hashimoto's disease

My friend who has this and Chron's wanted me to post a response (she doesn't belong to this forum).

'It's common for people with one autoimmune disease to have another. Hashimoto's can be hard to dx through blood work at times. You want to make sure your doctor tests for free T3, free T4 and TSH along with antibodies for both Hashi's and Graves; it is possible to have both and yes you can gain weight with graves at times.

Thyroid Sexy on Facebook has a ton of notes and information available in their notes section from finding doctors to listing all the recommended tests you should talk to your doctor about running for thyroid.

One more part. Some people test negative for the antibody but they are symptomatic for Hashimoto's - in this case your doctor will determine weather you need an ultrasound of the thyroid with possibly a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy.'

Hair loss is a symptom as well as the fatigue. Vannesa is correct. The standard test only tracts one, I think T3 but it could be T4. In any event you need more testing than that one.

My step-sister had Hashimoto's and lost 100 pounds, without trying, after receiving the correct diagnosis. She had the weight to loose and could not diet it off prior to the diagnosis and treatment.

Make sure to have them check Thyroid Antibodies for sure. My hubby has Psoriatic Arthritis, and he's borderline for thyroid disease. Thyroid antibodies shows that the autoimmune disorder is attacking the thyroid. He has normal TSH levels but through the roof thyroid antibodies... They've not decided to treat him yet, with the normal TSH, but they're now aware his thyroid might malfunction b/c of his autoimmune disorder (though some docs will treat where he is). He has some signs of hypothyroidism, but not enough for his docs to be ready to treat him yet.