P.S. to Tony:

Curious PM'd me that we can use our own names, it is up to the individual, so I will go back to posting using my own name...

I was just told about 3-4 months ago, that I did not have Hashimoto's... How is one supposed to know what to believe? It is a little hard though to argue with a pathology report...

Cathie

Cathie I am really very relieved and not surprised. pm'ing you the rest.

the 'thyroid' scale, and now finding that I've the Hashi's, I find myself really relieved! I just kick myself that my docs didn't catch it sooner, as I think they should have. I don't think it changes my meds, suppelements and what all much other than the calciums and D's and magnesiums [Thank you Mrs D and Rose!] But once you get on the right meds for YOU, I expect to see some bits of your life better!
That you don't have Cancers as well is, in my book, an absolute BONUS!
As for finding a good endo? That's a hard one...sometimes it's luck, other times deliberate accident....I simply called all my docs that I'd had at the time [about 8-9?] about my cancer stuff, then did a repeat for the endo. I'd always get 3-5 names and I'd zero in on the ones that had lots of overlap. All the creds were good on all these docs, mind you, but it was the docs who said THEY would 'probably go to' that were the selling points.
Go, and celebrate? Have a barbeque this weekend and laugh with friends and all that stuff. You deserve it! - j

--you've had elevated antibodies on testing before, and the endos did not think, despite the symptomology, that you had some variety of hypothyroidism? (What DID they think?)

From what I know, even if symptoms are minor, the autoantiboides are a gold standard, and an indication for treatment under present thinking even if TSH is (in the high end of) normal and T3/T4 are still within range--the thinking is this will help revent full-blown hypothyroid in the future.

The Internist said my testing was normal, but I don't think I have copies of the latest testing that was done early this year, I will look. I need to put these in order of testing date, so that the new Endo can get a better handle on what has transpired...

Also, I wonder what effect the Prednisone may have had on all of this, considering Hashimoto's is an inflammatory problem. Originally, back in the 90's, I remember the thyroid antibodies were elevated, but not nearly as much as they were when I was tested earlier this year, probably when I was in the middle of reducing steroid dosage... (Decrease in Prednisone probably means increase in autoantibodies.)

I had to laugh when I saw your mood today, Glenn. I don't have my glasses on and I thought it said "darling."

Cathie

That's wonderful news! Anything has to be better than cancer!

I'm so glad its not cancer but sorry you have another issue. As for the newer doc. I have had issues with this too. I guess what I chose was for certain things a newer doc was ok but if I had a surgery I would want one who preformed many and was nown for thir success. I'm sure its hard for new docs. I actually went to a doc that was highly regarded and in his practice he had a good doc and when he was gone I saw him. I really liked the newer one. He spent time and explained where is the other one is in and out in a minute but still if I had something major I would see in the in and out one that is known for his surgery. I could be wrong. Sending hugs and I hope this turns out to be something easy to deal with. You deserve a break.