Understanding Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

It took me 28 years to be diagnosed with hashimotos disease. It wasn’t until I paid to have a series of ultrasounds done at a health fair in Florida that they turned up nodules on my thyroid. My doctor ignored the first report and three years later I had another set of tests in Florida and my nodule had increased in size. My doctor then ordered the whole battery of tests that showed I had an autoimmune disorder. Three years later I had my thyroid and parathyroid glands removed. I had previously talked to my doctor about my heart palpitations and she put me on blood pressure pills. I have found that doctors have little to no knowledge of autoimmune disorders. You must be your own advocate and do your own research.

Anxiety and depression, chronic exhaustion, palpitations, panic attacks, profuse sweating, fuzzy brain, lack of sleep and muscle weakness were my first symptoms,

The Endocrinology Association should make antibody testing mandatory as part of standard thyroid panel testing; TSH, T3 and T4 for both Hashimoto's and Graves. I think they will be surprised at how many actually have both. .

The sluggishness and low motivation is so hard to live with.

Omg... I have so many of those symptoms. I just found out I have a thyroid issue. I did the same... I blamed myself. I would always think "Ohhhh I should just workout harder, eat less, I'm emotional because I'm a Cancer.... etc." My throat has felt like someone was holding it for YEARS! Thank-you for sharing this information. I wished I had found it sooner.

I hate when you can tell your doctor somethings wrong, and they don't look into it, they're jst like oh its nothing and send you home.

In 1983 I had my first baby, three years later by chance by a GP who had also had it as a medical student, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and admitted to hospital for three weeks it was chronic and took a long time to stabilise and bring my heart rate down. I then also suffered with one eye enlargement my weight dropped significantly my anxiety, panic attacks and hands shook, my heart rate and muscle strength was extreme. In 1994 I had my fourth baby and had post natal depression. By 1995 graves returned each time after each three more babies. After my fourth baby the doctor thought I should stop breast feeding and take anti depressants and thyroid disease medication. That made me feel even worse. By 1998 my thyroid symptoms were recurring. Then by 2008 after a lot of stress, anxiety and depression my hyperthyroidism turned into Hashimoto hypothyroidism.At 58 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia another under diagnosed condition I’d lived with symptoms since I was a child. All in all I have lived with autoimmune disease both hyper and hypo for 38 years. At 63 I still suffer with symptoms trying to regulate and adjust my medication is tricky. Taking thyroxine doesn’t cure the disease it treats the disease and controls it but is volatile, hormone changes, viruses, menopause, periods all affect dose and the impact and changes can take time to show up in a blood test or not show up. It is a fickle and insidious disease. To live a life with your body under constant attack is hard. I took up qigong, practice yoga and Pilates, lift weights, walk, meditate practice mindfulness and went vegetarian then vegan three years ago, I eat very low gluten, grains or high glycemic carbs, low sugar and fast. It’s a lifestyle change and a constant battle. My experience’s with the medical profession has been a struggle, ignorance, tunnel vision and stupid comments. My advice is do as much research for yourself and try, try and try again. Stress is a killer so be aware of how to combat it. Lifestyle past, present and future all need to be factored into your personal journey. Wellness is mind and body listen to what both are telling you. Look in the mirror and love yourself 💜

I and my two surviving brothers have hyPERthyroidism, which IS NOT associated with any disease. One brother had his thyroid removed, my other brother and myself are on an older medicine but still have our thyroids. I begged the doctors, in our area, to do a full thyroid panel but they never would. Just T-3 and T-4. I was diagnosed, in the Emergency Room, by a physician ( from a larger city doing a rotation at our small hospital ) as being in a “ thyroid storm “. I had VERY LOW TSH and Vitamin D. God kept me from dying. Thank you, Jesus.

