7 yrd old diagnosed with hasimotos

[andrea757575]

Recently, my daughter was diagnosed with Hasimoto's and suspects  more auto-immune disorders too.  Here antibody level is a 1852 TSH 12 T4.70. I am very concerned with how high her anti-body's are; any suggestions?  We are going to a pediatric endocrinologist this week.  BTW she has never been sick and is very healthy but since June her fatigue, insomnia, mood swings & hunger have reached a new level.

Any help would be appreciated!

[andrea757575]

Thank you for the responses. Wed. we got the endo so we should know more then; I also plan I contacting Duke University which is only a few hours from me and see what they can do.  I will keep you all posted.  She seems to be having thyroid attacks yesterday she was so tired and had a ton of muscle pain.  Can't wait to get her treatment started:)

[danie17075rm]

By the way, I am so sorry for your daughter.  I am an adult and I can barely handle things.  I pray for her recovery.

[danie17075rm]

I've been eating a gluten free diet for the last year and my antibody count is higher, and I am now getting my thyroid out.  As the others said, I think if it improves your health, than do it!  It's probably not going to be a cure though.

[Barb135]

I've been taking selenium for nearly 3 yrs and my antibody hasn't changed much at all, so I'd agree that, I wouldn't pin any hopes on it lowering the antibody count.  As I said before, it's not the antibodies that cause the symptoms; it's the hypothyroidism caused from diminished thyroid production.

It's entirely possible to have severe symptoms and still be in the so-called "normal" ranges on the labs.  

I agree with goolarra regarding the g/f diet.  If there's an indication that it's necessary, such as with celiac disease, then by all means; however, since there is no scientific evidence that it really helps if one isn't allergic to it, what's the point?  I talked to my doctor about it and he actually told me NOT to go g/f.  Whole grains are generally an important part of a balanced diet.  

Andrea - I would also recommend that you have your daughter's vitamin B12 tested. Some of us who have Hashi's, also have b12 deficiencies; I, personally, have pernicious anemia, which is another autoimmune.  B12 deficiency can also cause extreme fatigue, as well as a lot of other symptoms.  

As goolarra said, research, research and research so you learn all you can about the disease.  

[goolarra]

Red_Star, there are many of us with Hashi's who would disagree with your first paragraph.  I think the operative phrase in the paragraph is "...even if their thyroid function test is normal."  "Normal" is not the same for everyone, and just because our labs have been adjusted so they are "in range" does not guarantee we will be symptom-free.  Too many doctors ignore symptoms and stop short of proper doses of replacement hormones, leaving their patients undermedicated (even though their labs are "normal", they're not "normal" for them).  

Unless something has happened very recently, the last I knew there was no proven way to lower antibodies...lots of theories...lots of people trying to make a lot of money from thyroid patients...but no proof.

Selenium has never been proven in a large scale study of a heterogenious population to lower antibodies.  It is, however, and important element in the conversion of T4 to T3.  So, it's a good idea to have levels tested.  Bear in mind that selenium is toxic in high doses, so caution has to be used (especially where children are concerned).

Vitamin D deficiency often occurs in Hashi's patients.  Once again, I'm not sure that any kind of causal link has been established.  Since the symptoms of D deficiency and Hashi's can mimic one another, it's important to test D levels and supplement as indicated.  

I have yet to see any proof that a gluten-free diet lowers antibodies...lots of theory, lots of testimonials, but no studies.  If a g/f diet makes you feel better, then, by all means, do it.  However, I wouldn't pin any hopes on it lowering antibodies.  I'd certainly have to think long and hard and do tons of research before inflicting a g/f diet on a child.  That's a tough enough one for adults.

Andrea, I would encourage you to research, research, research.  Always go to the original study cited in an article and read the study for yourself.  Beware of theories supported by testimonials rather than science.

So, my advice to you (I/m not a doctor, of course, just a fellow Hashi's patient):  Many of us have had to change very little in our lives due to Hashi's (except, of course, for taking meds).  Many people do just take their little pill every day, and everthing is wonderful...those people don't frequent forums.  Change as little in your daughter's life as possible until there is indication that a change will be helpful.  If you make changes, do them because they make her feel better, not in hopes of lowering antibodies.

This is a very controversial topic, so you have lots of reading ahead!  I'm sure your daughter will feel much better once she's been on meds for a while.  Kids are resilient.  Best of luck!

[Red_Star]

New research has shown that Hashimoto's patients with high thyroid antibodies report more symptoms than patients with low thyroid antibodies, even if their thyroid function test is normal. In other words, thyroid replacement is not enough to ameliorate symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disease.

To stop the attack on the thyroid, it is essential to lower antibody levels.  Clinical trials show 200mcg of selenium daily lowers TPOAb levels.  Keeping vitamin D levels above 125nmol/l (50ng/ml) and a gluten free diet is also shown to lower thyroid antibody levels.  Vitamin D deficiency is common in 98% of patients suffering with autoimmune thyroid disease due to defects in the receptor site for vitamin D. Typically, autoimmune patients need levels at 80 - 100ng/ml (200 - 250 nmol/L).  

Selenium for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis >>>
http://jdach1.typepad.com/natural_thyroid/2011/02/selenium-for-hashimotos-thyroiditis-by-jeffrey-dach-md.html

Vitamin D and gluten free diet lowers thyroid antibodies >>>
http://www.worldtrichologysociety.org/membersarticles/vitamindillnessprevent.html

[goolarra]

Just to give you some perspective on the antibody count...it's not at all unusual for those of us diagnosed with Hashi's to have antibody counts in the hundreds, or even thousands.  My TPOab on diagnosis was 900+ and my TGab was 3000+.  As Barb said, the numbers aren't really important.  

[Barb135]

The level of antibodies, isn't really important. Hashimoto's attacks and destroys the thyroid, so it no longer produces adequate hormones; therefore, it's the hypothyroidism, caused by the Hashimoto's that causes the symptoms.  Both her TSH and T4 (if the range is typical of what we usually see - can you post the range?) indicate that she is hypo, which would explain her symptoms.

Is that T4, a free or total?  When you see the endo, do make sure you ask, also, to have Free T3 tested.  T4 and T3 are the actual thyroid hormones, with "free" T3 and "free" T4 being much more useful than total.  T4 can't be used directly by the body, it has to be converted to T3, which is why testing for Free T3 is so important.

Has your daughter  been put on thyroid  medication, or do you have to wait to see the endo for that?  

What other auto-immune disorders does the doctor think she has?  When one gets one autoimmune, the chances of getting more, go up.