Cause for panic?

[walkingkataztrophee]

I am in a clinical study for anxiety medication. The doctor did a thyroid test on my blood, and has repeated the test three times. Something about thyroglobulin test. Anyway, he explained that my antibody level should be less than 40. Test #1 it was 180. Test #2 it was 216. Seems VERY HIGH. He mentioned Hashimoto's and explained that my thyroid antibodies were attacking my thyroid. Recommended i see a specialist. i have been all over the web and i am lacking information on how serious this level is. I assume it's pretty bad. But i feel fine! Need more info. Thanks!

[pjgovitz]

Andi,
I think most of us with thyroid isssues have thought we were hypochondriacs, your TSH is till pretty high, most docs shoot for 1 to relieve symptoms. Also it does take some tme for your body to adjust to the synthroid and get regulated, your labs should be checked approx every 8 weeks until regulated.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Antibodies against the thyroid are relatively common -10% of women have them.  It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).  This is called hashimoto's thyroiditis.  If the TSH is elevated, then treatment is levothyroxine - this is effective and well tolerated.  Both hypo and hyperthyroidism can cause worsening anxiety/depression, so addressing this with a thyroid expert may be appropriate.

[Andi77]

Kristin6, you appear to be very knowledgeable about this.  Please share your thoughts with me on my highly elevated antithyroglobuin number of 1,827.

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos earlier this year. TSH of 6.25, Free Thyroxine of 1.2, thyroid peroxidase autoantibody of > 1,000 and antithyroglobulin antibody of 1,827.  My endocrinologist didn't seem concerned, told me my symptoms of fatigue, constipation and scaly scalp could be coincidental but put me on 75 mg of Synthroid three months ago. To date, it has not helped me one bit--my symptoms have gotten worse.

Am I a hypochondriac or should he take me serious with these lab results?

Thanks, Andi

[Kristin6]

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid specifically.  The autoimmune system is what causes peoples bodies to reject organ transplants.  Its a protection system to keep the bad out of your body, but sometimes it gets its signals crossed.  Hashimoto's is often genetic and usually occurs in women.  

The short and skinny of it is that it can take years for the disease to run its course.  When it does, your auto-immune system will have completely killed all your living thyroid cells and your body will no longer produce the thyroid hormone which regulates many things.  So hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) is a secondary illness associated with Hashimotos.  A few googles will take you to sites that describe symptoms of hypothyroidism.  But also look at websites for hyper-thyroidism.  You see, living thyroid tissue stores thyroid hormone and it releases it slowly into the bloodstream whenever the adrenal gland secretes TSH (another hormone) into the blood stream.  As the body attacks the living thyroid cells, the thyroid hormone they are storing is released too quickly into the blood stream, causing you to periodically have too much thyroid in your bloodstream.  If you are having anxiety problems along with heart palpatations (a common symptom of too much thyroid), then you may be experiencing this.  The only way to know is to regularly monitor your TSH and T3 hormone levels.  As brbangle said, your dr will monitor your TSH, Free T3 & Free T4.  Its a bit of a roller coaster in the beginning.  

They don't treat the Hashimoto's part...the auto-immune attack.  They don't know how to stop that yet.  Your dr. may want to try the hyper-thyroid periods with a thyroid suppressant, and when you are hypo-thyroid you will need to take a thyroid hormone replacement.  

[brbangle]

Hi! I am not a doctor, but I recall reading that the degree to which your TPO antibodies are elevated is not as relevant as the simple fact that they are above the normal range, which, as your doctor mentioned, means you have Hashimoto's. And, having Hashimoto's increases the likelihood that your thyroid will eventually become underactive. Your doctor will probably want to monitor your TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 levels regularly to determine if/when this is happening. In the meantime, it's a VERY good sign that you are feeling fine! Good luck!