I’ve had Graves for first 40 years and my endocrinologist did a heap of blood test I’ve never had before. He came up with hashimoto’s disease as well. My immune system is attacking my thyroid and pancreas. Instead of type 2 diabetes, he said I have T1. Very different meds now. Would recommend seeing an endocrinologist rather than staying with limited knowledge of GP

I am 13 and was diagnosed with hashimotos disease about 5 months ago, but the weird thing is I never noticed any symptoms, except fatigue. I was always tired, I slept in class and slept about 15 to 17 hours a day. I never thought it was weird, I was just tired, but then my mom noticed how swollen my neck looked, then my moms friend thought it was a goiter. I was so confused I had no clue what they were talking about, so of course I asked and they told me all about it. I remember my friend and I joking about how it made since I had hyperthyroidism because of how thin I was, but little did I know it was not that. One day I began feeling sick and missed a couple days of school, so my mom made me go to the doctor. So, I went and they checked me out, but then my mom pointed out my throat and my doctor confirmed it could be a goiter. So, they took my blood (I cried) to test the hormone levels and then I left. A couple days later my mom got a call, saying I had hashimotos and I wanted graves because I would lose weight, but looking back now I know that was foolish. I’ve actually had a cancer scare, they had to do a ultrasound of my thyroid to see if it was cancerous and I was terrified. Luckily, it was not cancer and I’ve been doing much better. I’m take my medicine (synthyroid) and I’ve been doing much better in school. Also, now that I’ve been through this I’ve decided when I grow up I want to be a pediatric endocrinologist because I can relate to the kids and really help them. I’m just happy I caught it early. P.S. this is not a beg of attention, I just wanted to share my story and thank you for taking the time to read it.😘

Exceptional video explaining thyroid function and testing. Thank you Erica Petrini and Dr. Mark Lupo. JP

Just being tested for thyroid Condition, waiting to find out, the waiting game, my doctor suspects it, causing depression, anxiety and hormone imbalance, insomnia, eptopic heartbeat, achy joints, headaches, crept up on me in months, I'm really lucky to have a kind understanding woman doctor x I feel for anyone with this condition x

Me too I thought it was me I stopped exercising and staying on the couch. Anytime I would get up my heart would beat so fast.

I’m very lucky my doctor handled it so well as I’m having regular blood tests (and dosage changes depending on results). She/he has been so helpful throughout the while thing and I’m so grateful. (Mine all started with fatigue,dizziness,headaches etc and turns out I had an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism)) (at one point they thought I had type one diabetes which I found odd as I wasn’t sure who they were related but at least I know what I have now )

I’m getting tested soon. I’ve already had my blood taken for my depression and anxiety condition and my thyroid was one of the things being tested, in which my levels were off. (the doctors played it off like it wasn’t a big deal). So now I’m going back to look deeper specifically for my thyroid. It’s one of the factors that causes my mental conditions (my genetics are a main contribution). But it mostly effects my weight and trouble of losing weight from what my therapist and mom assume.

I am almost 65 & only recently discovered that illnesses such as thyroid disease are often caused by narcissistic abuse. This very well could have been the case, & cause, for my condition. I was born into a family of complete narcissistic vampires & suffered the garbage they threw at me for some 60 years, (as they started early on the "baby"). I am in process of researching this presently. I've dealt with copious amounts of anxiety coming from a "battle royal" home life. Always physically healthy, it all hit in my later years & I'm far from being healthy now. The medical doctors are useless, for the most part. I have quite distanced my self from the narcissistic vampire relatives as well as so called friends. I live alone; much better than having to be in a constant battle with abusers. I also suffer IBS, acid reflux, & other disorders. If any of you have abusive relatives, get rid of them NOW & never be with them again. Your heart, mind, body, & even your inner spirit will thank you for it, although you have to continue to fight the disease within. And, yes, I have PTSD, too. But, this is possibly the beginning of a healing journey.🙏

My daughter was diagnosed with Graves Disease when she was around 14. She will turn 18 next month and it has still not been resolved but we are lucky to have caring doctors looking after her

This video has gave me immense insight into what is wrong with me for the last 5 years. Thank you

I was about 6 when I was diagnosed with hashimotos disease I’m 16 turning 17 in a month and I’m just now learning more about my disease.

I have had only one doctor look at my nails. When I described how I felt, he took my hands, looked at my nails, and correctly diagnosed hypothyroidism. He was an internal medicine doctor and was a whiz at diagnostics. He is without doubt the best doctor that I have ever had.