Auto-immune diseases

I've searched ilx and while I've found the odd thread on Lupus or RA and thyroid issues mentioned here and there, there was no comprehensive thread. So now there is.

I've finally been diagnosed with auto-immune thyroiditis (Hasimoto's disease). I say finally b/c for more than a year now I've been suffering from extreme fatigue, intolerance to heat, cognitive dysfunction, joint pain, weight gain etc. I've known something is just not right but despite telling my doctors this over and over they found nothing. On the outside it's looked like I've just become a lazy, weak, slob.

Well finally some more extensive blood work was done which revealed this auto-immune disease which is destroying my thyroid. Help is on it's way. I'm relieved but in the meantime my symptoms are starting to affect my life too much. I'm specifically worried about my work performance and upcoming ability to return to school.

Please tell me about your own experiences (or of those close to you) with any of these types of diseases and your coping skills. Right now I'm mostly worried about the fatigue which is making any kind of normal life harder and harder to manage.