Hashimoto

I finally made it to my long awaited thyroid appointment with the specialist. It was bitter sweet though. I got the answers I was looking for but I didn't like what I heard. I was diagnosed with something called "Hashimoto" And that is the reason why my thyroid hasn't ever been regulated because it is very hard to regulate it because it is constantly changing. I found some articles about it online:

 Autoimmune diseases, most commonly Hashimoto's disease. This is the number one cause of hypothyroidism. In autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid, which affects the thyroid's ability to produce hormones. Hashimoto's disease sometimes causes only a thyroid goiter (swelling), but other times it causes hypothyroidism.

Signs and symptoms

Hashimoto's thyroiditis very often results in hypothyroidism with bouts of hyperthyroidism.
Physiologically, antibodies against thyroid peroxidase and/or thyroglobulin cause gradual destruction of follicles in the thyroid gland. Accordingly, the disease can be detected clinically by looking for these antibodies in the blood. It is also characterized by invasion of the thyroid tissue by leukocytes, mainly T-lymphocytes. It is associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis include Myxedematous psychosis, weight gain, depression, mania, sensitivity to heat and cold, paresthesia, fatigue, panic attacks, bradycardia, tachycardia, high cholesterol, reactive hypoglycemia, constipation, migraines, muscle weakness, cramps, memory loss, infertility, and hair loss.
The thyroid gland may become firm, large, and lobulated in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but changes in the thyroid can also be nonpalpable.^[2]. Enlargement of the thyroid is due to lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis rather than tissue hypertrophy.

If untreated for an extended period, Hashimoto's thyroiditis may lead to muscle failure, including possible heart failure. An extremely rare condition associated with the thyroiditis is Hashimoto's encephalopathy.
A rare association is with lymphoma of the thyroid gland.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis can disrupt growth in children and adolescents and therefore requires close growth monitoring. Growth hormone therapy may be required if the patient's stature is extreme enough.

[edit] Epidemiology

This disorder is believed to be the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in North America.^{[citation needed]} An average of 1 to 1.5 in a 1000 people have this disease.^{[citation needed]} It occurs far more often in women than in men (between 10:1 and 20:1), and is most prevalent between 45 and 65 years of age.^{[citation needed]}

 
So... I am glad to know what the problem is but, a little frustrated. I was told that when my thyroid is low I will have a hard time losing weight (ha, which is obvious) and I am VERY sad about this. But that is safer than if it is too high. If  it's too high then I am at an increased risk of getting a blood clot and suffering a stroke or heart attack. (let the battle begin) and since my thyroid changes so often I have to get my blood checked more often (which is fun with no insurance) Also, it is genetic so I will need to test my kids and it is far more likely in girls than boys. (Poor Riann I hope she doesn't have to battle this) So I go back in to the doctor for more labs in 5 weeks. I have shed many tears and it doesn't change anything so I am moving forward. I still have my bad days and I wish there was an easy solution for me to lose weight and be healthy, but there's not and I need to understand that. - "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it."