How to Live With Hashimoto's Disease
Many people live with Hashimoto's disease for several years without any symptoms. In general, the early signs of the disease mimic the signs of aging and go unnoticed. Once diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, you should be able to live a normal life, although you will need to have routine checks of your thyroid.
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Instructions
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Live With a Hashimoto's Disease Diagnosis
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Find a good endocrinologist that you trust. An endocrinologist specializes in hormone conditions and diseases and may recognize your symptoms. She should also be able to notice minute changes in your condition.
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Attend every single appointment that your doctor sets up for you. The key to maintaining your health, after being diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, is to monitor your thyroid hormone levels.
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Pick up a copy of Mary Shomon's "Living Well with Hypothyroidism," available at Amazon.com (see Resources below). Shomon offers a guide to finding doctors, choosing medication and generally living with hypothyroidism, which is often caused by Hashimoto's disease.
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Speak to your doctor about depression, which is often caused by Hashimoto's disease. Your depression could also be caused by being diagnosed with an incurable disease or living with the symptoms of that disease.
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Explore alternative therapy for thyroid conditions. Many people gain symptom relief from yoga, herbal supplements or acupuncture.
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Consider doing hormone-replacement therapy when your levels are dangerously low. A simple blood test will alert your doctor to the underactive thyroid gland.
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Treat physical symptoms like goiters and brittle hair. If your disease is less apparent to those around you, you may feel better about living with it.
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Seek out a support group or an online forum, where you can speak with others who have also been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. You may find support and guidance for living with the disease. Check Ability.org for support group information (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
If Hashimoto's disease runs in your family, be sure to let your doctor know. Early detection of this disease will reduce your chances of having it turn into a hypothyroid condition.
Push for a diagnosis. Change doctors if you have to. Many doctors, especially in an HMO environment, overlook thyroid problems or do not offer comprehensive therapy. If you are experiencing symptoms, don't give up trying to find out why.
Even after treatment for Hashimoto's disease, you may still feel tightness or throbbing in your throat. Chiropractic care can sometimes relieve this.
