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thyroiditis with normal tsh?
I have just gone through several blood tests for my hishamatos (mispelled) hypothyroidism that I have had for about 10 years. Started feeling fatigue again, broke out in a rash. Bottom line, I have been on synthroid for about 10 years and my tsh levels have come back normal but the antibodies are at 496 (thus the thyroidiitis). My question: how did I get this thyroiditis if I've been on medicine for so long and my tsh levels are within normal range? I am really confused! Help!
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goolarra explained that so well there's not much I can add.
Are they checking your Free T4 and Free T3 levels? Those are the actual thyroid hormones, with the Free T3 being the hormone that the body actually uses. If they aren't checking these levels, you don't know were you really are.
Too many doctors use ONLY the TSH levels to adjust meds and it's possible that you need an increase now that you are having symptoms again.
Are they checking your Free T4 and Free T3 levels? Those are the actual thyroid hormones, with the Free T3 being the hormone that the body actually uses. If they aren't checking these levels, you don't know were you really are.
Too many doctors use ONLY the TSH levels to adjust meds and it's possible that you need an increase now that you are having symptoms again.
Thank you for your comment! I understand now..I just found this web site and am finally becoming well informed! Take care.
It's quite possible that you've had Hashimoto's (Hashi's - it's much easier to spell!!!)ever since you became hypo, and probably before. Were your antibodies ever tested previously? My endo recently said that it's quite possible that I've had Hashi's for 20-25 years. It took until just a few years ago for the antibodies to compomise enough of my thyroid function to make me hypo.
Hashi's is an autoimmune disease and develops regardless of whether or not you are on hormone replacement and regardless of TSH levels. Your immune system sees your thyroid as a foreign substance and attacks it (we don't know why). This attack will continue until your thyroid function has been destroyed. Thyroid hormone meds treat the symptoms of hypothyroidism, they do not treat the underlying cause of the hypo. Once you have antibodies, you have them for life (unless your thyroid is removed for some other reason, or your thyroid is finally "killed off" by the antibodies, at which time they usually go into remission).
Hashi's is an autoimmune disease and develops regardless of whether or not you are on hormone replacement and regardless of TSH levels. Your immune system sees your thyroid as a foreign substance and attacks it (we don't know why). This attack will continue until your thyroid function has been destroyed. Thyroid hormone meds treat the symptoms of hypothyroidism, they do not treat the underlying cause of the hypo. Once you have antibodies, you have them for life (unless your thyroid is removed for some other reason, or your thyroid is finally "killed off" by the antibodies, at which time they usually go into remission).
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