I was diagnosed with pcos last october due to follicles on ovaries and irregular cycles (33-54days). My day 3 hormone levels were all normal though. HSG normal. TSH=2.5 BMI=25 No real abnormal hair growth other than the single occasional one. Light periods. They never tested my glucose or insulin though .
Now my RE said I have tryroid antibodies. I can't remember the exact values but it was something like TPOAb= 40 (normal high limit 34) TGAb=41(normal high 40).
Does anyone think this is something they would treat with thyroxine?? I am already on metformin for the pcos although it hasn't seemed to shorten my cycles.
My other question is if I start thyroxine will my thyroid stop working all together forever??
Thanks for any input!!!
You night have Hamisimotos, of which is an auto-immune disorder. Your body develops antibodies against your thyroid. If you thyroid levels are fine they just need to be watch to see if you become hypo thyroid. Usually this is an inherited disease, but can be brought on by stress.
If your body attacks your thyroid your doctor will put you on replacement thyroid. There are some different options. The antibodies can kill off the thyroid completely, but my RE said it is doubtful. You just have to increase the thyroid replacement over time.
To give you an example my thyroid went crazy while I was pregnant, but then started to produce too much after the pregnancy. So I was hyper thyroid ... so they just lowered my dose. no one can prdict what your body will day.
If you have additional questions let me know.
Side Note - My Antibody levels are about 700 - 800 at any given time. It is not a matter of how many you have but if they start to attack your thyroid that is the problem. Like I said can stress be a big trigger, as it is in my case.
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thanks. how do you know if the antibodies are attacking your thyroid? only by the tsh level? if you were me would you go for the treatment or just wait?? I have had two miscarriages already - that is why they tested me.
The only way to know what is going on inside your body is through blood tests. TSH isn't usually a good indicator of antibodies, only the bloodwork for TgAB can test that. But all the thyroid tests together can help your doctor come to a conclusion. Kepp asking your RE questions, s/he should be able to explain exactly what is going on!
Cynthia
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I just found out the actual thyroid antibody test values. They are:
TPO Ab: 41 IU/ML (0-34)
Anti-Thyroglobulin Ab: 43 IU/ML (0-40)
If anyone has any input to these values, or posting your own levels for comparison, it would be appreciated!! I am just trying to put this into perspective!! Thanks!
So, this is exactly the struggle I'm going through right now.
I have antibodies, but my TSH & T4 are normal, and I have a majority of the symptoms for hypothyroidism. My doc won't put me on anything and I'm going nuts with the fatigue & other symptoms (I've even had to quit my job because of this). My aunt went thru the same thing and docs just 'watched her levels' and she ended up with a horrible case of thyroid cancer.
What do you guys think? I'm having a terrible time finding a doc in Portland, OR to treat PCOS, Diabetes & HypoT.
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I am no doctor but it seems like your TSH is quite low so I doubt they would treat with thyroxine at this point. My TSH was 3.17 in 2005 and 2.5 last october, not too high but in that controversial range. I guess they are thinking of treating me mainly because there was an article published on pregnant women who were euthyroid but had positive antibodies. These women did much better and had fewer miscarriages when they got thyroxine. So I am not sure if my RE is thinking of doing this temporarily before and during pregnancy or for life. They say the TSH should be less than 2 for pregnancy. I also have PCOS. It seems to me you should see a specialist (endocrinologist or reproductive endocrinologist if you are trying to get pregnant) for the diabetes/pcos/thyroid symptoms. PCOS and thyroid are related I just don't really know how exactly except that they are both hormonal. My RE did say that 1/3 of the people with antibodies will eventually develop hashimoto's, 1/3 will be subclinical and 1/3 will stay normal and nothing will happen. She also said testosterone is a terrible test for PCOS and not accurate at all for women. I am on metformin for PCOS. Could your fatique be caused by something other than thyroid??
