What is Hashimoto's Disease?

After several months of symptoms and several weeks of blood tests and (im)patient waiting, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. But what is Hashimoto's? How does one get it? And how is it treated once it's diagnosed?

Symptoms of Hashimoto's Disease

I had never heard of Hashimoto's before my visit to the Endocrinologist. In fact, I had thought my problems were due either to aging or peri-menopause, both things I could do nothing about. I was getting increasingly tired and irritable. I was unable to lose weight around my mid-section. Worst of all, for me, I was having hot flashes that left me in misery throughout the day and night. None of these symptoms are life-threatening. None are even serious enough to warrant a trip to the doctor, especially when the expectation is that she will simply say that these are things that happen when women get older. However, when I started getting so thirsty, constantly, I started to fear Diabetes, which runs in my family.

I visited the doctor and told her about my symptoms. She immediately thought Diabetes was to blame as well, but also suggested I have my thyroid checked. Fasting blood glucose levels were normal, but TSH levels came back high. I was referred to an Endocrinologist. 

At the Endocrinologist I learned of more symptoms that I previously had thought were unrelated. My fingernails, which where once hard and tough, had become brittle. Migraines, which had plagued me for years, were growing stronger. I seemed to be hungry all the time and I was continually constipated. All signs of Hashimoto's Disease. 

Another clear sign was the size and texture of my thyroid. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid, giving it an enlarged, rough texture. I have no idea how a normal person could tell if their thyroid is enlarged or bumpier than it should be, but the Endo felt it immediately, as did the consulting physician. Three blood tests later and the diagnosis was confirmed. Because it is an autoimmune disorder, the blood tests are necessary for a true diagnosis.

Causes and Cures

There is no confirmed cause of Hashimoto's. Some theories are that it is related to hormonal imbalances, maybe caused by pregnancy or the use of infertility treatments. The Endo I visited said that it is often hereditary.

Hashimoto's is combated through medication. Levothyroxine is used to keep the symptoms at bay and to keep the thyroid from deteriorating any further. This little pill is taken once each day for the remainder of the patient's life. Yes, I am now the person who is medicated daily. Added sugars should be removed from the diet and Hashimoto's patients benefit greatly from low-gluten diets as well. Many Hashimoto's patients also have Celiac Disease, which requires a completely gluten-free lifestyle.

If left untreated, Hashimoto's can lead to heart disease, thyroid cancer, and clinical depression. Hashimoto's is very common, but is often left untreated because many people, like me, think their symptoms are signs of aging rather than an underlying, and fixable, problem.

Why I Am Voting for Mitt Romney

This is not a political blog. As such, this will be the one and only post on the topic.

I do my best to stay abreast of current affairs. I follow politics very closely, especially during major elections. I am an informed voter and I have chosen to vote for Mitt Romney.

But I still don't think this is okay.

First of all, I am not a Republican. There was a time, long ago, when I called myself a Republican. However, as I have grown and changed I have become increasingly moderate. It is not that I agree with both sides of issues, on some issues I do, but mostly it is because I deeply agree and disagree with both parties on certain issues. I agree with the Republican platform insomuch as I think local governments are better suited to oversee their citizens. The state of Missouri, where I live, should not be governed in the same way as Alaska or Florida or Maine. I believe in a strong military. I believe in individual responsibility. I agree with the Democratic platform insomuch as I don't view taxes as an unnecessary evil (though I do, in breaking with my left-thinking counterparts, think that all people should be taxed equally). I believe that gay couples should be allowed to marry. I have no problem with immigrants - we are a nation of immigrants after all. I do think that we should take care of those who are less fortunate, but I don't think we should be mandated to do so. I dislike guns and unions, though in different ways. I think there are great big problems and wonderful people who can solve them, and I think these people exist in both parties, in third parties, and in no parties at all.

Gov. Jay Nixon got my vote in '08 and he'll get it again in '12

Way back in 1996, when I still considered myself a Republican, I voted for Bob Dole. This was the first presidential election I was able to vote in and it was pretty exciting. I knew Dole wouldn't win but I enjoyed casting my ballot anyway. As Pres. Clinton's second term drew on, I found myself increasingly discouraged with him as a person and with the Republican response to his behavior. By the time the next election came around, I was completely flummoxed by both parties. How could the Republicans choose George W. Bush when they had John McCain? And of course Al Gore was the obvious nominee, though not necessarily the best. I pinched my nose and voted for Gore, largely because I felt that Bush didn't have enough experience and I really, really liked Joe Lieberman. I did vote for Pres. Bush in '04, but when his only competition was John Kerry, how could you blame me?

Forever known as the guy who the nation thought was the poorer alternative to George W. Bush

In 2008, I was very passionate about my vote. Finally, we had a candidate for president who was a moderate. Here was someone who was a true hero, someone who had faced horrific tragedies and come out stronger than ever. The candidate had proven that he was able to work with both parties and had a long track record of doing so. His competition, however, could speak really, really well. You all know how that turned out. I expected the worst and hoped for the best. What I got, what we all got, was something in the middle. President Obama has been adequate. However, the times call for more than adequacy.

