THYROID DISEASE

Read and learn more about autoimmune thyroiditis. For more, visit the Thyroid Disease website ThyroidDiseaseWiki.com.

Q: I have Autoimmune Thyroiditis & Hypothyroidism, How tired should I be?
I have just found out how very much my doctor doesnt seem interested in helping me, (I’m seeking a new one), and I was hoping someone could help me in the mean time. I was diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimotos Thyroiditis) 7 years ago, and hypothyroidism 13 years ago. I am so tired all the time, and i was just wondering how normal this was? My doctor told me it’s just something I’ll have to learn to deal with, but it’s interfering with my life. It wasn’t that big of a deal when I was in school, I would just go to bed as soon as I got home, but now that I’m out of college and trying to work full time it’s become impossible. I can only work part-time because of it, and even then I’m still exhausted. I probably sleep 10-12 hours a day, but if i dont sent an alarm I can sleep for 15-18. Is this normal for hypothyroidism sufferers? or should i be getting my doc to look for something else going wrong?

A: I’m so sorry you have this disease. I’m not a doctor, just another sufferer. I’ve get so tired I can literally barely move. I’ve been after my doctor and am also thinking about changing to another.

I had symptoms of this disease over 10 years ago, along with low thyroid levels. My gut instinct was that something was very wrong and getting worse. Long story short-several docs refused to start me on medication. After searching online, I went in armed with printouts from various sites. I was referred to an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid disorders. I wish I had listened to my gut instinct and been more persistent. I may have been started on medication earlier and avoided this getting so bad.

My point is, see an endocrinologist who treats thyroid disorders. If you don’t like the one you have, change. Listen to your own gut instinct – it’s usually right. I don’t think it’s normal that you sleep so long and are still exhausted. The doctor shouldn’t be blowing you off, imho.

I’ve got several links for you to check out. Bring in some print outs of your symptoms and the treatments to you doctor. You have to get some help with this. Move on, if you can’t get help where you are.

I hope you get help and begin to feel better. Good luck.

Q: can i die from hashimoto’s disorder(autoimmune thyroiditis)?
I am a 15 year old girl that just recently got diagnosed with cancer in my neck. I just had surgery to remove it about 2 months ago. Everything was going better for me like making the varsity basketball team at my school, my grades were good, and i have the best of friends always supporting me. I just recently found out i have hashimotos disorder (autoimmune thyroiditis). I have been reading up on it but all the extremely large words confuse me! I just want to know if there is another possibility that i can die from this disorder? I think i am entitled the know but no one will give me a straight answer seeing as they always change the subject when i approach the question. Can someone please just tell me about this disorder as i am trying to do my own research but it is not working out so well…thank you very much i would greatly appreciate it!
kimberly

A: You can only die from Hashimoto’s if your case is very severe, and if you refuse treatment. So don’t refuse treatment, and you will be fine, ok.

That being said, this sounds very fishy. Cancer in your neck? Do you mean thyroid cancer? If so, that is very different from Hashimoto’s. Are you in treatment for thyroid cancer? So you’ve had radiation or a thyroidectomy? If so, I don’t see how you could possibly have Hashimoto’s if you don’t have a thyroid. Anyway, I hope your cancer treatment, whatever it was, was successful, and you are all clear now.

Q: higher risk of miscarriage with hashimoto-thyroiditis (autoimmune disease of the thyroid)?
i just had a miscarriage this week, i was 5-6 weeks along. i have hashimoto-thyroiditis, and i read that women with this autoimmune disease suffer from a higher risk of having a miscarriage than women without it. can anybody tell me more about this, maybe someone who has that illness too? it was my first pregnancy, i am 21 years old. i will be thankful for any kind of help or information.

A: I looked into some articles for you and most are saying that the miscarriages are more common in 2nd trimester. 5 weeks is very early on.

