When I was diagnosed with diabetes, my thyroid antibodies were positive, GAD antibodies negative. I took Synthroid for over a year, then stopped. I pretty much ignored the situation as I’ve never felt bad from it, excluding diagnosis when my hair was falling out. Thyroid tests since then have been normal. Are thyroid antibodies ever falsely positive? Does this sound like Eurothyroid Sick Syndrome? (after diagnosis)

Thyroid hormone supplementation is required when it is noted that the thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone. It is not required solely for positive anti-thyroid levels. You can have positive anti-thyroid antibody levels without the need for thyroid hormone supplementation. It may mean you are risk for future thyroid failure and the need for supplementation. However, the onset of this condition is not predicted by the anti-thyroid antibody levels. It is also true that anti-thyroid antibody levels may be initially positive and then go down over time. Euthyroid sick syndrome refers to a condition that occurs during illness where the hormone levels in the blood look low when they are not necessarily low. I would suggest you check with your physician as to whether you need thyroid hormone.

JTL