This article is part of a special report on Thyroid Disorders. To see a comprehensive eBook on thyroid health, click here.
An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of these people are unaware of their condition. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime. The number of people suffering from thyroid disorders continues to rise each year. (1)
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common thyroid disorders. It’s estimated that nearly 5 percent of Americans age 12 and up have hypothyroidism. (2) It is characterized by mental slowing, depression, dementia, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, cold intolerance, hoarse voice, irregular menstruation, infertility, muscle stiffness and pain, and a wide range of other not-so-fun symptoms.
Every cell in the body has receptors for thyroid hormone. These hormones are responsible for the most basic aspects of body function, impacting all major systems of the body.
You can think of the thyroid as the central gear in a sophisticated engine. If that gear breaks, the entire engine goes down with it.
That’s why people with hypothyroidism experience everything from weight gain and depression to infertility, bone fractures and hair loss.
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One of the biggest challenges facing those with hypothyroidism is that the standard of care for thyroid disorders in both conventional and alternative medicine is hopelessly inadequate.
The dream of patients with thyroid disorders and the practitioners who treat them is to find that single substance that will magically reverse the course of the disease. For doctors, this is either synthetic or bio-identical thyroid hormone. For the alternative types, this is iodine.
Unfortunately, in the vast majority of cases neither approach is effective. Patients may get relief for a short period of time, but inevitably symptoms return or the disease progresses.
So what’s the problem? Why have replacement hormones and supplemental iodine been such dismal failures?
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Because Hypothyroidism Is Caused by an Autoimmune Disease
Studies show that 90 percent of people with hypothyroidism are producing antibodies to thyroid tissue. (3) This causes the immune system to attack and destroy the thyroid, which over time causes a decline in thyroid hormone levels.
This autoimmune form of hypothyroidism is called Hashimoto’s disease. Hashimoto’s is the most common autoimmune disorder in the United States. (4) While not all people with Hashimoto’s have hypothyroid symptoms, thyroid antibodies have been found to be a marker for future thyroid disease.
Most doctors know hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease. But most patients don’t. The reason doctors don’t tell their patients is simple: it doesn’t affect their treatment plan.
But in the case of Hashimoto’s, the consequences—i.e. side effects and complications—of using immunosuppressive drugs are believed to outweigh the potential benefits. (Thanks to conventional medicine for a relative moment of sanity here.)
So the standard of care for a Hashimoto’s patient is to simply wait until the immune system has destroyed enough thyroid tissue to classify them as hypothyroid, and then give them thyroid hormone replacement. If they start to exhibit other symptoms commonly associated with their condition, like depression or insulin resistance, they’ll get additional drugs for those problems.
The obvious shortcoming of this approach is that it doesn’t address the underlying cause of the problem, which is the immune system attacking the thyroid gland. And if the underlying cause isn’t addressed, the treatment isn’t going to work very well—or for very long.
If you’re in a leaky rowboat, bailing water will only get you so far. If you want to stop the boat from sinking, you’ve got to plug the leaks.
Extending this metaphor to Hashimoto’s disease, thyroid hormones are like bailing water. They may be a necessary part of the treatment. But unless the immune dysregulation is addressed (plugging the leaks), whoever is in that boat will be fighting a losing battle to keep it from sinking.
Hashimoto’s often manifests as a “polyendocrine autoimmune pattern.” This means that in addition to having antibodies to thyroid tissue, it’s not uncommon for Hashimoto’s patients to have antibodies to other tissues or enzymes as well. The most common are transglutaminase (Celiac disease), the cerebellum (neurological disorders), intrinsic factor (pernicious anemia), glutamic acid decarboxylase (anxiety/panic attacks and late onset type 1 diabetes).
For more on how to balance the immune system and treat Hashimoto’s, check out this article.
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Christina, the title of the book is a bit deceiving. I have been diagnosed w/ full blown Hashimoto’s. And as I stated above, Dr Kharrazian’s book set me on the right path. He explains the many causes of Hashimoto’s. For example here are a few: gluten intolerance, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, vit. D deficiency, chronic inflammation/infections/viruses of digestive tract, environmental toxins.
I’ll say it again, GET THE BOOK 😉 And whoever here told me to not see a regular doctor, well, I don’t 🙂 I see a person who specializes in Hashimoto’s and Fibromyalgia [sp?]. He has been to most of Dr Kharrazians lectures and follows most of the same principles.
I wish you the best w/ your health!!
