I'm new to thyroid problems and have questions....

[CountryKMama]

Hi all, I'm new here and this is my first post.  

My doc sent me for bloodwork after a routine physical, thinking my thyroid was enlarged. TSH was fine but I was having a lot of discomfort in the throat so she sent me for more bloodwork and an ultrasound. The Free T3 (normal) and Free T4 (low end of normal) were fine but AntiTPO was raised (about 130). Due to the raised antibodies and pain/swelling feeling she referred to an Endocrinologist who said that there were no nodules or inflamed thyroid showing on the ultrasound and since my T numbers were all fine there was nothing they could do. Antibodies aren't in their scope etc. My doc also said if it's autoimmune there's nothing they can do except monitor and treat the damage. I went to a naturopath and am exploring the gut/autoimmune connection as well as adrenal function and am in the beginning stages of looking at this whole thing from a more "big picture" viewpoint. I'd really prefer to calm the immune response if possible Before it destroys my thyroid.

I've been having increasing anxiety and irritability, racing heart (130bpm folding laundry, 120bpm eating breakfast etc) and a general feeling on being on edge the last few days. (Which feels like a possible thyroid dump?) I've also dealt with depression, brain fog, loss of ambition, weight gain, and lots of the general hypo symptoms for the last five years thinking it was just depression and my mother's side of the family kicking in. There's depression, mood issues and bi-polar on her side. I've been on antidepressants in the past, which helped initially but eventually just left me fuzzy brained and zombie-ish. I went off them last October when I ran out and didn't refill. Interestingly, I never had withdrawal, and felt more alive after they were out of my system. My doc and new naturopath were both pleasantly surprised by that.

I'm beginning to think that maybe all these symptoms for the last five years and the more recent ones may simply be part of a slow onset autoimmune disorder? When my doc said Hashimoto's as a possibility while referring me to the Endo I started to research and so many things began to fall into the puzzle.

I'm currently on no meds at all as my T numbers didn't warrant thyroid supplementation but I feel like I'm having the hyper/hypo Hashimoto's cycle.

So, my question in a nutshell (after my long backstory) is this: Has anyone had any experiences that are close to this? If I don't "need" thyroid hormone what do I do to counteract this cycle? Is this something you can "nip in the bud" and calm the immune response before thyroid destruction?

I really appreciate any insight you may have for me. Thanks so much.

[gimel]

First please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.