Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and IVIG Treatment?*

I've been looking to find what's wrong with me for years and been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and a lot of other things. Lost my ability to breed when I was 34 to endometriosis. Now I also have Scleroderma of the genitals. Finally I have now seen a neurologist. Lots of blood tests showed a toxicity of vit B6 at 420. Also high Thyroglobulin antibodies at 16.4.

My doctor is quite intolerant and says, "what can you expect, you are a 75 year old woman!"
I work hard at not getting into a box to wait. Yes I should change my doctor but she does bulk bill. I'm in the middle at the moment between GP and the Neurologist. I've gone off all cruciferous veggies(Thyroid blockers) and drinking lots of water to try to bounce the Vit B6 out of my system. The weakness in my legs and the peripheral pain and numbness get dismissed. I'm old.
I have been a big fan of fermenting (culturing) my veggies and eat them often thinking they were better than swallowing probiotics to assist with gut and bowel. Of course they are full of cruciferous vegetables too and may well be contributing hugely to this condition but as none of the normal thyroid tests routinely done showed any problems, I didn't know.

Its lovely to see that there are many of us here though I wish it were not so for all of us.

I do look at it all with a bit of a different perspective though being aware that our western lifestyle of more and more consumption, which causes our host, Mother Earth, so many problems. Her own toxicity is very obviously caused by us consuming her bit by bit. Her climate balance, air quality, toxic rivers and oceans and poisoned top soil are seeing an extinction event not witnessed since the dinosaurs. I see myself a little the same. Completely out of balance and now my body is consuming itself with these autoimmune problems, cell by cell, joint by joint, organ by organ.

Do you think this is an interesting thought? Let me know what you think?
I'm very grateful for all your entries here. I don't feel so alone.
Thank you.

@whisperquick welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sure sounds like you have a lot on your plate to sort out and deal with medically speaking (fibromyalgia, endometriosis, scleroderma, other neurological and endocrine issues). I’m sorry your doctor has been dismissive and also sounds like has terrible bedside manner. You already recognize the need for a different doctor. I don’t know what you mean by “bulk bill”. With so much going on it is hard to say what specialty to look into. Perhaps you could start by asking for a second opinion from a good internal medicine provider, then go from there. You are always entitled to a second opinion. If you are able to do that and are satisfied with the results it could be helpful to get your medical records transferred. Could you try that? You are not alone.

my extraordinary internist who retired said he only trusts the brand name rx of synthroid

Thanks for your encouragement. By 'bulk billing', my doctor charges the
government for treating me. I am a pensioner and we have a system of free
health in Australia for low income recipients.
I feel that I should have been diagnosed and treated for Hashimoto thyroid
a long time ago.

I have had monthly IVIG infusions for ten yrs and during that time was diagnosed with hashimotos. No it does not help this.

I am going through the same thing. It's hard to find a doctor that is willing to take the time to try and figure things out. You obviously need to ditch that doctor.

i also have hoshimotos (diagnosed in 2015) and have only been treated when my TSH shows active hypothyroidism. That has resulted in me being on a low dose of synthyroid for a few months i’m 2016. Numerous endocrinologists have informed me that hypothyroidism is only treated when related blood levels are abnormal.

i understand your frustrations with socialized medicine. Do you know people in Australia who are being treated for hoshimotos? Here in the states it’s my understand from numerous endocrinologists that the so called golden standard is treat hypothyroidism with synthroid (or generic thyroid hormone). However, no dr has ever proposed a treatment for my hoshimotos condition that was diagnosed in 2015.

i have two thyroid autoimmune conditions—Hoshimotos and Graves’ disease.

Graves’ disease is quite difficult for physicians to ignore when severe cardiac symptoms eg afib and a flutter present themselves.

I’ve seen sooo many endocrinologists (about 10) and not one of them has proposed a treatment for my hoshimotos

i’m in the States and am curious to hear about how Dr’s in Australia treat hoshimotos.

Fyi, i never heard of bulk billing. Thanks for explaining it. Here in the states for elderly people health insurance we call “taking assignment” as seemingly the same thing as you called “bulk billing” in Australia

It's no so easy. I live in a regional town and finding a new doctor is horrible. They get so overworked and under supported, they leave.