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1308034 tn?1337644984

Would RAI treatment stop hyper symptoms in hypo patient??

I have Hashi Thyroiditis. Just wanted to know if this would make my symtoms permanently hypo. Instead of always feeling hyper. This speed up feeling hasnt left me since being diagnosed a year ago. Or could I still have mixed symptoms after I have RAI?
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Thanku for ur replies..I will def be back soon with an update...and probably more questions :) Take care
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Avatar universal
Depending on how your symptoms go, you could wait four to six weeks before taking another look at labs.  I'd judge it by how you feel and if your symptoms continue to improve...you might want to keep a journal, if you don't already, since the changes can be subtle.  

My frees always run on the low side, which is fine since I'm quite comfortable there.  However, my FT4 has gone from low to "on the floor" of the range.  So, even though I still feel good, I'm worried that this is going to catch up with me soon.  I hate increasing, too...always a challenge.

Good luck, and give us an update on how this goes for you.    
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1308034 tn?1337644984
I think I'll take ur advice and wait a bit more because on the whole I feel ok. Most of those horrible hyper symptoms have gone..and I'd just die if they returned. My GP thinks I should be on 50 mcg. But when I was my FT4 was 20 range (10-20) and I felt like a heart attack was any minute! He also doesn't recommend adding T3 because its hard to control and might be to powerful for me.

Like u I think I'm super sensitive to meds so I'm willing to wait. Hopefully my FT3 will come up by itself since u say there may be a lag. My BP has come down too on this dose. First time in a year and 4 months. Even the little bit of weight I did put on has come off without any effort. Symptoms I still have are
palps
mild anxiety (mostly from palps)
periods a week early
mild hair loss, its really strange but my pubic hair has gone lighter, weak and breaks. And no sex drive.
mild fatigue.
But I can cope with these symptoms..for now.

I have beta blockers which I love. Don't go anywhere without them on me! I feel they were a life saver when tachy was at its worst. But Im just starting to try and take them as an "as needed" now. When palps get out of hand.

Happy to hear ur well. Good luck with the dilemmas..I hate increasing meds! Its the worst. Especially when u feel one way but bloods say another...so confusing.

So I should wait another 6-8 weeks? Thanks heaps for ur insight.

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Avatar universal
You're not converting as well as you could be at the moment.  However, I have found that FT3 often keeps rising once FT4 has stabilized...there's a "lag" as conversion once again ramps up.  After 8 weeks on 25 mcg, your FT4 should have stabilized, and it looks good.  

I'd say you have a couple of choices at this point:  1) wait a while and see if that FT3 doesn't come up a bit as conversion gets back to normal, or 2) add a little T3 meds (you can always discontinue later if necessary).  It really all depends on how you feel and whether you are willing to put up with your symptoms on a "wait and see" basis.  I think your FT4 is high enough and wouldn't want to add more T4 meds at this point.  However, that's just my opinion...what does your doctor think?

Did your cardio suggest anything for the palps?  I hate the idea of taking one drug to counter the side effects of another, but practically speaking, "I" have no choice.  I have to take levo, and my tachy doesn't like the levo one little bit.  Beta blockers are prescribed for both tachy and palps.  It might do a lot for the overactive pacemaker.  Just a thought...  

I am well, thanks.  Just got my labs back, and, as usual, they make absolutely no sense with respect to each other.  I guess I'm not one of the textbook cases, to say the least.  I see my endo next week, and I'm sure he's going to want me to increase...ugh.  Problem is, I feel well.  However, I am getting worried that my FT4 is too low and that that will catch up with me before too long.  Dilemmas...
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Oh..I accidentally typed 25 mcg every second day. But in actual fact I'm on 25 mcg EVERYDAY. It has been around 8 weeks on this dose. I still felt hypo on 25 mcg every second day.
So I'm not converting as well as I could be? If my FT3 is still a little low, should I increase T4 meds or should I add in a T3. I've just started taking selenium and zinc so I hope that helps. Do u think I should alternate 1 day 50 mcg and 2nd day 25 mcg?

Ever since my first panic attack (which was the first indication of something was wrong in my body) I have had palps. So I'm not sure if its just medication related. But meds made it worse. I have had the 24hr monitor test done and an ultrasound done. And cardiologist said all is fine. I had around 150 "extra beats". Doctor said my "pacemaker" (figure of speech) was a little overactive...?

Thanks for the response I hope ur well :)
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Avatar universal
Your FT4 looks good...it's a bit above midrange, which is the rule of thumb for FT4.  Your FT3 is still a bit low...it's in the bottom third of the range, and upper half to third is recommended here.  Also, FT3 should be higher in its range than FT4 is in its, so your profile is a little "upside down".  How long have you been on your current dose (25 mcg every second day)?  What were you on immediately prior to that?

