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Removing the thyroid to control Hashimoto's Disease?
A year ago I was diagnosed with hypothryodism, and a few months ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. I have yet to reach a level where my thyroid medication has become regulated, it has changed every 6 wks since i was first diagnosed, so i am currently at 150 mcg. The doctors have changed me from generic to name brands thinking that would work and it hasn't. I am currently taking Synthroid and was taking levothyroxine. My levels of TSH constantly increase every 6wks and my ANA's are a little over 3000 and my TSH levels are slightly above 10.5. The doctor suggested my thyroid being removed since I have yet to become regulated or stabilized with my medication after a few more chances. My thyroid has also developed colloidal cysts. I'm 21, does this sound normal or a good plan to follow? So far this is my second endocrinologist and he has been very helpful. If the thyroid is removed, what are the affects on possibly bearing children or the affects on an unborn child?
Ok , so you did all the analyses for autoimmune diseases ( anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, Sjogren's sydrome antigens(SSA, SSB), Scl-70 antibodies, anti-centromere, anti-histone, and anti-RN, RF, cardiolipin, etc etc......, ) so you must look to your thyroid. My thyroid antibodies (TPO) were in part responsible for my ANA's, first my TPO antibodies were more then 1000 and ANA's 1:815, later TPO were 1:800 and ANA's 1:320......., Have you done FNA of your thyroid cysts? I would do what Stella told you, get a second opinion....., about being pregnant, there is no problem if your thyroid hormones are balanced (medicated or not) (hypothyroidism is not good for the baby).
I've went to a rheumatologist for the past 3 years because my ANA's have always been so high. So far they have attacked both my knees and my shoulder joints. So thinks havent been plesant. He wasnt helpful, I had to see 4 other rheumatologist and they couldnt figure things out either. Things concluded with me being diagnosed with an undifferentiated autoimmune disorder. So I dealt with the high ANA's and just coped. Then about 2 years later my ANA's went down for no reason, well they werent in the normal range (1:60), they were still high, but not the usual 1:1200 to 1:3000 range. Then this thyroid condition came about and they have slowly became high.
There is written - in her question - that her doctor has said she is Hashi - but there is no report or labs (TPO's) to actually read on her tests.
I am very concerned on this question due to her thought that surgery would be the answer she seeks prior to having complete testing and that second opinion with someone ( doctor) who extensively understands thyroid disease as a specialty.
I wanted to add as Utah posts often how important it is to almost interview the endo who is giving you treatment and information.
Most are endo specialists in diabeties and look at thyroid conditions as a second hand of knowledge.
I am very concerned on this question due to her thought that surgery would be the answer she seeks prior to having complete testing and that second opinion with someone ( doctor) who extensively understands thyroid disease as a specialty.
I wanted to add as Utah posts often how important it is to almost interview the endo who is giving you treatment and information.
Most are endo specialists in diabeties and look at thyroid conditions as a second hand of knowledge.
With such high ANA's you should go first to a rheumatologist and see if you have any other autoimmune disease. My ENDO sent me to a specialist in autoimmune diseases because I had high ANA's (1: 815 ) and this ANA's were to high for someone with Hashi....... (but in my case all tested autoimmune diseases came back negative).
I don't know any information regarding removing the thyroid due to Hashimoto. Hashi is an antibody attack on the gland but after surgery the antibodies are still there if I am not mistaken. What the antibodies "would" attack after the removal - I do not know but they are still present.
It seems a bit drastic to me to due surgery. Do you have a goiter? Nodules?
Is your doctor only looking at TSH labs and not other very important FREE T3 or FREE T4 labs in addition to that?
Where are your TPO antibodies at right now on your labs?
You may not be stabilized due to the simple conversion values on your T4 and T3 hormones. You don't mention those were looked at. Maybe another med or adding a T3 would help. There are more choices out there before neck dissection.
I personally am not in agreement with what you have been told and what little you have posted in information with getting this surgery. I think you need to check out your condition more - run appropriate testing with your doctor and definately get a second opinion.
You're to young.
It seems a bit drastic to me to due surgery. Do you have a goiter? Nodules?
Is your doctor only looking at TSH labs and not other very important FREE T3 or FREE T4 labs in addition to that?
Where are your TPO antibodies at right now on your labs?
You may not be stabilized due to the simple conversion values on your T4 and T3 hormones. You don't mention those were looked at. Maybe another med or adding a T3 would help. There are more choices out there before neck dissection.
I personally am not in agreement with what you have been told and what little you have posted in information with getting this surgery. I think you need to check out your condition more - run appropriate testing with your doctor and definately get a second opinion.
You're to young.
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