 |
 |
| |||||
|
|
||||||||||
Thyroid problem news from Thyroid Talk
The Role of Antibodies in Causing Symptoms in Hypothyroid Patients
By: James M. Lowrance
www.jimlowsaudios.com
I have corresponded with many fellow autoimmune hypothyroid patients over the past four years and have read the testimonies of hundreds of others, in articles and on forums and message boards. What I hear from these patients, is something I have found to be true in my own case as an autoimmune hypothyroid patient (Hashimoto’s Disease) and that is the fact that we can continue to experience mild to moderate symptoms, even while on optimal “thyroid hormone replacement medication” treatment. These symptoms can be intermittent or with some patients continual. The more fortunate patients rarely have symptoms while on treatment.
Surveys of thyroid patients on treatment have been conducted, the majority of the patients studied, being on the recommended optimal dose of thyroid hormone replacement medications and many taking natural T-4 and T-3 combo meds. The surveys had the respondents to report the effectiveness of their treatments and the results released in these studies, concluded that a majority of patients continued to experience a degree of symptoms. One of the most common symptoms thyroid patients on treatment complain of, is “fatigue”. Other symptoms they continue to experience include joint/muscle pain, mild emotional symptoms and decreased libido. Why is this? What aspect of autoimmune hypothyroidism would continue to cause a degree of continuing symptoms, despite treatment?
As I continued to research this subject over the past four years, I found research articles by reputable medical research groups, stating that the disease process itself, caused by thyroid antibodies, called the TPO (thyroid peroxides antibodies) and the TG (thyroglobulin antibodies), can also be a factor in causing symptoms. These research articles concluded that elevated levels of these antibodies can cause fibromyalgia type symptoms in persons with only sub-clinical hypothyroidism. Other articles stated that the autoimmune thyroid disease can have a degree of systemic (system wide) effect, so that the immune system response affects not only the thyroid area but other parts of the body as well. This may explain in part as to why autoimmune thyroid disease patients are at higher risk for developing other autoimmune diseases than the general population.
About a year and a half ago, I had an office visit with an Endocrinologist and I took my LabOne blood test results with me. He found on the results, where my thyroid hormone levels were at optimal range (Free T-3 at top of normal) but even though I had been on hormone replacement medication (Armour), for over two years, my TG and TPO antibodies were still elevated. My TG ABs, were “537” (normal range <40), so were about 500 points above normal. My TPO ABs, were “84” (normal range <35), so were about 50 points above normal.
My complaint at that time was continuing mild to moderate joint pain, especially in my upper spine and shoulders and moderate, intermittent fatigue. His response to this was that elevated antibody levels also mean there is resulting “inflammation” and that this could cause these symptoms, apart from my normal thyroid hormone levels. I was amazed that other Doctors I had seen and even the drug manufacturer’s websites, do not mention the role of thyroid antibodies, in causing ongoing symptoms, despite proper hormone replacement medication treatment!
My Endo prescribed me a short-term round of “corticosteroids” (anti-inflammatory steroid) and told me afterward that I could take occasional over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen to help with symptoms. Since that time, my joint pain has gone down to only rare, mild occurrence and I rarely have the need to take an anti-inflammatory but I do still have occasional bouts of mild to moderate fatigue.
I am not sure why more is not being said about this area because it makes complete sense that highly activated immune system activity, means a bodily response manifesting in different degrees of symptoms, depending upon how highly elevated antibody levels are. Inflammation from the autoimmune disease process also manifests in symptoms, which means the disease process itself is also what causes the illness and not the resulting hypothyroidism alone.
When patients complain to their Doctors about symptoms but their hormone levels are replaced to optimal levels, the Doctor will likely tell the patient that their symptoms cannot be thyroid disease related because their hormone levels have been corrected. I have heard this scenario related by many, many patients however, when these patients ask for a retest of their thyroid antibodies levels, and they will come back highly elevated. I have heard some patients report TPO levels of 1,600 and over 2,000, which would seem to be a prime candidate for explaining symptoms but many Doctors seem to believe the antibodies levels are insignificant.
It is the opinion of much research that has been conducted, that thyroid antibodies do in fact play a role in symptoms and I hope even more research and surveys will be conducted.
Please note: James approached Thyroid Talk recently to offer his knowledge and material on the subject. He has given Thyroid Talk permission to use these articles as a resource for visitors. He has also given permission to anyone who would like to contact him via email at jmjthree@sbcglobal.net
GET A FREE COPY OF THIS GREAT e-BOOK BELOW FOR A LIMITED TIME. |
|
 |
|
Back to main Thyroid news page <<