New to this Forum

[tsichak]

Hi all-

I am newly diagnosed with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease...in other words Hashimoto's Disease.  I am here to see if anyone has this diagnosis, and if so are you taking medication for it?  Or are you taking a natural approach? What works the best as far as managing on a daily basis? What kinds of tips can you give me, etc?  I really appreciate any advice!  I am a 37 year old wife and mother of two girls, so I need to be able to live my life the best way possible!

Thank you!
Terrie

[tsichak]

Has anyone had an elevated tryptase level associated with hoshimoto's?

[tsichak]

Thank you again for responding to my post.  I will plan to have the above tests ordered by my Endocrinologist, see what the results are, and go from there. I sure hope she will order them for me.

While pregnant both times, I was told I had iron deficiency anemia. You did answer my question...I was asking if I can be tested to determine if I am anemic while not being pregnant.

[Barb135]

Advanced B12 deficiency can cause numbness/tingling, usually in the hands/feet. Tests done in 2009 would be too old to be valid now, because levels can change for a variety of reasons and your body may have changed since then, which could affect your absorption.  Even with a daily multi, you could still be deficient.  I eat a lot of milk, meat, eggs, etc that are chock full of B12, but I lack a substance in my stomach that is needed to absorb it.

What type of anemia did you have when you were pregnant?  Pernicious, which is B12 deficiency or iron deficiency?   2 totally separate types of anemia.

Like everything else in your blood, RDW can vary and what levels were in Jan, would not be valid now. Mine are consistently high, but I hardly ever have 2 results exactly the same. Because I have Pernicious Anemia and take weekly shots, I get tested every few months.

You said:  "While I was pregnant I was told both times by my doctor that I was anemic. Are there tests to determine if I am while not being pregnant?"

I'm not sure what you're asking here - you don't have to be pregnant to be tested for anemia, if that's your question.  Both Vitamin B12 and iron are simple blood tests that can be ordered by your doctor; in fact, if you had a complete work up that gave an RDW level, I'd almost guarantee it's got iron and, possibly, ferritin on it, as well.  Ferritin is an iron storage protein.

You should also get vitamin D levels tested.... many people with Hashimoto's are deficient in several vitamins/minerals, which can cause many of the same symptoms as hypothyroidism, or make them worse.  

Tests you need to get are:  Free T3, Free T4, TSH, Vitamin B12, Iron, ferritin, vitamin D, selenium, magnesium and calcium.  Your endo can order all of these, if s/he will.

[tsichak]

Barb135,

Thank you for responding to my recent post. I will be seeing my Endocrinologist next Wednesday, and plan to bring a copy of my recent lab results that my Allergist had me do. Would she be the one to order the labs for Free T3 and Free T4? It sounds like I need to have those levels tested. I had my B12 levels tested back in 2009 (which came back normal) because I was experiencing tingling/burning sensations in my back and torso. They eventually went away, but every now and then they come back. I take a multi-vitamin which gives me 6 mcg. of B12, which apparently is 100% daily value. Could I still be B12 deficient? While I was pregnant I was told both times by my doctor that I was anemic. Are there tests to determine if I am while not being pregnant? As far as the RDW levels...I had a physical done in January and my levels were in the normal range. Could they suddenly spike? This was all before the symptoms I currently have came on.

[Barb135]

Yes, I'd agree that you have Hashimoto's Thryoiditis, which is autoimmune.

RDW is the size of red blood cells; yours are larger than normal, which indicates Pernicious Anemia/vitamin B12 deficiency.

Your lab is using an outdated TSH range (range recommended by AACE is 0.3-30); your TSH is over range.... but you also need to be tested for the active thyroid hormones, which are Free T3 (the one used at the cellular level, which controls, metabolism, heart rate, cholesterol levels, etc) and Free T4, which is the "storage hormone" and must be converted to FT3....

You need to get vitamin B12 levels tested; B12 deficiency has a whole set of symptoms, the worst being the most debilitating exhaustion; yes, hypo causes fatigue/exhaustion, but for me, the exhaustion caused by PA was even worse and now, with thyroid levels good, I still have to inject B12 weekly in order to keep levels up and feel well.  B12 deficiency can also cause numbness/tingling in the hands/feet, as well as some neurological issues.