There is some things you can do if you plan on getting pregnant again and one articles states this:

I think it is wise to see the endocrinologist and wait the recommended time before attempting pregnancy again. You need time to build up energy, as well as nutrient, iron and calcium stores again

Rates of recurrent miscarriage are reported to be higher in hypothyroid women than in those with normal thyroid studies.
Early replacement with thyroxine improves fetal outcome.
Because of the association between autoimmune thyroid disease and recurrent miscarriage, thryoid antibodies should be obtained in women with recurrent miscarriages.
There is no documented benefit from treating low-thyroid women with recurrent miscarriage with L-thyroxine.

Q: Which autoimmune disease causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
I know I have an auto-immune disease caused by mono and related to EBV, but what’s the name of the immune disorder itself?

A: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis IS the autoimmune disease itself. It is caused by the body attacking itself. Go here:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/hashimoto-thyroiditis.cfm
and here:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hashimotos-disease/DS00567

I think this is what you are talking about, you may want to use the links on the article to further explore:

http://thyroid-disorders.suite101.com/article.cfm/mononucleosis_and_hashimotos_thyroiditis

Q: is tehre a cure for HASHIMOTOTS THYROIDITIS a AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?
HOW DO I STPI MY IMMUNE SYSTEM FROM ATTACKING MY THYROID GLAND WHAT HERBS PILLS ANYTHING REMEDIES CAN HELP PLEASE??????????????
yes i was find when i was born this barely started a few years ago and yes i eat tons of FAST FOOD JUNK FOOD I THINK YOU HAVE A HUGE POINT

A: go to a local homeopath and discuss with doctor your condition and ask about these medicines

Nat Mur 1M weekly 1 dose

Thyr 3x 3-3-3 daily

Q: Autoimmune Hypothyroidism (autoimmune thyroiditis)?
I am having problems, problems with my thyroid and always have but a situation has come up that I don’t understand..Every time I go back to the doctor he says my thyroid is still too low and he increases mt medicine which I take armor thyroid and when he increases after about a week of this working on my stem I get moody (bad mood city) and I always wind up in an outrage fit to my family and this is not me and my husband and I have notice this happens every time he speeds up my system. I’m wondering does anyone else have this hap ping and what can i do. I do have a goiter and nodules which haven’t been tested in years. Please someone help if you have this same effect. My daughter has low thyroid and she says it makes her feel good when her system speeds up but it doesn’t work that way on me.

A: Hi. I have Hypothyroidism, and have the exact same issues. I get so depressed, i’ve already tried to take my life twice. I also go into rages where i just scream at anybody around me. It’s really horrible. I was a very happy-go-lucky person before i got thyroid disease, so i know that’s what causing it. My personality is totally different then it use to be. I’m not the same person anymore, and every body has noticed it. I use to be very outgoing, and i would talk to anybody. Now i get very moody, and won’t talk to anybody ( won’t answer the phone either ). A lot of people don’t understand that it’s not my fault that i get like this, and that is the worst part of all. I try very hard not to be like this, but i can’t control it. You’re definitely not the only one this happens to. Best of luck to you, hope you feel better soon

Q: A question about autoimmune thyroiditis and breastfeeding?
I was diagnosed with AI during pregnancy, with hypothyroidism (aTPO antibodies 20 times higher than normal, freeT3 and freeT4 normal, TSH high) and I was stupidly recommended by that doctor to increase my hormonal intake in the last month of pregnancy, even if the blood tests showed that my previous dose was enough to control my hormones. I stupidely took the advice and, as a result I overdosed on thyroid hormones for about 2 months (I was supposed to take the increased dose until 6 weeks after birth, but cut them off after 4 weeks, because I started feeling sick) and got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism… Will the overdose effects go down and turn back to hypothyroidism or should I start taking medication for hyperthiroidism? My new dr agreed on repeating the analysis (4 wees after I stopped taking levothyroxine), which still showed high levels of thyroid hormones, and now I am expected to start medication. But what happens if the overdose effects dissapear and I go back to having a low-active thyroid WHILE taking the new medication?
Also, I had been breastfeeding my baby for 6 weeks, I interrupted for 3 weeks (by pumping,not ablactation). I still have milk and would like to continue breastfeeding, but hyperthyriodism medication sold in my country is contraindicated while breastfeeding. I know am aware of the danger of feeding my baby on milk overloaded with hormones, but at the same time it would be a shame to stop breastfeeding and use hyperthyroid medicine for a short period of time only… I don’t know what to expect.