The palpitations might improve if you raised your FT3 a little.  Don't forget that after your meds are properly adjusted, it still takes some time for your body to heal the damage that being hypo did.  My tachy/palps are the best they've been in a long time right now...probably because my FT4 is a little lower than it should be.  I also take a beta blocker.  However, since my tachy is due to a congenital heart defect, the meds just exacerbated it, but I doubt it will ever disappear permanently.  I think yours are meds side effects, and will go away when your FT3 and FT4 are right.
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Hi

Just thought I'd update on this thread. I have slowly increased my meds, I have been on 25 mcg every second day. And My TSH is now 6.3 range(0.5-4.5) FT4 is 16 range(10-20) and FT3 is 4.2 range(3.5-6.0).

I feel like my body is finally starting to balance out and its such a relief! The tachycardia has stopped but I'm still having palpitations all day, everyday. And they are so annoying. Will they ever stop? Did they stop for you? I also still have loads of floaters in my eyes, and stars, will they go in time? Or is it permanent damage. I was also thinking of going on natural thyroid meds or adding a FT3 but I dont think I need it anymore.

I actually don't have antibodies for graves, I thought I did. But im negative. My Hashimoto's antibodies have come down about 500. They are now 1000 (0-40) for thyroid peroxidase ab and 227 (0-35) for thyroglobulin.


How much should i increase my meds. Im terrified of getting tachycardia again.
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Avatar universal
I think this is the first time you've mentioned that you have Grave's as well as Hashi's.  So, you've tested positive for TSI as well as TPOab and/or TGab?  I might have missed that...

So, if the ranges are the same as you posted above, your FT3 range is 3.5-6.0, and FT4 is 10-20.

My doctor not only told me I had had a heart attack, but she told me over and over, sent me home, and didn't call me for about six hours to tell me she'd been wrong...enough to give someone a heart attack!  LOL  Luckily, as I said, I wasn't at all convinced, because even though she kept telling me this was something different than I'd experienced all my life, I KNEW she was wrong.  After fifty-some years, I think I know what it feels like better than she does...

Let me know about your antibody tests (post actual results and reference ranges if you have them).  Did you ever mention Grave's anywhere above in this thread?
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Hi

Ok my free T3 is 3.4 and my free T4 is 15 and my TSH is now at 11. I have auto anti bodies for graves and hashi..alot more for hashi.
The tachy has stopped for now because I went off the meds, but the thing is i was only on 50mgs 5 days a week so now im going back on but just on 25mgs every second day. Im so scared of it coming back on the medication. Its the worst, scariest thing i think i have ever experienced.
I still have anxiety and dirriah on most days. And a constent shortness of breath. Is the shortness of breath normal for hypo people? Also I have been having a period every 2 weeks! And its starting to worry me because there getting heavier everytime. Feels like im going to have anxiety forever and is quiet depressing.

Cant believe the doc told you you had a heart attack without making sure you really had.

Thanks for the comments, I really appriciate it.

Take care
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Avatar universal
The Holter monitor (24 hours or three days) is a more comprehensive test than an ECG.  ECG is like a snapshot, but Holter is like a movie of what your heart is doing for a day, or three.  It can pick up things that aren't on the ECG.  When my arrhythmia was diagnosed, I had an ECG, and the doctor told me I'd had a heart attack.  I wasn't buying it because I've had this all my life.  Finally, my tachy cooperated and did it right there in the doctor's office.  So, they were able to do an ECG when it was actually happening, and that's when I found out I had a heart defect.  Anything that will help put your mind at ease will help with the tachy...it snowballs so.  You get the tachy, get anxious, makes the tachy worse, get more anxious...the more I've relaxed about it, the better it's gotten.

How are you going with that?

Can you give me the ranges on your T3 and T4?  Are they free T3 and free T4 or total T3 and total T4?  If it doesn't specifically say "free", it's total.  Are you having hypo symptoms?

I'm not on a g/f diet.  I tried that last year (not for thyroid reasons, but for some mild GI symptoms).  It did not work well for me at all - gave me a whole different set of GI problems (worse), didn't notice a thing as far as thyroid was concerned

I feel much better now that I'm back on gluten.  However, many people swear by it.  I think it's not something to be taken lightly.  It's a major diet change and can have unforeseen repercussions.  Also, by going g/f, you WILL create a gluten intolerance, so bingeing or reintroducing gluten on a permanent basis has to be done slowly and carefully to avoid the worst of the symptoms.  Many of us have never had to change anything we eat or drink due to Hashi's.  So, my advice is to try to stabilize the Hashi's on meds (you're going to be on meds no matter what),  change your lifestyle as little as possible.  After that, if you still don't feel well, then it might be time to explore more sweeping lifestyle changes.  

If you post your ranges, I'll try to comment further.
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1308034 tn?1337644984
How are you?

