Hashimoto's? Thyroid Anti-Bodies?

Was just diagnosed with anti-bodies, probably have/will have Hashi; wondering if I should take the 50mcg treatment or just 25.

Anybody got either of these and if so are you on synthroid and what dosages??   Do you ever come off the meds or no, just keep increasing??   Any side effects?  PM me if you don't want med info on the board.   Thanks.

Jackie I dont know what this is. I am sorry you are struggling with it. I hope the treatments will be all that you need to feel so much better

Thanks for the good thoughts Nic.  Here's an article on it. http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/antibody.htm    It's not a horrible thing; actually it helps me to know I am not nuts so I don't fall back into that "I'm a failure" mentality that can so easily overtake us.  I'm not perfect, but I'm not bad either.  It helps to be validated. 

Jackie - I had 3/4 of my thyroid removed in June 2002 because of large, re-current cysts. They were actually large enough that they started pushing on my trachia (sp?) and causing discomfort while breathing and eating. I had them aspirated twice and they kept re-filling so they decided to take it out. I was on .125 MG of synthroid for 6 years with no med change. In 2005 I was diagnosed too with Hashimotos in what I do have left (it's basically a hardening of the thyroid) I went off of my synthroid in 2008 at the suggestion of my endo and PCP to "see what happens". The portion of the thyroid that I do have is working great and my levels have remained perfect ever since. I do get blood tests every 6 months just to make sure that all is still good. I never had any negative side effects from the synthroid. The Dr did tell me that I will probably have to go back on the synthroid eventually as the Hashimoto's progresses but I opted to wait it out.

As far as "thyroid" side effects I find that I get colder much more quickly (of course that can also be attributed to the WLS) and I have dry skin/hair issues. My hair also has a tendancy to 'shed' more then most peoples.

Hope that this helps!

Liz

Hey Liz, thanks for responding.  I remembered you had Hashimoto's and was wondering what dose you were on.  The doc recommended 50mcg but I asked for 25 instead (that was before I did some research, I'm further along the track then I thought; I think I'll go back and ask for the 50).   I'm surprised but glad to know the doc got you off it and you haven't had any side effects.  That's great. 

I had put the cold thing, the continuing hair loss, change in nails, dry skin down to the WLS but the bouts of depression, memory loss and forgetfulness were freaking me out.  I was tested 20yrs ago for slow thyroid but it said I was low end of normal and doctor said "go exercise".   I have nodules, they were discovered about 6 years ago, before my WLS but they said they were benign.   My Mom has thyroid cancer (she's 86 so they don't do anything about it).  It wasn't until I mentioned the hereditary element that they went past the regular labs for the anti-body labs and found them.   My labs since WLS have always been good except for low B-12.  I know now this stuff can cause infertility and IUI/IVF failure.  I had 8 failed IUIs in 2008/9.   This could explain much and hopefully the pills will right the problem. 

Jackie I hope that the higher dose is truly the "magic pill" that you guys need. I never realized how much is controled by the thyroid until I started to do the research on my own. The Drs never filled me in on anything. Actually I was seeing a fantastic dermatologist and she shed the most light on things for me!!

Good luck and keep us posted - you can always PM me here, e-mail ([email protected]) or call/text too (610-462-1204) if you need anything!

Liz

Well now...I have no concrete answers for you right now.

However,if this new dosage of synthroid for me does not work...I will be seeing an endocrinologist to find out if I have something like that.  One of my ER docs mentioned to something about anti thyroid antibodies so it's a possibility.

Good luck!

Hey Pam, I didn't know you were having issues that would put you on synthroid.  Hope you get to the bottom of things soon.  Wish I'd known about it when we were TTC, it might have made all the difference in our success.  I'd insist on seeing an RE for a really indepth look at your hormones, and Brian's.  My husband was on some meds that gave him a zero count and they never checked him at my first IUI because he has a daughter from a previous relationship.  However, he went on depression meds since her birth and that addition to his daily ****tail of meds caused his prob.   They switched things around and he was back in the game, but we wasted several months because of it.

I've sent you a PM  Not that  I don't mind sharing here...but it might be a bit long and TMI for those who don't need to know.  If anyone is interested in the PM feel free to contact me