variation in hypo'ism

[ozzy1000]

hi all, i just got my second lot of bloods done, i asked for everything thyroid to looked at, my antibodies came back positive. i was just wondering whether anybody knows how hashimoto's behaves, i suspect that i might be more effected in winter, looking back over most of my life i have allways struggled in winter. i've allways put it down to SAD and taken a bucket load of st johns wort. could this be because my immune system is generally antagonised and active by all the colds/flu etc that go around in winter? i also have a strong reaction to food stuff like MSG, if i have food with high msg content, i spend a day or so with a puffy face feeling like i'm wading/thinking through treacle, could this be linked to atagonising my immune function?? it would seem to make sense that if my immune system was pepped up and pumping out loads of antibodies for other thing then it might also up the offensive on my poor thyroid??? this is just my personal lay logic, anybody know if theres some truth in this???

cheers,
owain

[ifupleze]

I believe Hashi's just slowly destroys the thyroid and that there are no real symptoms related to it specifically, although others might disagree with me.  As it destroys the thyroid, little by little, the symptoms of hypothyroid get worse unless close watch is done on the TSH to keep it leveled.  As it destroys more of the thyroid, the higher dose of meds is Rx until the thyroid eventually becomes non functional.  SAD is described as  depression in the colder months because of the lack of Vit D3 we get from the sun.  In the hotter months when we can be outside in the sum more and it is absorbed through our skin, naturally.  I take Vit D3 supplement along with B complex with C and just recently started taking selenium for the Hashi's.  It is also good to take a multi vitamin, too.

[kitty9309]

I have read that the TSH can rise in the colder months. (I have also read the same thing about cholesterol).

Here is a link about TSH:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/tsh-fluctuating.htm

[chigirl29]

I tend to avoid MSG and iodized salt.  Eating out once in a while is plenty of iodine for me.  I get puffy too:)  I'm usually sadder in the winter months--I really hate the cold season because of that.