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Hashimoto's Toxicosis and going hypo and hyper

This is kind of a survey/question to those of you diagnosed hypothyroid Hashimotos but who feel or actually are cycling into a hyper (not hypo) state. Do you seem to have symptoms of hyper like red in the face, hi b.p., shakiness, depression, hot all the time not hot flashes, hot tempered, double vision or poor vision etc etc but yet you feel run down, tired, fuzzy mentally, slow gastro processes so you go to the doctor and he/she says you are right in target range for tsh below 3.0 or thereabouts and great free t4 free t3 levels and all else looks good so maybe they raise your thyroid med dose thinking you're still a little hypo (not hyper) or have you lower dose in case you are actually hyper and for a short while you feel better or feel worse right away so now you don't know if you're up or down ? Yes, that is a run on sentence but hopefully I'm clear - here is my theory - maybe you have gone so hyper your body is shutting down or slowing down to protect itself or it's just breaking  down altogether - Has anyone had this experience and if so what do you do about it or what does your doctor do or say to help you? And if our thyroid gland worked normally would pituitary and other supporting systems output consistently same amounts ? I know this is a good question for Dr. Lupo as he actually believes there is a phenomena as Hashitoxicosis unlike my past 3 endos. I'm curious what you folks think about this and what your experiences have been.
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Avatar universal
I understand why you might think it was the Synthroid, but more likely it was due to inadequate levels of Free T3 when taking the Synthroid.  Frequently we hear from members taking T4 meds that their body is not adequately converting the T4 med to T3.  Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  So switching to Armour would have raised your Free T3 level and helped relieve hypo symptoms.  What were your dosages and Free T4 and Free T3 levels before and after the switch?
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Synthroid made my hair fall out. I switched to Armour and it is fine now.
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I am very doubtful that you will get a response from wagbird.  There are a number of members with considerable knowledge and experience with hypothyroidism.  If you will post our thyroid related results and reference ranges, along with symptoms you are having, we will be happy to help iinterpret and give you our recommendations.
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Hi there! I feel the same way as you! I know this is an old post, but how are you doing now? Any improvement?
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Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those as well.
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Hi my names Selina and I'm 23 years old. I was diagnosed with hashimotos about 4-5 years ago when I found myself extremely exhausted and not really able to concentrate at my desk job. I almost didn't graduate high school and I have been depressed for years. I am on 100 mcg of levothyroxine and I am literally just taking my Drs opinion and going with it since I don't have health insurance and go to a clinic to be treated. I was referred to a psychiatrist about a month ago who prescribed Wellbutrin for me because I was apparently depressed and the depression was the main reason I couldn't concentrate or remember anything. I just got a new job and I'm extremely frustrated with myself I'm in the field of sales and people and I am falling behind becaus I can hardly remember/recite my script unless I go over and over and over them again and again. I have horrible memory, the depression is there, I get extremely emotional, and I feel like I can't accomplish the things in life that I want to because I'm held back by all of this. I have been diagnosed with hypo I don't eat gluten or soy. Does anyone know what could possibly be going on with me?
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
As I pointed out, just above, this is a very old thread and none of the previous posters are active on the forum any more, so I'm sure Karlyward won't respond.

You should be aware that iodine is usually contraindicated for those with Hashi's, as it makes things much worse.



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Avatar universal
I have been diagnosed with hashimotos and have had blood work for a year every 6 weeks and the dr increases my medication every time. I became irritated over it and ingested a dropper of lugals iodine and my lab work was normal for the next 4 lab tests. just saying!!!
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is a very old thread and I'm sure none of the previous posters will respond to your post.

You are correct that there is no dose between 175 and 200 mcg levo; therefore, in order to get a dosage between the 2, why not try alternating them -- 175 mcg one day, 200 mcg the next, which will give you an average of 187.5 mcg/day. I've done this numerous times, when I needed a dosage between the manufactured doses.

That said, if you are only getting tested for TSH, you really don't know what dose you need.  TSH is a pituitary hormone and can fluctuate greatly, even intra day; it is not necessarily indicative of actual thyroid hormone status.  

You need to be tested for the active thyroid hormones, which are Free T3 and Free T4.  Free T4 is considered a storage hormone and can't be used directly; it must be converted to Free T3, which is the hormone used directly by the cells.

It's possible that you need to add a medication with a T3 component, such as cytomel; or switch to a desiccated porcine medication, containing both T3 and T4.  

Without adequate testing, there's no way you can get adequate treatment and get your levels stabilized.  

