Hashimoto’s Disease

[BernieMB]

Hi, I am 62 years old, new to this forum and am struggling to find out much info about Hashimoto’s Disease. I was tested for TPO antibodies in 2017 and the results came back high. I also had nodules on my thyroid gland so had a scan. It was ok and told nothing needed to be done. My TSH was normal, told my thyroid was working fine. I feel very tired all the time, have a hoarse voice and dry skin. I have a lot of aches and pains and get a lot of muscle cramps in my feet and calf muscles. Feeling quite down about it and looks like I will have to wait until my thyroid gland gives up the ghost before the NHS will do anything. Thyroid problems are in both sides of my family and my daughter also has thyroid nodules and goiter that comes and goes. Any advice or info would be very much appreciated.

[Boohbette17]

Hi BernieMB - Im a fellow member w/Hashimotos- ( 51yr Female ) the only way I found out was w/the good luck of an endocrinologist ( conventional ) who tested antibodies ( my other labs normal) and I too was sky high. One thing he told me I always Make a point to share is that he saw that I'm overweight and said: by that fact you need a higher dose of levothyroxine it took some time but eventually I also got Cytomel . and then I learned about functional medicine and the critical role of the foods we eat ( among other things ) affect us. I learned thru Dr.Sara Gottfried( MD. & functional medicine doctor) she has an impressive and powerful background .

i'm posting 2 links of info

Thyroid info on bottom of 1st

and the second link has extra info for your daughter . HUGS🌸💗

saragottfriedmd.com/what-to...

saragottfriedmd.com/underst...

[RockyPath]

Your doctor is trying to avoid having to get involved in treating you, because she/he knows, or has been warned by colleagues, that treating a thyroid can be more stressful and complex than trying to perform brain surgery, surrounded by screaming toddlers running around the operating theater, as the electricity flickers on and off, and all of the medicines are labeled in Thai and Mandarin.

They have to balance preserving bone health, so that you don't break a hip from too much thyroid hormone, while also trying to make you well enough to function. I suppose the fact that you are still walking around (despite cramps, etc.) allows the doctor to say you're ok. After all, if you develop anaemia, high cholesterol, insomnia, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, or any of the other hypo effects (as these are all known to be caused by low thyroid hormones), your doctor can always treat those symptoms individually with bottles of drugs.

That this is regarded as more straightforward is a sign of how broken the healthcare system has become with the rising power of for-profit pharmaceutical companies.

[BernieMB]

Thank you all so much for replying and all the advice. I’ve being feeling a bit alone with all of this. I was beginning to feel like a hypochondriac as every time I mentioned the things that were happening they did not seem concerned. I have been to the doctor again and have to go for blood tests, when I get them I will post them.

[Stourie in reply to BernieMB]

when having your thyroid checked make it early am before 9am and fast having water only. Your will be at it highest then and should help with getting a diagnosis. Jo xx

[BernieMB]

I still have not had my blood tests as I am not well and on top of that have been mad busy at work. Just recovering from 2 days with dreadful headache.

One thing that is puzzling me even though I have Hashimoto’s Disease I am not gaining weight, I have lost 7k (BMI still in overweight range) in last 1 1/2 years after having a virus and my appetite disappeared never to fully return. I don’t Eat anything like I used to. I feel very tired all the time but can’t sleep properly a lot of the time.

Bernie