The economy is a concern. No. The economy is the concern. Our country will cease to function as we know it if we do not resolve the trillion dollar deficit, if we don't do something to manage the $16 trillion debt. Did Pres. Obama inherit a terrible economy? Of course he did, but instead of resolving the problems he has, in my opinion, made them worse. Furthermore, he has intentionally created more divisiveness in order to gather as many votes in his second term as possible. The President put together the Simpson-Bowles commission in order to find a solution to the economic woes facing our country, then did exactly nothing about it. This was not because, as Paul Ryan said, the plan did not go far enough. It was because, in Obama's estimation, it did too much. Our president's plans include raising taxes on a small percentage of the country and doing precisely nothing else to resolve the national debt. He repeats ad nauseum that Gov. Romney's math "doesn't add up" when his own math doesn't even come close. Meanwhile, Pres. Obama is campaigning on the things he will do if he is elected. Isn't he president right now? I said from the beginning that he could earn my vote if he had just one ad and that ad said, "I'm busy being president. No time to campaign. I approve this message."

Not exactly what I had in mind.

I have no proof that Gov. Romney will do better in office than President Obama has done. However, I do know that Romney is much more moderate than President Obama. He has a history of working with Republicans and Democrats, which President Obama does not. He has placed the economy in the forefront of his candidacy. He named Paul Ryan, the Chairman of the Budget Committee, as his candidate for Vice President. I believe he is honest, for a politician, and moral, for a politician. He is a business man and a money guy. If there were ever anyone who could balance a budget, it is a man who has spent three decades doing just that.

There are plenty of people who do not trust Mitt Romney or the Republican party in general. I am very happy to live in a country where we all have our own voices and our own votes. My vote may well be canceled out by my husband and I am deeply okay with that. I simply feel honored to have my say, even if I don't live in Ohio.

First Week Gluten Free

Gluten-free has replaced no-carb diets as the go-to fad for those seeking a simple and easy fix to all of the problems that ail them. It seems like everywhere I have turned for the last couple of years someone had diagnosed themselves or a loved one with gluten intolerance or sensitivity. Heck, I've even done it myself. This summer, I found myself telling my husband that I thought he had a gluten sensitivity and realized immediately how pervasive the group-think of the modern world really is.

Two things that I have learned in the last week: Gluten sensitivity is a real issue and going gluten-free is neither easy nor simple. 

A visit to an Endocrinologist a few weeks ago introduced me to Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disorder that I had never heard of before. It took the Endo all of 10 minutes to suggest this was my problem. When she brought in another doctor for a consult, he readily agreed. A number of tests needed to be ordered to verify the diagnosis. Meanwhile, I was left with nothing but still-increasing symptoms and the Internet to occupy my time while I waited.

One of the first questions I had asked the Endocrinologist was if diet or other lifestyle changes could "heal" Hashimoto's Disease. She immediately said no, only medication. However, I found a number of books and websites devoted to the "Thyroid Diet," which is said to make the problems associated with certain disorders, including Hashimoto's Disease, all but disappear. Largely, these diets consist of clean eating, gluten-free foods, and no sugar. I prepared myself mentally for making these changes if the diagnosis for Hashimoto's was positive. I asked a friend for the name of her homeopathic doctor and waited.

Once the Endo called to confirm that indeed I do have Hashimoto's, I asked her again about lifestyle changes. Her tone changed to some extent. She said that I would still need to take the little pill, but that changing my diet would help greatly as well. She said that I also show signs of Celiac Disease, which can only be truly diagnosed with a biopsy of the small intestine. At the very least, she believes I have a gluten sensitivity. She also said that I would need to avoid sugar to feel healthier faster. Indeed, she basically reiterated all that I had read online. "Closely watch what you eat," she said, "and you will feel much better." Well, duh.

It has been almost a full week that I have been gluten-free. Do I feel better? No, not really. The Hashimoto's symptoms are slowly starting to abate, but I attribute that to my new medication and not to lack of gluten. But with all things, this takes time. I'm in it for the long haul regardless of the short-term outcome.

No More Gluten

I am re-opening this blog again after a long absence. Yes, I've said it before. This time I really mean it. For real.

Actually, I have a really good reason to start blogging about my dietary habits again. I am now, under doctor's orders, on a strict sugar-free, gluten-free diet. Gluten-free is the latest fad in cure-all diet changes. It's the low-carb lifestyle of the 2010's. However, when the doctor says I will feel better, live longer, and be generally healthier, I have to listen. She said to go completely gluten-free for two weeks, starting yesterday, then assess how I feel. If I feel no discernible difference, we can assume I can have a "low gluten" diet. If I feel a true difference, then I go gluten-free forever.

Luckily, it won't be that difficult to go gluten-free. It is the current trend after all. Gluten free food is everywhere and many of my friends already have adopted the lifestyle. Sticking with it is the hard part, I presume, but since I can no longer have sugar, most of the glutenny yummies are off limits anyway.

Thus, the blog is back. New recipes will be posted here as well as my new journey.