The antibody test only means that you have Hashi so you may want to treat the HIGH amount of antibodies to keep your thyroid. They do not use the test (TPO Ab) to treat it more aggressively or for any other reason. My tpo Ab was 1674.

As far as getting diagnosed, I was misdiagnosed in 2004 at the most stressful time in my life! The vicious cycle started at the most stressful time in my life -- while getting my education.

Because I had chronic stress, it led to Adrenal Fatigue which caused ALL of the hormones NOT to work including the -- thyroid. April of this year, ALL of my hormones were checked. They were all in the zero to lowest range. As soon as I started the other hormones (progesterone, estrogen, testosterone) then I had to immediately stop taking Levothyroxine. I was wide awake all night so this proved to stop the T4. I was also on Armour so I had to decrease it every night until I no longer needed it.

So Chronic STRESS caused this vicious cycle of needing thyroid medication. ALL hormones work together so when one is amiss, then the rest will be off also. It took 32 days to feel normal. Today, I no longer need thyroid medications. It was thru my own research that I discovered that Adrenal Fatigue symptoms mimics Hypothyroid symptoms. It was me that told the Endo to check my other hormones.

I was also diagnosed as Hashimoto because of the high TPO Ab. For me, the cause was being low on OTHER HORMONES

I also have learned that thyroid problems seem to cause very low vitamins and nutrients, and one being Zinc. If the Alkaline Phosphatase on the blood test (CBC) is less than 70, this is the reason that T4 is not converting in the liver so the remedy is Zinc to bring it up to 70 or better. Mine was always substantially low so it never converted. I hope this is helpful info.

Very helpful. Thank you energylost! My adrenals were checked a few years ago and were fine. I haven't had them checked since. I have had my thyroid increased once. I am only 50mg. I've been trying to convince my doctor to refer me back to my endocrinlogist not only because of hypothyroid but also due to parathyroid disease. I've never had the other hormones you mentioned checked. My doctor will only check TSH.

I believe there could be many causes for hypothyroidism. I have an aunt who developed Hypothyroidism when she got older though she don't know why and I have a form of hypothyroidism. Maybe genetics has a connection? For myself I was diagnosed as a baby with Panhypopituitarism(a very rare disorder that causes an individual to be absent or deficient in all pituitary hormones). From what I was told by my parents, is what caused mine was from a brian abnormalty(the stalk where the hormones are released into the body, a part of it is missing and my hypothalamus is malformed). So I take numerous medications besides levothyroxine to replace the hormones I don't make. To help you a bit out I found a link on hypothyroidism and its causes. http://www.thyroid.org/what-is-hypothyroidism/

Mine got zapped when I underwent radiation treatment for nose cancer.

Thank you for the link Jessie, I bookmarked it! Sorry that you have to take so many different medications. I know my grandmother suffered from hyperthyroidism and my mother had problems with her thyroid but she never found out what the problem was.

kklim, I hope that your cancer is in remission! Sorry to hear that your radiation therapy caused your hypothyroidism!

My mother was hypo and so am I. Don't know if hers was related to Hashi's or not. I have Hashi's.
While it took them years to diagnose me, I worked in a very stressful occupation and then had other life-stressors, which I believe sent me over the edge...

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of my first child in 1975...He was 6 months old and I began to gain weight...had many colds...felt miserable and angry all the time..swallowing was painful. so I was sent to the McMaster Medical Centre in Hamilton Ontario where I was diagnosed. I take 125 mcg of synthroid every day. I also have general anxiety disorder and that caused depression to come on twice. All this is related to hypothyroidism..I am sure I should be on cytomel which is a T3 preparation but my doctor says I am within the normal range and therefore don't need it..I beg to differ but you can't argue with your doctor.

A long period of very high stress I believe caused mine. I was dx with Addison's and hypo at the same time. My sister also is hypo.

I believe mine was caused by extreme stress too. I think if was not right but very mild problem until my stress level went through the roof. And then my battle began.

Not sure what caused mine 15 years ago, but I'd say that after 9 family deaths in two years it kicked me to the curb and down the gutter towards hell. I'm still falling.

Can extreme stress cause hashi's?

Hashimotos for me.....My endo told me that a virus I had at some time actually caused the immune system to go into over drive and thats how Hashimotos starts.Has anyone else ever heard that?

Ive heard that stress does effect the thyroid.My endo said to control the Hashis,I should try and keep stress levels low.I dont think it can cause hashis to develop though,but maybe?

The next time I go to my doctor I'm going to ask for testing to find out if I have hashimoto's thyroiditis or if there's another cause? It's hard to get my doctor to order tests though.

I was just dx with common variable immunodifficiency after being dx with hashimotos. My immunologist said CVID likely triggered the autoimmune process.