Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Hypo

[randy2539]

Hello, I was just wondering, I have suffered from Hypo for a little over ten years now and I was currently diagnosed with Hashi's and have a large multinodular goiter on both lobes, right one is rather large at 6.7 cm.   I am faced with the decision on rather to have a TT or just watch and see. My question is, if they do the TT, will the antibodies start attacking other parts of my body, or will I only have the need to manage my hypothyroidism without the hormones trying to get past the antibodies?  Is it easier to deal with hypo without the Hashi's end of it? Thank you in advance for your reply.

[goolarra]

Do you have recent thyroid labs to post?  If so, please do so along with reference ranges which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.

It sounds like your meds may not be right for you, and you might need to adjust them.  

[randy2539]

Hi, it has been a while since I last posted. I have such a long story behind everything but to make it short and simple, my endo put me on 187.5 mcg of Synthroid at this past dr. appt. on Monday because I have had the hypo symptoms again and having trouble swallowing. On two different occasions I got choked on food... once a pc of baked chicken in which case I had a drink so was able to get it down and then once on a pc of airhead candy in which case I was driving and had nothing to drink and I barely got it down before pulling off the road. That time scared me pretty badly.  
I told him about these two times and was told that he didn't think the choking and swallowing problems were due to my goiter but he thought maybe it was my "Wellbutrin" which I have been taking for a little over 6 mo. :( and the symptoms just started about 3 weeks ago. I really do not feel that he is taking me serious which REALLY upsets me!   I have an appointment with an internal medicine dr. in June (if I can make it that long) and I am hoping she will decide to take it out. I know this is what is causing me to get choked because I don't have the problem of food getting stuck or getting choked unless I have all the other hypo symptoms.   I may be wrong and maybe it doesn't need to come out but I sure don't want to experience the choking feeling again and be driving because it really did scare me and I had my kids with me :o(   Any advise you all have out there would be greatly appreciated!  Thank you :o)

[goolarra]

Antibodies are very specific...one antibody attacks one antigen (protein).  Think of it in terms of immunizations.  You get a smallpox vaccine to protect you from that disease.  However, the smallpox vaccine will not protect you from polio, so you need that one. too.  So, too, with thyroid antibodies.  They will not attack other parts of your body...in fact the two thyroid antibodies (TPOab and TGab) will not even attack the other's target in the thyroid.

My endo and I both feel that my thyroid is functionally "dead" from Hashi's.  I think the disease is much easier to manage once you get to that point.  The hormones don't actually have to "get past" the antibodies, but the antibodies can cause peaks and valleys in thyroid function that make the disease hard to manage, especially in the early stages.

Most of us with Hashi's have multinodular goiter.  Nodules have to be watched and evaluated, but TT for Hashi's is seldom recommended unless there are extenuating cirsumstances, i.e. the goiter is causing swallowing or breathing difficulties, cancer is suspected, or in extreme cases for cosmetic reasons.  Have any of your nodules been biopsied?  Is the swelling causing you a lot of discomfort?