No you dont ever get used to it, do u.. when I first got the tachy it would only last about 2 mins and then as the weeks went on the episodes where lasting for 15 mins and would send me into a full blown panic attack. Thats how I knew it must be the meds.

Ok I have had ECG done before...many times, from when my thyroid was at its worst and I went to hospital thinking that I was havind a thyroid storm. How do you know you are having a severe panic attack and not thyroid storm? It always comes back clear. But what about that 24hr thing is that worth doing? I still have skipped beats everyday.
My free T3 is 3.4. TSH is 11 and T4 is 15. I feel ok. Just a little tired. Im going to go back on meds, (25 every second day). Do you think its a bad idea? because I feel ok atm.

Also are you on a gluten free diet?
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Avatar universal
It was very frightening back then, especially since it was during the 50s...back when they thought "kids don't have heart issues".  I actually went to the school nurse during an episode of tachy, and she said that my heart wasn't racing...too young to protest, but I know better now...she must have been out of her mind.  She implied that I might be trying to avoid a test or something.  I learned to shut up (fast) and was never formally diagnosed until about six or seven years ago.  I'm very "used" to the whole thing (although you're never really used to it), so I don't panic, but I never take it for granted, either.  

We just call an ECG an EKG...same thing.  No, many doctor's offices have EKGs these days...they're cheap (relatively) and I think the cardios get new equipment and pass the old stuff down to the PCPs, etc.  

What's the range on your T3?  Is it free T3 or total T3?  Did they run FT4, too?
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Wow so u know what it feels like.  To be so young and having tachycardia must have been horrible.
Do u have to see a cardiologist for a EKG? So thats different from an ECG?
Just got my blood results and my tsh is 11 and T3 is 3.4. I feel better though then i did on the meds. BP is around 135/82 so its lowered. I just feel a little tied. Im so scared to go back on meds but i may have to.
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Avatar universal
Yes, ticking time bomb is a good description.  I first had tachycardia as a seven or eight year old kid...very confusing because I really had a hard time describing it, and it's episodic, so never cooperated and "did its thing" while I was seeing my doctor.  They pretty much convinced me I was nuts.

Overmedication will affect your heart and raise your BP.  A year or so ago, I was overmedicated.  Almost the first sign was that I was once again having tachy multiple times a day (that hadn't happened since my PCP started me on way too high a dose).  When I called my doctor my BP was 180/100...oops...probably a combination of the meds and the fact that I was having a hard time contacting him that day, and I was about ready to kill the receptionist who answered the phone.  My bet is that these issues will resolve once you get your meds back in line.  However, if you're nervous about it (you know best), you might ask for an EKG...points up most electrical problems.
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Nelly I know whats its like! It feels like ur a ticking time bomb right? Strange that u were hypo for years and now hyper, isnt it usually the other way round? Guess im learning that anything and everything goes with this thyroid hell!

goolarra I never had any heart episodes before my thyroid started playing up. Then 1 day I had my first ever panic attack, my heart rate was about 180 and ever since then..1 year on I have missed beats, flutters, irregular beating, fast beating and full blown tachy when I was on oroxine. I still feel paranoid that something is wrong with it. My blood pressure is about 145/90 right now. I also never had high blood pressure before in my life, I eat very healthy and excersise 6 days a week.

smilerdeb i agree with u that some dont need a specialist as i was also over medicated by mine. I've learn you have to just listen to ur body more then anything.
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1052292 tn?1274457092
Your situation sounds very similar to what I am experiencing.  I have been hypo for years and I have now lost 43 pounds and have become hyper.  Initially I was on 100 mcg. of Levo, then the Endo moved me to 50 and now I'm hyper on the 50.  This last week has been a nightmare.  Racing heart, palpitations, intolerance to heat of any kind, headache, nervousness/anxiety and my blood pressure which is normally very controlled with Lisinopril has been as high as 160/100.  I hate this!  I feel horrible.  I just called my doctor's office and made an appt. for this afternoon.  I haven't taken any Levo at all since last Wednesday and am still having the hyper symptoms.  What a mess!  I hope you feel better soon.

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Avatar universal
No, it doesn't mean you have a heart condition.  You might, but overmedication can cause healthy hearts to go into tachycardia.  I described my episodes of tachycardia because your description brought mine to mind.  Did you ever have these episodes before being overmedicated?  I've had them all my life, but they just got much more frequent and lasted longer once on levo.  Can you describe your tachycardia episodes in more detail?  You mentioned the skipped beats at the beginning.  Any idea how fast your heart is beating when this happens?  Have you checked BP?  How long do they last?  Any other strange sensations while this is happening?  Any weird sensations when they stop?  Sorry for all the questions...
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Avatar universal
My best specialist is ME and my Doctor Ally.
I gave the Endo the flick after she overdosed me.
I have worked with my Doc since 2007 now and feel good.
Sometimes Endo's are a pain in the butt and if you can find a good Doctor then stick with him/her.
An Endo is not always needed in my opinion.
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1308034 tn?1337644984
Thanks for all the info guys.
U have confirmed my suspicion I was overmedicated.

