Why do I have to fight so hard for answers?
I am 41 and I am actively taking thyroid medication for hypothyroidism, and have been for just over 15 years, but I am still struggling for a balance. I was diagnosed at 22, with minimal knowledge, and lack of direction. So I stopped medicating after a significant "episode". My first two pregnancies had no issues and blood all came back normal but my third put me right back and I have been on it since. But it was only 12 years ago that I was recommended to see and Endocrinologist and I have been with them since.
They built my trust when they finally listened to me and for a while I thought they were great. But in the last couple of years I have started doubting their guidance. It wasn't until the last couple of weeks that I learned of the thyroid antibody test, one that I was just tested for by my primary doctor. Not my Endocrinologist. Why didn't they test me for it? They did an ultrasound within the first year of becoming their patient, and I have had multiple occasions of having to make adjustments to my medication, both lowering and increasing the dosage and changing brands. Most recently as of March where we changed my brand and dosage, so now I'm up to 200 mcg 6 days a week.
As of my latest bloodwork with my TSH, T3, and T4 are all in range. The antibodies for Grave's is negative, but my antibodies for Hashimoto is positive, the number is in the 80's so it's high. I've been on medication (yo-yoing for over a decade straight). I have other testing for some symptoms I have next week, but all my doctor is saying is "labs are ok...nothing to cause your symptoms". Does this mean I actually have Hashimoto and it's not just "hypothyroid" because I was never fully told.
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