hashimoto and high ana's

[canoga]

I've been treated for hypothyroid due to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for about 3 yrs now.(I had 2 cysts, my lab levels were normal) The only symptom I had was loss of hair. After starting treatment with Cytomel 5 mcg x2/day  (regardless of my normal labs) within 3 weeks I had tremendous relief from my symptoms, my hair stopped falling out.( Diffused pattern,especially on top and sides of my head)  I had also low Ferritin levels and took some Iron.I was fine for 3 yers and just recently started loosing hair again. My ferritin is at 30(little low) so I started taking Iron again and it seamed the hair loss slowed down a little since.  In a mid time my GP run a bunch of tests which showed very high ANA's 1:640 and referred me to Rheumatologist for further eval.( All other test like Liver Functions, Urea, Rheumatoid factors, blood counts, white ,red cells and platelets are normal) I have to wait till March to see him. I'm worried sick . Do I have to worry about Lupus????? I do not have any symptoms,( if anything I'm always cold ),or can a Hashimoto's Thyroiditis cause this high ANA's . I've been taking lots of vitamin supplements for my hair ,one of them being Biosil (Silica). I also take lots of Excedrin for my headaches (around my period) and am taking Yasmin. Please help. Sleepless in Trumbull.

[canoga]

Hi.I'm only on Cytomel as my endo feells that the Synthroid might aggravate my hair loss (side effect). Synthroid is T4 which is a storage form of thyroid hormone and is not active, needs to be converted with certain enzymes to the T3 form to be active in your body. Many docs do not want to use it because its half life is very short. I need to take it x2/day, but it's really the important hormone in your body. There are also T1, T2, as you can have in Armour (in addition to T3 &T4)since is the natural form of Thyroid hormone derived from animals but it isn't clear what role do they play.So I'm only on Cytomel and was doing very well  on it for 3 yrs until few months ago.I'm beginning to thing that it's really my low Ferritin that causes the hair loss. Since I've started taking Iron supplement I already see some improvement.But what's the story with my ANA's. All my lab works are fine , kidney's ,liver function , even my RA factor is very low, so it's not Rheumatoid Arthritis.I hear that there are some healthy people with high ANA's. If I understand it correctly those are antinuclear antibodies attacking your organs , then if I have them then what ? Do they attack may organs and I just do not know about it because the damage is not significant yet but with time it's going to get worse or do they just swim in my blood stream sitting on a little mattresses drinking coladas and having grand all time. (LOL). The not knowing is killing me.About Yaz. Sorry you had a bad luck with it. I love it.It has a better progesteron for hair then any other BCP.And since I've switched to it I seam to be getting less headaches and I'm not as bloated . Oh! almost forgot. Can ANA's go down and how fast would that happen. I've been taking Biosill (Silica) for my hair (yes, yes) then I've read about connection between  silicone breast implants and lupus and stopped it immediately . I wonder if that could be the reason for the high ANA's? Do you know?
Thanks for your response and good lack to you.

[Cynnieb4]

I also have high ana 1000 range, not sure where they are now, but its been a little over 7 months on meds. I am getting there. My endo says I have RA, but lupus not usually,  There are lots of us with hashis' on here. I have had bad luck with yaz. That could contribute to your headaches. I believe that the ferritin is most likely your cause for the hair loss.  Are you just on cytomel?? You should be on a t4 med as well, such as synthroid, or armour.  

[canoga]

Thank you so much for all the info.When I was Dx. with Hashi the only sympton I had was a hair loss, even my blood work was normal(TSH, T3, T4). It took me very long time to convince someone to take a closer look at me. Finally I got to this wonderful endo , she did a CT on my thyroid and discovered 2 cysts. Decided to treat me with Cytomel(T3) , Synthroid(T4 needs to be converted to T3 to work in your body) and can cause hair loos (side effect not many people are aware of). MY serum Iron was fine H&H was fine , my Ferritin  level was little low but still within the normal range. She told me also to take some Iron which I did and within a short period of time I was fine, my hair loss had stopped.I was OK for about 3 years, until just recently my hair started to come out again. I was at the max with my Cytomel, so my endo put me on Spironolactone 200mg  I did not see any improvement with it. I then ventured to GP's office to look for some answers and that's when I find out about my ANA's and also again low Ferritin . Since ,I did some research and  found out that to maintain healthy hair  Ferritin  shoul be at 40 at least, if its below your hair will go into Tellogen Effluvium (resting stage) and that's when they come out. I started taking Iron 3xday and already see some improvement. So I stopped worrying about my hair , but have a new thing to worry about,my ANA's and what that means . Your response brought some peace into my life. I feel fine otherwise no pain, no rash or any other symptoms of lupus or any other autoimmune disease. I hope it's only Hashi....Sorry I'm dragging this. Thanks again

[estrelinha]

I have high ANA's (1:615) and Hashi, Endo sent me to a autoimmune specialist, first time I did the analyses my ferritin was 12, I did all possible anallyses for autoimmune diseases associated with high ANA's, they came back negative. I'm still taking iron, my ferritin is 22. TPO antibodies (mine are more then 1000) can cross react with ANA's, but usually don't give such high ANA's, that's why I did the analyses, you must do them too. People with inflammatory process can have mild anemia (I have thyroiditis). So I feel better now, not medicated (not hypo), and no other disease, just Hashi (even that I'm going to repeat all the analyses in February). If you have symptoms, may be you need to adjust  your medication, you should repeat your free T3, free T4 and TSH.