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865758 tn?1285952904

Hashi's vs. Hypo

Can anyone help me understand my diagnosis?  I was diagnosed with hashimoto's thyroiditis and was told that this differs from hypothyroid.  My endo told me that due to the Hashi's I would eventually be 100 percent hypothyroid.  What is the difference?  Are there certain symptoms that accompony hashi's and not hypo?  I have sooooo many symptoms and the nurse practioner with my endo I saw last week told me that alot of them are not thyroid releated and I should see my PCP.  I saw my PCP and she told me that my problems are thyroid!  I am sooo confused.  The symptoms I am having that they are saying is not thyroid related are as follows:
1. Insomnia severely
2. Hot flashes followed by being cold
3. Intense itching
4. Lightheadedness.  I just feel like my head is swimming and my balance seems off.
5. Overall sense of not feeling right.  I can't really explain it but I DON'T FEEL RIGHT!!!

Does this sound familiar to anyone???


10 Responses
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865758 tn?1285952904
I still have my period and it is very irregular.  It comes every 2-5 weeks and lasts for 3-8 days.  Let me tell you I definately feel worse around my cyles and with them coming so irregular maybe that is why I  am struggling so bad.  My testosterone levels are as follows:

Total 43 (2-45)
Free 7 (0.2-5.0)
Bioavailable 14.6 (0.5-8.5)

They now have me repeating these levels and also having drawn a DHEA and a sex hormone binding globulin.  I don't know what to think anymore.  My endo suggested I may have to go on estrogen replacement and a diuretic to rid my body of the testosterone.  Do you know what any of these levels mean or what they are looking for with these other tests? Can these levels be the culprit with my symptoms or is the thyroid effecting these others?
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Avatar universal
are your periods still regular?  have they changed since becoming slightly hypo?  i know mine are heavier and longer when i'm hypo.  

what's your testosterone level?

your labs all coming back normal is a great sign.  of course, i know you want something to explain your symptoms.  blame it on your thyroid for now and try to relax a little.  you sound like you're very stressed.  hang in there.
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865758 tn?1285952904
Thanks for your post.  It really helps to know that someone else feels off balance and so forth with their thyroid.  What's really amazing is I am ALWAYS leaning to the left as well.  I hate this feeling!!  As mentioned above my endocronologist is also running more tests because he feels I may be in perimemopause as well since it goes along with Hashi's.  All I know is I hate all this and I just want my life back!!!!  I have felt like I am slowly dying but amazingly I am still here!!!!
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865758 tn?1285952904
All of my symptoms mentioned above have been going on since December. My labs have all come back normal with the exception of the thyroid.  CBC, CMP, Vitamin B12, ANA and Cortisol were all normal.  Only other imbalance I have is low estrogen and high testosterone.  My estrodial level was 41.  My endo is running more tests that I am not scheduled to have until the end of May to see if maybe I am in perimenopause.  I have no fevers and no swollen lymph nodes to my knowledge. This is just all crazy!!!!  I am tired of sitting around crying all the time because I feel sooooooooooo bad!
Helpful - 0
640719 tn?1277140030
As my levels dropped from surgery I became hypo I had all the S/S you are concerned with but the Hot Flashes may be from Meno not sure however, I'm not freezing/ flashing in the night now that I'm more leveled.

My balance was a big factor I kept falling to my left only my left where I had to catch myself to keep from falling on level ground for no apparent reason. I'm doing better now but it was a relief to know that this can happen due to thyroid issues. I don't have Hasti's but I get many of the same S/S when my levels are off.  Hope you feel better soon!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
how long have the symptoms been going on?  do you ever have fevers associated with any of the symptoms?  any swollen lymph nodes?  what's the frequency of the hot flashed?  how are your cbc blood works?

i would wait until all your levels are normalized (which may be several months), and then see how these symptoms are.  hopefully they will subside, but if they don't, at least you'll know that the symptoms most likely aren't related to thyroid.

i know it's frustrating and scary, but i wouldn't get too concerned about the symptoms until the thyroid is regulated.  then start figuring out the other issues, if there are other issues.
Helpful - 0
865758 tn?1285952904
Ok here is my comments to your comments ;-)

1. Insomnia severely:  
that's a symptom of thyroid issues (hypo and hyper).  i tend to fall asleep easily but wake often at night.  at times i feel like i'm awake all night, even though i'm sleeping...meaning i'm not in a deep sleep.  i also tend to sleep walk and have strange hallucinations.

