeks for diligent avoidance to show results. Dairy avoidance can make a difference in a few days. 48 hours elimination for casein, the dairy protein made a real difference was my experience. (there are 4 types of casein, cow is predominantly type !, goat and sheep is predominantly type 2, 3 and 4 are present in all milk but cause less of an issue. I do not know how long elimination would help with lactose problems. some find changing to goat dairy helps with their lactose problems, its more like human milk. I'm not convinced about the avoidance of cruciferous vegies but probably they are not in my personal issue list.

You were probably told like I was, take this and all will be well. Unfortunately those of us with Hashi find it helpful to take vitamin and mineral supplements. After time, hashi reduces our ability to take up nutrition from our regular foods. Selenium is essential for the conversion of t4 to t3 which is the active form of thyroid hormone. Doctors do not like to, in the UK are not permitted to prescribe this form. For some reason vitamin B12 can be low in a hashi person. (levo pills contain dairy, that was my experience)

Many find improving their digestive biome helpful, this is coming to the forefront of medical science in hashi and other autoimmune conditions. General medical practice have not, in general kept up with this understanding as yet. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is very different to being hypo from a dietary position, lacking iodine in the diet. It is also different to someone who because of having an over active thyroid or even thyroid cancer, has all or part of their thyroid removed. Probably the required parts of the endocrine system which are essential for the conversion of t4 natural or supplements, which are synthetic or dietary iodine from fish, eggs, milk, and dark green veg, are still functional. This can make life so very much easier, set against the lot of those who have long established, untreated or undiagnosed Hashimoto's.

I strongly suggest you read all you can from reputable thyroid support sites and free access medical papers. BTW Hashimoto's presents with normal range tsh, t4 etc it is only when things start to decline do the numbers change. I wish you all the very best and hope you beat this thing into submission.