Renee – this blog is old but if you do see this will you please reply? I am keen to find out about your improvement. I have just began on the fibromyalgia road and anything you can suggest will be much appreciated. I live on an island under Australia (Tasmania) and finding a knowledgeable person here seems impossible. I hope to get a reply form you and to continue some communication, plz.
Chris – my daughter is currently about 13 weeks pregnant. Her thyroid was irradiated years ago & she has taken daily medication since. Her OB-GYN – whom she visited when she was about 6 weeks pregnant, did not seem too concerned about her thyroid – or much of anything else, either. This caused her to switch to a different OB-GYN, who appears to be much more competent & supportive & who performed a battery of tests. Two weeks ago, her test results started to come back in, & her doctor’s office called my daughter & asked her to come back because her thyroid numbers “were so high, they thought it was probably a lab error.” Upon retesting, the numbers came back the same, & her doctor set her up for an emergency meeting with an endocrinologist. Given all I’ve read about the fetus’ dependency on the mother’s thyroid during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, needless to say I’m concerned – as well as confused. Will this have already had a detrimental impact on her child? What kind of questions should she be asking? What else should she be doing? Thanks so much!
Melanie: That is a concern. Autoimmune thyroid disease frequently gets triggered during or right after pregnancy, because of the profound immune shifts that occur. It sounds like she may be experiencing either Hashimoto’s thyrotoxicosis or Graves’. She should have her antibodies (TPO, TG and TSI) tested immediately and take action to bring the hormone levels back into range. This is what her endocrinologist should be suggesting. Feel free to set up a free 15-minute consult at http://chriskresser.com/appointment to discuss.
after my second child was born, I began to gain weight eventhough I watched what I ate and walked 7 miles a day. My friend convinced me to go in for a check up. They found a nodule in my thyroid. they did blood tests and a biopsy and they both came back normal. They gave me the option of surgery. Since I was gaining allthis weight and I had noticed things like forgetting things, stomach problems, my hair falling out, arm and leg cramps and many other wierd things and my children were 3 and 5, I decided that I could not live knowing there was something inside my thyroid that wasn’t supposed to be there. I remember that somedays I was exhausted and other days I was going a mile a minute. In hindsight what was happening was that I was hypo one day and hyper the next. My thyroid was malfunctioning and this is what the thyroid does when it is pooping out. It goes back and forth between hypo and hyper until it stayed hypo. So I decided on a thyroidectomy. It turned out to be cancer and Hashimotos which had atrophied my thyroid gland and it was not functioning. In my case (because my body is very sensitive), they had a very hard time after surgery leveling me out. But most people do fine after the surgery. Before any of this thyroid stuff began, I got Vitiligo (loss of pigment) which is an autoimmune disease. (that is why I said that if you have one autoimmune disease you will probaby have a second one as well. All autoimmune diseases do not have cures. They are managed but never cured.) Like you, I had and have GI problems especially horible and painful gas. I know that before surgery I was exhuasted and had diahrea often. When the thyroid is hypo, then everything in your body slows down but when it is hyper, everything speeds up which is the reason you have diareah. Unfortunately, I did not do well on synthroid and I take the natural form of thyroid hormone (armour thyroid). The problem with thyroid is that most doctors focus only on blood tests even though the patient doesn’t feel well. In some people, like you and me, the bloodtests and even a biopsy will come back normal even though your thyroid is blinking out. Hashimotos doesn’t go away until the gland that it is attacking is removed. The surgery is a breeze but the recovery is a little tough and sometimes a little long but once you are level with thyroid hormone, then everything returns to normal. You need to read a book by Dr. Broda (can’t remember the name). This book will educated you on thyroid down to the nitty gritty. There is a way to know if your thyroid is malfunctioning. Take your temperature every morning before you even blink. you must move as little as possible. Do this for one week. you will see that if hypo your temp is below 98.6 and if hyper it will be above 98.6 on average. They used this method in the 50’s and it is still valid. You must remind the docs that your blood tests cannot be relied upon. Tell them often (they tend to not hear you). Only after surgery and thyroid hormone is given that you can rely on the blood tests. Also, thryoid problems are hereditary so start asking mom or dad if anyone else in the family has had problems. Thyroid hormones are found through out the body and even your brain. It controls the speed at which each cell in your body rotates. If hypo your cells are rotating slowly and if hyper they are rotating fast. Why is this important? because thyroid problems manifest themselves in every section of the body from skin to brain. It controls body temperture and metabolism. It is found in abundance not only in the thyroid but in the brain, spinal cord and stomach. It is the only hormone that gives you symptoms that have nothing to do with your thyroid and will mimic many other disordersfor example GI problems, depression, skin moisture, limb pain, foot pain, eyesight, tendons, muscles well you get the idea. It can show up as so many things and can easily be misdiagnosed ESPECIALLY if your blood tests are coming up normal and you feel like crap. The most important decision is to find a GOOD endo. Mary Shoman (google her name) has a website full of info AND how to find a good endo from patient referral. If you decide not to take out your thyroid, eventually you will be permanently hypo since hashi is destroying the gland and then have no other choice but to take it out but like I said by then you have suffered with 15 symptoms that mimic other disorders. This is why I said it is better to take it out and have your thyroid regulated by taking a hormone pill. If you have specific questions you can ask me but if you read Dr. Broda (just google his name and the book will come up) all your questions will be answered.
