Understanding Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

According to the American Thyroid Association, women are five to eight times more likely than men to be diagnosed with thyroid disease. Since two of the most common Thyroid conditions, Graves' Disease and Hashimoto's are autoimmune in nature, their symptoms may often be confused with other health problems, which can make reaching a diagnosis for some, a long and puzzling process.

We are joined by Dr. Mark Lupo, Medical Director of the Thyroid & Endocrine Center of Florida, to discuss the diagnostic journey, the symptoms, the risks and how, due to advances in testing, one result just might provide the missing piece you’ve been looking for.

#AccessHealth

Access Health brings a panel of three renowned experts to tackle important health and wellness topics in the fields of Medical, Nutrition and Fitness all from the female perspective. You can have access to healthier living, so tune in to Access Health airing Wednesday at 7:30 am ET/PT on Lifetime.

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[derekandfarley]

It took me 28 years to be diagnosed with hashimotos disease. It wasn’t until I paid to have a series of ultrasounds done at a health fair in Florida that they turned up nodules on my thyroid. My doctor ignored the first report and three years later I had another set of tests in Florida and my nodule had increased in size. My doctor then ordered the whole battery of tests that showed I had an autoimmune disorder. Three years later I had my thyroid and parathyroid glands removed. I had previously talked to my doctor about my heart palpitations and she put me on blood pressure pills. I have found that doctors have little to no knowledge of autoimmune disorders. You must be your own advocate and do your own research.

[stefanydower]

Anxiety and depression, chronic exhaustion, palpitations, panic attacks, profuse sweating, fuzzy brain, lack of sleep and muscle weakness were my first symptoms,

[ilvgxvp]

The Endocrinology Association should make antibody testing mandatory as part of standard thyroid panel testing; TSH, T3 and T4 for both Hashimoto's and Graves. I think they will be surprised at how many actually have both.
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[NoeElyse]

I hate when you can tell your doctor somethings wrong, and they don't look into it, they're jst like oh its nothing and send you home.

[caramelfrappuccino]

The sluggishness and low motivation is so hard to live with.

[mirandajohnson]

I am 13 and was diagnosed with hashimotos disease about 5 months ago, but the weird thing is I never noticed any symptoms, except fatigue. I was always tired, I slept in class and slept about 15 to 17 hours a day. I never thought it was weird, I was just tired, but then my mom noticed how swollen my neck looked, then my moms friend thought it was a goiter. I was so confused I had no clue what they were talking about, so of course I asked and they told me all about it. I remember my friend and I joking about how it made since I had hyperthyroidism because of how thin I was, but little did I know it was not that. One day I began feeling sick and missed a couple days of school, so my mom made me go to the doctor. So, I went and they checked me out, but then my mom pointed out my throat and my doctor confirmed it could be a goiter. So, they took my blood (I cried) to test the hormone levels and then I left. A couple days later my mom got a call, saying I had hashimotos and I wanted graves because I would lose weight, but looking back now I know that was foolish. I’ve actually had a cancer scare, they had to do a ultrasound of my thyroid to see if it was cancerous and I was terrified. Luckily, it was not cancer and I’ve been doing much better. I’m take my medicine (synthyroid) and I’ve been doing much better in school. Also, now that I’ve been through this I’ve decided when I grow up I want to be a pediatric endocrinologist because I can relate to the kids and really help them. I’m just happy I caught it early. P.S. this is not a beg of attention, I just wanted to share my story and thank you for taking the time to read it.😘

[emilieclarke]

Omg... I have so many of those symptoms. I just found out I have a thyroid issue.
I did the same... I blamed myself. I would always think "Ohhhh I should just workout harder, eat less, I'm emotional because I'm a Cancer.... etc." My throat has felt like someone was holding it for YEARS!
Thank-you for sharing this information. I wished I had found it sooner.

