| According to the Endocrine Society, eight to ninety | | | | immune systems increased destruction. |
| percent of all cases of hypothyroidism in the United | | | | This can be compared to trying to fix a leaky bucket |
| States have an autoimmune mechanism, which leads | | | | by pouring more water in the top. The real problem is |
| to the actual low thyroid production. This is commonly | | | | the leak in the bucket, and unless that problem is |
| referred to as Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroid. The | | | | addressed the bucket will continue to leak despite the |
| immune system is the source of the problem is these | | | | efforts to fill it back up. It's a losing battle and simply |
| cases, which requires certain questions to be asked | | | | replacing the lost thyroid hormone does not address |
| and answered if successful management is to occur. | | | | the immune systems attack on the thyroid, the leak in |
| In this article I will answer one of the most frequently | | | | the bucket. |
| asked questions patients ask in regards to Hashimoto's | | | | The replacement hormone does help replace what the |
| and their replacement hormone dosing. | | | | body is not producing but the battle between the |
| Why does the thyroid replacement hormone | | | | immune system and the thyroid gland, a fight between |
| continually go up over time? | | | | members of the same team, continues in the |
| On the surface, Hasimoto's is treated purely as a | | | | background. Hormones have no impact on the immune |
| thyroid issue. Indeed the gland is malfunctioning, but | | | | system so unless the immune system is addressed it |
| unless you look at the source or the cause of the | | | | is a downhill battle and many patients struggle to find |
| problem then true progress in the management of this | | | | the proper treatment. |
| disease does not occur. The thyroid gland is not | | | | If you suffer with hypothyroidism and have never had |
| producing adequate amounts of thyroid hormone, but | | | | your antibody levels checked, be sure to ask your |
| only because the immune system has become | | | | doctor to run them. It is a cheap and inexpensive blood |
| dysregulated and is now recognizing the body's own | | | | test that will determine whether or not the immune |
| thyroid gland as a foreign invader. | | | | system is the culprit in your condition. If your dosage is |
| As time goes on the thyroid gland continually chews | | | | continually being increased with each doctors visit, ask |
| up and destroys more and more of the gland, leading | | | | yourself whether or not everything is being done to |
| to less and less production of hormones. This is the | | | | manage your condition and give the quality of life you |
| reason that Hashimoto's patients will commonly have | | | | deserve. |
| their medication increased over time, reflecting the | | | | |