Oh, sisi, I will try those things and let you know. I’ve wondered about vinegar, since it has healing properties in it. I didn’t know about the body temp thing though, thanks. I will definately try these things.
Also, renee, this book, I think it was mainly for people with the symptoms and normal test results. All my tests are coming up not normal for Hashi’s so I don’t fit into that catagory.
Sisi, I would like to know more about your story if you don’t mind, since you said you’ve had similar stuff to me. I’m hoping it will go away if I can get my hashi’s under control or out. I would really like to get it out, since the specialists have such a hard time regulating it for very long and everyone I talk to say it’s easier to regulate it if it’s taken out. My mother in law had hers removed and she felt tons better after, but she had all the classic signs of hypo, not like me who suffers from all hyper but blood comes back hypo.
Thanks for the advice guys. I go in next week. Renee, My doctor who I just found out is more of a natural path than a doctor told me about leaky gut. Ok, here is my take from the research that I did: Do Not play into their hype. Ok, yes changing your diet and getting tested for things you are sensative to is the BEST thing to do for your health, but I actually disagree with you as far as “Autoimmune just don’t happen”, In my case it is hereditary and yes they do develop. They do not start from what you are eating. I have eaten fruits and vegetables my whole life and never had issues until 12 years ago and it has slowly gotten worse. And yes, I did take my natural paths advice, I am off gluten, milk products and everything else that came back as a sensativity including yeast products. I have to live this way for 90 days and then she says we can test them one by one, well here’s the kicker….. I”M STILL SICK. When she told me I would feel better right away. It has been sooo frusterating to have to run to the bathroom every 10 minutes for several hours everyday. I have been on this starvation diet for 2 months now and it’s not working. I am also taking a probiotic and fish oils and peppermint oils. And it’s still not working. I’ve been working with a GI specialist for the last month trying to figure out if it is my intestines or if it’s just related to my thyroid. I’ve done legitimate research and have found that Hashimoto’s when not treated can lead to crohns and other autoimmune diseases because it controls the core of your body. And what an autoimmune disease is… Is where you have normal cells that go haywire and start tagging good cells as bad ones and then starts attacking them, which leads to attacking organs. Now where your food that you eat come into play is that most processed foods are bad for you and feed the bad cells which makes them multiply and spread even farther. So yes, changing your diet will help to make you feel better because it is no longer feeding the bad cells (or malfunctioning cells). But just like what the others are saying though is that once the damage is done, it’s done. Your organs don’t grow back. Just changing your diet doesn’t make the cells go away, I’m proof of that right now! Everything I eat is going straight through me, and I’m eating everything and only the things that this guy talks about in this book your talking about, so there is no link as to the food you eat is creating your illness. Yes it can cause digestive issues if you are allergic to it, but it won’t cause your body to attack itself. If you have a genetic prone or it’s in your blood somewhere then you’re going to get it at some point in your life. You can however put it in remission and have the damage put off for some time and that is probably what your case is, you are just the lucky one that can do it naturally and it worked. But for people like me who need to extra help from medication or doctors, this is what needs to be done. I agree that we do need to take charge and be stern with our doctors to get the right diagnosis and the right treatment though, but I wouldn’t put in too much of myself into this new, “it’s leaky gut syndrome” I think more natural paths are using it as their own way of saying “I don’t know what is wrong with you, but lets try cutting alot out of your diet and see what we can find with that”, it’s the same as the GI’s saying oh it’s just IBS. They don’t know what is wrong. but I have a feeling and a very strong hope that they are connected and that all I need is a beta blocker that will allow me to eat without the urgency to get all foods out of my system right away.
