TwoCats, you're very close to goal, so it really does not matter if you stay in pre-maintenance mode for a long while, until you feel safer dropping the pounds. I do understand the nervousness about the palpitations. I used to feel that way in the beginning. However, since being on thyroid meds, I feel so healthy and full of energy, so I rarely give it a thought. I had no idea one could go "untreated" (treated in an unconvential sense though) with this disease. I understood that eventually the end result of my Hashi's will be a destroyed thyroid. Untreated autoimmune disease, however, I have heard from Nonstickpam (well known thyroid advocate) at lowcarbfriends that it can cause other autoimmune diseases to pop up. She has something like 5 autoimmune diseases, because she was undiagnosed for 15 years with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. You might want to look into this. Yikes! I have the feeling, though, since your antibodies were reduced so much by natural means, that that is not a big risk for you. Because that is basically where I am at (reduced antibodies), through thyroid hormone supplementation. Still, that is something you may want to research. Please let me know what you find out. I'd be so interested if you do pursue it. Meantime, I'm just polly- parroting what I heard from Pam and her experience. Her antibodies, unlike yours, were through the roof. Good that you are keeping tabs on that. Apparently with Hashi's one goes through hyper and hypo periods. Weird, hey?

I agree with you. Stress brought my Hashi's on too. Sorry that happened to you as well. I'm positive that I was predisposed to it in the first place, however, severe stress triggered it for me as well.

I pray that you feel less stressed out soon. Gretchen, please come visit us and say hi and tell me what you find out about your Hashi's, etc. I'm very curious, as I picked up on that fact that you're a pretty smart cookie!