A: When you have iatrogenic hyperthyroidism, the treatment is to stop the treatment, not to take other drugs.

This means that if your doctor made you sick by giving you too much medication, you don’t take other medication to counteract that. You just reduce the original medication to appropriate levels.

You will feel better within a week of reducing your synthroid to a more appropriate dose, and your hyperthyroidism will resolve.

Q: Ladies with autoimmune diseases, are you afraid of passing on the wrong immunity genes to your baby?
I have celiac disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the latter discovered during pregnancy, and I’m somewhat worried that my baby may inherit either them or just a background for some more autoimmune problems. Would you feel guilty if your child did inherit any ‘bad gene’ from you?

A: Oh yes, terrified! I have 4 autoimmune diseases and have a 7 year old son. Thankfully, I only had one or two when I had him. So far, he’s doing well and only has odd allergies (I believe it’s related).

Hormones affect AI diseases. Pregnancy can actually stop AI symptoms.

Yes, I’d feel guilty, but there’s so much that we don’t know… I wish you luck.

Q: Autoimmune Hypothyroidism?
Just a brief summary of my overall health….when I turned 13 I experienced chronic fatigue (slept all day and couldn’t even get schoolwork done) and depression. In my late teens and early twenties, I always felt an extreme lack of energy and inability to focus on anything + periodic hair loss and premature graying. Not to mention that I have an apparently weak immune system which caused me to get boils on my legs over a period of 6 or 7 months.I am in my late twenties now and have reached a point where I can’t function at work and am now on sick leave. I have just about every single symptom of hypothyroidism -except for brittle nails. I’ve been losing lots of hair over the past 8 months – my eyes are extremely puffy – I’ve gained weight and am unable to lose it or gain muscle mass – despite vigorous exercising. I’m experiencing memory loss and I often find it difficult to speak or focus at all. I am exhausted and unable to get out of bed – I have heart palpitations and panic attacks. I’m constantly dehydrated and urinate quite frequently (every 10 min), but my blood sugar is 6 which is normal, I guess. I had a blood test done – and these are my results: S-Anti-TPO = 132* Free T3 = 4.3 Free T4 = 13.1 S-TSH = 1.2 it also showed that I have a vitamin B12, D, and Iron deficiency. My doctor thinks my problem is stress but she agreed to have me take Thyroxine for a few weeks to see how things go – but I’m not sure what my problem is….is it the vitamin deficiencies, depression/mental illness, or autoimmune thyroiditis? Is it dangerous for me to take this medication? Could this be the start of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism? If the latter, then could taking these pills be dangerous? Can it cause cancer or be detrimental to my health?

A: LDN, a drug approved in the 1980s for treatment of drug and alcohol addiction — is being used successfully at very low dose levels to treat a variety of immune-related illnesses, including autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, and autoimmune thyroid diseases, and new studies are learning more about uses for this medication.

