Hashimoto's/Hypothyroidism

[smilie]

Has anyone been diagnosed with Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism? I was recently diagnosed with both and having a hard time with the symptoms. There are some mornings where just getting out of bed to take a shower is the hardest thing to do. Anyone who has either of these and some tips, I'd gladly welcome what you have to say!

 

[NMBCFangirl]

I have Hashi's and Graves both. The fatigue until your medication levels are correct is incredible. If your TSH is coming back normal range, but you're still seeing the fatigue, ask to test FreeT4 and FreeT3 to determine if you need a T3 supplement in addition to T4 (like Synthroid). This was key for me until i got to perimenopause.

Otherwise, making sure you get enough vitamins and sleep helps. So does, paradoxically, mild exercise like walking.

 

[smilie]

I have Hashi's and Graves both. The fatigue until your medication levels are correct is incredible. If your TSH is coming back normal range, but you're still seeing the fatigue, ask to test FreeT4 and FreeT3 to determine if you need a T3 supplement in addition to T4 (like Synthroid). This was key for me until i got to perimenopause.

Otherwise, making sure you get enough vitamins and sleep helps. So does, paradoxically, mild exercise like walking.

Thank you! I am on Synthroid (Endo wants me on brand name), but nothing for T3. I think the only things tested on my bloodwork were antibodies (to confirm Hashi's), TSH & T4. I'll have to ask her why she didn't include the T3. I also started taking The Myers Way Multivitamin. I haven't been taking it long but it seems to help with exhaustion.

 

[NMBCFangirl]

You're welcome. The other major brand name is Levoxyl. Both work equally for me, but I know people who prefer one or the other.

 

[Christine]

Thank you! I am on Synthroid (Endo wants me on brand name), but nothing for T3. I think the only thing tested on my bloodwork was antibodies (to confirm Hashi's), TSH & T4. I'll have to ask her why she didn't include the T3. I also started taking The Myers Way Multivitamin. I haven't been taking it long but it seems to help with exhaustion.

Any ideas what your TSH is. I don't have Hashimotos, but I have been without my thyroid gland for 25 years due to thyroid cancer. It takes a while to get the meds right. I've never needed supplemental T3 but my endo alwasy tests for freeT4. He used to occasionally test Free T3 but once we learned that I didn't have any problems converting T4 to T3 he has generally stopped that unless I start complaining of fatigue despite the other numbers being good. Again, never had an issue there but I think a small number of thyroid patients can have conversion issues; though it's not the norm. Still worth checking if you've gone 8 weeks on meds and still have found no relief.

 

[Christine]

You're welcome. The other major brand name is Levoxyl. Both work equally for me, but I know people who prefer one or the other.

Yes, I seem to always feel better on Levoxyl.

 

[NMBCFangirl]

Yes, I seem to always feel better on Levoxyl.

Plus they're WAY easier to split if you have a weekly half pill day because of their shape.

 

[smilie]

Any ideas what your TSH is. I don't have Hashimotos, but I have been without my thyroid gland for 25 years due to thyroid cancer. It takes a while to get the meds right. I've never needed supplemental T3 but my endo alwasy tests for freeT4. He used to occasionally test Free T3 but once we learned that I didn't have any problems converting T4 to T3 he has generally stopped that unless I start complaining of fatigue despite the other numbers being good. Again, never had an issue there but I think a small number of thyroid patients can have conversion issues; though it's not the norm. Still worth checking if you've gone 8 weeks on meds and still have found no relief.

I'm not sure honestly. I got my labs done again yesterday (6 weeks on Synthroid) and honestly I feel worse now that I'm on meds. I felt better before I was diagnosed... not normal, but definitely didn't feel like this. Most mornings I wake up feeling like I have the world's worst hangover.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

I have Hashi’s and had thyroid cancer, but got my thyroid removed. Make sure your doctor does a full thyroid panel of bloodwork to check your levels.

 

[Christine]

I'm not sure honestly. I got my labs done again yesterday (6 weeks on Synthroid) and honestly I feel worse now that I'm on meds. I felt better before I was diagnosed... not normal, but definitely didn't feel like this. Most mornings I wake up feeling like I have the world's worst hangover.

