Hashimoto Thyroiditis

Question: How long until Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is gone if taking meds properly? I know that it's never really GONE, but how long until the person is back to normal. ****ALSO does Hashimoto's Thyroiditis cause a person to be hard to handle and become a completely different person?

Answer: I had the tumor remove thirty years ago, and no I didn't change at all, I don't even take syntheroid now, but losing weight is a problem. Generally you perk up more when you get your thyroid or thyroid substitute working again. So you might be more active or cheerful. But not manic or crazy or a completely different person.

Question: hashimoto thyroiditis?

Answer: What is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a type of autoimmune thyroid disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. The thyroid helps set the rate of metabolism, which is the rate at which the body uses energy. Hashimoto’s stops the gland from making enough thyroid hormones for the body to work the way it should. It is the most common thyroid disease in the U.S. What is an autoimmune disease? An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system becomes misdirected and attacks the organs, cells or tissues that it was designed to protect. About 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most often during their childbearing years. What are the symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? Some patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis may have no symptoms. However, the common symptoms are fatigue, depression, sensitivity to cold, weight gain, forgetfulness, muscle weakness, puffy face, dry skin and hair, constipation, muscle cramps, and increased menstrual flow. Some patients have major swelling of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck, called goiter. Does this disease run in families? There is some evidence that Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis can have a hereditary link. If autoimmune diseases in general run in your family, you are at a higher risk of developing one yourself. How can I know for sure if I have this disease? Your doctor will perform a simple blood test that will be able to tell if your body has the right amount of thyroid hormones. This test measures the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to find out if the levels are in the normal range. The range is set by your doctor and should be discussed with you. Work with your doctor to figure out what level is right for you. There are other available tests that your doctor may choose to do if need be, such as a blood test to measure the level of “active thyroid hormone� or Free T4 and a scan (picture) to look at the thyroid. What is the treatment for this disease? Hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is treated with thyroid hormone replacement. A small pill taken once a day should be able to keep the thyroid hormone levels normal. This medicine will, in most cases, need to be taken for the rest of the patient's life. When trying to figure out the amount of hormone you need, you may have to return to your doctor several times for blood tests to guide adjustments in the medicine dose. It is important that the dose be right for you. A yearly visit to your doctor will help keep your levels normal and help you stay healthy overall. Be aware of the symptoms. If you note any changes or the return of symptoms, return to your doctor to see if you need to have your medicine dosage adjusted. What would happen without medication to regulate my thyroid function? If left untreated, hyporthyroidism can cause further problems, including changes in menstrual cycles, prevention of ovulation, and an increased risk of miscarriage. Symptoms such as fatigue, depression and constipation, may progress and there can be other serious consequences, including heart failure. It is also important to know that too much thyroid replacement hormone can mimic the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. This is a condition that happens when there is too much thyroid hormone. These symptoms include insomnia, irritability, weight loss without dieting, heat sensitivity, increased perspiration, thinning of your skin, fine or brittle hair, muscular weakness, eye changes, lighter menstrual flow, rapid heart beat and shaky hands.

Question: Has anyone know of a treatment for HASHIMOTO THYROIDITIS? If anyone knows of any type of therapy for this disease, whether is alternative medicine or diets, I would really appreciate your info. The doctor says there's nothing that can be done until she's ready to take thyroid medicine but I am hoping there my be something out there that could help. THANK YOU

Answer: there are alternative ways for treatment of such diseases and many people have been succesfully cured using this alone. Foods that depress thyroid activity are broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, soy, beans, and mustard greens. These foods should be included in the diet for hyperthyroid conditions and avoided for hypothyroid conditions. • Avoid refined foods, sugar, dairy products, wheat, caffeine, alcohol. • Essential fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and necessary for hormone production. Take 1,000 to 1,500 mg flaxseed oil three times per day. • Calcium and magnesium help many metabolic processes function correctly. Calcium and magnesium must be present together in sufficient quantities, or the body can't use either. The optimal ratio is 3 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium. Never supplement calcium without also supplementing magnesium, because if you do so, the body will actually use its stored Mg to try and process the supplemented Ca, the end result of which is that the body actually depletes its stored calcium reserves because the Mg holding it in place was taken away trying to process the supplemented Calcium. If you think about it, all the extra calcium added to foods and drinks these days only results in us having lower calcium levels overall - due to the Mg not being supplemented... not good, not good at all! So, if you supplement Ca, make sure to supplement 1/3 as much Mg at the same time. 1000 mg of Ca needs 334 mgs of Mg; 1500 mgs of Ca needs 500 mgs of Mg. Regardless of which alternative treatment you decide to use, thyroid function needs to be carefully evaluated and is likely to need specialist medical advice. Some people have had great success using only alternative medicine, while others must utilize a combination of alternative and conventional medicine.

Question: What body systems are affected with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? And how are they affected?

