Antibodies, but normal/low TSH & thyroid function?

[jessie_vp]

Hi ladies,

I have been dealing with this issue where I have very elevated levels of ATA's (for Thyroglobulin only, not TPO), but my TSH is very low, at last measure it was .79. My T3/T4 are all normal. My internist/hematologist put me on 25mcg of synthroid daily but is honestly baffled how my TSH is in such a low range with such high levels of antibodies. I have known I have had these antibodies for almost 3 years now, and my TSH has only been getting lower. Has anyone ever heard of this? Another annoying factor is that I am TTC, and the ATA's are sort of an immune problem red flag that I am convinced is playing a part in my 2 m/c's. Of course, I also have PCOS, but mildly, and take Met 1500mg daily. I have had tons of tests done and only one other abnormal thing was found, everything else is normal. Anyway, if anyone has heard of this or has a similar issue, please share!

Thanks so much,

jessie

[lovemychris]

Your TSH is fine at .79 I wish mine were there

I have no idea why your dr has you on Synthroid, though? Don't become Hyper before you realize you don't need it. The m/c's very well could have been from the antibodies. There is some research out there that suggests taking Selenium can lower the antibodies thus enabling you to carry a baby to term. You can get info by running a google search. I've been taking Selenium for about a year and it lowered my antibodies.

[jessie_vp]

Thank you Lynn. The selenium really works? How much do you take and how long before you saw a difference? I have been eating a few large brazil nuts every day because someone suggested it since it has alot of selenium. Wondering if I should take a supplement too.

[lovemychris]

You're welcome. Yes, the Selenium is the only thing I've read about to lower antibodies. It's really cheap...I got 100 tablets for about $5 from CVS. I take 200mcg per day (which is one tablet made by Spring Valley and is 285% dv). I had my antibodies checked about 2 months after I started taking them and they were much lower. They could have dropped before then, I'm just not sure...I know I had blood work done in May 2006 and then again in July 2006. I started the supplements right after I found out about the antibodies in May. Below are some articles for you (and hope, too)!

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/con...ract/87/4/1687
http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/11/selenium.htm
http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/e...ea0014p292.htm

There is a well published study that shows that if you take 200 mcg's of SELENIUM a day you can possibly revert to a negative status with regards to the antibodies!

Also, I have Mary Shomon's book Living Well With Hypothyroidism, and on page 145, it's all about selenium and how beneficial it is for people who suffer from thyroid problems. It says:

" People with thyroid antibodies received 200 mcg of selenium supplementation over three months, and at the end of the test period, antibody levels had decreased by as much as 40 to 63 percent, and a small percentage of patients in the selenium-treated group had antibody levels that completely returned to normal."

It also states that the rec dosage is 200mcg and not to take more than 400mcg daily.

[juniper]

I am in the same boat, with high antibodies and normal TSH. And the doctors do not seem to agree on what to do. My endo put me on thyroid hormone cause he thought it was hashimitos (spelling?) and I started feeling better, but I changed countries and the new doctor here thinks hormone might be not necessary and I am getting worried. I have heard that you can have hashimitos even if you have normal tsh.

[lovemychris]

I am in the same boat, with high antibodies and normal TSH. And the doctors do not seem to agree on what to do. My endo put me on thyroid hormone cause he thought it was hashimitos (spelling?) and I started feeling better, but I changed countries and the new doctor here thinks hormone might be not necessary and I am getting worried. I have heard that you can have hashimitos even if you have normal tsh.

Yes, you can have Hashimoto's w/out being hypo because it takes a while for the antibodies to attack and damage your thyroid. Most people are not tested for Hashimoto's in that stage because they don't present hypo symptoms yet (because they aren't there yet). Those who test positive for the antibodies, but have a normal TSH level (that under 3.04), should have their TSH level monitored closely.

[jessie_vp]

What kind of antibodies do you each have? I only have TgAb but not TPO. I also have normal T3 and T4. My doctors think it's strange my TgAb levels are so elevated but everything else is perfectly normal, as has been for years now.

I should mention that I always feel healthy, am rarely ill and don't have symptoms of hashimotos. Even my PCOS is mild so the only symptom I have is anovulatory/long cycles without Met and cysts on my ovaries when I am not treated. Other than that, all good. I wonder if I am some weird anomaly??