Dear old Hashimotos

hopefulspring · 04-22-2005, 09:24 PM

Hello all!

I am new to the forum, but not new to PCOS. I have been diagnosed with PCOS for a little more than a year. I also have a strange condition called Hashimotos Thyroiditis. It's a fancy way of saying that my body thinks that the thyroid hormone is an infection, thus leading to a few problems as you might guess. I am only twenty three so I am lucky if you can say that. At least I found out early. Well, I wanted to send a question to you all. I wanted to see if anyone has Hasimotos or has at least heard of it. Most people look at me like I am crazy when I say the condition, but trust me its real. Just wanted to know.

*Patricia* · 06-04-2005, 11:12 AM

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001 when I was 24, mine I felt was caught late. I had always had this feeling that something just wasn't right. At the same time I was also diagnosed with Hypo. A few months later when I saw the specialist, that when I was diagnosed with Hashimotos, she told me that my antibodies count was over so high, it was off the chart. My doctor explained it to me that Hashimotos is somewhat the combination of Hyper and Hypo. Sometimes you can feel tried and cold, but the next few minutes, it's just as if you are so full of energy. That's how I can describe it. I do know what you mean when someone looks at you funny when you tell them your condition. I remember that when I found out that I had it, I was talking to one of my co-workers about it. There was another girl there and she got this scared look on your face--and she asked me "Are you dying?!". I laughed because you tell some you have "Hashimotos Disease" people get scared, like they are going to catch it.

shenacat · 06-04-2005, 05:55 PM

I have it too. I just say I have thyroid disease and leave it at that. My doctor is always saying it doesn't matter that I have hashimoto's because the treatment is the same for it as for plain old hypothyroidism.

marybeth456 · 07-01-2005, 09:00 PM

i have it too. i was diagnoised at 12 years old. i'm being treated with synthyroid. what does everyone take for it? i have a hard time losing weight too. sometimes i'm exhausted and cold and other times i'm hyper like was said earlier.

marybeth456

aldaschryve · 08-06-2005, 02:32 AM

Hi Everyone-
If you go on About.com http://thyroid.about.com/blthyroid.htm you will find a whole bunch of information that will help you. I have been seeing a very good endocrinologist who put me on Unithroid. I used to be on Synthroid too, but I just didn't feel great on it. My mother has been on a combination of two types of thyroid because it just worked for her. A good endocrinologist will work with your blood work and your physical symptoms. Make sure you go to a very good endocrinologist who knows his or her stuff. This website will direct you to a list of doctors that people recommend. Good luck and remember that we are our only advocates in this!

omcv · 08-06-2005, 04:07 AM

I DO!! I DO!! I mean have Hashimotos! Known since birth, taking Thyrolar (T3/T4) since 1998. People do the same to me when I try to explain to them that my body attacks it's own thyroid.

Many who have Hasimotos have Wilson's Temp Syndrome too (low temp by one degree).

Welcome!!! You are going to love the gals here!

CelticSpirit · 08-06-2005, 03:20 PM

Yup! I've got Hashi's too!

And yes, most people look at me like I've got 6 heads too when I try to explain it.

Of course, I also get "that look" when I say the word "thyroid" because most people are morons who don't understand that some of us who are overweight REALLY are overweight for medical reasons.

MellyM · 08-09-2005, 12:32 AM

My doctor did not give me an exact name for it. She just told me my body thought my thyroid was a foreign object and had developed antibodies to it and was trying to kill it and expel it from my body. THrough research, I figure that was the technical name for it. My number before meds was 93. A month later it was 11. Now, two years after starting meds it seems to be holding it's own within normal range. I forgot to take my meds for about a week, and I don't know about you guys, but I start to lose my memory about a week after I stop, which makes the memory worse. I forgot to take it for a month. THen it all started to act up again, the pain, the tiredness, and it dawned on me that I had not taken my meds in a really long time. I started again. It's been a week and a half back on and I am starting to feel somewhat normal again. I also just tell people I have hypothyroidism. It's easier that way.

iwantbabies · 08-15-2005, 02:26 PM

Hi,
I was just diagnoised last week with Hashimoto, I'd never even heard of it. My last two sets of blood work done at the ob/gyns showed a normal functioning thyroid. Apparantly that can happen where your thryoid functions normal even though there is something wrong.
It sticks because I went into the Endo about PCOS and came out with another problem.
On top of everything else the Endo found an 8mm tumor on my thyroid. He immediately did a bioposy and I won't find out the results until the 31st.

CelticSpirit · 08-15-2005, 02:32 PM

OMG! Please keep us posted about the results, OK?

Big hugs to you, sweetie!

CPRinNY · 08-18-2005, 04:16 PM

I think I might have this as well. My physician is very unsupportive. She only told me that anti-bodies are present and are attacking my thyroid. She also said that this may indicate that my thyroid functions will slow down, eventually leading to hypothyroidism, but it is not possible to know when. I asked what can be done to prevent further damage and to improve my immune system. She only told me that nutrition is key (telling me this especially because I don't eat land and flying animals, as I like to broadly put it). She also didn't want to put me on Metformim, although she knows that I have PCOS, just because I weigh less than 125lbs. And she is supposedly the top endocrine/diabetes specialist in the hospital!

StarsHallowGirl · 09-04-2005, 01:38 AM

I have it and so does my mom. It sucks especially when the dr's around my town don't understand the PCOS so they just blame my thyroid ans tell me they don't believe the PCOs. They all are a bunch of morons!!!

makeitsomeday · 09-06-2005, 07:01 PM

Hello Ladies,

can someone tell me more about this. What do your labs look like? I had some blood work done over a year ago. My tsh was 2.33 (normal 0.40-5.5), & T-4 Total 12.4 (normal 4.5-12.0). The Dr laughed and said you are almost hyperthyroid. I was like why am I over weight then and have I a hard time losing weight. Right now I don't have insurance and that is why I have not look into it more, or do I have a reason to? Any comments are welcomed.

Jackie