I have definitely Hashimotos' There is no, Not, One or any question about it! And going thru a fast and furious thyroid death is NOT FUN! When I'd first showed signs of thyroid 'dysfuction' I'd had a sonogram done. The film had almost been destroyed, which I discovered picking up other films to take to other docs.. I asked IF I could take those films to be destroyed and keep them? I was allowed to. Four years later in visiting a new endocrinologist, I brought those old films. They were useful to him and put things in perspective for me.
I have been on varied doses of synthroid for almost 20 years, and yes, it's a life long commitment? But like vascular disease or diabetes, it's an easy one to fix... Tho it mite take a a few years to get on the right doses for you at that time in your life... that can change, tho, for a heap of other medical or lifestyle reasons. Taking synthetic thyroid meds are far more stable and reliable to live with than being on the 'natural ones'? None of these meds are cheap, so that is a key consideration to boot.
It can take a lot of 'tinkering' to get a thyroid doseage right for one person? But it is WORTH IT! At first? It took me about 2 years to get it rite as my thyroid was changing.
Do not take any one doctor's word as gospel, please. [As much as I respect Dr Weil's practices] There are as many opinions out there as there is research pro and con any choice. Key to your decisions? IS learning that there are options and choices out there...and ones that can help YOU decide what you want to do! And then? What is right for you!
I wish I could readily find you a site for 'endocrinologists'? To check out? But apparently their sites are designed for 'memberships' and not for mere patients looking for help.
Good luck in your searches? You mite look up the name: Mary Shomon re thyroid issues and find something that mite help? But there are some biases that come along with the info from that site. I do like it tho and it did help me when I was first diagnosed w/Hashi's!
Thyroids are soo quirky? They get you in ways and places you simply don't expect. Along w/PN? It's hard to BE COOL about it all? But that is what you must be... cool, calm, calculating and well researched to boot. Far easier said than done? It all comes easier with practice. 'ssss - j