hasimotos treated with steroids?

[bab1]

I was recently diagnosed with Hashi's.  I am a little confused because my doctor wants to initally treat with steroids.  I have just finished a dose pack of Prednisone.  She explained that because the Free T4 is ok (1.10)and T4 is ok (7.2) and T3 is ok (134) to go this route before we treat with thyroid replacement hormones.  My antithyroglobulin Ab are at 189.  Why go the steroids route first? I am trying to be patient and take her recommendations, because, finally, she is the first one to run all the tests.  Also, can anyone explain the rate that Hashi's develops - and do the labs give any info on this?    I'm wondering given that all the other test were in "normal" range should I wait to begin the thyroid replacement hormone? I am also trying to conceive (have been for a about 7 months).  My TSH has routinely been elevated (up to 3.5), but most recently at 2.4, I have always been told it is normal, she agrees it is on the high end.  It's my understanding as I learn more about this that to conceive TSH should be below 2.  Any info is appreciated, I'm new to this and learning as I go along.

[GravesLady]

Your TSH should be at where you feel your best! We are not all alike and therefore will not feel the same at the same levels - one shoe does not fit all! So what you read that TSH below 2, may not fit you or the next person. However a TSH between 1 and 2 for hypos is a good starting goal. But to conceive, maye some one else can address the issue.
You didn't list your TSH nor your Labs reference range so no comments can be made, except if they are in normal range, then doctor normally will not treat with thyroid hormone replacement meds. It can take years for Hashi to show in Lab test or it can be fast, so in these cases it is recommended for women to have their thyroid check and Labs done once a year. A certain percentage of most populations have positive TG and TPO antibody test results in the apparent absence of thyroid disease by physical examination.  So many people need no treatment, for frequently the disease is asymptomatic and  goiters are small.
The only cases of Hashi that I have read of being treated with steroids - Prednisone, is very rare Hashimoto's encephalopathy, or  uncommon subacute granulomatous thyroiditis (SAT),  people with SAT may respond dramatically to steroids.  Have you been told that you have either of these.

Hayyp Holidays!

[peron]

what stops the feeling that one has with hashi disease. should one be on medicaton while waiting to remove a growing beingn thyroid nodule 2.3cm 6 months ago to 2.9 today. was biopsied and was beingn, but why is it growing. does anyone know of any eyesight problems exisiting other than graves.

[GravesLady]

TED, thyroid eye disease, is another autoimmune disease and  is caused by separate but very similar antibodies to Graves'.   Thyroid Eye Disease  is a closely allied to Graves' but a separate autoimmune problem .

The eye signs can be seen/associated with other autoimmune diseases as diabetes, arthritis,  in rare cases myasthenia gravis,  Hypo-functioning Thyroid (Hashimoto's Disease), and also with people with normal-functioning Thyroid.
Thyroid eye disease does appear to be more common in smokers. Some people develop TED when they take animal-based extracts such as Armour because the immune system  react to foreign proteins found in glandular extracts.
We are at risk for developing TED at anytime and we can have multiple flair ups through our lives. Each time we have a hot phase we need to deal with what damage it is doing during that phase. I have read where people have had four hot phases, so far, and needed corrective surgery after each bout of inflammation.
Non of the treatments will save a person from getting TED when they have the antibody.

Whether you should be taking thyroid meds will depend on your levels, but before some test, meds will need to be stopped for a few weeks until you reach a hypo stage.

There is no cure for Hashi antibodies therefore symptoms or some symptoms may persist throughout life.  Hopefully when on meds to where our levels are at a place to where we feel our best, hypothyroid symptoms or most will resolve, Hashi might be a matter of a different issue due to autoantibodies.

Happy Holidays!