How do they treat Hashimoto's?

[EmilyXOrange]

My doctor suspects I have Hashimoto's, and I'm in the hyperthroidism phase right now. Because Hashimoto's is an autoimmune diease, is an immune supresent used?

[Barb135]

Total T4 and Total T3 are considered obsolete and of very little value.  You might save some money by eliminating those in the future and concentrate on the Frees.  You also need to have Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab), since that's another antibody that could help diagnose Hashimoto's.  Some people have the TGab, some have only TPOab and others have them both.  You're being tested for TGab, but that could come back negative, but you may have TPOab, which isn't being tested, so Hashi's could be missed.

[EmilyXOrange]

I went yesterday to get the blood work the doctor ordered,  T3 total and T3 free, T4 total and T4 free, TSH, TSI, celiac disease work up, ANA, TIBC, ferratin, transferrin, thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroglobulin and a hormone (I don't remember the name).
September 2011-
TSH: 0.39 (0.46-4.98)
T4 Free: 0.62 (0.60-1.70)

Novemebr 2011-
TSH: 0.37 (0.46-4.98)
T4 Total: 5.79 (4.5-12.0)

Feburary 2012-
TSH: 0.623 (0.450-4.500)
T4 Total: 2.2 (4.5-12.0) *The endcrinologist was going to call the lab about this result to make sure it was right* .

[LazyMoose]

Thats a good question. Immune supresent drugs are not used. The real cause is not treated (antibodies), as they dont know how yet.

Did your Dr test for thyroid antibodies - TPO, TgAb - Hashi and TSI for Graves? That takes guesswork out of it.

Do you have labs to post , ft3 , ft4?

The thyroid itself is treated - sped up with hormone or slowed down with antithyroid med. Most feel better with standard levothyroxine for hashi, others need to try different thy meds. Any symptoms that stick around are usually delt with from learning on our own.......like from this forum.

I was in the roller coaster phase of hashi 15-20 yrs ago, better now on the gradual one way slope.