Hashimoto’s Diagnosis - How do you know if you have Hashimoto’s?

[@DrBradBodle]

Do understand how to diagnose Hashimoto's? Let me know in the comments! Thanks so much for watching!

[@BeetTheRush]

My Dr. is amazing and immediately tested me for antibodies even with normal TSH and T3, and she quickly diagnosed my Hashimoto. I still find it hard to convince people (and some Drs) I have thyroid symptoms. It's like I'm not allowed to have symptoms until I have hypothyroidism.

[@DrBradBodle]

That's so awesome to hear! I'm glad you have a good health team to support you :) You're right though, it's very hard to convince people that symptoms are related to your thyroid with normal hormone levels. The inflammatory process disrupts their function, which is why knowing the "quantity" or total amount of thyroid hormone is only part of the story. Thanks for sharing your story with me and hope you're having a nice weekend!

[@sarahcsontos5047]

Just got my diagnosis last week. Even for someone who is already all the way in stage three, this info is sooo helpful in understanding my condition. Thank you!

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi Sarah, I'm so glad to hear that the info was helpful. Wishing you the best with your health moving forward now that you have been diagnosed! Reach out if you have any questions!

[@DrJonTam]

Totally didn't know that TPO and TG antibodies can be easily tested using panel testing. It's sad that the medical system doesn't track this.

[@DrBradBodle]

Yep! It's a straightforward test that any lab has readily available. It's really important for understanding the full picture when it comes to thyroid problems. Thanks for watching!!

[@matthewragudo]

I remember helping my wife study the Thyroid... it seems so hard to remember. I'll show her this video!

[@DrBradBodle]

Thanks for sharing Matthew! Some of the thyroid physiology can be a little tricky. Hopefully this is helpful!

[@AshleySpeaks4U]

My thyroid was dead at age 13. That sounds crazy, so I am thinking this could be why. Kids don't usually have an organ go kapput. I'm thinking back in 1992, they did not test for it.

[@ParallelWellness]

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow! Thanks for the tips to inform our conversation!

[@DrBradBodle]

Good luck with your doctors appointment! Hopefully this can give you a little context to be able to have a more robust discussion regarding your health. And thanks so much for watching!

[@TheOldMayfieldPlace]

Great explanation of why traditional doctors don't test for Hashimoto's. Thank you!

[@DrBradBodle]

Thanks Dr. Sno! Glad you liked it and thanks as always for watching! :)

[@Justbeck1]

I am seeing a wellness doctor. She ran the TPO and TG antibodies test. My TPO came back at 758 and TG at 4. Prior to receiving my results she started me on cortisol, 5mg a day for one week then up to 10mg a day. in a week I add the DHEA and then in another 10 days I add progesterone cream. I am taking the 10mg now, I do not feel any better yet. I also receive iron infusions, it is a struggle to keep my ferritin up. long story short, I have removed all sugar, gluten, dairy, eggs, legumes, and psudo-grains from my diet. I lose about 20 in ferritin from my period and my period has now become irregular, I have it for about 11 days and then start again about a week later. (this just started, I was just 7 or so days in length every 28 days and very heavy) I am not sure if taking the cortisol is a good idea or not. I have done some research on it, but I just want to feel better and not feel like my life is passing me by, I was a very busy small business owner and in 2019 i had to close because I could not keep up anymore. I used to work out 5 days a week and was in great physical shape, now I have no strength and just feel worn out form taking a shower. I dont consider myself overweight, but I am carrying more fat than muscle now. I go back to my wellness doctor to review my lab results on April 6th. What should I expect and is cortisol a good starting treatment?

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi there! This isn't meant to sound rude, but did your doctor actually put you on cortisol? The reason I ask is because I've never heard of that kind of treatment before. Let me know and I can do some more digging for you. As a general rule, I personally don't like people to start with hormone therapies because there's so many different factors that lead to hormonal issues, I find it more helpful to work on the foundational aspects of someone's health. If you're already having hormonal symptoms, then throwing more hormones into the mix usually doesn't fix things. If necessary, these things can always be added later, but unless we have a really good reason for doing so (and sometimes there can be!), it wouldn't be my starting point. Hope this helps a bit! Again, double check on the medication and we can go from there :)

[@JillTherese]

Love these clear tips! Drs definitely leave a lot of details out lol!

[@DrBradBodle]

Thanks Jill! I'm glad things came across clearly. Sometimes this topic gets a bit confusing and even I get turned around from time to time! Appreciate your support 😊

[@CelinaBelizan]

Great info, thanks!

[@DrBradBodle]

Thanks so much! :) I'm glad it was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions!

[@umarani3512]

Thanks for your input,Is there any difference in treating hypothyroid patients and hashimotos thyroid patients ?

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi there! Hopefully I can explain this in a helpful manner :) Hypothyroid is just a general term that says our thyroid isn't functioning. However, it is non specific and doesn't tell us WHAT is causing the problem. Hashimoto's is one potential cause of hypothyroidism. We always want to identify the underlying cause because that will dictate how we approach things. It would be like saying that we should treat everyone with knee pain the same. Rather we want to figure out if the person tore their ACL or they tore their meniscus. Both can cause pain, but require different treatments. Hope this helps!