My free T4 is borderline, but in the normal range and my TSH is borderline, but just over into the high range. My PCP tested my antibodies, but the test isn't back yet. My PCP said she's inclined to treat this kind of borderline hypothyroidism so she gave me a prescription today.
saiph,
If you don't mind, please post your values. I am very interested in this, especially the antibody ones since most people(on the thyroid boards anyways) seem to have sky high levels and mine are just slightly elevated. I had my blood drawn again this week (6 weeks after initial test) to double check the antibodies and TSH. If positive, I will start the levothyroxine. Which kind are you taking are you taking and how much?? I am just curious that's all - it's nice to talk to someone else out there who is both pcos and borderline hypo. Let me know how it goes I am really wondering what to expect!
I don't mind at all. Actually, I just got my antibody results back and they're normal - you want below 35 and mine are below 10. Here are my other results: free T4 is a little low at .85, but in the normal range (.7 to 1.5); TSH is at 5.66, a little outside the normal range. Even though a lot of doctors would just watch me at these levels she chose to treat because I've had some symptoms and I'm going to start TTC in a few months so she would rather be safe.
Edit to add: BTW, I'm taking .075MG of Levothyroxine.
Saiph, what types of symptoms were you having?? I am still waiting for my 2nd test results. Do you feel better on the levothyroxine yet? Can you notice a difference?
The most worrisome symptom to my PCP was that I was feeling tired, achy, and depressed all the time, and very irritable. I've always had a tough time losing weight, but had unaccountably put on about 20 lbs and was unable to take it off. I've been feeling kind of forgetful, which can be a sign of hypothyroid, but could also be that I'm getting old I also have the irregular periods, of course, but that's probably the PCOS. I've also heard that decreased libido can be a sign... I didn't think to ask my PCP about that... and I've been feeling a bit less libidacious (I made that word up) recently, so maybe it's related or maybe it's part of the overall depression.
Irregular periods could very well be a result of a dysfuntional thyroid. I have PCOS and was treated for hypothyroidism for several years before the real problem was figured out (I had thyroid cancer). Now that all my thyroid levels are normal and in check, my periods are regular...first time EVER in my life!
When ever I am required to stop my Synthroid for nuclear medicine tests, I go back to having irrgeular periods, extreme forgetfulness (I don't even drive...I forget where I'm going), and all the other hypo symtoms. After I've been back on the Synthroid for a few weeks, I'm back to normal. I would mention you feeling less "libidacious" (love that!), that too can be a sign...it goes along with the depression.
Hang in there!
Cynthia
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I have Hashi's with the antibodies not very high ie 121 normal <4.1 BUT I have had severe fatigue, depression and some anxiety.
The best way to go is to take your basal body temps (do a search on Soulcysters for how) and show your Dr. Most GOOD Dr's will treat the symptoms not the blood values.
I highly recomend a Dr who practices 'intergrative medicine'.
I basically spent 6 months in bed and now I am able to work part time and function fairly well.
Hope this helps.
mmm i'm just going to write my results in here, even though the thread is really old. I'm just trying to find out how high my antibodies are. Apparently I probably have Hashimoto's too, but the doctor is not wanting to put me on medication yet (as its for life), and is hoping that it will wear itself (which apparently happens in some cases)
TSH 4.2mU/L (0.40-4.00)
Anti-Thyroglobulin Ab 150U/mL (<60)
Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Ab 110U/mL (<60)
Testosterone 3.1 nmol/L (0.3-2.8)
Androstenedione 5.2ug/L (0.3-3.3)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gezza
I have Hashi's with the antibodies not very high ie 121 normal <4.1 BUT I have had severe fatigue, depression and some anxiety.
The best way to go is to take your basal body temps (do a search on Soulcysters for how) and show your Dr. Most GOOD Dr's will treat the symptoms not the blood values.
I highly recomend a Dr who practices 'intergrative medicine'.
I basically spent 6 months in bed and now I am able to work part time and function fairly well.
Hope this helps.
pcos and thyroid antibodies? 
I also have the irregular periods, of course, but that's probably the PCOS. I've also heard that decreased libido can be a sign... I didn't think to ask my PCP about that... and I've been feeling a bit less libidacious (I made that word up) recently, so maybe it's related or maybe it's part of the overall depression.
