I Have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
My Hashimoto's Timeline
2009
July-
Started constantly spotting out of the blue.
Started to suddenly lose weight without really doing anything differently.
August-
Constant spotting hadn't ceased; finally saw a doctor who prescribed birth control pills to be taken without break.
September-
Started having very bad pain; discovered I had massive gallstone (seems to have been there for awhile but had grown quite large due to BCP) and had surgery to remove gallbladder.
October-
Noticed my weight started to go up, even though I'd been eating rather well and exercising; went to follow-up appointment where doctor took blood samples, one of which went to TSH. Was told my TSH was 4.8 which meant I was "fine" and that edema was probably lingering from surgery. Tried to work harder on losing the weight.
November-April-
Gained almost 25 pounds. Was very distraught but doctor told me nothing in physical exam or lab work indicated it was a medical issue; told to eat better and exercise more.
Started to experience more depression, but attributed it to weight gain.
2010
April-
Discovered I was pregnant.
July-December-
Even though I had only gained around ten pounds in the beginning of my pregnancy, suddenly began to gain a lot; by the EDD, I'd gained approximately 46lbs and was very swollen (did not have preeclampsia).
Had to deliver baby via C-section after stalled labor; baby was unexpectedly born limp and not very responsive.
Baby was taken to NICU and stayed there for two weeks, being tested for many things but never diagnosed with anything conclusive; doctors had discovered during an MRI, though, that there were subtle spots in her brain but nothing bad enough to explain her initial symptoms.
During the check-out exam, three days after I delivered, was weighed and had already lost 36 lbs.
Baby did very well in recovery but was left with subtle delays.
2011
January-September-
Started to experience PPD for the first few months and was eventually put on anti-depressant. However, depression never fully went away.
My weight started to go up and down every week within a ten pound range, sometimes gaining around 5lbs in a day; started to experience non-pregnancy pitting edema.
My hair started to fall out quite a lot; at first I attributed it to the after-pregnancy hormone drop, but it did not stop.
I would set the thermostat on 75(+) at home, all the while still freezing while my husband burned up.
I started to develop dry, scaly patches of skin that would not smooth though I used moisturizer religiously.
I had absolutely no sex drive, which, at first, I attributed it to having a newborn.
Was constantly tired, which, at first, I also attributed to having a newborn.
Would have constant muscle cramps around my left shoulder.
I noticed my face was still about as puffy as during my pregnancy and I had darker circles under my eyes; tried to drink more water.
I became unable to remember things like I used to; I would constantly forget things and many times feel too physically/mentally tired to even have a simple discussion.
Started having slight dizzy/lightheaded spells when I hadn't eaten anything for awhile.
Was still having bowel irregularity, even though I had no gallbladder (which would often mean the opposite effect would be more likely to happen); doctor believed it might be from IBS.
Periods were pretty heavy, but I was told to get used to my body being different after having a baby.
September-
Went to new doctor; told her my symptoms and she automatically had me tested for Hypothyroidism; gave me anti-depressants when TSH came back subclinical.
Transferred to another doctor in clinic (I had not requested this, but my HMO decided this new PCM so I was told to have him examine me); looked at TSH levels and said they were subclinical but was concerned that my liver enzymes were slightly elevated. Was sent to have my liver and kidneys examined via ultrasound; both looked/sounded good.
Started researching my symptoms in depth and came across website that explained that many doctors did not know the most recent TSH level recommendations (to range between .3 and 3.0) and how to talk with doctor about further testing; printed out sheet and took with me to doctor's for follow-up.
Doctor insisted again that I was subclinical and that most doctors were uncomfortable treating subclinical patients because of risk of turning them hyper but he went ahead and referred me to an Endocrinologist.
Went to Endo. who took a full history of all my symptoms and performed a physical examination, noticing my blood pressure had been recorded in my medical files as getting higher and higher these past few months after my pregnancy; he ordered a full blood panel, including TSH, T3 and T4 levels.
October-
Two weeks later, I received a phone call from the Endo.'s office; I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. He put me on medicine right away, even though I was technically not quite Hypo.
Have had to have my medicine increased a couple of times since, but things definitely got better/started to improve.
It was brought up in a discussion with my new doctor that my symptoms had been obviously progressing for awhile but nothing had really sent up red flags for traditional diagnosis. However, it is likely that the surge in hormones during my pregnancy caused the Hashimotos to go into full-swing, which may have possibly caused the issues with my daughter due to untreated Hypothyroid episodes (or rather how the Hypothyroidism effected my body which in turn effected her), and thus caused my symptoms to appear/get worse.
EDIT:
March 2012-
Have been transferred to both Endo. and Internal Medicine "consults" after new PCM didn't understand why my TSH levels had to be maintained lower 3.0 and received some surprising news...according to both consults to my doc, TSH levels while on Synthroid should be kept between **2 and 2.5**. I do believe my old school doctor had a "WTH" moment when she saw their written recommendations, but for me it was a "W2G" for us Thyroid patients who are finally getting some progress in the medical world...
