>Okay - so do the thyroid antibodies destroy the thyroid gland or do they
>work against the thyroid hormones that your own thyroid gland is producing?
> I'm trying to figure all this stuff out since its new to me.  Appreciate
>the feedback.
>
>So according to your theory the iodine may have speeded up the progression
>of Hashi's by making the gland work harder?  But why would that seed up the
>progression then?>
>
Well, as far as I've been told by my doctor, the antibodies destroy the
actual gland, making it scar tissue in the end.  As far as the iodine
speeding up the progression, I'm not sure if that is actually the case.  All
I know is that iodine helps to treat the condition of hypothyroidism, when
your thyroid is not functionning properly.  When you have Hashi's, which is
a DISEASE, your thyroid is functionning properly, and iodine doesn't help...
it just makes your thyroid work harder than it should.  It may not speed up
the destruction of the thyroid tissue, but it's not good for the thyroid.

- Elaine

>