It takes 4-6 weeks for dosage change to take place, when one is on a T4 only medication.  It simply takes patience to regulate levels, but patience does no good, if you aren't getting the proper tests.
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Avatar universal
I too am going from one extreme to the other.  I had a Family Doctor named Dr. Shumate ( who has 11 children )  The most amazing doctor I have had the benefit of overseeing my health.  In 2006 my 21 year old daughter was killed.  Within the next year I lost my job.  Eventually I lost my cobra and went on disability for PTSD and dissociative behaivor.  When I blew off the charts from hypo to hyper during this time I was seeing Dr. Shumate.  He wasted no time and completely took me off the Synthroid...I can't remember but I would say for at least 2 weeks or longer.  Then he very slowly put me back on it taking baby steps with the dosage.  And he corrected my problem within a relatively short period of time.  Family Practice doctor..not an Endocrinologist.  Due to disability I could no longer see him anymore due to insurance.  He is such a wonderful doctor who "CARES" that whenever I get really uncertain about things I can leave him a message and he has called me back every single time to advise me.  I will be contacting him tomorrow.  Mainly because I don't agree what the Endo doctor is doing.  What really ***** with a thyroid problem is everytime they alter the dosage you have to wait six weeks to see where you are and if they are going to change your dose.  I have gone from .175 to 200mcg.  It was determined that the dose I need is in the middle of those two  numbers.  The manufacturer does not produce a pill of any different dose...it's either .175 which is too low for me or 200mcg which is too high for me.  So I bounce back and forth. For awhile they had me taking 1/2 of one dosage that I had and 1/2 of another which equated to the approx. .186 that my preferred physician believes I need to be on.  Here is a list in order date of what my TSH has been...six weeks between each one.  TSH 48.85  then TSH 15.57 then TSH 0.03 then 0.02 then 15.85 then 0.02  I f****k give up.  Too complicated..too much time in between dosage changes and then they still don't have it right.  I haven't even begin talking about the side effects....OMG.... I will be dropping off a copy of my TSH levels and a note to Dr. Shumate (the FANTASTIC doctor) tomorrow before I go to the hospital to check in on my almost 89 year old neighbor who is having worse difficulties than I.
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Avatar universal
I have had my TSH levels tested for almost a year now.  My TSH level has jumped around from 0.02 to 48.4.  Finally went to a Endocrinologist.  Sometime back I was on the .175 and for quite sometime now they have had me on 200mcg.  Said that the dose I need is in between the two and there is no other does manufactured between .175 and the 200mcg.  I have had a variety of side effects that I believe is from my thyroid problem.  Some of them have been very frightening.  Twice I did something that I have no recollection of at all.  Don't even remember it after someone tells me what I did.  The brain is just not functioning.  How severe have your side effects been?
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Avatar universal
oh and my weight has dropped about 5-6 pounds since 2 days ago when i started feeling like i was hypo again.  and when i feel like im hypo i have gained up to about 10 pounds in about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks.  and this keeps going back and forth.  its really annoying
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Avatar universal
my doctor again told me there is nothing she can do for me.  She just wants to watch it.  I keep cycling and i know it.  I go from one extreme to the next.  I can't take it.  I work full time and i also go to school. So the past three days i have had heart fluttering and sweats and ectremely hot.  i couldnt sleeplast night at all.  I am going to see an endo next week.  hopefully they will be able to do something for me since my doctor wont medicate or anything.  
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Avatar universal
Yes!! You are describing me to a T!

I want to use natural dessicated thyroid or the synthetic liatrix,
to see if that is better than Synthroid.

No gluten and no nightshade veggies, less broccoli cabbage, and less soy.

