(JessFinds) Hashimoto's Disease / Hypothyroidism

So I just got back from my, ahem, annual meet and greet with my doctor. 

I had a physical last week and my blood results were back in so she went over those with me. My thyroid is whack. Really whack. Results came back with no registration of thyroid hormone, a crazy high level (12) of the TSH hormone (pituitary gland which tries to force the thyroid to work) and I tested positive for antibodies. 

So, I have an autoimmune disease where my body is attacking my thyroid. Sexy. I am going in next week for an ultrasound of my neck. They can't do the radioactive juice on me because I am still nursing Baby Gonzo. So an ultrasound will confirm  (a) the expected inflammation or (b) other scary stuff I don't want to think about. 

If it is inflamed as expected, it is typical Hashimoto's and I will be on the itty bitty pill for hormone replacement. 

Here is the funny part, when I read the list of signs and symptoms I started to laugh out loud. Apparently, I could have diagnosed myself without any blood tests! I have ten out of twelve. Brittle hair (hair falling out in clumps) along with brittle nails etc... are also signs. Got those too. This is from the Mayo Clinic -- the Miracle Whip Clinic site is just not that reliable. Oh, and yes - be very impressed by that "untreated" bit where the word goiter comes up. Hotness.

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, depending on the severity of hormone deficiency. At first, you may barely notice any symptoms, such as fatigue and sluggishness, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as the disease progresses, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms, including:

• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• A puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• An elevated blood cholesterol level
• Unexplained weight gain — occurring infrequently and rarely more than 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
• Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
• Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Depression

Without treatment, signs and symptoms gradually become more severe and your thyroid gland may become enlarged (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow, or you may feel depressed.