thyroid-autoimmune link

I've just read Quix's comments about the association of various autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease and MS.

I've been taking Synthroid for over 30 years due to hypothyroidism. As I recall, I was told that the TSH was stimulating its little heart out but the T4 and T4 weren't responding. Is this autoimmune thyroid disease? Thyroid stuff runs in my family, mostly the hypo variety, and my grandmother died of pernicious anemia. I've been tested for that twice and apparently don't have it, but I sure have a lot of neuro symptoms.

If Quix or anyone else can give more info I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,  ess

[Super_sally888]

Hi Ess,

There is a thryoid site by Mary Shomon that has lots of thryoid info. It is pretty good.  Even wikipedia has some decent descriptions about thryoid.

I'll try to explain:
The thryoid produces T3 and T4, and some other T hormones in response to the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)  which is released from the pituitary.  When T3 and T4 are low then your body would increase the level of TSH which would in turn stimulate the thyroid to make more T3 and T4 and other Ts.

Autoimmune thyroid disease happens when your body creates antibodies to the thyroid and this results in the thyroid being damaged/destroyed.  When this happens T3 and T4 levels will be low and no matter how much TSH is released the thyroid can't produce thyroid hormones. This is hypothyroidism.

Early on in autoimmune thyroid conditions blood tests may detect thyroid antibodies.  late in the course  of the disease (years in) the antibodies may be low already as they have 'burned' themselves out.

There are other types of hypothyroid where the problem is with the pituitary.  In this case the thyroid is normal but because there is not enough or no TSH being released,  then the thyroid also doesn't produce T3 and T4 hormones.

DId this help?  Or is it more confusing.  Question away!

Sally

[essdipity]

Thanks, Sally! You're a doll. It does seem as if my hypothyroidism is the autoimmune kind, based on my description and what you've said. So I Googled hypothyroidism causes and got some more good explanations. Apparently what you're describing is called Hashimoto's, and accounts for the great majority of hypo. When mine was diagnosed so long ago, no one said anything about antibodies, or autoimmune stuff, and at this late date I might not have any antibodies left.

Of the other causes, none seems applicable to my situation, and my family history, etc., would seem to bear this out.

Next week I have to have blood work and will run this by my PCP. He makes me come in twice a year for this anyway.

Again, thanks,  ess

[twintwo]

Understanding high thyroid antibodies
by twintwo, 13 hours ago
Tags: Thyroid Antibodies, thyroid, head pressure, dizziness,

I have seen many doctors - ER docs, a cardiologist, EN&T, neurologist, ophthalmologist, obgyn, and PCP.  The last 6 months have been a nightmare.

My thyroid levels are in the range of normal TSH - 2.762, T4 - 1.28, T3 - 3.4, but my Anti Thyroglobn is 45.1 (should be between 0.0 and 40.0) my TPO Auto Ab - (antibodies) are 2332.0 yes - in the thousands range -  should be between 0.0 - 35.0.  I believe this means my immune system is attacking and trying to kill off my Thyroid?  I'm on low doses of Thyroid hormone 5 mcg of Cytomel and 25 mcg of Synthroid.  Since my TSH, T3, T4 are within normal range my PCP does not want me to get too much and go Hyperthyroid.  Hopefully this added Thyroid hormone treatment will help lower the antibodies.  I go in for more blood draws tomorrow and see her again on Monday to go over test results.  I really feel frightened by my symptoms and have terrible dysequillibrium (tipping tilting lifting dipping vertigo), head pressure, an odd sensation of pain from my neck to my chest.  My thyroid has been enlarged with nodules for 15 or more years, but I was alway within the normal range for TSH, T3, T4 according to the lab so was never prescribed thyroid hormone.  This is the first time I've ever been checked for antibodies.  Do my sky high numbers above mean my thyroid is nearly dead?  I'm at very high risk for osteoporosis and have very low vitamin D levels - 15.1.
Thank you for any insights you can offer.

[monotreme]

Hello.  I have Hashimotos too and have thyroid antibodies in the thousands.  The thyroid hormone pills will not lower your antibodies.  It just replaces thyroid hormone.  I have read books on thyroid issues, and there are many cases where there are thyroid antibodies and people have normal TSH levels.  But eventually as the thyroid  is destroyed, the TSH will go up.

Their is no conventional medicine approach to lowering thyroid antibodies.  However, holistic doctors believe you can lower thyroid antibodies by avoiding processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and eating  more organic produce.  

You might want to supplement with Vitamin D.  The receptors for thyroid hormone are similar to the receptors for vitamin D.  People with thyroid disease usually develop vitamin D deficiency.

Doctor Richard Shames is a famous holistic endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid disease.  His website is www.feelingfff.com.  he wrote a book,"Feeling Fat Fuzzy and Frazzled" and another book "Thyroid Power".

Doctor Stephen Langler is another good thyroid doctor,  You can google him by entering "Stephen Langler M.D.".

Elaine

[Momzilla]

Hey, Girl~

So do you think that perhaps you have had this auto-immune thyroid disease all along, and because it was found so long ago, no one might have had the knowledge to put it together for you?  And you've just continued your status quo treatment all this time?

I KNOW you will speak with your doctor about it and know just waht to say.

Good luck!

*

[essdipity]

Back in the stone age when my thyroid function was found to be low, there was no mention of antibodies or autoimmune stuff. Just high TSH, low T3 and T4, ergo, hypothyroidism. In more recent years I've read up on this more, as thyroid problems run in my family. I learned that the antibodies produced in Hashimoto's eventually dissipate, and by X time can no longer be detected. Last time I had blood work by my PCP I asked about this and he said it's long past the time of figuring out what happened when, but I still need Synthroid and will the rest of my life.

All this matches with Hashimoto's, but after 30 years it can't be proved.

ess

[kimbykat]

I have read online recently that there is perhaps a link between thyroid and MS. I read something that said thyroid therapy can help replace myelin in the early stages of MS. From what I have read and my doctor has told me, they're both auto-immune related. Either the immunne system starts attacking your thyroid or it starts attacking the myelin.

I have Hashimoto's disease and though I have not been diagnosed with MS (at this time), my doctor said she felt that some other auto-immune issue brought on my sudden Hashimoto's. It's kind of interesting if there is any kind of link.

[essdipity]

I am no authority on this, but it is my understanding that if we have one autoimmune disorder we may be predisposed to others. I've been hypothyroid for more than 30 years (well-controlled by Synthroid), though I don't know if it's Hashimoto's and thus autoimmune. It's too late now to tell. However, based on the description of Hash., that seems likely. I've only recently been diagnosed with MS.

I don't at all know that thyroid hormones can replace myelin, and have never read that. I also don't believe that some autoimmune thing can actually cause another. It's just that we may be more vulnerable if our immune systems tend to malfunction.

To me, the important thing here is that members of my family who also have thyroid disease may be more likely to develop something else autoimmune, so I am watching this for them.

ess

[biowham]

I don't even have a thyroid anymore. Got the whole thing taken out last year because it was riddled with huge nodules (couldn't swallow right anymore) and I was hyperthyroid. TPO antibodies were quite high, so it was autoimmune. I take levothyroxine for replacment therapy and have good TSH numbers. We have a-i diseases run in my family...mother has asthma, mother, grandmother, uncle, great-grandmother have/had thyroid problems, other grandmother has MS...we're just an autoimmune kind of bunch.