Diet seems to be key. I'm keeping my remaining bit of thyroid glad!
hugs
Joni
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Avatar universal
She can't medicate? The tiredness is just "normal"?  I would see another doctor for sure.
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So i have been hypothryioid for about 20 years, 3 years ago i had parathyroid surgery, they removed 2...during the surgery he did a biopsy and found out i had hasimotos...now i go between hypo and hyper....so a question...yesterday i ate some rye bread (gluten) i don't really do a gluten free diet but try to stay away from it as much as possible,  but today i am extremely hyper could it be due to the rye?
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Avatar universal
okay this is to everyone.  I have been feeling like complete crap for a while now.  So a month or two ago i noticed a lump on my neck.  I went to the doctor and had blood work and a needle biopsy which was not fun.  She called and told me that i have thyroiditis and its autoimmune.  And that it was not safe to put me on any medication because she wants to see if it will just 'level out' and if not she will just give me hypothyroid medication.  But she also told me  ' this will eventually turn into being hypothyroid.'  I think i am switching back and forth from hyper to hypo.  When she called me she said at the time my tsh levels were low and the rest was normal.  I am confused and waiting for her to call me back again because i just dont have enough information from her.  My weight keeps changing rapidly and i can barely function some days and i keep going from constipated to diarrhea (sorry tmi) and i go to hot to cold and actually being able to think and being completely cloudy headed..   She said that the tiredness was just normal but she can't medicate.  Shoudl i see another doctor?  i am so lost
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Avatar universal
Hold in there ksue, I'm 51 and its frustrating when they blame things on menopause.  I tell the doctors off. Luckily, i have artillery backup ( literally), I'm in the navy attached to a heavy weapons unit and go everywere with them, hot flashes and all, so I quite them down with the menopause bs. I can no longer do my military job because of  all this tyroid nonsense.  I will be going to ask for  rai treatment  and get this up and down  silly thyroid business over and done with, and be just like our former president George Sr and his wife Barbara Bush and worry only about treating the hypo.  I figure, if you are going to have both symptoms lingering around anyways, why not simplify  and just worry about one. if I don't have it done here, i will go oversees and do it.
hope every body finds what finally will work for you. Stay strong!!
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2112641 tn?1334677683
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroididus in 2010, then was told it was Graves disease.. I took beta blockers and anti-thyroid meds for 2 yrs then was told to take a radio-active iodine treatment.. which I did, and now my endo says I am now hypo insteadd of  hyper.. I am currently taking Levothyroxine 100mg.. within 4 days of taking this i had a complete loss of vision for 2 hrs, and since my vision is always blurred, ive started having constant migraines, never have an appetite and have to force myself to eat( which is not much at all) all in all I feel like I did before I eever took the treatment except no heart palpitations.. I feel wired, cant sleep.. has any one else had anything similar? my endo acts like none of it is a big deal, but i have two small children at home and this really scares me.  
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my tsh was .04 now .01  I feel fine & vitals are great
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Yes, I have some hyper symptoms (intermittent double vision, getting hot and sweaty, getting the shakes in my hands, depression, etc.) and many hypo symptoms (diagnosed with Hashimoto's in November 2010). My blood work comes back fantastic. I asked to have my anti-TPO Ab levels checked, but last time I went in the lab didn't draw it because it was on the last page or something stupid, so now I have to go back in. Grrr. My hypothesis is that if my Ab levels are high it could explain the hyper symptoms - the antibodies could be attacking my thyroid, causing follicles to burst and dumping thyroid hormone into my system and making me hyper (called "thyroid dump"). But it would have been helpful to have the levels measured when I was experiencing the worst of those (things have since gotten somewhat better). We'll see.
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Avatar universal
I am on several facebook forums (5 different ones with amazing information) for Hashimoto and have learned so very much.  I am taking a natural thyroid compound from a compound pharmacy since I had so many allergic reactions to fillers in the drug companies.  I've recently started Low Dose Naltrexone as autoimmune treatment for Hashi. (Look up Low Dose naltrexone Homepage).  I quit eating ALL GRAINS, Dairy or soy. (because of the USA putting extra proteins in the grain seeds to mass produce the crops (that our bodies don't know how to digest. (See Robyn O'Brien on Youtube).  The USA puts chemicals in the grain seeds so the crops produce their own pesticides.  I eat caveman foods (organic natural meats with no hormones, fresh and frozen vegetables and fruits, Penta water without fluoride toxins, BPA or chemicals.  I found a D.O. doctor for the Hashimoto since 3 endos, 3 primary care doctors, and 5 specialists did not know enough about autoimmune diseases.  This is what Dr. Noel Rose says about most medical doctors: "Most physicians went through medical school at a time when we didn't understand much about autoimmune disease," says Noel Rose, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Autoimmune Disease Research Center in Baltimore. "It's not prominent on their mental radar screen."
Unfortunately, this delay to diagnose has huge costs. The longer a patient goes untreated, the greater her risk for irreparable damage.”
One you have one autoimmune disease, you are likely to develop more than one autoimmune disease.  Hashimoto is NOT a thyroid disease.  It is an autoimmune disease.  You do not cure an autoimmune disease by having the thyroid removed.  A good resource for autoimmune diseases information is from AARDA -(American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.)   Just info.  I'm doing so much better with all the changes I've made.  It's true, you are what you eat.  
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Avatar universal
" I actually was freaked b/c it reminded me of when I was pregnant and the baby would kick--it's like a quick little jerk or something--calves, abdomen (sometimes).  It comes and goes---some days I don't have it at all.  I did have the weakness and sluggish feeling "

Yes i have that feeling too sometimes.  This is all started after my miscarriage, then i was on the rollercoaster of hypo and hyper symptoms.  My Dr don't really believe that small dosage can cause hyper symtoms, but i feel every bit of it.  At this point, i don't know if i should or should not take the meds anymore.  
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Avatar universal
This thread is very old and many prior posters are no longer involved with us.  You will get lots more response if you will click on the orange Post a Question button at top of page and re-post this under your own name.
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