Hi there I'm new to this group
I am not certain I have Hashimoto's but I suspect I am in a "pre-stage" if there is such a thing? I would welcome any advice or input please..
For the last 2 years I have been to and from the doctors as I have been utterly exhausted. I'm very fit, healthy and sporty so for me to be unable to get out of the house is really unusual. In addition to this I have for the last year felt achey, shivery, really so so cold, my hands and feet hurt so badly in the mornings or after resting, 3 months ago I found a huge plum sized lump on my thyroid which made it difficult to swallow and my thyroid was also very noticeably inflamed on both sides. I had an US which showed 2 tumours, then a biopsy which showed one to be a U2 nodule and the other to be U4 (suspicious: needs re checking in 5 months). Other symptoms: I'm struggling with memory problems and occasional confusion, headaches, always thirsty, hot flashes ...but so hot like my head is about to explode (I've had problems with heat regulation since i was a kid and frequently woke up drenched), I keep dropping things, like my hands feel weak, I struggle to sleep as it feels like my heart is racing then I go hot then cold and shivery.. I've had some blood tests done, and I have slightly elevated TSH Receptor antibodies and also weakly positive for Anti- nuclear factor. Other blood tests were normal..Serum free T3 and Serum free T4 and Serum TSH were all in the normal range, so was Thyroid peroxidase. I also had Serum rheumatoid antigen checked and that was normal. We have a history of autoimmune conditions in the family...(dad Rheumatoid Arthritis and aunt Fibromyalgia).
I've been off dairy sugar and wheat for 2 years (as my children have to be too for their condition which i share with them albeit more mildly: CSID), I eat very well, good nourishing simple whole organic food as my kids need this too. I'm studying Functional Medicine now and understand the importance of looking after our bodies through nutrition and lifestyle. I slipped a bit over Christmas and definitely paying the price now as I can hardly walk in the mornings when I get up and I'm so achey and shivery and the joints in my hands and feet are hurting..
I wondered if any of this resonates? Does this sound like Hashimoto's symptoms to you?
Or does anyone have any words of wisdom for me please? What should I do next?
I have read that sometimes in the "pre-stage" you can have the symptoms but not necessarily the raised T3/T4, TSH and TPO?
My results are:
TSH Receptor antibodies 3 (0-2.9)
Anti nuclear factor: homogenous titre 1:1.16 (positive)
Serum Rheumatoid antigen 9.2 (0-15)
Serum free T3 4.8 (3.5-6.5)
Serum free T4 11.9 (10-20)
Serum TSH 1.54 (0.35-4.78)
Thyroid peroxidase 10 (0-50)