alternative treatment for Hashimoto's and/or second opinion? (long, sorry!!!)

Hi, all! I posted here once a couple of months ago, and I have a question.

I was diagnosed with non-symptomatic Hashimoto's, meaning that technically I have it because I have both antibodies and they are above "normal" (435 and 91) and I supposedly don't have any symptoms because my TSH level was normal (2.043). The endocrinologist suggested that I might be perimenopausal instead. She did treat my low Vit D, though. I'm supposed to go back for blood work in 6 months and a follow-up in a year.

My "non-symptoms" read like a "Hashimoto's check list":
* Fatigue and sluggishness (not debilitating, but there)
* Increased sensitivity to cold(I've always been sensitive to cold, but I love it anyway)
* Constipation which is odd, since I had my gall bladder out and that usually causes the other problem)
* Pale, dry skin (changed from oily to dry in a blink of an eye)
* Hoarse voice (off and on)
* An elevated blood cholesterol level (elevated for me, but not scary)
* Unexplained weight gain — occurring infrequently and rarely exceeding 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid (uh... yeah)
* Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips (yup)
* "Brain fog" and difficulty concentrating (um... what was I saying???)
* Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet (swelling in hands and feet, pain and stiffness in knees)
* Depression (now that you mention it, yeah... just a little)

So, except for heavy cycles, muscle weakness, and a puffy face, I have mild versions of all the other symptoms. I met a chiropractor who works with medical practitioners with various long chains of letters after their names who suggested I get a second opinion and a "new set of eyes" on the situation. This clinic works with alternative treatments. I took my lab results into the clinic, and they recommended that I take B12 (which was also low, but still barely "normal"), a thyroid support supplement, an adrenal support supplement, iodine, and have a blood test run for food allergies. (I had a skin test for all food allergies which came up negative a year or two ago.) I had the blood test done, and that should be back in a week or so.

I'm iffy on going the natural route, but I also don't want to sit on my duff and do nothing while the antibodies snack on my thyroid. I have the name of another endo from my PCP that I can call for a 2nd opinion.

Sorry to go on so long, but I'm tired and frustrated and little concerned. So, my questions are:
Have any of you used alternative treatments for Hashimoto's/hypothyroidism?
If so, did it help?
Should I get a second opinion, or am I just being paranoid about it?

Thanks for the response! I have an appointment scheduled for March 2nd for a second opinion.

SIKbailey, thanks for the response! I'm going for a second opinion this Wednesday, so we'll see what happens!

Thanks! I had my second opinion, and then I had a whole bunch of tests. I had a fine needle aspiration last week because of a 11.3mm cyst. I get those results tomorrow. My new endo seems open to discussing any and all options. I'll talk to her about the Royal Jelly tomorrow.

Thanks for responding! I was actually diagnosed with Hashimoto's without hypothyroidism. My numbers were still considered within normal range. I am not taking any of the supplements now. That lasted less than a month. Because of other issues, I will have my thyroid removed next month.

Thanks again for responding!

Bruce,

Wow! So much has changed since I wrote that post! Like I said, most of my symptoms were mild to annoying, but not bad. They're all listed above. It was just more of a gut feeling that something was going on, and a frustration that my first endocrinologist basically blew me off. I found an endrinologist who would see me for a second opinion, and she ran a battery of tests. No, I wasn't premenopausal, I wasn't diabetic, but my thyroid was slightly enlarged. Ultrasound found a cyst, and the biopsy was inconclusive. Off to ENT surgeon, and he suggested removing the thyroid just to make sure.

I had my thyroid removed last month, and they found cancer when they did the full pathology. I am going to have a radioactive iodine treatment in a couple of weeks. One month post-op, and I'm doing pretty good. I'm starting to notice some of the big hypothyroid symptoms (I'm not taking synthroid until after the RAI treatment. They want me to be very hypothyroid before the treatment to insure that most of the RAI gets sucked up into any remaining bad cells.) I just warned the family to not expect much out of me the next couple of weeks.

I would definitely look into a second opinion. If your TSH is high, then that's a sign that something is going on. Find a good, no nonsense endocrinologist. You know your body well enough to know that something is just not right.

Hey! I'm in Texas, too! I leave near Austin.

Did they check your ANA level?

here is what i am going to be checked for on friday:

CBC
Comprehensive metabolic panel
hemoglobin a1c
tsh
t4 free
t3 free
t3 total
TPO antibodies
TSI (for graves antibodies)
T3 uptake
LH
FSH
PSA total
Testosterone free and total
Prolactin
Cortisol
Metanephrines fractoned and free
DHEA sulfate

Famous? Or infamous?

My ears didn't ring, and my throat didn't really "hurt"- it often felt tired, as if I'd been talking all day. Now, I'm still technically recovering from surgery, and my laryngeal nerves were moved around. My voice is a little husky at times, and my throat still feels "tired" at times. Oh, and I can't really sing or yell. I've been told that it's temporary.

It really sounds like your doctor is looking everywhere for an answer. Hopefully, this new round of tests will give you the answers you need.

BethW, im hoping you are still around and might be able to give me the name of the 2nd endocrinologist that you saw? My Fiance has Hashis and has spent the last 2 years trying to find a good doctor to help her through it. We live in Austin and i saw that you live near by. thanks in advance!