Answer: Technically all body systems (and cells for that matter) are affected because your thyroid is controlling T4/T3 levels... In reality, however, only the thyroid should be of concern, and chances are you probably have already noticed it is enlarged and warm to the touch... It is fairly easy to treat as well, I might add... Good Luck and I Hope this Helps...

Question: Does symptomatic depression caused by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis have to be treated independently of Hashi's? Are separate meds usually prescribed, or does the depression usually clear up over the course of treatment?

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Question: Anyone out there with Hashimoto's thyroiditis on Armour? What dose works for you? How are you doing? Hair was breaking off, aches and pains, swelling. Feeling a little better this week. How did you do? Do you still have fatigue?

Answer: I don't have hashimotos but I am hypothyroid. I take levothyroxine( pretty much the same as Armour) for my issue. It will take about a month for you to feel better. I had the same symptoms as you, I could barely get up the gumption to shower. Now I have tons of energy and have lost 40 pounds so far. My dose is 2mg a day, my dr keeps it a bit high as I had thyroid cancer and the higher dosage stops other nodules from growing. Take care!

Question: Is lymphedema associated in some way with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, fibromyalgia, or compartment syndrome? I have all four of the following conditions and am looking for a link between them. All of my specialists have no idea. I'm 25 and this all occured after pregnancy 19 months ago. Please help!

Answer: Hi there, alot of lymphedema patients have thyroid problems and fibromyalgia. Recently there was an article called "unlocking the lymph" and also another one about fibromyalgia that made a general link to linking them together. We all as patients have wondered the same thing. Compartment syndrome involves the muscles, as you may or may not know, muscles contractions move lymph so there is somewhat of a link there. You may be one of the people who was genetically prone to lymphedema (primary) and the pregnancy was enough stress on the body to bring it out. Most specialists and doctors are not that well versed in lymphedema unfortunately, and there is not yet alot of research in the field of lymph disorders, lymphology and lymphedema. We hope to change that! We're working on it.

Question: Are severe migraines and dizziness some of the less common symptons of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?

Answer: TopList of symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis includes the 42 symptoms listed below: No symptoms Goiter Lump at front of neck Protruding eyes Low thyroid hormone level Hypothyroidism - see symptoms of hypothyroidism Mental slowness Physical slowness Slow pulse Cold sensitivity Weight gain Coarse skin Dry skin Fatigue Depression Muscle weakness Brittle hair Constipation Muscle cramps Increased menstrual flow Neck discomfort Periodic paralysis Thyroid enlargement Hypothyroidism Myxedema Musculoskeletal symptoms Rheumatoid arthritis Reduced thyroid hormone level Muscle weakness Hoarse voice Dry skin Pale skin Constipation Cold sensitivity Facial swelling Weight gain Muscle tenderness Muscle stiffness Joint pain Joint stiffness Depression Excessive menstrual bleeding Note that Hashimoto's Thyroiditis symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Hashimoto's Thyroiditis signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor. So migraine is not very likely the symptom of Hashimoto Thyroiditis, but an associated disease! Dizziness is common to a lot of conditions! Hope that may help you! Good luck!

Question: What are the effects of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis on Diabetes? Anyone have that combination? Goiter with normal T-3, T-4, TSH and negative thyroid biopsies. Antibodies 100 X Normal.

Answer: Hi. Insulin is considered by some to be an autoimmune disease. So there's an association between Hashimoto's and T1DM. People with higher proportion of people with Hashimoto's/T1DM have T1DM/Hashimoto's compared to general population. An increased thyroid hormone is considered to be diabetogenic (it increases blood sugar levels, hence worsening the diabetes) but as T3 and T4 is normal, physiologically, this will not affect the blood sugar by much. Seeing as the said patient has BOTH Hashimoto's and Diabetes, I would imagine that the disease process would be bad, and might worsen more quickly than someone with just pure hashimoto's/diabetes. Would also look out for other autoimmune diseases.

Question: Is recovery from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis possible? I suffer from it,and last night my tests came back,my tsh was very low. Doctor has asked me to decrease the meds. I am going through a diet correction process where I am eating vegetables(some raw in salad form) and pulses. Honey and lemon.. Replacing sugar with honey. No alcohol(almost) and I don't smoke for over a year. Less meat, more pulses and vegetables. Vinegar,black salt etc. I gained a lot of weight and I am trying to lose it.. I am excercising too.. I am pleasently surprised when my test results came back..Doctor says sometimes it happens, a person recovers from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis just like that. Do you think its possible?

Answer: Hashimoto's is an auto-immune disease. You have taken a lot of steps to improve your health and thus increase your immunity and so you have seen an improvement in your results. You said your TSH improved, what about your antibodies? TSH tests what the pituitary is telling the thyroid to do - it is a pituitary test and is not the test for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. I have had hashimoto's for many years and continue to have it even though my thyroid is removed. It usually does not go away unless the thyroid is removed. The TSH will fluctuate. Mine, however, fluctuated as I had a pituitary tumor so you need to know why. Get copies of all your tests.