Ever heard of Hashimotos Disease...neither had I until today and I have it

teemix1

For years and years since I was a teen I have been trying to lose weight, as a teen I was not that overweight maybe 20 pounds but once out of high school the weight came on, I was tested for diabetes and thyroid function many many times over the past 40+ years always to be told that I am pre-diabetic and my thyroid function is normal.
So 2 months ago I started going to a friends weight loss clinic for some extra help and accountability and he decided to have more blood work done to test my hormone levels and he did a thyroid peroxidaxe antibody test, which none of my other Dr have ever done. Well that test came back and the normal results for that test should be a level under 9, my level was 730, yep 730 over 700 times the normal amount. So I found out today that I have hashimotos disease, its a thyroid disease that causes a lot of the same symptoms as hypothryodism. So that finally explains a lot of my problems of why I dont lose the weight I should. why I can eat 1000 calories a day and not lose, why I am always tired, why I can barely get out of bed some days. People always said I was lazy, a hypochondriac, and that I just didnt have any motivation, why I cant think straight sometimes, my depression, stomach issues and a lot of other issues, look up the symptoms of the 14 I have 10, but I really never have eaten that much compared to most people yet I would gain on 1500-1700 calories a day (what I would eat before I was trying to lose). Now I know why. My Dr said I have probably had this for years and since menopause (about 8 years ago) its just gotten worse. He is amazed that I have been able to lose any weight at all, and I did lose 112 pounds 6 years ago, yep I gained back 70 of it but now I know why. I will be going to see a specialist soon to get on thyroid hormones and hopefully that will straight me out. I wont be Twiggy (for those of you that remember her) but now maybe I can be normal. I have never been so happy to have a disease.
My Dr also told me that had he not found this out it could have cause some really serious issues from being untreated and left untreated it could damage my thyroid and other organs so badly where they would be permanently damaged and no treatment would help. Once I see the endocrinologist I am hoping she will get me on some thyroid hormones and get my level of thyroid antibodies down to a normal level so that I will feel human again. So glad this Dr finally tested me as one site about Hashimotos said that if you levels get too high you can actually go into a coma from this disease, its rare but it can happen... thats a scary thought and some days after work I feel so drug out all I want to do is sit in a chair and do nothing. So if you think you should be losing and your Dr says your thyroid is normal have them check you thyroid antibodies, they may be high.

ccsernica

Most folks who complain of hypothyroidism have Hashimoto's. It's the most common cause. I have it myself.

It's surprising you've only now discovered this. Have you never seen a doctor for regular checkups? A test for thyroid function is part of a normal metabolic panel most doctors routinely order. They actually check for TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone. This is a pituitary hormone that signals the thyroid to make more T3 and T4, the main hormones that come from it. A high level of TSH means your thyroid is not responding as it should. Most doctors will begin treating hypothyroidism as soon as a TSH test reveals it, regardless of the underlying cause, since as you have been correctly told it can lead to all kinds of dangerous complications.

Good for you that you're finally getting this treated, but I wonder how it could possibly have been missed earlier.

teemix1

ccsernica wrote: »

Most folks who complain of hypothyroidism have Hashimoto's. It's the most common cause. I have it myself.

It's surprising you've only now discovered this. Have you never seen a doctor for regular checkups? A test for thyroid function is part of a normal metabolic panel most doctors routinely order. They actually check for TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone. This is a pituitary hormone that signals the thyroid to make more T3 and T4, the main hormones that come from it. A high level of TSH means your thyroid is not responding as it should. Most doctors will begin treating hypothyroidism as soon as a TSH test reveals it, regardless of the underlying cause, since as you have been correctly told it can lead to all kinds of dangerous complications.

Good for you that you're finally getting this treated, but I wonder how it could possibly have been missed earlier.

I see my GP every 6 months because he says I am pre diabetic (and have been for 35-40 years) and he does blood work every 6 months, and I have seen other Drs too about not being able to lose weight so they have done thyroid function test. But the problem is that my Dr and all the other Drs I have see have only done the TSH test and because it has always been in the normal range they have never ordered any more tests. But the person that I am seeing at this weight loss clinic, who is an ARNP-BC knows more about hormones and such so he knew to order TSH, T4, T3 and the Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody test because you can have a normal TSH result and still have Hashimotos and my Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody test which should be in a range below 9 was a 730. That is pretty much why I posted this to inform people that even if your Dr says you thyroid is normal based on a normal TSH have them check all the thyroid test not just the one. If this person at the weight loss clinic had not ordered all the test I would still be looking for answers and wondering what was wrong with me and thinking I was just lazy or something because of how I always feel so tired and drug out.

SCoil123

I was diagnosed in my early 30s after almost 3 years of labs and tests to figure it out. It doesn’t present the same in every patient and although common can be a tricky disease to diagnose.

Today my condition is usually well managed. Once your thyroid levels are corrected you will feel so much better

SCoil123

ccsernica wrote: »

Most folks who complain of hypothyroidism have Hashimoto's. It's the most common cause. I have it myself.

It's surprising you've only now discovered this. Have you never seen a doctor for regular checkups? A test for thyroid function is part of a normal metabolic panel most doctors routinely order. They actually check for TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone. This is a pituitary hormone that signals the thyroid to make more T3 and T4, the main hormones that come from it. A high level of TSH means your thyroid is not responding as it should. Most doctors will begin treating hypothyroidism as soon as a TSH test reveals it, regardless of the underlying cause, since as you have been correctly told it can lead to all kinds of dangerous complications.

Good for you that you're finally getting this treated, but I wonder how it could possibly have been missed earlier.

My TSH has never fallen out of “range” completely and I still required treatment.

teemix1

Thanks everyone for your comments and knowing others had the same issue of having a normal TSH but still having hypothyroidism. I probably had this for many many years and been suffering needlessly from it just because no one did the right test or took me seriously when I said I really didnt eat that much but still gained and that I feeled like heck all the time, was so tired that I didnt want to do anything even things I loved to do much less things like chores. I was getting so frustrated that many times I felt that I would just end it...thats how bad I felt about myself and how frustrated I was about things. I know this is not a answer to everything but to know that I possible have a chance at feeling better, being able to lose some weight and still eat a normal amount of food and have some energy to do normal things like just clean my house or mow the lawn makes me feel hopeful finally. I am not expecting miracles just some hope and energy. Just getting up in the mornings takes everything I have.

Morgaine_on_the_move

It’s good you’re being treated. Like another person posted above, it doesn’t look the same in every person who has it. My tsh was high and my t3/t4 were low, so it was easy for the doctors to figure out I had it. My mom’s tsh was not high, so no one treated her, and her thyroid developed nodules and became enlarged, and then later, cancerous. She’s now 8 years thyroid-cancer free and doing great, but it was a challenging journey for her.

snickerscharlie

mistypoison wrote: »

This is me. No one believes me that I can eat 1000 calories and gain.

Are you on an appropriate level of thyroid medication?

I've had Hashi's for decades. Provided my levels are properly controlled, I have no more difficulty than a 'normal' person does in managing my weight.