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Thyroid antibodies
Hi all:
My first post to the forum. My recent thyroid stats: thyroglobulin Ab >3000; TPO 941. TSH 3.70, T4 1.1, T3 2.8.
I have a history of CFS/ME that was well managed until recently.
My doc said, "re-test in 6 months". I want to temper or eliminate the auto-immune response if I can. I saw some discuss selenium as a way to do this. Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm not currently taking any thyroid supplementation as when I did in the past it gave my twingy adrenals trouble.
Thanks for any suggestions.
My first post to the forum. My recent thyroid stats: thyroglobulin Ab >3000; TPO 941. TSH 3.70, T4 1.1, T3 2.8.
I have a history of CFS/ME that was well managed until recently.
My doc said, "re-test in 6 months". I want to temper or eliminate the auto-immune response if I can. I saw some discuss selenium as a way to do this. Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm not currently taking any thyroid supplementation as when I did in the past it gave my twingy adrenals trouble.
Thanks for any suggestions.
What are the reference ranges on your FT3 and FT4? Ranges vary lab to lab, so they have to come from your own lab report.
There is no way currently to eliminate the autoimmune response. There are a number of theories that purport to temper the autoimmune response, but I think all of these have to be looked at with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Your antibody levels are eerily close to mine when diagnosed. Both TPOab and TGab are elevated. You will note that in the very small scale studies of selenium on relatively homogeneous populations that it was only TPOab that was reduced.
A further question: Does lowering your antibody count really change anything? If your TPOab count is 941, will lowering it to 600 really accomplish anything?
"Germany - 2002 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This study showed 40% reduction in antibody levels after selenium supplementation with 9 of 36 (25%) patients completely normalizing their antibody levels."
25% of patients completely normalized their antibody levels? I would like to see more detail on that. I've been on this forum for years, and selenium has been tried by many, many people as have other theoretical methods of lowering antibodies, and I have never heard ONE person say that their antibodies had "normalized".
There is no way currently to eliminate the autoimmune response. There are a number of theories that purport to temper the autoimmune response, but I think all of these have to be looked at with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Your antibody levels are eerily close to mine when diagnosed. Both TPOab and TGab are elevated. You will note that in the very small scale studies of selenium on relatively homogeneous populations that it was only TPOab that was reduced.
A further question: Does lowering your antibody count really change anything? If your TPOab count is 941, will lowering it to 600 really accomplish anything?
"Germany - 2002 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This study showed 40% reduction in antibody levels after selenium supplementation with 9 of 36 (25%) patients completely normalizing their antibody levels."
25% of patients completely normalized their antibody levels? I would like to see more detail on that. I've been on this forum for years, and selenium has been tried by many, many people as have other theoretical methods of lowering antibodies, and I have never heard ONE person say that their antibodies had "normalized".
COMMUNITY LEADER
Are your T3 and T4 tests Free or are they Total? They appear to be Free, but please verify that. If your lab report doesn't specify "Free" or FT, then they will Total and not nearly as useful. Also, please provide the reference ranges. Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
Judging from ranges we, typically, see, both your T3 and T4 appear to be quite low in their ranges.
What medication and dosage have you tried in the past?
Has your doctor told you you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
The raw numbers of the antibodies doesn't really matter; it's the presence that makes the difference. Simply reducing the numbers isn't going to stop the destruction of your thyroid.
Judging from ranges we, typically, see, both your T3 and T4 appear to be quite low in their ranges.
What medication and dosage have you tried in the past?
Has your doctor told you you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
The raw numbers of the antibodies doesn't really matter; it's the presence that makes the difference. Simply reducing the numbers isn't going to stop the destruction of your thyroid.
Here are a few clinical trials on selenium and TPOAb...
Greece - October 2010 - Thyroid Journal. In this study, participants who received selenium supplementation for 3 months demonstrated significantly lower TPOAb titers and reported a greater sense of well being and improved mood than those who did not receive selenium.
Crete - 2007 Thyroid Journal. This study reported a 21% reduction in TPOAb after 1 year of selenomethionine supplements (200 mcg per day).
Turkey - 2006 Journal of Endocrinology. This study showed a 30% decrease in anti-thyroid antibodies after 3 months of 200mcg per day of L-selenomethionine supplementation for in women with Hashimotos Thyroiditis. The starting average TPOAb was 803 and after 3 months the average was 572.
Germany - 2002 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This study showed 40% reduction in antibody levels after selenium supplementation with 9 of 36 (25%) patients completely normalizing their antibody levels.
Greece - October 2010 - Thyroid Journal. In this study, participants who received selenium supplementation for 3 months demonstrated significantly lower TPOAb titers and reported a greater sense of well being and improved mood than those who did not receive selenium.
Crete - 2007 Thyroid Journal. This study reported a 21% reduction in TPOAb after 1 year of selenomethionine supplements (200 mcg per day).
Turkey - 2006 Journal of Endocrinology. This study showed a 30% decrease in anti-thyroid antibodies after 3 months of 200mcg per day of L-selenomethionine supplementation for in women with Hashimotos Thyroiditis. The starting average TPOAb was 803 and after 3 months the average was 572.
Germany - 2002 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This study showed 40% reduction in antibody levels after selenium supplementation with 9 of 36 (25%) patients completely normalizing their antibody levels.
The info below is from the book "Your Thyroid Problems Solved" by Dr Sandra Cabot which i judiciously edited - pages 166 and 167...
Patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis:
The level of her T3 hormone is very low, whilst her T4 level is quite high; the high T4 is coming from her thyroxine medication. The body is not converting thyroxine (T4) into T3.
Free T3 = 1.1 pmol/L (2.5 - 6.0)
Free T4 = 23 pmol/L (8.0 - 22.0)
TSH = 2.0 mIU/L
Anti thyroglobulin antibodies = 80
Anti microsomal antibodies = 1200 (thyroid peroxidase antibodies)
New treatment: Patient prescribed T3 (brand name tertroxin) 20mcg three times a day, T4 100mcg a day, selenium (Dr Cabot recommends 200mcg daily), gluten and dairy free diet, bowel and liver detox.
Three months later:
Free T3 = 5.0 pmol/L (2.5 - 6.0)
Free T4 = 16 pmol/L (8.0 - 22.0)
TSH = 1.9mIU/L
Anti thyroglobulin antibodies = 40
Anti microsomal antibodies = 350
Patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis:
The level of her T3 hormone is very low, whilst her T4 level is quite high; the high T4 is coming from her thyroxine medication. The body is not converting thyroxine (T4) into T3.
Free T3 = 1.1 pmol/L (2.5 - 6.0)
Free T4 = 23 pmol/L (8.0 - 22.0)
TSH = 2.0 mIU/L
Anti thyroglobulin antibodies = 80
Anti microsomal antibodies = 1200 (thyroid peroxidase antibodies)
New treatment: Patient prescribed T3 (brand name tertroxin) 20mcg three times a day, T4 100mcg a day, selenium (Dr Cabot recommends 200mcg daily), gluten and dairy free diet, bowel and liver detox.
Three months later:
Free T3 = 5.0 pmol/L (2.5 - 6.0)
Free T4 = 16 pmol/L (8.0 - 22.0)
TSH = 1.9mIU/L
Anti thyroglobulin antibodies = 40
Anti microsomal antibodies = 350
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