Going to follow your post

Just blood tests as far as I am aware - 2 thyroid antibody tests that you need to have done in addition to your normal labs, thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) and Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb).

From what I understand, sometimes the blood tests aren't definitive. If your antibodies test is normal, you can also get an ultrasound on your thyroid to be sure.

Your ultrasound will only show you if you have thyroid disease. The antibodies are the only true test for Hashimotos.

Bump to follow

Hello,

I had an enlarged thyroid and I had regular blood tests which showed normal levels of anti-bodies and sub-clinical hyperthyroidism. When I started to feel constricted in my throat my GP sent me for an ultrasound and I was diagnosed with multi-nodular goiter. I was scheduled for surgery as the surgeon I was referred to didn't like the look of one of the nodules. Plus, those on my right lobe were large enough to have deviated my windpipe so it was getting a bit uncomfortable. When my enlarged thyroid suddenly (over two weeks) grew noticeably, my surgeon advised me bring forward the surgery. I was quite surprised to find out that my thyroid was inflamed because my autoimmune system had been attacking it. I had Hashimoto's even though my antibodies level in my last blood test was normal. It can happen.

I would suggest to keep an eye on the size of your thyroid and see an ENT specialist when you suspect that the swell is getting bigger.

Take care!

Ooooh thyroid, you son of a b****! I like to think of myself as the thyroid whisperer...

I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid at 19 after begging for blood work (the school nurse just thought I was looking for something to blame my weight on). I was pumped with levothyroxine, which helped. In graduate school I was up and down with energy level, started losing hair, etc.

FIRST MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH: I worked with a naturopath who did a TON of blood work on me, including antibodies, reverse T3, and T4/T4 free tests. Some of these test are expensive, but it's worth it. Naturopaths also spend more time with you than regular physicians, and they take the food and exercise route, which is always a great place to start. I tend to take naturopaths with a "grain of salt, though...being in the medical field myself, because they really are NOT physicians.

SECOND MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH: I then worked with an endocrinologist for about 5 minutes who determined I had Hashimotos from the blood testing and ultra sound. Long story short...it took a lot of educating myself and working with all kinds of professionals to get my diagnosis. With what the Endo found, combined with the Naturopath, it was determined that my T3 was f***ed!

3RD BREAKTHROUGH: I started on Armour Thyroid, which is a combination of T4 and T3, BUT it is not a controlled amount. I was feeling SO much better (even getting my libido back), and then it dropped again. So the real break through was when I went back to synthetic T4 (levo) and synthritc T3 (cytomil or something like that). I feel pretty excellent and am getting back into a work-out routine.

I don't think it is possible to feel 100% normal with a thyroid issue...just manage it by advocating for yourself!

Hashi's here too, and the anti-inflammatory diet I follow (pretty much primal) has helped me immensely. Rarely do I suffer from aches and pains as I used to, and the other Hashi's symptoms are mostly gone as well. I take generic levothyroid and when I remember to do so (see? I said "mostly gone," lol), an herbal supplement called Thyrocare that I buy from the Wilson's Temperature Syndrome site. It's kelp & some other stuff.

Good to hear you're taking charge of your health. I hope you can get some helpful answers.

Endocrinologists can be very data driven; mine was not concerned with my symptoms at all. She'd say "Get a space heater" when I complained of being cold all the time. I did some research, found info that seemed credible (there's a lot of hysterical nonsense out there) and finally crawled out of Hashi hell. My GP now orders labs when I ask and I don't have to see my awful endo anymore since I've been stable for over a year.

The only way to distinguish Hypothyroidism from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is with a blood test to test your antibody levels. If there are antibodies present, you have Hashimoto's. If there are no antibodies, then it's just Hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto's is the auto-immune disease associated with hypothyroidism - hence the antibodies.

Not really. I have been diagnosed based on a scan. My antibodies levels are within normal range.