Hashimotos Disease?

Hi! I'm hoping more people join in on your discussion. I'm recently finding out my years hypothyroidism is actually Hashimoto's. Why no doctor has run tests for the Hashimoto's through the years, I'm still in shock. I have been overly treated for sinus infections that were only inflamation. Not infections at all. Also heart medications that weren't needed.
Digestive enzymes (pure brand suggested from a holistic doctor) have changed my health. Im greatful. My bloodwork proves i wasn't absorbing vitamins and minerals from food or supplements, most of my life. Digestive enzymes, natural, inexpensive, saved me.
Since my Hashimoto's dx, on 2/25/2025 I've seen 2 new internists and 2 endocrinologist, none of them have any concern or answers for what I'm now believing is Auto immune inner ear disease, and brain fog from life lone anemia, that i am believing both are possibly reversible, with trying a short term high dose of steroids.
It will be another 3 months until my appointment with the endocrinologist I really want to see. My huge deductible is met and I'm just going to try any doctor possible until someone has some path to fixing these things.
I appreciate you mentioning a functional doctor and will look that up. Im going to try finding a neurologist next. I have heard there is such thing as a diagnostician, but I'm near 4 major health care systems and can not seem to find that one exists.
Being relieved of the inflamation with enzymes from a simple cheek swab, has helped my sinuses, weight, high bp, circulation and daily want to move again. Eating generally for my blood type and bioplasma cell salts are changes too.
I'm hoping maybe if your issues are from inflamation, maybe any of this helps you too.
I didn't realize I had malnutrition (i believe what was happening) because with thyroid issues we don't make digestive enzymes. So i was taking iron supplements for years yet my red blood cells were always still low... among more bloodwork that showed anemia. Im still searching for the right doctors.. but have wasted so much money, and had years of poor health that the symptoms just kept piling up. Thankful at almost 60, I'm atleast so much better.
I wish you well on your health journey, and hope more people join this chat.

@lluth412
I am a 55 year old female and have Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and take 100 mcg levothyroxine. Hashimoto’s is known to cause nodule growth in your thyroid so if you get bloodwork testing by your primary doctor, endocrinologist or rheumatologist with a full thyroid panel (TSH, T4, T3, TPO) and it shows Hashimoto’s TPO autoantibodies, it would be good to get a thyroid ultrasound to see if you have changes like nodule growth. I had a 2.5 cm nodule in my right lobe and I had it removed because it was suspicious (determined by fine needle aspiration and molecular testing) and my sister had thyroid cancer. It was benign but they did find a micro cancer.

Hashimoto’s really isn’t treated except for dealing with any nodules and if there is hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Medication would be prescribed of thyroid levels are too high or too low.

It is good to see a nutritionist/dietitian to look at diet and supplements and see if changes would be helpful. You may benefit from a diet that reduces inflammation.

I also suffer from Hashimoto’s along with Hypothyroidism. I take 75 mcg of Synthroid to control the Hypothyroidism and have eliminated gluten, dairy and soy to manage my Hashimoto’s. It works! There is not a medication to cure Hashimoto’s, only diet. I would definitely give the Thyroid Panel to your doctor to look at. Since you don’t have a Thyroid condition, it might be better for you to see a “Functional Medicine” doctor as they will be able to refer you to good vitamins without fillers. I use Perque Brand vitamins and I get them from my chiropractor who is also a Functional Medicine doctor. Good luck on your health journey!

I have Hashimotos and take 125mcg Synthroid daily. Diagnosed 37 years ago. Never had thyroid nodules. Diagnosed myself due to symptoms and went in to ask doc to test TSH and antibodies. TSH 60. Antibodies positive. No nodule per Scan. Doing fine with current dose medication and follow up with PCP twice a year. Hashimotos is a common autoimmune disorder affeting the thyroid. since that time, I have had other auto immune disorders diagnosed.

Thank you everyone. This is really helpful. I’ve made another appt with functional medicine Dr (who is also an internist so understands my other issues) and also made one with my GP to see if I need a scan. I have lots of fatigue and when my eosinophils rise I feel like I have something stuck in my throat. We thought it was eosinophils but maybe this is thyroid. One more piece to my puzzle to figure out!

Have you been checked for hemolytic anemia? It is also autoimmune.

I too have Hashimoto's and was diagnosed 37 years ago. About 16 years ago an endocrinologist put me on thyroid medication Tirosint which is a nearly pure form of the hormone. Unfortuntly, it is expensive and there isn't a generic. My TSH values had been fluctuating up and down for years. Once I stated on the Tirosint everything leveled out and most of my symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, etc disappeared. The medication comes in a blister pack to prevent light and air from reaching the pills. If what you are taking now, is working great; however if you are not happy with it, consider trying Tirosint instead. (Side note: I am 85 and feel great.)

@ip5000: I thank you for your post with experience with a thyroid drug I was not aware of “Tirosint”! Been on Levothyroxine for 30+ yrs with numbers uncontrollable for over a year. I will discuss this drug with my internal medicine doc at next appt. Thank you for sharing this with me and many of our peers on Mayo Connect! Best to you…

The right words to your doctor are "Doctor, I would like a trial on _________ to see if it would make me feel better." Also feel much better on Armour thyroid (for my Hashimoto's).

You’re on Synthroid to control Hashimoto’s? Never heard of that before. I take Synthroid to control my Hypothyroidism. I also have Hashimoto’s and there is no medication that will control that, only food elimination. Who put you on Synthroid for Hashimoto’s? You shouldn’t be on Synthroid if you don’t have a thyroid condition.