Question from Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA:

I have a son with type 1 diabetes who is well controlled with insulin pump since age nine. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto thyroiditis in 1999, which is also autoimmune disease. I was not having any problems until this summer. I understand that type 1 and thyroid disease run together. If I got my thyroid out, would this stop the antibodies from attacking my thyroid? With the thyroid out would the antibodies start attacking another organ (pancreas)? My goal is to feel better.

I am treated with synthroid. They increase my dose as needed, shown by TSH and Free T 4. Over the summer, I developed several symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. I was totally run down, exhausted and weak. My doctor ran blood work for several autoimmune diseases. And again the Anti-Thyroglobulin was elevated, 339 Reference range <41, Anti-TPO was <10 range <35. The rest was negative. They also ran an A1C which was in range. One and two hour PP was in range also. Of course they increased my synthroid and put me on a 14 day prednisone regimen. I just started taking neurontin 600mg for the neuropathy. The prednisone made me feel better, but after going off of it all the symptoms are back.