hashimoto's thyroid

Hi,
I'm a 35 year old mom of 3, elementary teacher, happily married. Have had IBS for over a decade and many, many frequent sore throats over the years. (Tonsils removed in 1991.)

Over the last year, my sore throats have gotten to the point of having them five days out of seven. Trips to my GP are often and he says "drainage." He gives me antibiotics or sinus med, and I will get better for a couple of days and then right back. Have taken allergy shots for the past four years. Return trip to allergist and also to ENT. Also went to GI. Can't see any reason for sore throats. When I have them, the pain is to the point of consuming my life. I literally lay on the couch and cry and pray. Its no way to live.

Sister dianosed with thyroid cancer four years ago. Mother diasnosed with it in November. Decided to have have mine checked in December. They did blood work and an ultrasound as well as some other type of scan - where they put dye in me. They said I had one or two small nodeules but nothing to worry about. They had me go back in March. I do have that report but not the one from December. (I requested all, but they only sent the march one.) I am to go back Monday.

Yesterday my nephew was diagnosed with hashimoto's. I had never heard of it. When I looked it up, it sounds sooo much like me! Depression, extreme fatique (gotten much worse over the past year.) Then the sore throats, constant one-sided swollen glands in neck.

Here is the report he gave me from March:
Thyroid u/s: real time scanning of the thyroid was performed. The right lobe measured 4.9 cm in length, 1.9 x 1.8 cm in transverse dimensions. In the superior pole there was a small hypoechoic nodule measuring 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 cm. This was not noted on previous study of November 2007.

The left lobe measured 4.7 cm in length, 1.8 x 1.5 cm in transverse dimensions. There is a small hypoechoic nodule in the superior pole measuring 0.5 x 0.4 x 0.3 cm. There is no significant change in this when compared to the previous study.

The isthumus is a little thickened at 0.4 cm in AP dimension. There is a nodule measuring 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.2 cm, not significantly changed from the previous study.

Several small hypoechoic nodules are present and stable when compared to the previous study.

Then he has this report: Neck: Supple without venous distention supine. She does have palpable thyroid tissue about the isthmus. There is no signigicant change in the u/s today when compared to the previous study of November, 2007. We did not do any blood work today. I believe her thyroid is stable. There is little about the findings to suggest a significant problem at this time. We will see her back in four months. At that time decide when we want to do another u/s. TSH on return. End of report.

Can any of you smart people help me figure out what any of this means? I know you have alot of experience with this. Just would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks!
Donna
PS: one other symptom I have had for years is that my skin gets incredibly dry in the winter time. I know most people do get dry skin in the winter, but mine bleeds, cracks, etc. Its very embarrasing to be in public when I'm bleeding like that.