I just wanted to know if anyone out there has ever had the same problem with hashimoto’s? I keep hearing that with hashi’s you’re supposed to be constipated, you’re supposed to be over weight, ect. Well I’m not and I need to know if it’s normal. I’m tired of living this way.
I know that I didn’t use the word cure 🙂 And I disagree w/ you saying that someone should have their thyroid removed. That should be a last resort. I will say again, when someone has an autoimmune issue there is a cause. The thyroid is one of the least studied parts of the human body. There are only a select few who specialize in it. Maybe you should get the book I suggested. There is alot of information that I think you’ll be surprised about 🙂
I’m sorry to disagree with you renee but hashimoto is an AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE like diabetes, lupus etc. and IT CANNOT BE CURED. Whoever told you that hashi’s can be cured is lying or misinformed. It will in fact destroy the thyroid gland progressively. No one knows the cause of Hashimoto’s because it is in and of itself an immune conflict with your body. It will continue to destroy your gland and you will feel the symptoms of your thyroid not working and it will progressively get worse. FIND A GOOD ENDOCHRINOLOGIST not a regular doctor since they don’t know anything about the thyroid gland. Once you have 1 auto immune disease it is reasonable to suspect that there maybe another. For me it was Vitiligo but it could be any number of autoimmune disease.
Oh no no no!!!!! HASHIMOTO’S CAN BE PUT INTO REMISSION!! Once you find out WHAT IS CAUSING IT!!! DO NOT RUN OUT TO THE DOC TO HAVE YOUR THYROID REMOVED – PLEEEEEEEAZE!!!
I will not diagnose (Christina) but I will say that it sounds like you may have Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). I was just recently diagnosed w/ it and told that LGS is the cause if my Hashimoto’s, I was put on a strict healing diet and have lost 15 lbs in 2 months!!
As stated, I am not diagnosing anyone, just talking out of experience. There is an underlying cause to your Hashimoto’s! Your body doesn’t just attack itself for no reason!
I more than highly recommend getting the book Why Do I Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal by Dr. Datis Kharrazian. I found mine on Amazon. And it put me on the road to what conventional doctors won’t take – HEALING!!
Renee – can you give more information about the LG diet you stuck to to help heal your gut?
Hi, I came across your website, and I’m very hopeful in your knowledge. I need help. I have been through the ringer, literally. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in December of 2010, but I didn’t know about it until July of 2011. When I first went to my doctor in november 2010, my blood tests came back showing I was hyperthyroid, which made complete sense, because that’s all the symptoms I have. Then in December it came back hypo and positive for hashimoto’s. This didn’t make sense to me. The only symptoms I have of Hashimoto’s is I am tired all the time, my hair was falling out until I went gluten free, and I have low blood pressure. But I have all the symptoms of hyper still. I have extreme weight loss, I don’t sleep well, and my biggest issue is I have diarrhea (chronic). I went to my doctor who is new in July complaining that it has gotten worse, she tells me that she is also a natural path so I got excited (finally someone to listen to me) well she put me on some herbs that half don’t work, they make me so sick. I am currently on a probiotic 3 times a day and peppermint oil after dinner. She told me that I should not get treated for my Hashi’s because it would make all my hyper symptoms worse. I really need to know if this is true. She then told me that my thyroid and GI issues are seperate, so she sent me to a GI specialist to rule out Crohns, so I’ve had an endoscopy (ruled out celiac, but I’m still gluten free) and a colonoscopy (he says there is no crohns) and he ordered blood work to check for infections. He is also ordering a small bowel series to see if I have any ulcers. I have had sooo many tests, everything comes back normal except for the Hashimoto’s, that has stayed the same. All my symptoms have gone away each time that I am pregnant and yes I have had 3 successful kids without any issues, which I have been told is a miracle because with Hashi’s your not supposed to be able to. I need this chronic diarrhea to go away, I was tested for sensativities and I am trying to stay away from my trigger foods, but it hasn’t helped one bit. I have been at it for 3 months now. I want to know what med would be best for my situation, or what I should be doing. I’m sooo lost. But from what it sounds like on here that synthroid at a low dose might actually help me, is this true.
