Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and IVIG Treatment?*

Posted by michaelpaul @michaelpaul, May 5, 2017

Has anyone been recommended IVIG treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis? I have found plenty of references for IVIG therapy for Hashimoto's encephalopathy, but not for thyroiditis alone. Thanks in advance for any comments.

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Hello @michaelpaul, welcome to Connect.

I would like to invite @rwgiroux and @bburleson1 who have received IVIG treatment, although for a different disorder, but may be able to give some insight to the treatment itself.

I would also like to invite @crystalgal, @kyjeanne, @taterjoy, @michellecrcrn, @dogmamat, @sebley12, @jillnc, @taffmorello, to this discussion as they have all been diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis and may be able to answer your question on whether or not they have been offered IVIG treatment.

@michaelpaul, has your medical provider suggested IVIG treatment to you? If you don't mind sharing, what are your concerns regarding this treatment?

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @michaelpaul, welcome to Connect.

I would like to invite @rwgiroux and @bburleson1 who have received IVIG treatment, although for a different disorder, but may be able to give some insight to the treatment itself.

I would also like to invite @crystalgal, @kyjeanne, @taterjoy, @michellecrcrn, @dogmamat, @sebley12, @jillnc, @taffmorello, to this discussion as they have all been diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis and may be able to answer your question on whether or not they have been offered IVIG treatment.

@michaelpaul, has your medical provider suggested IVIG treatment to you? If you don't mind sharing, what are your concerns regarding this treatment?

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@JustinMcClanahan, thanks for the welcome. Regarding the IVIG treatment, I'm just trying to educate myself. Starting late last year, I began experiencing frequent episodes of syncope accompanied by very low blood pressure. The syncope's under control now, but I still have extreme fatigue and dizziness, accompanied with peripheral pain and numbness.

After a lot of false leads, a cardiologist referred me to a very good autonomic nervous system specialist, and I have finally received a diagnosis of neuropathic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, with multiple markers for Hashimoto's and mitochondrial disease - high thyroglobulin antibody, antithyroid peroxidase, and TSH, and with low coenzyme Q10. I've now been referred to an endocrinologist.

The neurologist talked to me about IVIG treatment, and I'll wait to see what the endocrinologist recommends, but in the meantime I'd like to hear from peers who have had the same or similar treatment.

Thanks again for reaching out.

REPLY
@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @michaelpaul, welcome to Connect.

I would like to invite @rwgiroux and @bburleson1 who have received IVIG treatment, although for a different disorder, but may be able to give some insight to the treatment itself.

I would also like to invite @crystalgal, @kyjeanne, @taterjoy, @michellecrcrn, @dogmamat, @sebley12, @jillnc, @taffmorello, to this discussion as they have all been diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis and may be able to answer your question on whether or not they have been offered IVIG treatment.

@michaelpaul, has your medical provider suggested IVIG treatment to you? If you don't mind sharing, what are your concerns regarding this treatment?

Jump to this post

Sorry, but all my doctor does for Hashimoto's is treat for Hypothyroidism with Levothyroxine. Nothing else has been offered.

REPLY

Hello Michaelpaul: I also was diagnosed with hashimotos thyroiditis, and have high markers also, even though I take levothyroxine daily (AM, empty stomach, AT LEAST one hour before eating). My current endocrinologist is not very interested in thyroid disease, so I get my TSH and panel tests done yearly through an independent lab. My dose always needs to be changed. I have also have low blood pressure, and years ago had syncopal episodes during intense aerobic exercise. They tested my heart health, and found nothing wrong. No one has asked me about IVIG therapy. I have other health conditions that may or may not be (according to the medical literature) linked to autoimmune causes, including idiopathic anaphylaxis; polycystic ovarian syndrome; and porokeratosis (skin disorder). I have a blood marker for lupus, but not enough symptoms to be diagnosed with lupus.

Please keep us posted if you try the IVIG therapy, or if your endocrinologist sheds some light on treatment options. I hope your peripheral pain and numbness have been addressed and treated. I also have a peripheral pain issue in one leg, but XRAYS showed nothing wrong. I suspect it is some sort of neuropathy, as of yet undiagnosed. While it does not keep me from exercising daily, it sometimes interferes with sleep.

