For years I have had various issues that made us suspect a Thyroid disorder. The dr.’s would check my thyroid, say oh this is high, that is low and would put me on medication. After a while they would retest and the levels would have swung the other way, so they would take me off the meds. Yet I was tired, sensitive to cold, and irritable. I never felt great, but figured it was just the stress of life.

When we moved to Orlando, I had to find a new doctor. At the first appointment he sent me to get a bunch of blood work, including my thyroid. The test came back really high, 12.95 for my TSH, which should have been below 4. So he sent me for more bloodwork.

Today I found out that I have an auto-immune disease called Hoshimoto’s. Basically this means that my body is fighting my thyroid and over time my thyroid will stop producing. He has recommended that I see an endocrinologist, which I will do in 2 wks. In the meantime I have to have a sonogram of my thyroid done.

Last year, about this time, I was diagnosed with another auto-immune disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. This is a disease in which your body attacks the lining of your throat as if there is an allergen. It can cause a narrowing of the esophagus and “rings” to form in the esophagus. Some people find that removing certain foods makes it better, but I have not found this. When I did do a food diary it seemed that the food that was irritating me found in everything.

What worries me the most is that once you are diagnosed with one auto-immune disease, it seems that you are later diagnosed with many more. I have had issues with joints for years and now my dr. wants me to see a Rhuematologist. It just seems to never end.