Resolving your thryoid issue

I was diagnosed with Hasimoto's thyroiditis in late summer 2005, but I wasn't diagnosed with hypothyroidism until today. Isn't that weird? You might recognize your own story in mine, because apparently endocrinologists and other docs are wary of prescribing medicine for thyroid issues even when the diagnosis is made, thus waiting until it hits critical levels to take action, if then.

Nodules were found on my thyroid after a surgery to fuse two of my cervical vertebra. That surgeon sent me to UW Hospital's cancer clinic, where it was confirmed that I don't have cancer, but I do have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your thyroid—and the most common kind of thyroiditis there is. Basically, your thyroid will eventually stop working altogether, and you will have to take thyroid replacement meds for the rest of your life. The problem is, doctors don't want to prescribe it.

I don't think my hypothyroidism was too bad back then, except I had a hard time losing weight and I was often fatigued. But the endocrinologist wouldn't put me on any meds, saying my TSH levels weren't high enough. I have no idea what they were then, but I do know that he did no other tests. There is tons of evidence now that more than that simple blood test is really required to determine if your thyroid is problematic.

This week, however, my thyroid issues which have been looming over the past three or more years have errupted into full-blown problems this week. Typical symptoms I experienced include low body temperatures (95.7 to 96.5), fatigue, low-grade depression and anxiety, extremely dry spots on my eyelids, behind my ears, behind my knees and between my breasts and very thick, dry skin on the soles of my feet (veeeery dry), achy joints, insomnia, irritability to the point of out-of-control crabbiness, inability to lose weight, dry hair (I cannot comb it right now), and a racing heart rate occasionally. There are a few other symptoms, but not many. The other day, I was so tired, I felt ill and wanted to pull over any time I drove a car. I just felt really bad and so tired that walking to the mailbox seemed ridiculous.

What I wanted was a doctor who would look at my symptoms, do tests and then make me feel better. I'm willing to make changes to my diet (and I have! I never eat broccoli or cauliflower raw, or any form of soy and have