Hashimoto’s is when your body thinks that your thyroid is a foreign body and attacks it continously. As it progressess, you will have hypo/hyper thyroid symptoms until the thyroid gland becomes atrophied or shrunken but by that time you have been through hell and back. There is no cure for hashi”s except to remove the thyroid. It is an auto immune disease. I would go to a good Endochrinlolgist (not all are created equal) and talk about removing the thyroid. Thyroid hormones are throught the body in every cell. Your stomach issues are probably do to a thyroid inbalance. I am not a doctor but just a patient who has been through what you have been through. There is no point is suffering when your thyroid must come out at some point or another. As far as your stomach issues (bloating, pain, burping, gas, nausea) I have two suggestions. Thyroid controls the body’s core temp including thatt of the stomach which must be at a certain temp to do its job. here are two quick fixes that WORK. Have someone get a small towel and wet it in ice cold water and place it on your stomach. You will feel the cold and react to it which is excellent and what is needed. The cold towel will absorb the heat of your stomach and lower it’s temp. Repeat this several times but IT IS IMPORTANT that you do not touch the cold towel because your brain will brace itself and you won’t have that physical reaction of the change in temp that the towel brings to your hot stomach. The second thing is to put 1 tablespoon of vinegar in half a glass and drink it before each meal. It is not that the stomach has too much acid but the opposite, it does not have enough so the vinegar will provide that. You will never have to spend $ on an antacid again. Try this and let me know how it works for you.
It is sad, Mary Ann, to gain that weight and not be able to lose it. Until I found my present endocrinologist, I went through doctors who totally judged my thyroid needs by my TSH number. Every time they lowered my Synthroid, I gained ten pounds. Over a period of ten years, I gained forty pounds. Not one doctor will prescribe Armour for me.I finally just said no, I will not lower my Synthroid further. I have no signs of hyperthyroidism, only hypothroidism, so my endocrinologist is letting me stay on my present prescription.
I understand how the thyroid effects many components of the body – ie the brain. A few years ago my world turned upside down when I took Chantix to stop smoking. My entire hormonal system went wacko, I entered menopause and my thyroid shutdown. Nothing seems to be helping me to lose the weight I gained. I have been on Armour Thyroid, P-Thyroid and now back on Armour Thyroid. I have often wondered if I began to take the nicotine logenzes if this would reverse some of my symptoms. thoughts?
Well, I am reading very interestedall issues about Hashimoto. I was diagnosed many years ago… and I just took my L-Tyroxin 75 mg and took it as natural. So until now…. travelling and experimenting other kind of food like sea weed salads and maki sushis more than 2 times a week, I got pain (join / muscle – I even do not know the difference); area surronding my eyes hurt; when I stand up in the morning I fell like “90 years” old and I am 50!!!! Everything hurts! Nail breaking and hair is falling – first I was looking for high blood pressure problems since I started medication 3 months ago and for the first month I had to change medicantion because I got problem on m throat…… today…. thinking about that, it was not the blood pressure medicine but rather my imune system. I will be off gluten – it is a pitty that it takes 6 months to get rid of all side effects of gluten ingestion – I am so curious what my body / imune system will react. Now I am putting all over my place small notes to remind me not to eat bread – cakes and flour stuff and think Gluten free. Thanks for all information. I do hope I am on the write path! Ingrid
Thank you Renee for the input. I will get serious about the gluten and sugar. I haven’t heard of emulsified vit. D. Will try this also. I did find a doctor in my area that lectures for Dr. K. Hopefully will have enough money soon to be able to afford her. Thanks for the boost. It helps to talk to people who understand how you are feeling.:)
@christine try looking for a practitioner in your area who has studied under Dr. K. try this link:
http://thyroidbook.com/contact-and-clinic-info.html. in the comment box tell them what state you are in and they will send you prac. info in and around your area. you may have to travel.
i have taken myself off gluten and white sugar as much as possible and i have gone mostly organic. i have a grinder/press coming so that i can start juicing. my next step is emulsified vit. D [better absorbed]. just a few ideas for you. i haven’t found the cause of my hashi’s yet but i am saving pennies to see a doc in my area who studied w/ Dr. K. good luck
I had a total thyroidectomy 3 years ago. Felt terrible on Synthoid, now on Armour and starting to feel some results. I have terrible gerd, low iron and very low vitamin D. No improvements with supplements. I had the radiation pill which the doctor says kills all remaining thyroid tissue. Could there be any remaining active thyroid tissue? My funds are limited so I feel overwhelmed with the do list for more labs and more supplements that I read about in Dr. K’s book. Not getting any help from endo or family doctor. Advice is to continue Tagamet and deal with the gerd…. take the iron and get some sun. So confused on what to focus on first. Doctors say I have had the test for gluten and I’m not sensitive. As in one of your posts….should I first focus on removing this completely from my diet?
