I Have Hashimoto's Disease!!

I guess knowing  that I have this disease, is not as bad as knowing that I have Cancer or some other life threatening disease. I am grateful for that!

On the other hand, I have always been pretty darn healthy and strong. I have noticed my many ailments for many years now, but assumed it was a natural progression of aging. I know my mother's health history and she is still very healthy at the ripe age of 85. My father's health, well that's a different story. I have no idea what he had, at what age, or even what type of medication he took. He was very abusive to his body and I know a lot of what he suffered from, came from that abuse.

Below is a picture of the thyroid gland.

So where did my Hashimoto's disease come from? It could be hereditary, since I don't know my father's health history, or any family member on his side of the family. Here is a capsulized version of what it is.


DEFINITION:

It's a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, causing Hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland.


SYMPTOMS:

• Fatigue and sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• A puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• Unexplained weight gain - occurring infrequently and rarely exceeding 10-20 pounds, most of which is fluid
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
• Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
• Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Depression

CAUSES:

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder, in which your immune system creates antibodies that damage your thyroid gland.

A combination of factor's - including hereditary, sex and age - may determine your likelihood of developing the disorder.


TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS:

• Blood tests to test your hormones
• An antibody test (because it's an autoimmune disorder)

TREATMENTS AND DRUGS:

Synthetic hormones, such as Levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, others)

Monitoring the dosage by having repeat appointments with an Endocrinologist and having blood tests.


So there you have it, I am currently on 50 mcg's of Levo-thyroxine, but this is subject to change as my thyroid produces less and less hormones. My Endocrinologist says that my thyroid will eventually stop working altogether. So, now I know why I gained so much weight (for no apparent reason), was tired beyond belief (I could've slept all day long!) and why every muscle in my body aches and are tight all of the time.

I do have symptoms of Fibromyalgia, and have been told that I have it, by my Orthopedic and Rheumatologist doctors. There is no one test that can be given to diagnose it. My Rheumatologist did the 10-12 point pressure test but this is not a diagnostic test. So, in the meantime, until they have a definitive test, I "think" I have it. That is another blog at another time.