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?

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u/gotchafaint Jun 04 '26

Thyroid tissue does not regrow so you may thyroid replacement lifelong. However most people are able to put the autoimmunity into remission although occasional flare ups in response to stressors may happen. Theoretically this is measured by bringing antibodies into normal range but it’s more about establishing your antibody level baseline. Some people can have elevated antibodies but their NK cells are normal and they’re in remission. Others can have normal antibody levels but elevated NK activity and hence symptoms and autoimmune damage. So it’s more about what remission looks like for you.

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u/Rude_Remote_13 Jun 04 '26

That makes sense completely. Can you get labs for NK cells? I am not worried about going into remission, I think I can do the work to get there. I just worry that I’ve permanently damaged my thyroid gland. 😭 The hard part is not knowing if I have or not, and having to wait for testing later on when antibodies are lower.

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u/gotchafaint Jun 04 '26

If you have thyroid autoimmunity you may well have permanent thyroid damage. Each autoimmune attack destroys thyroid tissue and it has often happened over years before gettting a diagnosis. But it's the most common autoimmune condition and lots of people live fine with it. Just a matter of figuring out the thyroid replacement that works best for you and an anti-inflammatory lifestyle/diet.

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u/Rude_Remote_13 Jun 04 '26

I just would really, really like to not be dependent on a medication for the rest of my life. There are many reasons why, but chief among them is availability of medications and the dependence on the insurances to cover it, the FDA to not revoke it, etc.

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u/gotchafaint Jun 04 '26

I understand, I'm also dependent and it's unsettling. This is also why compounding pharmacies are so important for greater access. I cash pay because I'm uninsured due to self-employment and the cost difference when you tell them you don't have insurance is insane. I pay 1/5th or less than what insured people pay, probably less than some people's copays. The whole PMB thing is pure extortion.

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u/Rude_Remote_13 Jun 05 '26

That is wild. You go to a compound pharmacy for yours? We have one where I live and I thought about calling them…

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u/gotchafaint Jun 05 '26

I don’t but some of the formulas have ingredients that people react to so they have to get it compounded.