[juliewilt]

I am almost 65 & only recently discovered that illnesses such as thyroid disease are often caused by narcissistic abuse. This very well could have been the case, & cause, for my condition. I was born into a family of complete narcissistic vampires & suffered the garbage they threw at me for some 60 years, (as they started early on the "baby"). I am in process of researching this presently. I've dealt with copious amounts of anxiety coming from a "battle royal" home life. Always physically healthy, it all hit in my later years & I'm far from being healthy now. The medical doctors are useless, for the most part. I have quite distanced my self from the narcissistic vampire relatives as well as so called friends. I live alone; much better than having to be in a constant battle with abusers. I also suffer IBS, acid reflux, & other disorders. If any of you have abusive relatives, get rid of them NOW & never be with them again. Your heart, mind, body, & even your inner spirit will thank you for it, although you have to continue to fight the disease within. And, yes, I have PTSD, too. But, this is possibly the beginning of a healing journey.🙏

[lizzymoore]

I and my two surviving brothers have hyPERthyroidism, which IS NOT associated with any disease. One brother had his thyroid removed, my other brother and myself are on an older medicine but still have our thyroids. I begged the doctors, in our area, to do a full thyroid panel but they never would. Just T-3 and T-4. I was diagnosed, in the Emergency Room, by a physician ( from a larger city doing a rotation at our small hospital ) as being in a “ thyroid storm “. I had VERY LOW TSH and Vitamin D. God kept me from dying. Thank you, Jesus.

[magentamagenta]

In 1983 I had my first baby, three years later by chance by a GP who had also had it as a medical student, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and admitted to hospital for three weeks it was chronic and took a long time to stabilise and bring my heart rate down. I then also suffered with one eye enlargement my weight dropped significantly my anxiety, panic attacks and hands shook, my heart rate and muscle strength was extreme. In 1994 I had my fourth baby and had post natal depression. By 1995 graves returned each time after each three more babies. After my fourth baby the doctor thought I should stop breast feeding and take anti depressants and thyroid disease medication. That made me feel even worse.
By 1998 my thyroid symptoms were recurring. Then by 2008 after a lot of stress, anxiety and depression my hyperthyroidism turned into Hashimoto hypothyroidism.At 58 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia another under diagnosed condition I’d lived with symptoms since I was a child.
All in all I have lived with autoimmune disease both hyper and hypo for 38 years. At 63 I still suffer with symptoms trying to regulate and adjust my medication is tricky. Taking thyroxine doesn’t cure the disease it treats the disease and controls it but is volatile, hormone changes, viruses, menopause, periods all affect dose and the impact and changes can take time to show up in a blood test or not show up. It is a fickle and insidious disease.
To live a life with your body under constant attack is hard. I took up qigong, practice yoga and Pilates, lift weights, walk, meditate practice mindfulness and went vegetarian then vegan three years ago, I eat very low gluten, grains or high glycemic carbs, low sugar and fast. It’s a lifestyle change and a constant battle.
My experience’s with the medical profession has been a struggle, ignorance, tunnel vision and stupid comments.
My advice is do as much research for yourself and try, try and try again. Stress is a killer so be aware of how to combat it. Lifestyle past, present and future all need to be factored into your personal journey. Wellness is mind and body listen to what both are telling you. Look in the mirror and love yourself 💜

[cLorraine]

I’ve had Graves for first 40 years and my endocrinologist did a heap of blood test I’ve never had before. He came up with hashimoto’s disease as well. My immune system is attacking my thyroid and pancreas. Instead of type 2 diabetes, he said I have T1. Very different meds now. Would recommend seeing an endocrinologist rather than staying with limited knowledge of GP

[willowvc]

Just being tested for thyroid Condition, waiting to find out, the waiting game, my doctor suspects it, causing depression, anxiety and hormone imbalance, insomnia, eptopic heartbeat, achy joints, headaches, crept up on me in months, I'm really lucky to have a kind understanding woman doctor x I feel for anyone
with this condition x

[tiffytoo]

Me too I thought it was me I stopped exercising and staying on the couch. Anytime I would get up my heart would beat so fast.