I remember feeling that way in the early days of getting myself situated. You need to remember that getting your thyroid hormone by pill can feel a little different than how your body normally makes it. It takes your body time to get used to it. Plus, even getting a little more hormone can temporarily make you feel "off" when, in your mind, you'd think you'd feel better. It really takes some time to level out.

I would advise anyone going through this to get copies of your lab reports or, at a minimum, jot down your TSH levels when your doctor tells you. Keep a little journal of how you feel at each level. Over the years, these become important reference points if you have issues. I know where my TSH "sweet spot" is and if I'm feeling off for any length of time, I get a lab test and compare.

 

[ddkkanders]

Have you had a thyroid ultrasound to check for nodules?

 

[smilie]

Have you had a thyroid ultrasound to check for nodules?

I have had one. It was actually first brought up to me by a doctor at urgent care. I had an extremely enlarged and painful lymph node on my neck. The doctor who saw me that day noticed how large my thyroid looked and sent me for the ultrasound. No large nodules but I was told that my thyroid is starting to "harden".

 

[stout]

Yep, Hashimotos and hypothyroid diagnosis for me in 2016. It took nearly a year to feel normal and get a sweet spot for my synthroid which hasn’t changed now in two years. The good news is that I feel normal about 95% of the time and my thyroid symptoms only reappear when I am sick or have bad seasonal allergies. I completely agree with the person who said exercise helps. Do have the doctor order a full blood work up, as Hashis seems to run with low vitamin D levels. I hope you start feeling better soon!

 

[runchica]

I was diagnosed with hypERthyroidism about 10 years ago after a routine wellness blood test at work. Doctor also said I had a mild case of Hashimotos. I do remember the hard time sleeping, given the rapid heartbeats, and seemingly always having to use the restroom within an hour of eating or drinking, as well as the racing thoughts; my metabolism was a sportscar and I was just hanging on.

As I got older, it did get better, but now I wonder if I have the hypothyroidism as my Hashimoto's is progressing. Weight is stable, but I am oh so tired sometimes, even in the morning after a good sleep. I am a runner and my times are slowing considerably. I still have general fitness, but hard to "step it up" and go faster if I want to. Thing is I am reluctant to see the Dr before a Covid vaccine, and I can function OK at the end of the day. Interestingly I have the Vitamin D deficiency since I moved north. Wonder if that made things worse.

 

[Southernmiss]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroid at age 10. I trucked along fine with only a synthroid tablet until I was in my 30s and had my third son. It was then that I needed an endocrinologist. She was great and believed in t3 and t4. When she retired, I sought a younger doctor. The initial visit had me in the ugly cry as he totally bashed everything that she said. I never went back.

I did find a functional medicine practictioner who does even more extensive blood work to check for nutrient deficiencies and more than an MD tests for. She is the one that told me I had hashimoto's. I had never been tested for or told that in the other 30 plus years. This was about 5 years ago and at age 51, I have never felt better in my life.

In addition to synthroid, I take a natural thyroid tablet. I also take several vitamin and mineral supplements based on my needs. I take a good multi, magnesium, a variety of minerals, a good probiotic, and bovine colostrum to modulate my immune system.

I am glad to see that OP is taking a Myers Way vitamin. Dr. Myers has a lot of great information out there on the thyroid more than I found my endocrinologists knew. Another couple of good alternative doctors to follow are Izabella Wentz and Marc Ryan, Hashimoto's healing. They have Facebook pages and websites with loads of information about finding your root causes and how the thyroid affects every aspect of your body and life.

If you have not, I would encourage limiting/givng up breads, pastas, sugars and all dairy as these can really wreck havoc on our systems. I feel much better when I eat a paleo type diet. I did not this weekend as we moved our daughter off to college and we ate out a couple of times and my choices were not as good as they should have been. I am paying for it today with body aches and fatigue and I gained 4 pounds from Saturday to today-probably inflammation which will come off as soon as I have a couple of days back on track. Getting plenty of water and sleep is also important as it gives our bodies time to heal and recover.

Also, so much new information is coming out about gut health and the gut body connection. It is important to try to heal your gut and limit inflammatory foods.

