Newly diagnosed

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system rebels and produces antibodies that attack your thyroid gland.

In Hashimoto’s disease, inflammation takes place and antibodies are produced that damage the thyroid gland. Over time, as a result of the constant attack, the thyroid gland may become smaller and smaller, causing it to produce fewer and fewer hormones, which ultimately leads to the development of hypothyroidism associated with Hashimoto’s disease.

Hypothyroidism can also occur independently of Hashimoto’s disease.

Hashimoto’s disease can have up to 45 symptoms!

Among the most common are:

• So-called brain fog (impaired concentration, memory)
• Increased sleepiness
• Difficulty losing weight
• Increased hair loss
• Dry skin, especially on the elbows and knees
• Infertility

These symptoms are consistent for often co-occurring hypothyroidism. However, especially in the beginning, Hashimoto’s disease can produce symptoms similar to hyperthyroidism. These include: 

• Accelerated or irregular heartbeat
• Increased sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling
• Anxiety and panic attacks

Among the most common are:

• So-called brain fog (impaired concentration, memory)
• Increased sleepiness
• Difficulty losing weight
• Increased hair loss
• Dry skin, especially on the elbows and knees
• Infertility

Remember that Hashimoto’s disease does not come from a single cause; it most often occurs as a result of a combination of several factors. These include:

• Genetic predisposition (family history of thyroid disorders)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Heavy exposure to toxins
• Infections (viral or bacterial)
• Sleep disturbances
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Increased stress

In order for your doctor to determine if you have Hashimoto’s disease, it is important to have a proper diagnosis. 

Among these, blood tests are important. In this case, blood concentrations of parameters such as

• TSH
• fT4
• fT3
• anti-TPO
• anti-TG

Sometimes an additional diagnostic test for Hashimoto’s disease will be a thyroid ultrasound.

You can compare the results of your blood tests and the volume of your thyroid gland in our calculators available in the “Knowledge” tab.

According to the current knowledge, there is no direct cure for Hashimoto’s disease. 

Hashimoto’s disease is often treated with levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone analogue, because hypothyroidism often co-occurs. However, the treatment alone often does not solve the problems associated with feeling unwell.

Consequences of untreated Hashimoto’s disease or hypothyroidism

The constant inflammation and elevated antibody levels in Hashimoto’s disease and uncompensated hypothyroidism can carry serious consequences for your health.

Among other things:

• Increased risk of developing another autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, lupus erythematosus, and others)
• Your thyroid gland will stop producing hormones altogether
• There is an increased risk of developing other inflammatory diseases – intestinal diseases, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis

Therefore, it is important to take care of the thyroid and other organs, as we mention in the program “Step by Step to Remission”.

The remission of symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease means feeling good and not having the symptoms you had before. What is more, the results of examinations also improve, as the level of anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies characteristic for Hashimoto’s disease decreases.

In remission, although you still have Hashimoto’s disease, you do not feel its symptoms and you feel well.

However, the remission of Hashimoto’s disease symptoms does not equal the absence of hypothyroidism and you may still need to take levothyroxine.