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Why Wait?

CXX
I recently began having premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). My doctor ordered a full thyroid panel, which showed the presence of thyroid antibodies and a slightly elevated T3.  The cardiologist explained the PVCs were a result of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and to get a referral to an endocrinologist.  From what my primary doctor told me, the school of thought for Hashi's is to do nothing....to wait for Hypothyroidism to set in, then begin treatment.  

Why should I wait for my body to destroy my thyroid?  Is there something that I can do to stop this disease?
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Avatar universal
Why in the world would your  Dr want to wait for you to become even more sick?!!
Please find a different Dr that does not want to wait to treat you. Take care. Remar
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393685 tn?1425812522
There are a couple of things you can ask your doctor about.

You will need to read about this first. You can attempt a selenium supplement to suppress the antibodies. It works for some - and some not. Definately read about that and google up suppression of Hashimoto antibodies.

I don't remember any information on the connection w/ PVC and Hashi's - but I could be wrong. If in fact there is a correlation between the 2 then why in the world are they not trying to manage the Hashi antibodies?

It's pretty much the tell all with Hashi's that your thyroid will lose some or all of it's function. I believe wholeheartedly that there is something out there is knock them done - but speculation of supplements like iodine and selenium are not validated. I started iodine and selenium quite a while ago and my antibodies have dropped considerably, The only thing is it was too late. I had Graves antibodies too, and had RAI to kill off the gland a while ago.
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Avatar universal
Forgive me if I am wrong but doesnt  the high level of T3 mean Hyper?
Graves?

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Avatar universal
PVC's are a known symptoms of Hyper and Graves.
Have you been tested for Graves and Hashi's?
Also ask your Doc for a beta Blocker to get that T3 down, which in turn will alleviate the PVC's.
Surely he/she wouldve prescribed you something for this?
I wouldnt be taking the 'wait and see' approach.

Quote....Why should I wait for my body to destroy my thyroid?  Is there something that I can do to stop this disease?

There is no way to stop this disease. It is an Autoimmune Disease and managable and treatable but there is no cure.(sorry )
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Avatar universal
CXX
I have been prescribed beta-blockers for the PVCs, which works most of the time.  How would this help get my T3 down?

Learning that it is an autoimmune disease put in denial. I do know that there is no cure for an autoimmune disease, but it just seems silly to sit an watch my body destroy its thyroid without trying to do something about it.

Stella5349 suggests a way to suppress the antibodies....that is what I am looking for.  There must be some way to suppress the antibodies or make them inactive so that they do not destroy my thyroid.  I am at the early, early stages of Hashi's, as I don't have any other symptom except the PVCs.  Sure, I lost about 3 pounds within a month, but that seems hardly like a medically induced weight loss.  So, if there is something out there that can suppress the antibodies, it might work for me since my thyroid is still working fairly well right now.
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Avatar universal
I agree with Smilerdeb...an elevated T3 indicates Grave's,  not Hashi's.  Have you been tested for Grave's?  Do you have the actual T3 number?

I think what Smilerdeb meant to say about the T3 is that the beta blockers will counteract the effects of the T3 on your heart (by blocking the adrenalin receptors in your heart) and reduce the PVCs.  BBs have no direct effect on T3 levels.

As Stella said, there is no proven way to reduce antibodies or send them into remission.  Evidence that both selenium and iodine work is anecdotal.   Some people have luck with one or the other, others not.
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Avatar universal
Sad to say...the only way I went into remission and had minimal antibodies was TT and RAI.
Though research as much as you can.
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