There are days I sleep like a baby and others I sleep for only 2 hours.  This usually happens for 4-5 days in a row before I can sleep again.

2. Hot flashes followed by being cold:  
being cold is a hypo symptom.  actually, when i'm hypo, i tend to have night sweats and then wake up very cold.  you'd have to describe this a little more with a scenario.

The hot flashes are usually at night.  I can feel my heart start to race and I get really lightheaded followd by imense heat throughout my body.  When the feeling passes I get so cold I am shaking.  

3. Intense itching:  
where?

Mostly on my arms and legs but occasuionally on my stomach too.  There is no rash or anything there to explain the itching.

4. Lightheadedness:  
experts say this isn't a thyroid symptom, but a lot of people post this as a symptom.  i've had some unexplained vertigo but not often enough to have it investigated further.  if it keeps bothering you, go to an ear, nose, throat doc.  they can test that kind of stuff.

Unfortunatley I have been to 4 ENT for this problem and they tell me all is ok.  I do have an ear specialist beacause I have ALOT of probelms with my left ear but he reassured me everything was ok too.

5. Overall sense of not feeling right.  I can't really explain it but I DON'T FEEL RIGHT!!!
that's definitely a symptom.  i find that when i'm hypo, i tend to withdraw from people and conversation because i'm not fast enough to respond/can't find the right words.  because of this i get a little down and feel out of it

I can realate to that big time.  The scariest part for me is when I am driving and i look around and think "where am I and how did I get here"

Do you ever feel normal again or do we suffer like this the rest of our lives?
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Avatar universal
hypothyroidism is the end result of hashimoto's thyroiditis.  the antibodies slowly (or quickly) attack your thyroid and that causes your thyroid to slowly (or quickly) stop functioning.

i'm hypo on 112 synthroid.

this is what i've experienced in relation to your symptoms.

1. Insomnia severely:  
that's a symptom of thyroid issues (hypo and hyper).  i tend to fall asleep easily but wake often at night.  at times i feel like i'm awake all night, even though i'm sleeping...meaning i'm not in a deep sleep.  i also tend to sleep walk and have strange hallucinations.

2. Hot flashes followed by being cold:  
being cold is a hypo symptom.  actually, when i'm hypo, i tend to have night sweats and then wake up very cold.  you'd have to describe this a little more with a scenario.

3. Intense itching:  
where?

4. Lightheadedness:  
experts say this isn't a thyroid symptom, but a lot of people post this as a symptom.  i've had some unexplained vertigo but not often enough to have it investigated further.  if it keeps bothering you, go to an ear, nose, throat doc.  they can test that kind of stuff.

5. Overall sense of not feeling right.  I can't really explain it but I DON'T FEEL RIGHT!!!
that's definitely a symptom.  i find that when i'm hypo, i tend to withdraw from people and conversation because i'm not fast enough to respond/can't find the right words.  because of this i get a little down and feel out of it.
Helpful - 0
865758 tn?1285952904
Thank you so much for commenting.  Do any of the symptoms I listed sound like it's thyroid related?  When I was first diagnosed in February my TSH was 3.9 and I was started on 25mcg of generic synthroid by my PCP.  When I saw my endo in April my TSH was 4.53 and my antibodies were greater than 1,000.  My endo changed my meds from generic to brand synthroid and increased my meds to 50mcg.  I started this about 6 days ago.  I just want to feel normal again and enjoy my husband and children!
Helpful - 0
541196 tn?1293552936
the difference is that Hashi's is an autoimmune disorder.  Your body for some reason has developed antibodies that work against your thyroid.  Your thyroid is no longer producing enough thyroid hormone and your TSH goes up trying to get your thyroid to produce, but it can't because it's being attacked by antibodies.  Symptoms of hypo are the same because Hashi's causes you to be hypo.  


When I was diagnosed with Hashi's my TSH was around 5.  and My antiboides were elevated, but not outrageous. I take 75 mcg of synthroid.
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