Autoimmune Thyroiditis

[mandyg25]

I am a 29 year old female just diagnosed with Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hashimoto's).  My mother had thyroid cancer at the age of 33, and had surgery to completely remove her thyroid.  For the past few years I have felt like something was wrong but unfortunately was working with the wrong endocrinologist who was dismissing me as young and healthy but a little stresses and anxious.  Recently I went back to the doctor at which point my blood tests showed Hashimoto's which may have been the case all along but the doctor never tested for the antibodies before.  What confuses me is that the blood tests show my TSH in the "normal" range though my THYR PEROXID ANTIBODIES are 278.7 with a normal range of between 0-3.9 and my THYROGLOB ANTIBODIES are 757.7 with a normal range of 0-14.4.  For some unknown reason the doctor did not test my T3 or T4.  I don't understand why my TSH is 2.8 if I have such an elevated number of antibodies attacking my thyroid.  Also the doctor decided to tell me this time around that my last untrasound of the tyroid, 4 years ago, showed 2 small (2 cm) cysts, and dismissed it as "I'm sure they haven't gotten any bigger".  Could the cysts be effecting the antibodies?  I am going to see a new doctor tomorrow and would really like to have a better understanding of what is going on before I see him.  I will never go back to my original doctor.  I have never been treates so poorly by a physician in my life.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The antibodies mean underlying autoimmune thyroid disease -- in your case, Hashimoto's in its early stages (still a relatively normal TSH).  However, with the family history and some research that links an increase in thyroid cancer to Hashimoto's and slightly high TSH levels, a repeat ultrasound and FNA of any/all nodules noted that appear enlarged or suspicious would be indicated.  Also consider thyroid medication with these issues with a target TSH of around 0.5-1.0.  

[kitcurious]

I am just a patient, not a doctor.
My TSH was recently 2 something as well and my TPO antibodies are over 1200 and Tgab are also elevated. So yes, it can be normal in the presence of antibodies. One year ago, they put me on thyroid meds because of 1.4 cm nodule, heterogenicity, strongly positive antibodies and TSH (briefly +5 at one point) and I went "instant" hyper. Have been happily med free since November.

2 cm nodules would need biopsy. Did you mean cm or mm?
2mm are likely too small to biopsy but would eventually be followed up with ultra sound I think- but I don't know how often.

[syro]

I have recently been diognosed with graves disease my tpo antibodies were 3,000 my T4 is 49 and i can't remember what the other levels were one was 0.5 but not sure what it was called should i be concerned.