Hi Cindy and welcome to our board!
First of all, there's always hope!
I suggest you click over to the main page of my website - you can find it by clicking the "home" button on the top of this forum. Questions exactly like yours are precisely why I created my home page. It is geared towards educating the newly diagnosed. Now, what I'm going to say is just my opinion but I've suffered with this disease for many years and in hindsight, I feel the following is good advice (at least if it were me at the beginning again!):
- First, my strongest suggestion, before you start any medication, would be to get a second opinion from the "natural" treatment doctors. This is sooo important in my opinion. Why? Because I've heard many times that IF you catch this disease before you start the supplements, there is greater chance of controlling or reversing it with natural measures. You won't find a traditional doctor willing to support your efforts though. Just remember, they like to say that diabetes isn't reversable either but people who change their lifestyles are almost always able to stay off of medication. I think we are going to find out in the near future, that Hashimoto's can have similar results but with perhaps specific protocol which is not yet perfected or confirmed. Edith on this board recently reported some information about antibodies and iodine deficiency. I think these reports are very encouraging. I am extremely encouraged by a natural treatment I am currently experiencing and if the results are favorable, I will be posting my experience. It is so important to hear the positive when dealing with this disease.
- Secondly, don't rush to start medication. Start with diet changes and research your natural alternatives. I know it's frustrating to wait when you are feeling so depressed - believe me, we can relate but it's worth taking the time to research your options. Once you start medication, your options lessen due to the dependency they can create.
- Thirdly, go through all the pages of my website and learn everything you can. I've provided a lot of links for researching especially alternative approaches. I can't emphasize enough how important I think it is to get an alternative view. Where should you go? It depends on your resources. If you have some, call some natural doctors in your area and ask what their protocol is for thyroid problems. Do they prescribe natural alternatives to Synthroid like Armour or Naturethroid? Do they believe the disease can be controlled or reversed without medication? Also, as I am doing, this is a good time to check into a NAET practitioner who can painlessly work on removing your allergens that can be contributing to your disease! I highly recommend you try a natural protocol first if you have the determination to. This is the best time to pursue a natural course. You can also read "my story" which is a link on my home page and describes my journey and the wrong treatment for 10 years!
I hope this post has helped you a bit determine how to begin your research. And remember, you need to do what's right for you. If you tend to lean in a different direction as you research, follow your instinct. This is just my best opinion. I hope others will contribute and give you other advice.
Don't be overwhelmed with the technical side of this disease. Follow your heart and
you will find your best options. And you will feel better. It might take a bit of time (I am suggesting a couple months of research along with a couple visits to alternative doctors before you find the right course for you). Oh as a warning though. Don't fall for the hundreds of dollars of supplements some natural doctors offer. If you consider a NAET consultation, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how the body can heal itself. There are also other approaches that don't rely on expensive supplements. Seek out those options.
Lastly, a warning. You will hear doctors (sometimes even natural ones) say "just take a pill" and that will take care of it. Rarely is this the case. But this isn't "bad" news because I believe this disease has natural treatments that could even be better than the pill they talk about. Can I prove it? Not yet but I am willing to bet that we are not far away from hearing of breakthrough natural treatments for this disease.
Oh and to answer your question about test results. What further tests was the doctor taking? Yes, find out the results and get copies. Bring them to your other consultations. Also, you can post them here and we can help you interpret them from a patient's standpoint. I veer away from the technical side of this disease but test results can definately tell you whether you are moving forward or backwards in you efforts for healing.
Thanks for joining us and hope to hear from you again soon! Also, I am looking forward to others joining in and offering you there experience and advice.
Mo
