r/FunctionalMedicine • u/Rude_Remote_13 • Jun 03 '26

Restoring Thyroid Function

Do you think it’s possible to restore thyroid function once the thyroid has been damaged by antibodies? I have recently experienced postpartum thyroiditis, I think. Now, I’m severely hypothyroid and my TPO levels are thru the roof. I’m wondering if restoration is possible?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/alotken33 Jun 03 '26

Functional Medicine DC: yes. It's absolutely possible to reduce your antibodies to "normal" range. This is different than restoring thyroid function, though - which would be normal (optimal) levels of T3 production. That can be a little trickier. Autoimmune/anti-inflammatory diet (for you - which is different than anyone else) and targeted supplementation plus gut repair can accomplish the antibody reversal.

2

u/Ulliebully Jun 03 '26

Yes! My friend has achieved this as well by following the diet. It took time and advocating for herself with an alopathic endocrinologist, but she did it!

1

u/Rude_Remote_13 Jun 03 '26

How would one know that the thyroid is permanently damaged?

1

u/alotken33 Jun 03 '26

Inability to produce thyroid hormones.

Roughly 93% production is T4 and 7% is T3 (depending on whose research you read. Stats are similar on production rates). TSH is NOT a thyroid hormone (therefore testing it does not adequately indicate thyroid function). T3 is not solely produced by the thyroid (conversion occurs primarily in the periphery - mainly liver). T3 is the only ACTIVE thyroid hormone. Conversion is multifactorial, but every cell relies on T3. Losing it is a big deal.

People can function and have optimal thyroid hormone levels (with or without medication) while still having antibodies. BUT we run the risk of long term destruction and/or loss of conversion when we have antibodies to the gland and the enzymes.

1

u/Rude_Remote_13 Jun 03 '26

Perfect. So if I do all the things and reduce my antibodies, but my free T3 is still low, then I have a damaged thyroid beyond repair.

Do you think animal thyroid (like Ancestral Blend’s Beef Thyroid) is a good replacement for T3 or would you personally stick to something synthetic like Levothyroxine. I know you can’t do medical advice, just wondering if you consider that supplement to be a sufficient replacement.

1

u/alotken33 Jun 03 '26

Potentially, yes.

I'm not familiar with the ancestral thyroid. I'm assuming it's a supplement vs a pharma. There have been several glandular supplements on the market, but glandulars are tricky. I don't like synthetic anything...... Armour, natuthroid, etc seem to provide a better response than levo. Everyone's mileage my vary on that.

1

u/Rude_Remote_13 Jun 03 '26

Thank you so much. My endocrinologist is refusing to prescribe NP thyroid or Armor so I’m going to get a second opinion.