Hashimoto's Disease

This is Hakaru Hashimoto. In 1912 (Fig. 8-1) Hashimoto described four patients with a chronic disorder of the thyroid, which he termed struma lymphomatosa. The thyroid glands of these patients were characterized by diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, fibrosis, parenchymal atrophy, and an eosinophilic change in some of the acinar cells.(1) Clinical and pathologic studies of this disease have appeared frequently since Hashimoto's original description. The disease has been called Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic thyroiditis, lymphocytic thyroiditis, lymphadenoid goiter, and recently autoimmune thyroiditis. Classically, the disease occurs as a painless, diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland in a young or middle-aged woman. It is often associated with hypothyroidism. The disease was thought to be uncommon for many years, and the diagnosis was usually made by the surgeon at the time of operation or by the pathologist after thyroidectomy. The increasing use of the needle biopsy and serologic tests for antibodies have led to much more frequent recognition, and there is reason to believe that it may be increasing in frequency.(2) It is now one of the most common thyroid disorders.

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the thyroid.

Today I went to the Endocrinologist. And I found out I have Hashimoto's. Apparently my parents gave it to me, since it is an autoimmune disease. Boo for genes sometimes. Anyway thank the Good Lord it can be treated with hormone replacement therapy (Synthroid). Just 1 pill a day at bedtime. She did another ultrasound to make sure she knew exactly what was going on. It was not multi-nodular like the other doc said. It was what Dr. Panzer called "moth eaten". Basically it had some pits all over because my body is eating my thyroid. And she did say I have a goiter, but it will get better with the meds. It is not a big goiter...don't be alarmed. And no it's not big enough to dress up or put bows on it.

The doc was really cute. She asked where I got my hair cut b/c she needed one. And she moved here from Boston about a year ago with her husband who is a Cardiologist. He cracks open chests and does implants. Anyway... she said he was looking for nurses... and I said, hey give him my name! How cool would that be? Anyway, come to find out, she has a mini schnauzer too, and his name is something like schnoopy :). They are from germany and did their schooling there. Then they went to Cleveland Clinic for Residency, then Boston for Fellowship, then moved here because of his job! Anyway, she has Hashimoto's too, and I really like her. We might even set up a play date for our dogs!

So, also I forgot to tell you that Schnooze got sick like before AGAIN on sunday. It was another $650. Boo. I brought home 24g IV's and IV fluids in case it happens again. Also we finally got to take our car in to get fixed and have been driving a rental car... a Mazda 5. It makes us want a new car soooo bad.

We go to Plano tomorrow for Lea Ann's birthday!!! Yeah for home!