Several times I have heard that thyroid is just taking a pill. But for me that has not been the case. It is a daily job to stay on track and do what's best for my health.

 

[katie01]

A friend of mine has it and said she went to a naturopath who helped her a lot, they took into account everything from diet to exercise and other ways to heal the body naturally (with medication as needed too)

 

[Imzadi]

The fatigue until your medication levels are correct is incredible. If your TSH is coming back normal range, but you're still seeing the fatigue, ask to test FreeT4 and FreeT3 to determine if you need a T3 supplement in addition to T4.

Yes, this is so key. I lost 7 years of my life, laying in bed, due to not being properly diagnosed by a few doctors, that I NEED T3. One doctor even told me it was all in my head. I need T3 more than I need T4, as my thyroid just doesn't make any.

You might have to shop around and find another doctor who will put you on T3. Not all of them really look at the Reverse T3 and Free T3, is is the most important T3 level, as it indicates how much Free T3 is in your body, not metabolized properly.

I joined thyroid groups who taught me to find a naturopath who does integrative medicine over just a plain endo. He immediately took me off of Synthroid, and put me completely on a compounded T3 Sustained Release formula which my pharmacy compounds.

I was warned it would take quite a while to feel the effects. After 3 months, he upped the dosage. In 6 months, he added on Armour Thyroid, which is a natural mix of T4 and some T3. And he slowly upped the dosage of both until I was at the max I could be for both for me. He also added a natural desiccated thyroid supplement I get from the health food store. As I still needed extra thyroid support.

I do not take all 3 at the same time. I have heart arrhythmia if I do. So I have to space out the drugs. (it's actually better for my energy level.) I take Armour in the morning, the desiccated thyroid supplement a few hours later. It works like crack cocaine, I can feel the boost in energy within a half hour. Then just before my energy starts dipping a few hours later, I take the T3 Sustained Release. I have energy for a whole day that way.

He also put me on a regimen of 50,000 iu of Vit D, iron as I was so anemic, also Vit B, magnesium and selenium, as I was so depleted of everything.

In the beginning, I would have some energy, and then start doing too much, as I needed to make up for all the time I lost. I'd end up energetically crashing, laying in bed again for several days. He told me I just have to go S.L.O.W. and have patience.

It took another 3 years to finally feel whole, strong and normal again and strong enough to even work overtime. Last year, I even pushed myself at work, volunteering for extra overtime hours, just to test and see how much I could work and do stuff before I would crash. 7 straight days with overtime hours was my limit. Which is a LOT, considering at the beginning with this doctor I barely worked a 4 hour day, then crawled into bed and slept for close to 16 hours. Then barely have enough energy to work 4 hours the next day. I worked overtime several weeks last summer and fall.

I have my life back. Last year, when I told my doctor I never thought I'd get here, he was surprised. He said, "Why did you question it?"

I said, "Because it took so long to get here."

Just know it will happen, but you might have to shop around and find the right doctor for YOU. And it may take time.

 

[snappy]

I have hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules. Nodules were noticed in 1991 by my OB who sent me to a wonderful endocrinologist in New Orleans. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed around 2004, have been on Synthroid since 2004. I have another great endocrinologist where we now live and he follows me for both the thyroid issues and my bone density. The nodules shrank considerably once I started on Synthroid and have been stable in size so I have been able to avoid more biopsies and are followed by ultrasound only. I feel a lot better when I avoid bread, pasta, sugar. I do get tired but I am almost 67, and we walk 4 plus miles most days.

 

[Imzadi]

I exercise too. As a PP mentioned, it sounds counter-intuitive, but it actually gives me some energy. I remember watching some fitness expert say if one works out at full intensity for only 9 minutes, it will give boost the metabolism and extra day.

I do power walking in place. I started out in front of my TV. Could only do it through one commercial break. I slowly built up. Now, 9 minutes is short and power walk much longer. I definitely feel the boost of energy.

 

[disneychrista]

This post is very timely. I was just diagnosed hypothyroid today.

Thoughs who have been diagnosed what were/are you symptoms? Did you have any ? My thyroid wasn't even on my radar I was thinking liver or gallbladder.