Response from Dr. Lowe ree: implants & Hashimot's Read this resp

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For all you thyroid /breast explant girls out there, I sent this question to Dr. Lowe (www. drlowe.com) and here is his response to hashimoto' s antibodies after explant, and if it's possible to go into remission permantly. Hope it helps. (I used the name Ann, as my full name is nna, and some very nosy in laws check out that site alot after I directed them to it, and right now, I choose not to discuss that I ever even had BI with them, I'd get a "Well, I could have told you that you'de get sick," thing and I'd go crazy! )

In a message dated 11/3/2002 1:49:25 AM Mountain Standard Time,

JULIEJJPALANCA writes:

<< Subj: Fwd: Can Hashmoto's go into remission?

Date: 11/3/2002 1:49:25 AM Mountain Standard Time

From: <A HREF= " mailto:JULIEJJPALANCA " >JULIEJJPALANCA</A>

<A HREF= " mailto:AskDrLowe " >AskDrLowe</A>

2nd request in case you didn't get the first time

-----------------

Forwarded Message:

Subj: Can Hashmoto's go into remission?

Date: 10/14/2002 3:54:13 PM Mountain Standard Time

From: <A HREF= " mailto:JULIEJJPALANCA " >JULIEJJPALANCA</A>

<A HREF= " mailto:AskDrLowe " >AskDrLowe</A>

Dr. Lowe, I am a young women who last year was hypothyroid due to being

diagnosed with Hashimotos. My TSH was over 60, my thyroidglublin levels were

over 11,000(eleven thousand, it's not a misprint) And my peroxidase was over

1200. I have since removed my breast implants (after much reading on the

topic) and two weeks after surgery, my thyroglublin antibodies went to 90,

and my perixidase to 70!

I am currently on thyroid meds (No T-3 though, as my blood work continues to

show I am producing a good amount of this) and leveled out at 1.0 tsh. My

question is this: If my antibodies continue to go down to normal lab#'s, will

my thyroid then be able to function on its own without meds? My current

thinking is: If the supression of the thyroid ceases, don't I have a good

chance to regain thyroid function? Have you seen a complete remission of

Hashimtos? I estimate that I have had the symptoms and the disease I for no

longer than two years. Or is there permanant damage that has been done by the

antibodies?

Thank you very much, Anne >>

Dear Anne,

Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis usually does wax and wane. Of course, your

may have reduced your thyroid gland autoimmune process by having your

implants removed. However, thyroid gland follicles are damaged during active

autoimmune thyroiditis, and your may or may not have enough follicles left to

provide your body with enough thyroid hormone to properly regulate

metabolism. Many things can occasionally or often upregulate autoimmune

disease (for example, too little fiber in the diet can do this, as my wife,

Dr. Honeyman-Lowe and I explained in Shomon's new book Living Well

with Autoimmune Disease), and when this happens, your thyroiditis is likely

to become active or more active again. Taking thyroid hormone usually

suppresses the process of autoimmune thyroiditis and is therefore a

preemptive method of protecting of what is left of the gland. My person view

is that taking the proper form and dosage of thyroid hormone is the best

option. Your health will most likely be served best by taking an effective

form of thyroid hormone (seldom T4 alone) and keeping the dosage sufficiently

high (never, never, never judged according to the TSH level, which is useless

for determine one's safe and effective dosage!).

If we can be of help in your treatment through long-distance consulting,

we'll be happy to take part. Best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. C. Lowe

Board Certified: American Academy of Pain Management

Director of Research: Fibromyalgia Research Foundation

Center for Metabolic Health

1800 30th Street, Suite 217-A, Boulder, CO 80301 USA

Tel (303) 413-9100 Fax (303) 604-0773 www.drlowe.com