by Robin Eads

Created on: August 12, 2009

I was first diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis more than 10 years ago. Before I was diagnosed, I didn't really realize that anything was wrong with me. My annual checkup with the OB/GYN resulted in some concern over my thyroid gland being very enlarged on one side. They sent me in for further blood work and then I was referred to an Endocrinologist who delivered the news. The news was staggering to say the least; the Endocrinologist was amazed that I still stood upright and functioned based on the TSH number revealed in my blood work.

"Haven't you been tired?" he asked.

"Sure I have. I just thought it was a symptom of life." I replied.

At the time I was diagnosed I had already had a recent miscarriage (lack of proper TSH levels can cause a fetus to stop developing) and my rate of hair loss had killed more than 1 vacuum cleaner. I didn't tie these things together. When the doc revealed to me my TSH number, I was floored. Normal TSH should be between 1.4 and 4.5 or so, depending on the person. My TSH was over 100. I should have been nearly crazy or at worst, nearly dead. TSH is a hormone that regulates every bodily function that we have. It's the "communicator" hormone, if you will, with your brain. Many centuries ago those with TSH deficiency or thyroid dysfunction were ultimately committed to mental institutions or worse, deemed witches and burned at the stake. A thyroid deficiency that remains untreated will eventually lead to insanity, heart failure and death. Scary, eh?

There are many forms of thyroid disease that can affect us. Simple hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is malfunctioning and not producing enough TSH. Hashimotos an auto-immune form of hypothyroidism, where the immune system attacks the thyroid as if it is a foreign object; ultimately destroying the thyroid gland altogether. Hashi's can be a very slow process and it can wreak havoc on you if you aren't proactive and knowledgeable in your treatment.

Because it is an auto-immune disease, Hashimotos comes with its own set of problems. Soy in food products can aggravate symptoms including nodule growth. The thyroid can form nodules in response to the immune attack; those nodules should be monitored closely by ultrasound at least once per year if discovered, as they can develop into cancer. You will need to take a TSH replacement pill such as Synthroid or Levothyroxine every day for the rest of your life. Hashi's can also cause other side effects such as lethargy, hair loss, memory loss, dry skin, cold/hot sensitivity and more. These sometimes go away when properly medicated;sometimes they don't. It's important to pay close attention to what symptoms/side effects go away when you reach your proper medication level. This way if your TSH ever elevates and symptoms reappear, you'll know it's time to see the doc for a medication adjustment.

For me, living with Hashi's has been fairly uneventful since I was diagnosed. That is, until this past year. There were several nodules on the left side of my thyroid gland that had grown in size over the course of 10 years. One of them was large enough to warrant a biopsy, which was rendered inconclusive. Ultimately, I had the left lobe of my thyroid surgically removed. Although it seems extreme, for me it means many more years of peace with my condition. Since I had so many nodules on that side, removing it means I wouldn't have to worry about cancer. The right lobe of my thyroid remains intact, nodule and cancer free - although it doesn't function very well anymore. So long as I take my medication, I should have peace with it for at least a few more years. :)

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