Posted by florence on March 9, 2005, at 21:56:24
In reply to BP and Hashimoto's » florence, posted by prodgirl on March 9, 2005, at 18:53:31
Prodgirl: Don't know if you are aware of this:
Hashimoto's is the most common CAUSE of Hypothyroidism. Some people have hypothyroidism but it is not caused by Hashimoto's.
Hashimito's is an autoimmune disease. AND if autoimmune disease run in your family--like in mine-- you might be more likely to get an autoimmune disease...(My brother has Crohn's Disease; my other brother has Polymyalgia Rheumatica; I have a cousin with Guillame Barre- his mother has Rheumatoid arthritis.......I also have some psorhiasis. These are all autoimmune diseases.
Hashimoto's is named for the Japanese dr who discovered a high incidence of it in a small village in Japan where they ate tons of fish and seafood HIGH in iodine. So, lack of iodine is not always the cause of thyroid disease.
I have a neighbor who got a goiter soon after the birth of her first son. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. She is taking Synthroid but not happy with it. She also developed Vitiligo- a skin pigment disease that is also an autoimmune disease.
I think you are more likely than the "normal" population of developing an autoimmune disease once you have one already. But it is not a tremendously higher risk.
She is about 41 yrs old-- still looses clumps of hair but her endo won't do much to help. How ironic: he was the first endo I saw who told me my levels were fine.
Well the idiot never tested my antibodies since my TSH was around 4 and I had no goiter.
FWIW I truly believe my depression developed because I was not treated for my hypothyroid disease. I never had it ten yrs ago: just fatigue that was awful..
Find a good endo.. It helps to call and see if they treat by symptoms or labs. It's not an easy task. And it is difficult to find any dr who believes in Armour thyroid. So I would ask if they have a problem with prescribing it.
I hope the Synthroid works for you. It takes a while to find out. My sister-in-law has Hashi's and is doing great on it. But they found it early-when she was pregnant with her first child. She has 4 kids now!
Boy, I do ramble on so.....I just feel the need to get this info out since I wasted so many years of my life and I get FURIOUS when I think of all the money I paid drs who did nothing for me...I cannot fathom that I was so desperate that I was going to have shock treatment... I just don't get it: why don't endos or psychs test thyroid before giving any antidepressants.
I live on a cul de sac with about 30 homes. I have accidentally discovered 3 others who have thyroid disease....plus a lady at church....a gal at the beauty salon who was getting a pedicure...It seems SO common!
I tried EVERY antidepressant imaginable; plus antipsychotics, combos-- at least 30 total.
Guess I had to vent a "bit"...But I have read of autopsies revealing Hashimoto;s disease. The autopsies were performed because the person had committed suicide....Depression can be a symptom of hypothyroidism. Last week, I read a post on my thyroid group: Cindi's cousin committed suicide the day before she was supposed to be tested for Hashimoto's. This cousin's father committed suicide as did his sister- Cindi's Mom.
I have even read an article that people who cut (self mutilate have been helped with thyroid medicine!)
Ending this post for now. I just pray some of this info helps just one person....cuz I was SO bad that I cannot say for certain that suicide was NOT in my future....until I was FINALLY diagnosed with Hashi's. Sweet dreams and remember: Never give up in your quest to find answers....it is worth it! I never thought I would get better mentally or physically,,,but I am on my way... florence
poster:florence
thread:466842
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050308/msgs/469009.html