Please consider reading more about Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) here:

http://honestmedicine.typepad.com/ebook-sept%2021-2009–The%20Faces%20of%20Low%20Dose%20Naltrexone.pdf

Q: I’m a doctor & has just finished an important research which effects 10% of females. Addresses to announce it?
Autoimmune thyroiditis effects more than 10% of females and 2% of males. Destruction of thyroid gland by sensitized own-lymphocytes causes permenant hypothyroidism in more than 95% of patients. There’ve been no sps treatment modality to suppress this autoimmune war. 3 years ago, Prof. Gartner from Munih University shoed the efficiecy of selenium on suppression of autoantibody titers. Now we’ve just completed the 4th study on this subject. It’s performed on the largest patient group and it has the longest period of follow up. It’s confirmed to be edited in an important journal in June. We try to announce this important data to all professionals and patients. But nobody could understand the importance of this massage including the health service of yahoo, Lancet etc. This cilent revolution must not be deleted in this waste box of internet. Is there any people who reads these messages really? Yahoo? Are you there?
The manuscript can be found at: http://journals.endocrinology.org/joe/fca/JOE06661.htm

A: Do a press release using a service like PRWeb.com. Examples of what others have done similar to your needs:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/05/prweb390647.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/05/prweb390160.htm

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/05/prweb389091.htm

You should also contact the related patient advocacy organization. Here are some links:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/community.htm

http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blbipolar.htm

http://www.sclero.org

http://www.thelupuslady.com/

http://www.krispin.com/thyroid.html

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/links.html

http://www.thyroid.ca/Guides/HG00.html

http://www.tsh.org/

You are, I’m sure, familiar with the other extensive research on this topic. See links:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12656658

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2003_Feb-March/ai_97994351

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1:97994351/Selenium+effective+against+autoimmune+thyroiditis~R~+(Literature+Review+~A~+Comment)~R~(Brief+Article).html?refid=SEO

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00271427;jsessionid=256D529C4CC749B4089887541B29F4B1?order=1

http://iospress.metapress.com/index/1C13R7CD9YMF5VMR.pdf

etc., etc. Try contacting those study authors and see if they can lend support and/or follow-up/collaborate on your study.

Also, try checking Yahoo groups, MSN groups, and similar online discussion groups to bring your info to the patients there. They are the ones you want to reach – they are the ones that matter and will bring it to their doctors.

Good luck in your research.

Q: Question on autoimmune diseases?
Hi all, i was diagnosed with hashimoto’s thyroiditis over a year ago now, and i know that is an autoimmune disease. Is there anyone else here with an autoimmune disease who has developed other autoimmune diseases? i’m really worried that i may develope more autoimmune diseases as i’ve been told that happens to alot of people who suffer from autoimmunity…

A: I understand your concern. I was diagnosed with lupus and then later with RA, so it does happen. But the best advice I can give to you is to really try and take care of yourself. Do what your doctors advise you to do. And don’t let your autoimmune disease define who you are–that’s the most important! A lot of people, when they are first diagnosed fall into the trap of being so involved in learning about their disease and talking about it that it begins to consume their lives. Living with an autoimmune disease is hard because it already controls so much of what you can and can’t do, so don’t let it control who you are. And also, don’t stress too much about what other problems you may develop or about how your disease will progress. Focus on the now and deal with what may be later! Just live your life! Good luck sweetie!

Q: Is this autoimmune hepatitis? scared ?
My husband had elevated AST and ALT levels during his recent blood test. His AST is 218 and ALT of 89.
He was recently diagnosed ( 1 month ago) of Hashimotos thyroiditis. I am concerned as some people say it might be autoimmune hepatitis. All his other liver enzymes values came out normal. He does not have any hepatitis type of symptoms. If anyone has any information about possibilities of autoimmune hepatitis (since he has thyroid problem) please answer my Question.

A: He obviously has some type of problem if his counts are up but its hard to tell if it’s autoimmune hepatitis. The best way to know is have his ANA checked and possibly a liver biopsy. A few other symptoms you can watch out for is jaundice, joint pain, abdominal pain (on the right side), fatigue, nausea, swelling of the liver, and loss of appetite. Those are pretty common if its hepatitis. His counts are high enough that they should be watched but not high enough to stress too much. It’s pretty unlikely that it’s AIH given his gender and age (most common in teenage and young women). Just get him checked out and if you are still really worried, go to a GI specialist. They are pretty good about finding out what’s wrong. Good luck.

