Aa
Should My daughter have a scan?
My daughter is hypothyroid (we just found out) and EXTREMELY fatigued all the time. I've been reading about a lot of people having their thyroid scanned. The tests for thyroidglobulin antibodies came back at a staggering 415 and the thyroid peroxidase antibodies 883. Her t4 was 11.7. I don't want the docs to miss anything and they have ordered synthroid for her (still in insurance approval process) but I was wondering if I should ask for any other tests. Her bloodwork was covered very well and she had a lipid panel which came back kind of high. Should I ask for a scan on her thyroid? I want to be as thorough as possible.
No thyroid meds bring down antibody count. Once your thyroid has been "killed off" by the antibodies, they usually go into remission. If your thyroid is removed, they go into remission. But thyroid meds do not affect antibody count.
The antibodies, per se, do not make you feel unwell. You cannot feel the antibodies any more than you can feel the other antibodies in your body (like the ones you have from your polio immunizations, for instance). You feel unwell because the antibodies progressively destroy thyroid function.
Your daughter will feel better once she starts meds and gets her FT3 and FT4 up a bit. As Barb said, this can take a while. It requires a lot of patience.
The antibodies, per se, do not make you feel unwell. You cannot feel the antibodies any more than you can feel the other antibodies in your body (like the ones you have from your polio immunizations, for instance). You feel unwell because the antibodies progressively destroy thyroid function.
Your daughter will feel better once she starts meds and gets her FT3 and FT4 up a bit. As Barb said, this can take a while. It requires a lot of patience.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have been on thyroid med for well over a year and although it has not brought down my antibody count, I feel a lot better. Your daughter will be better once she gets on med and gets her levels stable.
I don't think that the numbers for the antibodies really count all that much - you either have them or you don't and I think you can feel just as horrible with lower numbers as you can with high ones. It's the Free T4, Free T3 and TSH that are the important ones, especially the FT4 and FT3.
It will take several weeks for the synthroid to take effect and until the dosage is correct for her, nela is right - you will most likely have to have blood work every few weeks.
I don't think that the numbers for the antibodies really count all that much - you either have them or you don't and I think you can feel just as horrible with lower numbers as you can with high ones. It's the Free T4, Free T3 and TSH that are the important ones, especially the FT4 and FT3.
It will take several weeks for the synthroid to take effect and until the dosage is correct for her, nela is right - you will most likely have to have blood work every few weeks.
Hello.
First, I would like to tell you that I am sorry that your daughter and you have to go trough this. I am also hypothyroid and what I can tell you is all from my experience, I hope it helps a little but you can find a lot of information online.
First of all, synthroid will bring down the numbers in antibodies and it's going to get a lot better for your daughter. She will become less tired. You will probably have to have her TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels checked every 6 weeks until the doctor gets the right dosage of synthroid. I think that ultra sound is enough no need for scan, but you can check with your doctor. Lipid panel gets kind of high with hypothyroidism and it too will get better with medication. I hope this helps at least a little bit.
Take care
First, I would like to tell you that I am sorry that your daughter and you have to go trough this. I am also hypothyroid and what I can tell you is all from my experience, I hope it helps a little but you can find a lot of information online.
First of all, synthroid will bring down the numbers in antibodies and it's going to get a lot better for your daughter. She will become less tired. You will probably have to have her TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels checked every 6 weeks until the doctor gets the right dosage of synthroid. I think that ultra sound is enough no need for scan, but you can check with your doctor. Lipid panel gets kind of high with hypothyroidism and it too will get better with medication. I hope this helps at least a little bit.
Take care
Sorry, I see you answered my question about meds in your original post. Do you have the reference range on her T4? And is that a free T4 or a total T4? If id doesn't say "free", it's total.
There is no way to cure Hashi's...all you can do is treat it. Once you have antibodies, you have them until they totally "kill" off the thyroid or until the thyroid is removed.
My doctor checks my nodules every time I go in, and I'm currently on a six-month schedule.
She is feeling exhausted all the time because she is hypothyroid. Is she on meds yet? If so, which and what dose? Do you have her latest free T3, free T4 and TSH? If so, please post with referece ranges.
My doctor checks my nodules every time I go in, and I'm currently on a six-month schedule.
She is feeling exhausted all the time because she is hypothyroid. Is she on meds yet? If so, which and what dose? Do you have her latest free T3, free T4 and TSH? If so, please post with referece ranges.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism will cause your daughter to be extremely fatigued. She should start feeling better once she gets on the synthroid.
You might also think about having them check her vitamin B12 levels.
You might also think about having them check her vitamin B12 levels.
Thanks for the info. Is there any way to get rid of Hashi's or is it just a treatable illness. The doctor said there are no nodules she can feel. How often should we check them? Is this what could be making her feel so exhausted all the time? Thanks for your comments!
With her elevated antibodies, your daughter has Hashi's. Has the doctor palpated her thyroid to check for nodules? Many of us with Hashi's have nodules, and the next step is usually an ultrasound of the thyroid to get a better look at the nodules. If anything looks suspicious, they will then do a fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the suspicious nodule(s).
BTW, the antibody count is not really staggering. My TGab was >3000, and my TPOab was 944 when I was diagnosed. Numbers are often very high...this is not unusual. Also, raw numbers are not all that important...the test is basically positive or negative for antibodies.
BTW, the antibody count is not really staggering. My TGab was >3000, and my TPOab was 944 when I was diagnosed. Numbers are often very high...this is not unusual. Also, raw numbers are not all that important...the test is basically positive or negative for antibodies.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