[@umarani3512]

Thank you for your promptness

[@sharonchew1508]

Hi, thanks for the insightful video. I am tested with positive antibodies but normal TSH and T4. I am trying to find out whether such situation causes depression, anxiety and other symptoms. As of now, i am unable to find a doctor who sees the link. Thank you.

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi Sharon, thank you for the feedback! While Hashimoto's isn't the only thing that can cause depression and anxiety, it certainly can contribute to those symptoms. Here's a video I made on the topic that might be interesting to you. Also, let me know if I can help with any other questions! kzbin.info/www/bejne/foazqn6iZqZknJIsi=Z83vFeKDyN9ZxYpD

[@anac2459]

Love your videos I just found you yesterday I been struggling for years with thyroid... first hyperthyroid after pregnancy I gained more and more weight over the past 6 years cant seem to loose ...docs can get Confusing they would say I have graves disease now that I have hashimotos large thryroid...but laps are normal🤦🏽‍♀️ it can be confusing.

[@DrBradBodle]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad that you like them 🙂 Things can definitely get confusing and sometimes doctors can say things that sound contradictory. I've had many patients who have been told they have Grave's disease, but it's important to remember that Hashimoto's can have periods of hyperthyroidism too. Both can have positive TPO and/or Tg antibodies, but only Grave's will have positive TSH receptor antibodies or TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins). Make sure to get those checked before getting on medication that might not be right for you. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 😊😊

[@anac2459]

Dr. Brad Bodle thanks so much this helps alot !! make more sense! I will definitely keep on eye on that. 🙏🏽

[@DrBradBodle]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@IntentionalMarriages]

I just happened to be tested without any symptoms. It was the antithyroid peroxidase that was the telltale test.

[@DrBradBodle]

That's good that you were proactive and thorough with your testing. Hopefully that's helped you to be more effective with your healthcare decisions moving forward!

[@anjalipm3925]

Hi Doc,thanks for making this video,just wanted to ask,my thyroid levels t3,t4 and tsh are normal. my doctor didn't suggested for tpo and tg test.i am actually suffering from skin issues like acne ,face discoloration and redness. I have taken many treatments for my skin,but none of them worked.will hashimotos cause skin issues?

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi Anjali, you're welcome! Thank you for the comment! Yes, Hashimoto's can definitely be connected to skin issues. Of course, there are other causes as well and sometimes people have more than one condition at a time, but it is very common to see symptoms with our thyroid, gut, skin, and brain due to similarities in the protein structure. I think it would be worth your effort to investigate this further, especially if things haven't improved with any of your previous skin treatments. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any additional questions.

[@dreamceline2093]

My antibodies were very high.

[@amandafawley9519]

This may be a stupid question, but does everyone have TPO ab? I just realized my doctor ran a tpo ab test in 2018 and my level was 8 (ref range 0-34), so obviously negative., im not sure how it works. Any antibodies tests ive ever had done its either been 0 or way above ref range (positive antibodies). So i wasnt sure if everyone has TPO ab.

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi there! There are low levels of antibodies that helps our immune system clean up damaged or old cells. This is totally normal, but it is not normal to have these antibodies spike above the reference range. With any autoimmune conditions, there will be fluctuations due to changes in immune system activity and it's not unusual for some people with Hashimoto's to have a history both positive and negative test results. Hope this helps to clarify things a bit! Let me know if I can help with anything else :)

[@merielchapman9599]

But what happens if your antibodies are elevated (suggesting hashimoto's) but then they return to normal? My progression doesn't appear to follow these stages in a linear way... and my tsh, t4 and t3 are moving in and out of their ranges...?

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi Meriel, that's a fairly common pattern that I see with a lot of my patients. Antibodies will fluctuate in and out of the normal range depending on how the immune system is functioning at the time of the testing. The thing is, your immune system has memory for these enzymes and proteins, which means that even though the labs may look normal, the potential for them to increase again is always there. It's a little bit of a tricky concept, but hopefully that makes sense. Remember, labs are just a snapshot of where we are in a particular moment, and it doesn't truly give us the full picture of what is going on. So we always have to interpret these with a grain of salt and track things based off our symptoms and how we're feeling. Let me know if there's anything else I can help to clarify!

