Thyroide Hashimoto - (Thyroidite d'ashimoto)

[les heureux]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone else on the forum has been diagnosed with this complaint, Thyroide Hashimoto or in French (Thyroidite d'ashimoto).  When my doctor diagnosed mine about a year ago, he explained it is like an underactive thyroide but the immune system turns on the body and attacks the thyroide.  I am now taking levothyrox 35mg but I think he will put the dose up next time as I am still very tired although I can't sleep at night.  Also my skin has been affected, it has become very dry and thin which is a little worrying. I go on the French forum and read about others who suffer from the same but wondered if anyone on this forum suffers with it and would like to know any tips you may have to keep it in check.

The name Hashimoto is taken from the doctor who discovered the illness.

[Clair]

Have you seen this forum: forum-thyroide.net ?

[les heureux]

Thanks Clair, this looks like an interesting site, will have a read through the messages.

hazey

[rhetais]

Hi

I think there are probably quite a few of us. I have been diagnosed for about a year too. I am on 62.5mg of Levothyrox, but my hypothyroidism is still not under control. Symptoms seem to vary an awful lot from person to person. I don't feel tired and sleep like a log, but I do have chronic muscle pain, bad skin, ridged finger nails, etc. There is a lot of information on the net, much of it from the US though,  trying to sell books and theories. I found these two UK sites quite useful and they both have forums, although there are some weird and wacky ideas.

www.thyroid-disease.org.uk

www.tpa-uk.org.uk

There is clearly a lot of debate about the methods of treatment and management of thyroid disease and concern too about the knowledge of GPs to adequately manage treatment. Have you been referred to an endochrinologist or are you, like me, being treated by your medecin? After a year, I am certainly beginning to get a little anxious that my blood results are still well off the normal scale.

I'm afraid I don't have any tips. I too would love to know if anyone has any.

[les heureux]

Hi,

Thanks for your message, it's nice to know I am not alone, I know quite a few French ladies who have this but I haven't found any British.  I am not too happy with my doctor, I have asked three times to see a specialist but he always says he is treating me and there is no need to see anyone else.  I have a blood test every 6 months and the TSH is still not normal.  A French acquaintance has told me her doctor sent her immediately to a specialist and he explained everything in detail.  Apparantly the levo is not good for the heart and as my blood pressure is always a little high this worried me, my doctor has said there is no need to worry!  I also have problems with concentration and sometimes feel completely lost when I am trying to do something.  I'm sure there must be something which can relieve some of these symptoms.  I am dreading taking a higher dose of levo as I don't think it agrees with me.

I feel for you suffering with muscle pain on top of everything else, like you my skin is bad and looks very thin, hopefully we will find some help.  I am going to ask my doctor once more if I can see a specialist and if he refuses I will either change doctors or make an appointment direct myself.  Thanks for the links I will have a good look through them and see what I can find.

Let's hope we both feel better this time next year!!

 

friend has the Someone I know has told me that sh  

[Gemonimo]

Hi Hazey,

You certainly aren't alone with your thyroid condition - there are hundreds of us out there with it!  Mine was diagnosed in 2001 and medecin traitant said it was frequently the result of an emotional shock (my house had burned down) and she sent me straight off to see an endocrinologist who was just brilliant.  It takes quite a while to get the dosage under control and mine required a good year of three monthly visits and now I don't see the specialist at all, just the doc.  Don't give up!  You will get better but it might take some time but insist on seeing an endocrinologist - after all they are the specialists.  Even more so if you have an existing condition.  Jen.

[les heureux]

Hi Jen,

Thanks for the posting, you have really given me hope, I must speak to my doctor and get it sorted out. 

Glad to hear it is working for you, you sound very positive and hopefully the rest of us will get the care we need also.

Hazey

[Steph1]

Hi

I have been for thyroid tests and have high antibodies. Anyone else had this test and how high was your test?

I can find a lot of information on thyroid on the internet but not a lot on antibodies attacking the thyroid.

Many thanks.

[Berlioz]

Me too and also fibroymyalgia   My UK doctor would not treat me as my TSH was 3.5 so I went to see Dr Peatfield.     Tsh went up to 6.6 after I moved to France and ran out of Armour Thyroid so My french doctor tried me on Levothyrox (T4) but it was useless, I could not convert it to the active T3, still had the aching, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, insomnia, brain fog, weight gain etc etc.  I am now on Cynomel (T3)  0,0025mg x 3 daily (3 times the usual does as I am thyroid 'resistant' ) I am about 60% better now and still slowly building up the dose.  My doctor took a bit of convincing expecailly not to treat to TSH results. My Tsh is 0.07 now.   Armour (natural) thyroid but that didn't work as well as the T3 for me. 

 This forum is no longer active but there is an amazing amount of information, search the postings, I found it imensly helpfull.

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/community/index.php?sid=bbd863c0f62f1e7b308488b995408ed6 

 http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/pages/forms/peatfield_order.html   Dr Peatfield's book is a must have for anyone with thyroid problems.   Wonderful man.

[Scooby]

I have Hashimotos and I'm on 150 micrograms of T4...and have been for 15 years, though now symptom free TG.  When I was diagnosed my results were 'offscale' so I empathise with all those that are suffering from the horrible symptoms while waiting to reach a stable dose

[Steph1]

Thank you for your replies. My doctor only seems to be taking notice of the TSH result and not the antibody result so I am not on any treatment yet. I am still trying to learn more on the internet but it seems a very complex subject.

[Frederick]

  May I suggest that you look at the " British Thyroide Foundation " site .....lots of guidance there ..My wife is a member.... over 20 years since she had to have hers removed her sister is being treated for Hashimotos as it runs in families .... The Foundation sends out helpful  publications after you join ...