REPLY
@taterjoy

Hello Michaelpaul: I also was diagnosed with hashimotos thyroiditis, and have high markers also, even though I take levothyroxine daily (AM, empty stomach, AT LEAST one hour before eating). My current endocrinologist is not very interested in thyroid disease, so I get my TSH and panel tests done yearly through an independent lab. My dose always needs to be changed. I have also have low blood pressure, and years ago had syncopal episodes during intense aerobic exercise. They tested my heart health, and found nothing wrong. No one has asked me about IVIG therapy. I have other health conditions that may or may not be (according to the medical literature) linked to autoimmune causes, including idiopathic anaphylaxis; polycystic ovarian syndrome; and porokeratosis (skin disorder). I have a blood marker for lupus, but not enough symptoms to be diagnosed with lupus.

Please keep us posted if you try the IVIG therapy, or if your endocrinologist sheds some light on treatment options. I hope your peripheral pain and numbness have been addressed and treated. I also have a peripheral pain issue in one leg, but XRAYS showed nothing wrong. I suspect it is some sort of neuropathy, as of yet undiagnosed. While it does not keep me from exercising daily, it sometimes interferes with sleep.

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Hi everyone,
I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and use Synthroid 50 mg daily. I went from Graves disease to remission to Hashimoto's with the under active thyroid happening for about the last 6 months but Graves having been most of my life. I am 58.
I also have the FGFR3 ANTIBODY which is the CAUSE Of Many autoimmune disorders. It affects the nerves and for the member who said they have a leg with numbness. Get the ENT test done by a neurologist, this is the way my peripheral neuropathy started! In my left leg. It just felt numb in a small area. Now progressed to my feet and starting to have tingling a lot in my hands. I also have on and off lower BP.
I have many autoimmune disorders/chronic and my neurologist is going to test me for other markers.
I am looking for something NATURAL to use vs the IV Solumedrol steroids that I'm betting told by my Neurologist is the only treatment for even a remote bit of relief. I am looking to for any trial studies using medical Cannibus so if anyone knows of any for Neuropathy, please share. I also have Gastroparesis which is slow emptying stomach due to neuropathy.
Darlia
.

REPLY
@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @michaelpaul, welcome to Connect.

I would like to invite @rwgiroux and @bburleson1 who have received IVIG treatment, although for a different disorder, but may be able to give some insight to the treatment itself.

I would also like to invite @crystalgal, @kyjeanne, @taterjoy, @michellecrcrn, @dogmamat, @sebley12, @jillnc, @taffmorello, to this discussion as they have all been diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis and may be able to answer your question on whether or not they have been offered IVIG treatment.

@michaelpaul, has your medical provider suggested IVIG treatment to you? If you don't mind sharing, what are your concerns regarding this treatment?

Jump to this post

My doctor says you must be treated with two synthetic hormone (?) replacements for Hashimoto's, I take Levothyroxine and Liothyronine. These replace the Armore thyroid that I took until my insurance stopped paying for it. My sister also suffers from Hashimoto's and is on the two meds. You might consider speaking with your Doctor about this possibility.

REPLY
@taterjoy

Hello Michaelpaul: I also was diagnosed with hashimotos thyroiditis, and have high markers also, even though I take levothyroxine daily (AM, empty stomach, AT LEAST one hour before eating). My current endocrinologist is not very interested in thyroid disease, so I get my TSH and panel tests done yearly through an independent lab. My dose always needs to be changed. I have also have low blood pressure, and years ago had syncopal episodes during intense aerobic exercise. They tested my heart health, and found nothing wrong. No one has asked me about IVIG therapy. I have other health conditions that may or may not be (according to the medical literature) linked to autoimmune causes, including idiopathic anaphylaxis; polycystic ovarian syndrome; and porokeratosis (skin disorder). I have a blood marker for lupus, but not enough symptoms to be diagnosed with lupus.

Please keep us posted if you try the IVIG therapy, or if your endocrinologist sheds some light on treatment options. I hope your peripheral pain and numbness have been addressed and treated. I also have a peripheral pain issue in one leg, but XRAYS showed nothing wrong. I suspect it is some sort of neuropathy, as of yet undiagnosed. While it does not keep me from exercising daily, it sometimes interferes with sleep.

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I would love to learn more and explore this option.

REPLY
@kyjeanne

Sorry, but all my doctor does for Hashimoto's is treat for Hypothyroidism with Levothyroxine. Nothing else has been offered.

Jump to this post

Same

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@kyjeanne

Sorry, but all my doctor does for Hashimoto's is treat for Hypothyroidism with Levothyroxine. Nothing else has been offered.

Jump to this post

Mine as well. Finding the correct dosage has been months. Still in trying to figure out correct doasage. Going on since March!

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