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Hashimoto's questions
I have hashimotos and really want to understand the disease. I have learned a lot by researching and reading comments from members of this community. From reading (and my daily struggle with symptoms) I have learned that what the docs have said is not true. I was told hashi's is "no big deal." I was told I would have no symptoms until I become severely hypo. I have so many symptoms of both hypo and hyper despite my lab work being "normal." I understand that swings between hypo and hyper can happen with hashi's. What I don't understand are the times that I have such an overwhelming feeling of being ill that I can barely function. It can come in waves or sometimes it lasts for hours or even days. I have almost gone to the ER many times because I feel so sick. Is this common with hashi's? If so, what causes it? Increased antibodies?
Please post your recent labs with reference ranges. Ranges vary lab to lab, so they have to come from your own lab report. Just being "normal", i.e. in range, is often not enough to relieve symptoms. Good thyroid doctors recognize that the ranges on lab test are too broad and treat accordingly.
Please list your hypo and hyper symptoms. Many symptoms "cross over" and can be symptoms of both hypo and hyper, e.g. anxiety, heart palpitations, weight gain or loss, etc.
Many of us (including me) were diagnosed hypo first. We were treated for hypothyroidism, then the Hashi's diagnosis came later. Few asymptomatic people are diagnosed with Hashi's since thyroid screening isn't typically part of routine blood work. Some doctors want labs to be out of range before treating, others treat on symptoms. You really have to shop for one with the right philosophy.
Please list your hypo and hyper symptoms. Many symptoms "cross over" and can be symptoms of both hypo and hyper, e.g. anxiety, heart palpitations, weight gain or loss, etc.
Many of us (including me) were diagnosed hypo first. We were treated for hypothyroidism, then the Hashi's diagnosis came later. Few asymptomatic people are diagnosed with Hashi's since thyroid screening isn't typically part of routine blood work. Some doctors want labs to be out of range before treating, others treat on symptoms. You really have to shop for one with the right philosophy.
Block and replace therapy is used with Hashitoxicosis. This is blocking the stimulation of the thyroid with an anti-thyroid medication and then replacing with thyroid hormones.
I was highly contemplating going onto anti thyroid meds but stuck it out (only because i can't feel my heart racing lol) but my major hyper symptoms went away after two months.
My TSI antibodies have settled back down to normal range again although it took a year for my pretibal myxedema to go away (one of the possible symptoms of elevated TSI antibodies).
I was highly contemplating going onto anti thyroid meds but stuck it out (only because i can't feel my heart racing lol) but my major hyper symptoms went away after two months.
My TSI antibodies have settled back down to normal range again although it took a year for my pretibal myxedema to go away (one of the possible symptoms of elevated TSI antibodies).
Thank you for the information. I guess when I finally find a doctor to do the correct thyroid tests I should request that my TSI antibodies be checked as well. Are the waves of illness then associated with being hyperthyroid or is it the effect of the back and forth swing on my body? Also, is it typically standard to treat hashi's? Many members write "I was diagnosed with hashi's and started on..." I am not sure if patients are started on meds because their labs are out of range when diagnosed or if the diagnosis of hashi's itself warrants treatment. I am going to yet another new endo next week and am trying to be as informed as possible so that I can request the right tests and treatments.
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"It should be pointed out that, especially in the US literature, the term ‘hashitoxicosis’ is sometimes used to describe an autoimmune thyroid disease overlap syndrome of Graves’ and Hashimoto’s disease. In this article the term is strictly limited to the ‘leakage’ symptoms of active Hashimoto’s disease."
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Bella Online - Hypothyroid & Hyperthyroid at the Same Time...
"...some Hashimoto's patients also test positive for antibodies called the TSI antibodies (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins). This antibody is what usually contributes to Grave's Disease or "autoimmune hyperthyroidism" however, some Hashimoto's patients have these antibodies as well as the TPO and/or TG ones, that typically cause Hashimoto's and is why they may experience spells of Hashitoxicosis or "intermittent hyperthyroidism". You almost could say they are suffering from Grave's and Hashimoto's, simultaneously.
Even without having the TSI antibodies present, Hashimoto's patients can potentially experience flares of thyroiditis, which can also cause mild hyperthyroid type symptoms that are not as severe as those caused by Hashitoxicosis but are still concerning."
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Hashitoxicosis: Does It Really Exist? YES!...
"Hashitoxicosis: What Your Labs Will Look Like "Hey, Endos, Listen Up!"
"Here's what stumps doctors most when you are dealing with Hashitoxicosis - your labs. Due to this constant cycling of hypo to hyper from minute to minute and hour to hour, the net effect of these changes is a zero sum game - normal labs."