hashimotos???
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groovyreba
Posts: 72 Member
Is there any way to tell whether your hypothyroidism is hashimotos without a blood test? I have been on a roller coaster for several years up and down with medication. My thyroid is slightly enlarged. I haven't been diagnosed with hashis, but I'm wondering if it's that. I'm so frustrated by it. I've already sent a message to my doctor, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
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Going to follow your post0
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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.0 -
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).0
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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.0
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Your ultrasound will only show you if you have thyroid disease. The antibodies are the only true test for Hashimotos.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.0 -
I've had an ultrasound which showed some enlarging. If it proves I do have hashis....is there different treatment for it?0
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Bump to follow0
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Like Lexi731 said - the only way to prove you have Hashimoto's is a blood test for antibodies. Is there a reason you can't have that done? It's the only way to know for sure and if you do have it, and the symptoms etc are severe enough, your endocrinologist should be able to prescribe treatment.
I struggled for a long time before I got tested and diagnosed, and am now being treated and feel like myself again! And with the help of my fitness pal, diet and exercise I've also lost most of the weight I gained.
I can't recommend enough how important it is to get the proper tests and diagnosis.
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I think I simply haven't pushed enough to test specifically for that. My GPs have always only test TSH, T3 and T4. Only recently they started checking my vit D. I just think that knowing whether I do or don't have hashis will help ease my mind and will aid in treatment. I am very aware of how I feel. I tend to over analyze EVERYTHING, but I almost instantly know when my levels are out of whack. Lord knows I've been dealing with this long enough. I have a message into the doctor. Hopefully, she'll tell me what she thinks soon. I also think my insurance will allow me to go to any specialist as long as it is in network. There are a couple of endos in my area. I'll update and let y'all know what happens. Maybe my sharing will help someone else do what needs to be done.
In the meantime, I'm trying my best to lose. The last few days have been extremely emotional for me and honestly I cannot tell you why. Stress at work is unbelievable. Summer is coming soon. Hopefully once I can relax, things will even out and I'll begin to lose again...0 -
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Your ultrasound will only show you if you have thyroid disease. The antibodies are the only true test for Hashimotos.
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Thank you for the clarification. I was going off of the Thyroid Sexy Facebook page, and Gena Lee Nolin says that her bloodwork didn't show Hashimoto's antibodies, and that she was diagnosed via ultrasound.
I am still new to all of this information, and am hoping to get tested myself at the end of this month. I'm always looking for information too!0 -
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!0 -
I had hashimotos diagnosed via blood work and then they ordered ultrasounds too. I don't know if that was just for viewing or what as they diagnosed me with just the labs as most of the ladies said. I am sure though it cant hurt to ask them to order those specific ones for you. It was good to have a diagnosis after all my crazy symptoms. There will always be those who have normal labs and a specialist will diagnose anyways. You just never know. That is definitely is your best bet if you can, to see an endo doc. Keep us posted.0
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I will probably message my doc and get a referral asap. I feel like crap today. Zero energy, headache, and I know my bp is up. Gross as it is, I'm not "regular" either, which also plays havoc with my feeling badly. Something isn't right and I'm not sure what to do about it other than go to a specialist. Ugh! I'm so sick of this. Sorry I'm whining. I just feel awful today. I've been diagnosed hypothyroid since 1997/1998. You'd think I'd be used to it. :mad:0
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Why would you want to get used to feeling bad..
It's a step in the right direction to seek professional help. Many of us here know what you're going through. Hope you get well really soon. 0 -
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!0 -
I finally got the referral to an endo. I'll let you all know what he says. I believe our experiences help one another, so maybe whatever I find out at that appointment will help someone in a similar situation.0
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So, the endo's office called today and moved my appointment to tomorrow morning. I've got to make a list of questions to ask and things to discuss.
Where should I start? Any suggestions would be very helpful...0 -
I agree with many of the other responses that you need a thyroid peroxidase antibody test to diagnose autoimmune hypothyroid disease. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. As your immune system goes through the process of destroying your thyroid gland, T4 levels can fluctuate as your thyroid flares up and inflammation varies over time. If you do have Hashimoto's, you are also at increased risk of other autoimmune disorders as well. Do you have a family history of autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Lupus, or Rheumatoid Arthritis? My mom's sisters both had Grave's, my son has Grave's, two first cousins had Type 1 Diabetes, and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's about 18 months ago. My antibodies were 698 (reference range is <30.) Anything you can do to reduce systemic inflammation may help your symptoms. I get newletters by email from Dr. Weil, who promotes a natural anti-inflammatory diet.0
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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.0
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So, I had my first visit with the endo. Unfortunately, her first statement to me is that she only uses synthroid. This is fine with me, I suppose. We talked a lot about my symptoms and what can be done. I did kind of feel like she was saying I would have to learn to cope with some of my symptoms. However, she did blood work. I haven't received test results yet, but she says she feels 100% sure that I have hashis, especially given that my ultrasound showed an "abnormally small thyroid". However, when she examined me, she said it felt enlarged. Weird huh? Anyway, she checked my sugar and also cortesol to see if there are any adrenal problems. Now, I'm waiting on the test results.
I hate waiting.
Once, I get my results back, I'm going to discuss some things with her, especially regarding supplements to see what she says about them. The good news is that I have now lost 15 pounds since coming back for MFP after a long period of time. I need to continue in that progression because I need to take as much control of my health as I possibly can, you know?0