[@merielchapman9599]

@@DrBradBodle I can't tell you how grateful I am for your response!! What you have said makes total sense to me. I am a Type 1 diabetic and I remember my 'honeymoon period' very well but the problem with my thyroid is that doctors won't treat me and I have no diagnosis...I nearly ordered some NDT online today but don't know if it's safe to do this especially when my levels are clearly fluctuating. My endo says that I am unlikely to have Hashimoto's due to recent blood results with normal antibodies. One result which I couldn't interpret was my thyroglobulin auto antibodies (78 IU/ml when 10IU/ml or above is a positive result)... but I was told that my serum thyroglobulin was in range at 28.2 ng/ML). My doctor didn't know how to interpret these results. Symptoms... exhaustion, low body temp, hair loss (including balding patches.. I'm 42!), vertical white nail ridges and splitting, dry skin (feet), dizziness, problems falling to sleep and light sleeping (thumping heart when trying to sleep). I was at the point of thinking that my hair and nail problems were due to Lichen planus (I think I had an oral episode earlier this year)... as I child I had alopecia so there is a host of autoimmune issues (which is prevalent in my family). My diabetes is very well controlled and I hate that this feeling that there is something wrong with my thyroid but I have no option to help myself... How ill do I have to get or is it only consistency in blood results that leads to diagnosis and treatment?!? Any advice is so hugely appreciated!!! Meriel

[@DrBradBodle]

@@merielchapman9599 Hi Meriel, you're welcome! Happy to help! Obviously your doctor has the full picture, but with the symptoms you described and the history of positive antibodies, I would always take the cautious route and approach things as though this is Hashimoto's. The reason your doctor likely isn't making changes is because Hashimoto's doesn't cause abnormal TSH levels until later in the disease, which is when most doctors will provide some form of thyroid hormone replacement. They typically do not take action in the earlier stages when just the antibodies are present. Hashimoto's is defined by positive TPO antibodies or Thyroglobulin antibodies, or both, so that's why those values were elevated. For my patients, I am always trying to identify immune triggers and support the function of the immune system overall. This typically includes dietary changes that avoids common food sensitivities, which can play a big role in Hashimoto's. The inconsistency will continue until you can find ways to help reduce the stressors on your immune system. NDT may or may not help alleviate some of the symptoms, since your hormone levels are still normal. Again, hope this is helpful! Let me know if there's anything else you need!

[@merielchapman9599]

@@DrBradBodle yes very helpful! I have eliminated gluten and dairy.... since last May... and dont eat meat.... but now I have symptoms but no antibodies apparently... I shall wait it out. Best wishes. Look forward to learning more from you!

[@DrBradBodle]

@@merielchapman9599 Great! I love that you're making changes, but one thing to consider. I'm not saying people can't achieve success going vegetarian, and I very much support the ideology behind it, but over the years it has been very, very difficult for me to help people without animal protein. Something for you to think about as you continue on this health journey!

[@rhondaw5615]

if you have a nodule is that phase 3?

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi Rhonda, not necessarily. Nodules can be completely benign and have no impact on thyroid function or they can be an indicator of significant disease. Depending on the rest of your lab values, your doctor will make a decision on whether or not you need to do follow up testing to determine what is going on with the nodule. Hope this helps clear things up!

[@rhondaw5615]

@@DrBradBodle well we shall see I’m not sure he’s willing to do the TPO and the TG tests. In the past I got him to do a fractionated lipid panel and I don’t think he knew how to interpret it. I have a feeling my out-of-state naturopathic friend will be guiding me through most of this. I live in the mountains of Virginia and I’m not sure there’s anyone nearby I can count on that my insurance would pay. But lucky for me I love doing research and watching videos like yours to learn .

[@DrBradBodle]

@@rhondaw5615 Ah, I see. Yes, that can be tough when we're limited on options for care. Wishing you the best and if there's anything else you need, you're always welcome to reach out and bounce ideas off me :) Keep up the good work with all the learning!

[@sophial2182]

My lab test results: TSH - 1.17mIU/ML; FT4 - 1.25 ng/dL; Anti TPO - 341.2 U/mL Anti TG - 1.59 IU/mL Anti TSHR - 0.87 IU/I Soo do I have Hashis??

[@DrBradBodle]

Hi Sophia, on your blood panel, what was the defined range for the TSHR antibodies?

[@sophial2182]

@@DrBradBodle from 0 to 1

[@DrBradBodle]

@@sophial2182 Hi Sophia, the reason I ask is because TPO and Tg antibodies can be positive with Hashimoto's or with Grave's disease. The TSHR antibodies helps us to determine whether hyperthyroidism is present, but you would also want to correlate that with your symptoms. Based on what I am seeing here, due to the fact that your TSH and T4 are within normal, it looks like Hashimoto's Euthyroid. This means you have positive antibodies, but all other thyroid markers are normal. However, you'll need to discuss this with your doctor as they can give you a more complete answer because they know your health history and previous labs. Hope this helps give you a little more info that you can discuss with them. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@sophial2182]

@@DrBradBodle thanks a lot for your answer. Could this be the reason why It is difficult for me to loose weight?? I am 41, and it was much easier for me to loose weight in previous years.

[@DrBradBodle]

@@sophial2182 Yes, it's definitely possible. The elevated antibodies can cause inflammation, which makes it very difficult to efficiently breakdown fat cells. Be aware that even though the thyroid can impact our weight loss, some people have more than one factor that is making it difficult for them. So you may need to support your thyroid, then look at the rest of your health as well!