Q: All of the following are examples of autoimmune diseases EXCEPT…?
a. multiple sclerosis
b. Graves disease
c. Hashimoto thyroiditis
d. myasthenia gravis
e. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

A: I believe that it is either Graves Disease or Hashimoto Thyroiditis. I am 100% sure that it isn’t Myasthenia Gravis or Multiple Sclerosis since they don’t result from a bacteria/virus.

Q: What exactly do Antimitochondrial Antibodies (M2) do to the body?
I have just been diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis by blood tests (positive M2 Antibody) and liver biopsy. I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome, Raynauds Syndrome and Thyroiditis which apparently all “go along” with this disease. I understand it’s all autoimmune but what I’m trying to understand is what role (if any) the antimitochondrial antibodies play in these diseases. Is my body attacking mitochondria in all my cells (and creating these other diseases) or just the ones in the bile ducts? Thank you for your help.
Thank you for telling my what Antimitochondrial Antibodies are… but I knew that, what I was asking was what effect do they have on the body and could they have been responsible for my other Autoimmune Diseases other than the PBC. Thank you for your help.

A: Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are substances (antibodies) that form against mitochondria, an important part of cells. Mitochondria are the energy source inside all of the body’s cells. Mitochondria help cells work properly.

Q: a special case?
There’s this young man, 25, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 10 days ago, presented with severe ketoacidosis. He was underweight, his BMI was around 16, you could see his bones under his skin. A striking exofthalmia.The ketoacidosis was treated, the first 2 days he couldn’t eat much because of the nausea, after that his appetite came back, his hunger has no limits, he often hides and eats so that nurses don’t see him.
We increased the insulin dose to cover a higher amount of carbs, given the fact he’s malnourished, but we reached almost 3 units/kg body weight and still his glycemias are around 300. Education in his case is hard to do, because of his very low IQ.This boy comes from a very poor family, has a history of child abuse, and a mental retardation. TSH level is very low, we are waiting for the FT4, FT3 results, but he probably has also an autoimmune thyroiditis.

Q: what would you do ?
his body weight increased with 6 kgs, mainly because of rehydration
The doses today were: Apidra 40 UI in the morning, 34 at noon, 40 at dinner
Lantus 44 UI bedtime.
Insulin pump is not an option, he doesn’t even have an id card, not to mention insurance.
I really need good suggestions. ty

A: Even with the low IQ, education is important for everyone who has diabetes. The level of it and approach to it must be different though, Maybe focus on a little a day, and make it more hands on?

Lantus and Apidra are good insulins, and very appropriate in this case. Usually people who take Lantus twice a day instead of once a day have better control, and can often take less insulin overall, since you don’t rely on a pooling effect so much to get the extended action. This also allows you to adjust the dose for his basal needs at that time of day.

Apidra has the benefit of being very fast acting. Rather than set dosing, I prefer to use rapid acting insulins to carb count and adjust for what is being eaten. Apidra can be given after the meal, allowing him to eat until he is full, then get his shot. This might deter the sneaking of food. You can even allow for shots to cover snacks in between meals.

Basic nutrition information I would include might be what foods are carbs, and what are not. You can teach him “free foods” and meats to fill up on as well, to prevent him from filling up on just carbs and needing more and more food.

I’m not sure how low is IQ is, or if he will even be living independently, but other necessary information to include is injection technique and glucose testing. Apidra and Lantus both use the Opticlik pen in the US. It comes in two different colors, so make sure he keeps the color pen consistent with the type of insulin to avoid confusion. Also, a glucose meter that doesn’t require coding, such as the ones made by Bayer and the Compact ones from Accu-chek may be preferable.

If feasible, counseling would be advisable. Being diagnosed with a major chronic illness is hard on anyone, but counseling would be especially advisable with the abuse history.

Another important thing is helping this man see if he qualifies for low income insurance programs.

Finally, obviously the thyroid needs to be treated properly. Education may be easier once the thyroid condition and the diabetes is better controlled.