Hashimoto's ords or auto immune thyroiditis - Thyroid UK

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Hashimoto's ords or auto immune thyroiditis

poppppy profile image
17 Replies

Hi could anyone tell me what I should call my illness . Hard to just give people an answer otherwise if they ask what is wrong with me .

I have a history of high tsh low t4 so was put on thyroxine . But it didnt raise my t3 into range so I was told I dont convert thyroxine to t3 . So I am now on liothyronine only .

So how do I shorten that into a title ! ? Is it I have " t3 non converter ords / hashimoto's/ auto immune disease " ?

Then second part of diagnosis title is what ?? Ords or hashimoto's or just auto immune thyroiditis ?

I have had ultrasound showing atrophy , giraffe like pattern on my thyroid gland .

I have highly elevated antibodies.

I read that hashimoto's has an extra element of protein deposits or something that I have not had diagnosed . Also that it can be American term misused here for signs and symptoms I have .so my consultants said I am not hashimoto's.

I read ords disease would perhaps suit my signs ; USS result , elevated antibodies low tsh . But it never seems to be mentioned on this forum . So I am wondering if not the right title.

Therefore do I just say auto immune thyroiditis .

I hope this doesnt sound trivial as what's in a name ?

It's really because people ask and I feel they dont beleive you are ill because some hypothyroid people luckily take thyroxine and feel well . So they compare . So it's even harder when you cant say a bonafide title to shut them up .without having to explain at length why you dont feel well . When they dont want to listen anyway . And you sound lame because without a medical term you have no credibility.

Thank you for your help as always .

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17 Replies
Judithdalston profile image
Judithdalston

You are hypothyroid , and have autoimmune thyroid or Hashimoto’s disease. U.K. doctors prefer the first name, USA second. You have exactly the same problems, and trying the same solutions as me, I just call myself hypothyroid, do you really want to go into all the other problems involved? Incidentally if you have autoimmune antibodies have you tried going gluten, even dairy free, diet as many find it reduces the antibodies? Unlike you my antibodies now seem to be in control and low. I take supplements to make sure my thyroid health is optimum: folate, ferritin ( with vit C) , B12 (and B Complex) and vit D ( with vit K2) daily/regularly; plus 1-2 weekly Mg, zinc, selenium.... Optimal mins/ vits might improve your T4 to T3 conversion, and other symptoms associated with hypothyroidism but might be caused by low levels from tiredness, pain, hair loss etc etc...

poppppy profile image
poppppy in reply to Judithdalston

Hi and thank you judithdalston ,

Very kind of you to reply and very helpful .

You are right about bothering to explain to certain people .

And thankyou for great advice and info .

I am gf and df . Former 6 years . Latter 2 years but df has had most profound effect .

But mostly now feel rough just as often as before . Though if I lose faith and have milk I feel worse .

I am not too bad though so consider myself lucky as my life had been adapted to cope well

Thankyou again . I hope you are doing well too

radd profile image
radd

poppppy

Ords is Hashimoto's.

There is a huge misunderstanding re autoimmune disease because the medical profession doesn't wholly recognise the destruction it is capable of causing. And why would you even want to explain the details of your illness to people who either don't want to listen or just wish to compare.

On this forum I refer to my condition as Hashimotos. To my doctor it is autoimmune thyroiditis. To the outside world it is hypothyroidism (cause I can't be bothered to explain the various forms or causes)..

poppppy profile image
poppppy in reply to radd

Thankyou for your reply . Interesting to hear they are the same . My consultant says I am not hashimoto but am auto immune thyroiditis . I have not mentioned ords to her . She may hit the roof .

I am aware I am very lucky she is a t3 advocate . So i dont rock the boat .

Hope you are doing well .thankyou again

in reply to radd

When I had my scan, the ultrasound person said that the atrophy was the "end" of Hashimoto's. A bit of a clumsy way of saying it but I knew what he meant - the thyroid has been destroyed by the Hashi. I live in Australia, where it is Hashimoto's (short for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) or just hypothyroidism. It doesn't come up very often, usually I just say I'm hypothyroid.

galathea profile image
galathea in reply to radd

Ords is hashimotos? There is a difference... ords causes the thyroid gland to shrivel up but hashimotos makes for goiters and swelling.

However, modern endocrinologists, like to ridicule the term ords and just say auto immune thyroiditus. Doesnt really matter what they call it, they still arent treating it properly. :-(

radd profile image
radd in reply to galathea

galathea,

Oops. Yes, you right .... Sorry popppy.

Although, each is diagnosed by the presence of the same thyroid antibodies resulting in the same gradual destruction of the follicles, and the same invasion of the thyroid tissue by leukocytes.

I believe in Ords the transient hyperthyroid state is not present but the various lymphatic nodes are swollen.

Mine were constantly swollen as a child but I also suffered huge thyroid levels swings. Maybe a combination of both .... Ordsimotos. 😂

poppppy profile image
poppppy in reply to galathea

Thank you Galathea for all your replies . Very knowledgable and helped a lot . Love the ordimotos 😂 . And poor treatment agree on . Add that to insult of we should feel well coz our blood results are in range .

I hope you are at your optimum health wise at moment .

Thank you again

Popppy

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

With ord's/Hashimoto's/autoimmune (call it what you like) it's the same result......frequently we have very poor gut function, vitamin deficiencies and frequently gluten and/or dairy intolerance too

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut connection is very poorly understood

poppppy profile image
poppppy in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you so much for your reply . Some brilliant advice to look through . Thank you . I bought Isabella thyroid protocol book . And am now gf free for six years and df for nearly 2 years . Did the whole no caffeine or sugar soy etc for few months at time . I forget to to keep up my vitamins . So thank you for reminding me . I do notice I feel worse if have milk or caffeine . I hardly have sugar . So notice when I do I am groggier.

Hard to beleive though despite above that these things make a difference . As so many factors affect how I feel or function dont you think.

Just as an aside . I find its drinks that are the hardest to find that are nice and also good for you .

I also felt annoyed that the book didnt suggest simple meal alternatives . Everything was strange hard to make foods .

I mean what is wrong with scrambled egg for breakfast .

Hope you are well at present

Poppppy

Louiseb17 profile image
Louiseb17

I just say I have hypothyroidism.. I tend to leave out the ords thyroiditis part (always leads to way too many questions)

poppppy profile image
poppppy in reply to Louiseb17

Thank you for reply . Very kind . Hope you are doing well

Poppppy

in reply to Louiseb17

How do you differentiate between Ord's and Hashimoto's?

galathea profile image
galathea in reply to

Ords causes the thyroid to shrivel but nhashimotoes can make it swell into a goiter

poppppy profile image
poppppy in reply to galathea

Thank you for that . So I shall say I am ords

in reply to galathea

I'm in Australia and my diagnosis is Hashi but I've never had a goiter and scan showed it had shrunk. Hashi antibodies though?

Louiseb17 profile image
Louiseb17 in reply to

My thyroid is gone, so they said I had ords.

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