[corinastephenson]

I have all the symptoms of Hypothyroidism and all my doctors I’ve seen only run the standard tests and say my thyroid is “normal”. So they won’t run anymore tests. I’m almost 100 lbs overweight and my weight continues to climb even though I only eat one small meal a day. They say calories in calories out. In other words they think I’m over eating. It makes me so angry and upset because I know that I’m telling the truth. I’ve even taken my temperature in the morning before getting out of bed and it’s low every morning between 93.9-96.5 which indicates a thyroid condition. I’ve even told them that I literally feel like I’m dying because I have chest pain and heart palpitations, anxiety, muscle pain and stiffness, muscle spasms in my legs, back and sides. I have insomnia, dry hair, skin and nails. My memory has gotten real bad, I can’t exercise because my body is so tired and it causes more pain to even walk. Now they want to send me to a psychiatrist because they think it’s all in my head. In the mean time, I feel like I’m dying. I’m to the point that I don’t trust any doctors with my health because I feel that they’re only in it for the money. Doctors used to listen to their patients and if they run the standard tests and they came back normal, they would run more tests till they found out what was making their patients sick. Not anymore. Now it’s a pat on the head and send you to a psychiatrist. I’m beyond angry because I can’t find a good doctor anywhere! 😡

[theinkbrain]

The medical professions is guilty of widespread malpractice when it comes to diagnosis and treatment of hypo thyroid conditions and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. We have to assume the responsibility of finding our own solutions. For me it was natural vs synthetic thyroid supplement, and Vitamin D supplements.

[dnvdxgp]

The most important exam that triggered the parathyroid\thyroid disease for me was a calcium test. The parathyroid and thyroid test were a little abnormal and brushed off by physicians but they would not run ALL the testing at once which caused many health problems due to physicians delaying testing.. . Started having kidney stones and a great smart doctor ran the calcium test and it was off the charts because my body was throwing off all the calcium and causing stones. By this time, I had already lost about 30 pounds in 30 days and continuing to lose about a pound a day and my muscle tissue deteriorated so much could not walk at all and now in a wheelchair and cant walk. Then by that stage, over a year later, diagnosed with hyper-parathyroidism and hyper-thyroidism and graves disease. All caused from more than a year of being misdiagnosed and delayed testing.. Insurance dictates what tests are run and since the "affordable" care system was implemented, physicians do not run all the tests they should be running and piece-milling tests over appointments that stretch out over a year which caused more damage due to returning every 3 months for more blood testing. Before the new healthcare system, docs were not afraid to run lots of testing at once. The new healthcare system is the reason for my disability! Because insurance paper pushers dictate our lives!

[ireneskulmoski]

My daughter was diagnosed with Graves Disease when she was around 14. She will turn 18 next month and it has still not been resolved but we are lucky to have caring doctors looking after her

[sassygrammy]

I have had only one doctor look at my nails. When I described how I felt, he took my hands, looked at my nails, and correctly diagnosed hypothyroidism. He was an internal medicine doctor and was a whiz at diagnostics. He is without doubt the best doctor that I have ever had.

[learningbuddies]

I made a YouTube video on this. I was told by one endocrinologist that I had Hashimoto’s. For 4 years I took medication [synthroid) for it. I went to another endocrinologist and he said I did NOT have Hashimoto’s. He said that because my symptoms were sudden, I had gotten a subacute thyroiditis event. He took me off all medication. I am now 1 year off all meds and feeling much better. Can’t believe how two different endocrinologist gave me two diagnosis and two treatments.

[rebeccajohnson]

Getting a doctor to listen was the real challenge. 2 nodules were discovered in 2017 after a Lifeline Screening. I was also dealing with some physical issues that interfered with work and home. The doctor I had at the time just dismissed it. I was fortunate to get a new GP in 2020 who did the tests, ultrasound and biopsy. It was caught in time, now there are 3 nodules. My numbers were still in the healthy range but it will be addressed. It's a relief to know what is going on with me. Now it can be tackled correctly.