[tsichak]

Hi everyone, and thank you for responding to my post!  OK...so I was diagnosed by my Allergist.  I went and saw an Endocrinologist (after my general doctor referred me) because I was having a "low blood sugar" crash kind of feeling along with the following symptoms...confusion and cloudy feeling, hard time focusing on daily tasks, was feeling hungry/yet not hungry, nauseous, dizzy, really tired, and visual disturbances. I had been diagnosed with hypoglycemia years ago and had been managing it well, until the day the above symptoms started. The Endocrinologist had me testing my blood glucose levels, which all were in normal range.  I still battle with the "low blood sugar" kind of feeling, but I am able to manage it a little better.  I wonder if it is because of my thyroid? Because my blood sugar levels were normal, the Endocrinologist had nothing more to say/recommend even after I told her the symptoms were still present on and off.  I think I need a 2nd opinion/further testing. So...the Allergist had my thyroid levels tested because since having children, I will randomly break out in hives...especially after working out, or change from hot/cold and I do have Raynaud's in my toes.  I have been diagnosed with physical uticaria, which goes along with Hashimoto's. Here are the tests I had done and the levels...

TSH 4.10 (0.27-4.20)
THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIB 167 (0-35)
THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY <20 (0-40)

Under general hemotology my RDW is 15.0, which is flagged high with a normal range of (11.7-14.4).  Nothing seemed to stand out as far as this result to the Allergist.  Basically, he is starting my on Claritin daily and tells me my body is attacking my thyroid, and it is autoimmune.  Should I get further blood work done?  I am not sure I am getting the proper treatment according to what you have all mentioned above.

What I meant about "natural" treatment is instead of synthetic drugs, had anyone tried other alternatives?  I am also considering seeing a holistic doctor, on top of a 2nd opinion with a different Endocrinologist.

What can you tell me about what I just posted?  Thanks again!

[Brucergoldberg]

Another great post

Tsichak,   When did your symptoms start?   Was it after you had one of your children?   Hashimotos can sometimes be triggered by giving birth.  This is called  "maternal hypothyroidism".   It is actually quite common.  Thyroid disease advocates are trying to push for mandatory testing of the thyroid during pregnancy.

Sometimes Hashimotos is very easy to manage, but for some of us, it can be challenging as well.    You are in the right place and welcome to the board.

[Barb135]

Many of us on the forum have Hashimoto's and most of us are on replacement medication to deal with the hypo symptoms caused by it.

Like flyingfool, I'm unclear as to what you mean by "natural" approach.  Once the thyroid begins to slow down production of hormones, the only way to get them back is to take medication, which is for life.

If managed properly, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to feel well again.

[flyingfool]

Hashi's is the most common cause for low (hypo) thyroid in the modern world.  So you are far from being alone.

Please post your blood lab results along with the reference ranges which are usually in parenthesis behind your score.

Hopefully you were tested for more than just TSH.

please pose like this:

TSH your level (reference range)
Free T4; your level (reference range)
Free T3 your elvel (reference range)

I assume since you got diagnosed that you had one or both of the Hashi's antibody tests run (TPOab) and (TGab)

I'm not sure what you mean by "the natural way" or medication.  As far as we know there is no "natural" way to replace your loss of thyroid hormone level.  If you are refering to the difference between synthetic medication and natural dissected thyroid there is no real set answer on that.  what works for one person doesn't work for another.  So it is what you are comfortable with and finding out (unfortunately mostly via trial and error) what combination works for you.

As far as tips:

1) If you Dr is ONLY testing for TSH.  Demand to get tested for the other two "free" hormones Free T4 and Free T3.  If the Dr refuses go find a new Dr.

2) If the Dr will only treat or medicate you until you get "somewhere" within the far too broad "normal" ranges - find a new Dr.  Most people find they need to have their Free T4 in the MIDDLE of the range or higher AND they also need their Free T3 to be in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.  Simply being somewhere below mid range on these will mean that you may not feel your best.

3) Get tested frequently.  When on T4 medication every 6 weeks if on a T3 or natural dissected with a T3 component sooner. At least until your mediation is adjusted.  Hashi's is progressive which means that your thyroid will produce less and less hormone over time and you need to keep up testing and adjusting medication dosage to keep up with that loss of production.   Twice a year is minimum in my opinion even when you think you are stable.

4) Also get tested for some other things.  Namely Vitamin D, Vit. B-12, Iron, ferritin.  it is not uncommon for people with low thyroid to also be deficient in one or more of these as well.  may also add Selenium to be tested as well.

5) Continue to read a lot of posts on this site. You will learn a TON and be able to ask more pointed questions.