2009
July-
Started constantly spotting out of the blue.
Started to suddenly lose weight without really doing anything differently.
August-
Constant spotting hadn't ceased; finally saw a doctor who prescribed birth control pills to be taken without break.
September-
Started having very bad pain; discovered I had massive gallstone (seems to have been there for awhile but had grown quite large due to BCP) and had surgery to remove gallbladder.
October-
Noticed my weight started to go up, even though I'd been eating rather well and exercising; went to follow-up appointment where doctor took blood samples, one of which went to TSH. Was told my TSH was 4.8 which meant I was "fine" and that edema was probably lingering from surgery. Tried to work harder on losing the weight.
November-April-
Gained almost 25 pounds. Was very distraught but doctor told me nothing in physical exam or lab work indicated it was a medical issue; told to eat better and exercise more.
Started to experience more depression, but attributed it to weight gain.
2010
April-
Discovered I was pregnant.
July-December-
Even though I had only gained around ten pounds in the beginning of my pregnancy, suddenly began to gain a lot; by the EDD, I'd gained approximately 46lbs and was very swollen (did not have preeclampsia).
Had to deliver baby via C-section after stalled labor; baby was unexpectedly born limp and not very responsive.
Baby was taken to NICU and stayed there for two weeks, being tested for many things but never diagnosed with anything conclusive; doctors had discovered during an MRI, though, that there were subtle spots in her brain but nothing bad enough to explain her initial symptoms.
During the check-out exam, three days after I delivered, was weighed and had already lost 36 lbs.
Baby did very well in recovery but was left with subtle delays.
2011
January-September-
Started to experience PPD for the first few months and was eventually put on anti-depressant. However, depression never fully went away.
My weight started to go up and down every week within a ten pound range, sometimes gaining around 5lbs in a day; started to experience non-pregnancy pitting edema.
My hair started to fall out quite a lot; at first I attributed it to the after-pregnancy hormone drop, but it did not stop.
I would set the thermostat on 75(+) at home, all the while still freezing while my husband burned up.
I started to develop dry, scaly patches of skin that would not smooth though I used moisturizer religiously.
I had absolutely no sex drive, which, at first, I attributed it to having a newborn.
Was constantly tired, which, at first, I also attributed to having a newborn.
Would have constant muscle cramps around my left shoulder.
I noticed my face was still about as puffy as during my pregnancy and I had darker circles under my eyes; tried to drink more water.
I became unable to remember things like I used to; I would constantly forget things and many times feel too physically/mentally tired to even have a simple discussion.
Started having slight dizzy/lightheaded spells when I hadn't eaten anything for awhile.
Was still having bowel irregularity, even though I had no gallbladder (which would often mean the opposite effect would be more likely to happen); doctor believed it might be from IBS.
Periods were pretty heavy, but I was told to get used to my body being different after having a baby.
September-
Went to new doctor; told her my symptoms and she automatically had me tested for Hypothyroidism; gave me anti-depressants when TSH came back subclinical.
Transferred to another doctor in clinic (I had not requested this, but my HMO decided this new PCM so I was told to have him examine me); looked at TSH levels and said they were subclinical but was concerned that my liver enzymes were slightly elevated. Was sent to have my liver and kidneys examined via ultrasound; both looked/sounded good.
Started researching my symptoms in depth and came across website that explained that many doctors did not know the most recent TSH level recommendations (to range between .3 and 3.0) and how to talk with doctor about further testing; printed out sheet and took with me to doctor's for follow-up.
Doctor insisted again that I was subclinical and that most doctors were uncomfortable treating subclinical patients because of risk of turning them hyper but he went ahead and referred me to an Endocrinologist.
Went to Endo. who took a full history of all my symptoms and performed a physical examination, noticing my blood pressure had been recorded in my medical files as getting higher and higher these past few months after my pregnancy; he ordered a full blood panel, including TSH, T3 and T4 levels.
October-
Two weeks later, I received a phone call from the Endo.'s office; I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. He put me on medicine right away, even though I was technically not quite Hypo.
Have had to have my medicine increased a couple of times since, but things definitely got better/started to improve.
It was brought up in a discussion with my new doctor that my symptoms had been obviously progressing for awhile but nothing had really sent up red flags for traditional diagnosis. However, it is likely that the surge in hormones during my pregnancy caused the Hashimotos to go into full-swing, which may have possibly caused the issues with my daughter due to untreated Hypothyroid episodes (or rather how the Hypothyroidism effected my body which in turn effected her), and thus caused my symptoms to appear/get worse.
EDIT:
March 2012-
Have been transferred to both Endo. and Internal Medicine "consults" after new PCM didn't understand why my TSH levels had to be maintained lower 3.0 and received some surprising news...according to both consults to my doc, TSH levels while on Synthroid should be kept between **2 and 2.5**. I do believe my old school doctor had a "WTH" moment when she saw their written recommendations, but for me it was a "W2G" for us Thyroid patients who are finally getting some progress in the medical world...
By:
Saelys
Age:
26-30
