Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Hashimotos Disease

After 14 years of dealing with a bad thyroid, I found out today that it is now bad enough to go!  In November of 2012, I met with my doctor to see about my blood pressure and my enlarged thyroid.  Thanks to a good friend, I was told I need to ask him if I could possibly have Hashimoto's Disease.  Doctor Judy said that he would be happy to test for it and then we could go from there.  After blood work and an ultrasound, I found out that I carry the thyroid disease Hashimotos, however, because of the complexity of it, he suggested I meet with a specialist.

So today was the day that Jeremy and I met with a specialist on thyroids.  The doctor was shocked to see my blood work and she said there is no doubt in her mind that I carry the Hashimotos disease.  Normal anti-body count in a regulated thyroid is 0 to 3.3 and mine was well over 4,000.  Some doctors like to increase the dose of synthetic thyroid to see if it will fight off those anti-bodies and decrease the size of the thyroid, but after another ultrasound and seeing the amount of nodules in my thyroid, they advised me that I am a good candidate for surgery for thyroid removal.  Jeremy and I both agreed that now is the time.  I have dealt with other health concerns, ie high blood pressure, fatigue, dry skin , that I am hoping is a result of Hashimoto's.  So all hopes is once my thyroid is gone, then other issues will resolve themselves.

So here in the next couple of weeks I will be scheduling a surgery for my thyroid to be taken out.  I need to plan on being in the hospital at least one night, maybe two nights!  My fear is the 3 to 4 inch scar that will be left on my neck, but I tell myself it will be worth it!

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