Hashimoto

I have just been diagnosed with this disease. What are the long term effects?


This discussion is related to Hashimoto's Disease.

[AR-10]

Hashimoto's is the most common form of hypothyroidism. Almost everyone who develops hypothyroidism has Hashimoto's.

The long term effects and the course the disease takes is a very individual thing.

My aunt has had it for forty years, and she has never been to an Endo. Seriously. I called her one day to see if she could recommend one in her area, and she did not have a clue what I was talking about. Never heard of an Endocriwhatdidyousay?

Obviously, she has gotten along with very few problems. she is in her seventies now, and doing very well.

I, on the other hand, have had a lot of problems.

It depends on how many different antibodies you have, and how high the antibody numbers are. Whether your gland remains fairly normal in structure, or if you develop a goiter or nodules. Other variables as well.

Hashimoto's can come in half a dozen different forms, and it is very difficult to predict what your future will hold. Having a GOOD doctor and keeping your hormone levels from swinging from one extreme to the other has a big impact on how the disease affects your body, too.

One thing you should be aware of is now that you have an autoimmune disease, you are likely to develop another one at some point down the road. It is not mandatory, but it happens frequently.

I hope you are lucky like my aunt.