I have Hashimotos and I want to talk about it

    So maybe some of you know that a couple of months ago some blood tests came back that my TSH was high which means my thyroid is underactive. This has caused some health problems for me--namely with my energy, muscle aches, joint pain, weight gain, extended time to recover from any workouts, hair loss, itchy skin, etc......the list goes on a bit from there.

    Recently I got a blood test for my thyroid antibodies. Under 35 is normal. Mine were 628. What this means, which I have researched and read over to get the true picture, is that I have Hashimotos Thyroiditis. This, for those out of the know, is an autoimmune disease wherein the body attacks and tries to destroy the thyroid.

   Basically my body is confused which cells are properly mine and which are foreign and must be DESTROYED at all costs! Send in the troops!

   This is a common enough disease I am not totally freaked out about it. It is what is causing the hypothyroidism. However it IS more complicated as it can vacillate between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It also lends itself to some extra problems on top of the hypothyroid.

     I WAS on Levothyroxin a few years ago, took it and my numbers got better. What I thought then, even though my doctor wanted me to come back in for a blood test again before I got a new script,was that my TSH was normal I was cured-fine. What I am discovering after hours of pouring over reputable sources from Mayo Clinic studies to some sites such as Hypothyroid Mom, is that though the TSH can be normal it only means the Hypo is controlled with meds and that you can still have the problems.

    I did not gain a bunch of weight with that so wondering how that was different since with this round of problems I have put on a few pounds. But I should have gotten the blood test and probably asked for an antibody test at that time as well. But I didn't. So now I know.


    As this problem is all very new--blood tests just conclusive in the last two months--started on hormones two months ago and numbers going up and down--my antibody test just done on the July 12th to show Hashimotos--I am still learning and still absorbing. I AM aware there are much worse problems I could have however these are my problems and mean something to me.

Altogether, a new thing to work on. And a new way to look at my life, my choices, my activity levels, my way of eating, my way of being healthy.