After I got EBV, my thyroid just dive bombed. I believe now that I had HYPER thyroid… for years before that… but.. after the EBV.. everything just got worse. my last antibody test was 578… range is 0-5. I do my best to just be thankful..but .. i have to admit.. with stress… all these symptoms of hashis and hypo.. along with a SLEW of other autoimmune disorders..( UC, psoriasis,shingles, PC) as well as Low iron sats, migraines.. off and on pvc’s.. and being EXTREMELY sensitive to whatever i take for it.. i think i am starting to lose hope. I just had my blood drawn today again.. due to the Westhroid that i take being upped.. well.. somethings just not right now.. the company also started putting a coating on it.. (they stated that people were complaining about the smell and taste)… well. since i started taking the westhroid WITH this new coating.. its not working like it was before.. plus.. i was taking 1/2 grain twice daily.. now.. they put me on 1 whole grain daily. uggh.
The more I read about hypothyroidism, and people’s experiences, plus my own, the more I think there is a huge disconnect between the reality of what people are experiencing and the medical establishment–specifically Endocrinology. It would seem hypothyroidism isn’t an isolated disease, but involves more of the endocrine glands. And doctors practice according to what they are taught to, which is just not helpful enough for far too many sufferers of this disease.
My subscription for Synthroid is causing my test to show I’m getting too much TSH. My endocrinologist has let me stay on this dosage because it has cleared up so many of my problems, but he is leaving it up to me, largely, to let him know if I start getting heart symptoms such as palpitations. This is a terrible quandry for me, partly because of my age, 80.
Elizabeth,
Your post is interesting. I am 53 years old, have Hashimotos, and heart palpitations and associated insomnia were the reason for visiting my doctor. I haven’t been able to get rid of the palpitations, but have found sugar and salt at bedtime to give me a good night’s sleep, generally, indicating a lowering of blood glucose at night while sleeping (or not).
I am interested that your dose of thyroid hormone is keeping the palpitations at bay. Is it that a higher dose will put you into a hyperthyroid state and cause palpitations? Or are you taking enough hormone to prevent the palpitations? I believe it is adrenalin/stress hormones causing the palpitations in the hypothyroid/hashimotos condition.
I found this interesting. I had never heard of Hashimoto’s before. I have had my thyroid tested for years, suffering with fagtigue, dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, allergies, intestinal issues, the list goes on. I have had a goiter since I was 18. My thyroid tests always come back on the ‘low side of normal” so my PCP refuses to treat me for low thyroid because it is technically normal. I have always asked what if normal for me should be higher! About 15 years ago they did a scan which also came back normal. Now, as I learn more I am glad they didn’t medicate me but am looking for nautural remedies to help. Any suggestions?
I am glad to see this blog post is still active. I was diagnosed with hashi’s 10 years ago and went undiagnosed for about 4 years. And only in the last 2 years do I feel like I am on the right track towards better health.
I have heard all the excuses I can handle from doctors. Things like “This is a lifestyle issue” and “You’re a complicated case” (I have 2 other rare auto-immune diseases, Sarcoidosis and Takayasu’s Arteritis, diagnosed 1.5 years after the hashi’s was diagnosed.) I have a new doctor and during one of my recent visits I told him I don’t want to hear about lifestyle changes and that if I had a nickle for every time I’d be a rich woman. I think he might be working up to a “You are complicated” because of the battery of tests he ordered, the other diseases have resolved themselves, I’m not worried.
The information that has put me on the right track I’ve been able to find at the following websites:
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
http://thyroid-rt3.com
http://nthadrenalsweb.org
The people in some of the posts above are still struggling with inadequate doctors, testing, the interpretation of those tests, and medication.
The thyroid and all of its complications are a tangled web, but one that I believe can be untangled with the help of posts such as this and the websites mentioned above. This is a great series of articles on the thyroid and I can’t wait to dig into the rest of the blog.
Thank you!
Yes. A thyroidectomy is like removing gum from your shoe. It’s very difficult to get all of it out without damaging the surrounding structures, so inevitably some of the thyroid gland is left behind – and it can be attacked by the immune system.