New to Hashimoto's

[Serenapuff]

Hi All.  I'm glad to find you!

I have had diagnosed hypothyroid for fifteen years-discovered after my first baby was born.  No antibodies detected. Started Levoxyl.  Two babies later, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune bullous skin disease called linear iga bullous dermatosis.  The disease went into remission after a few years-no meds except the Levoxyl for thyroid.  I moved and switched doctors so I went off the Levoxyl.  My TSH was in the normal range so my new doctor didn't treat me until I convinced her that was I suffering symptoms again, despite my normal TSH, back in 2010.  I've been on Levoxyl since.  I currently take 50 mcg of Levoxyl and continue to have hypo symptoms.

Along with typical of symptoms of hypothyroid, I also get heart symptoms which were cleared by a cardiologist-cardio ultrasound good and Holter monitor for 1 month showed nothing except PVC's which he declared benign.   (I do not like the PVC's-they make me feel awful sometimes.)TSH was in the range so no worries.  I continue to get random palpitations and PVC's.  I feel ok but tire easily-some days better than others and on good days I have no heart issues.  

I pushed my GP to run antibodies again.  I got my results yesterday:

TSH: 2.47 (.27-4.2)
fT4: 1.3 (.9-1.8)
fT3: 3. (2.3-4.2)
Thyroglobulin 2 (<2)
Thyroid Peroxidase 226 (<9)

Last summer tests I asked for:
B12: 1228 (211-911) no supplements! Doctor not concerned
Vitamin D: 48 (chronic low D so I take 2,500 D3 daily)
Ferritin: 54 (10-291) restless leg and headaches if this gets low
LDL: 114
HDL:85
total: 210 (<200)

Antigliadin IgA 10 (0-19)
Antigliadin IgG 2 (0-19)
TTG IgA- 8 (0-19)
Total IgA: 443 (70-400)

Long History of IBS.  Positive gene for celiac.  Went Gluten Free in August hoping it would help my fatigue and my terrible brain fog in spite of celiac negative serology.  Feel a little better but no real drastic changes so I've been questioning the diet.  Now I think I have Hashimoto from the recent blood work which means I am on the right track with my GF diet?  Just curious, would my antibodies be higher if I wasn't GF?

Also, I have serious dry eye lately-particularly in the morning.  My doctor told me to use drops and nightly ointment and see an ophthalmologist. Is this a symptom of hypothyroid?  I tend to have sensitive eyes but this is definitely a new problem.

Any thoughts or advice?  I haven't talked to my doctor yet and want to be prepared!  

[Barb135]

No eye problems are a walk in the park.  None should be left to chance and a diagnosis should not be taken for granted because our eyesight is so important.  

I'll check our list of doctors and see what I have for your area for thyroid doctors.

[Serenapuff]

I have never heard of thyroid eye disease- thank you for the heads up.  I've been thinking it might be my skin disease in my eye which I thought might be the worst case scenario (however unlikely as it has been in remission) but TED does not seem like a walk in the park either!  Ugh!

Any recommendations for Boston area doctors?  I'm willing to change primary if it means a good endo and ophthalmologist.  Thanks again.

[Barb135]

We, typically, think of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) in connection with Graves Disease/hyperthyroidism, but it can happen with hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's as well.  

"The doctor may recommend ablation of the overactive thyroid gland, or taking oral thyroid medication when the gland is underactive. While it is important that hormone levels are kept as close to normal as possible, this will not guarantee that a patient will not develop thyroid eye disease. "

"Thyroid eye disease can affect many different parts of the eye and surrounding tissues. Inflamed lacrimal glands may cause wet eyes or dry eyes, and these can both happen in the same patient at different times. Lubrication with eyedrops or ointment can help to soothe this irritation."

I agree that you should see an opthamologist to make sure you're actually dealing with TED, as your problem could be from something else.

[Serenapuff]

Thanks so much for the ideas about the thyroid results and where I might benefit -it gives me hope!  It is hard to hear "everything looks good" when you still feel badly.

I am glad to hear the news about gluten.  I have read a few books that suggest a link to Hashimoto's (not medical research) but encountered no medical research about it. I never considered my thyroid as I am always told it is in the range.  The fact that I don't feel any better GF over the year is what caused me to look more closely at my thyroid in the first place-brain fog and fatigue showing no relief.  I'm willing to try anything for a time to see if it helps.  

Any thoughts on the severe dry eye?  I am well hydrated though my skin strongly suggests otherwise-itchy and dry-never sure if it is the thyroid or skin disease acting up.  But my eyes........this is new to me.

Thanks for your support!

[Barb135]

Your thyroid hormone levels are still on the low side, which could be why you're having some of the heart issues, as well as easy tiring.  

Rule of thumb (where most of us find that we feel the best) is for FT4 to be about mid range - yours is at 44% of its range, so you can go up a bit there.  Rule of thumb for FT3 is upper half to upper third of its range and your FT3 is only at 36% of its range.  You could try to get your doctor to increase your Levoxyl to bring up your FT4 level and see if FT3 will track it up, or you could try to get her to add a very small dose of T3 med.  

I agree that your positive TPOab, you warrant a diagnosis of Hashimoto's;  however, your antibody count would not necessarily be higher if you were not g/f, since there is no scientific evidence that proves going g/f affects antibody levels either way. Being g/f also doesn't necessarily mean anything one way or the other as far as Hashimoto's is concerned, because there is no scientific evidence proving that being g/f helps or hinders.  There's no real "treatment" for Hashimoto's - the resulting hypothyroidism is what's treated with the thyroid hormone replacement medication of choice.