hashimotos

[shanesmom]

Newly diagnosed after a year of horrible symptoms. My antibodies are very high, yet my blood levels are within normal range. I live in Los Angeles where some of the best Dr.'s are, and to my knowledge I have been seeing top docs. The rheumatologist found this, and sent me on to the endocrinologist. My  symptoms have been:
severe tinnitis, pain in elbow joints, panic and anxiety, dizziness, rushes of adrenalin, and bladder pain/urgency.
These symptoms tend to go in some sort of cycle, from one to another that is. I occasionally will get strange red bumps on various areas of my body, mostly forearms , torso, or back, and sometimes even the scalp or behind the ears. I went through every possible kind of doctor and tests imaginable, all with normal results, until the diagnosis of hashimotos was found. I had a brain spect scan done that showed moderate abnormality in the left frontal lobe, which they said is similar to a person with lupus cerebritas. However, I was checked for lupus by a renown expert, and all tests were normal/negative.  Another has suspicion that I may have Hashimotos encephalopathy. I was put on prednisone, which helped a little, but symptoms came back after a month or so. They really aren't the symptoms of Hasimotos encephalopathy that are severe, like listed in symptoms. No cognitive problems whatsoever.I have now been reading that Hashimotos can indeed mimic panic/anxiety, etc..., and that synthroid could help. I have been waking in panic lately, and its debilitating.My endocrinologist does not want medication for me since my blood levels are normal. I am suffering, and need some advice on what to do.  This all started very suddenly. Before all this, I was fine. No anxiety issues, bladder infections...nothing. BTW, I have had bladder tests left and right as well as a cystoscopy and even that was normal. no IC.  Do you think thyroid meds would help me? should I see another thyroid specialist?
Thank you

[FTB4]

I forgot to add, in reference to your statement that you have High Antibody results but normal blood levels, that can be explained by the fact that some or most labs today run with outdated ranges that were establish many many years ago, and based on reported cases of thyroid disease, today we have ten times the reported cases, but the medical profession refuses to adapt the or update those ranges, so you could have "Normal Blood Levels" and still have thyroid symptoms, and the ranges also very from lab to lab. Best Regards FTB4

[FTB4]

When they tested you for Hashimoto's the would have done two anti-body tests, a common TSH Test and Free T3 and Free T4 (I would hope on the last two) Could you please post these lab results with the reference ranges provided, If you do not have them, ask your MD for a copy, you have a right to this information, so he should not refuse. Some of the symptoms are Hashimot symptoms, with the exception of Bladder  pain/rush, Although the anxiety, depression are common with Thyroid issues. We can give a more definate answer with the lab results. There are several different types of auto immune related diseases, including Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Lupus is also an auto immune disease, what happens in an auto-immune situation is, when the bodies defense system (T cells) do not recognize a particular part of your body, it attacks it as if it were a virus or bacteria, then tries to destroy it, this action raises the "Anti Body count. Try and post those labs and we can possibly help with determing if a thyroid issue is causing the symptoms. Take Car FTB4