Tamara, sorry, my T3 was 5.0.(3.5-6.0) And I was on 50mg thyroxine  5days a week. How long did u have antibodies attacks? Yes it literally is hyper hell! I feel so tramatized, all confidence is gone. How did you guys get ur confidence back? Also I have noticed I have worse diahrrea when i eat bread. Could this be related to gluten?

Goolarra, does this mean I probably have a heart condition? Should I see a cardiologist? I am on a beta bolcker already.

Smilerdeb have u found a good specialist in Melb? And i will def try eutroxzig instead thanks.
I have had my blood test, now just waitin for results, I will have in a few days :)
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Avatar universal
I'm in Oz and basically have the same reference ranges and if I have my FT3 higher than 4.6....I feel like I have my fingers in a powerpoint lol.
Most would feel HYPO with FT3 levels that low but I dont...every person is different.
The same as I feel good when my FT4 is near top of the range...around 17.5 (10.0 - 19.0)
so as you can see....we are all different in what is good for us.
Let us know your new levels and dont be put off by the meds but do me a favour....ask your Doc for EUTROXZIG ...not Eltroxin.
There was a big write up a while ago about Eltroxin in NZ and 99% of people on it werent happy with it and were prescribed EUTROXZIG instead.
Thats what I am on and I'm in Melbourne.
I have never had any ill effects from it either ...other than med induced hyper.
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Avatar universal
I do not know the range for your FT3 levels, but you definitely sound hyper. Nodules aren't the only reason for hyperthyroidism in a Hashi patient. Sometimes the thyroid swells while under attack and produces more hormone that way. I did not see how much hormone you are currently taking. Did I miss something?

It's not just Australian doctors. Most of us are here because we did not find the help we needed with our doctors. Many of us are now lucky enough to have good doctors, but it's taken a while to get diagnosed and treated correctly.

Hyper hell is no fun. I'd take hypo fatigue and constipation over that.

BTW - My antibody attacks stopped after quitting gluten. There is a lot more research out there now that many Hashis do better on a gluten free diet. The thyroid gland is similar to the molecular structure of gluten. Antibodies seep out of the leaky gut, then attack the gluten, and eventually the thyroid.

:) Tamra
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Avatar universal
I agree with Smilerdeb about the overmedication.

Doctors EVERYWHERE seem to be clueless about thyroid issues unless you get very lucky in finding a good one.

Your description of your tachycardia/palpitations sounds very similar to what I experience as the result of a congenital heart defect (my heart is "miswired").  Mine starts with a couple of skipped beats, usually.  It then beats very fast (200+ bpm) and hard until it stops almost as quickly as it started.  My heart defect was totally under control without meds until I started on levo, then it went wild, and I've ended up taking a beta blocker to control the heart so that I can continue to take a therapeutic dose of levo.

Levo can exacerbate an existing arrhythmia, bringing out ones that people never knew they had or causing episodes to become both more frequent and longer-lasting.
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Avatar universal
You are overmedicated ...basically drug induced hyper.
Doc shouldve decreased your meds.
Maybe alternate 50mcg 3 times a week and 37.5mcg 4 times a week (3/4 of a 50mcg tablet).
You will find your FT3 will drop as this is what causes the hyper symptoms.
Your Doc should also prescribe you a beta blocker if you are having palpatations.
Go back to your Doc and be reassessed.
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1308034 tn?1337644984
First of all thankyou so much for your knowledge and support you guys share. You guys are better than doctors!!! I know RAI is a last resort, but after a year, im getting desperate. Im happy it worked  for u Smilerdeb.
I did have an ultrasound done and that showed no toxic nodule just a bit of inflammation, thats why I was so confused. Would it show if it was leaky?

I have actually stopped my medication about 6 weeks ago, I was on thyroxine. When I was first tested my results were as follows: FTH=15, T4=15 (10-20) T3 was also in the normal mid range. So I was put on 50mg Thyroxine.

After 6 weeks my TSH was 3.0 FT4 was 20 FT3 was 5 (3.5-6.0). Panic attacks nearly everyday, heart rate 140, muscle weakness,double vision diahrria and bowl movements about 4 times a day! (which I still have) nightmares where I thought I was possessed, paralysis (half asleep half awake) the list goes on.
The first few weeks I felt better, still had anxiety but not as intense but one day, 2 weeks into my medication I was just sitting on the couch and my heart skipped like 3 beats, I had to take a massive deap breath and then it started beating so hard and fast I thought it was going to burst! I also have a constant shortness of breath. These heart episodes became more and more frequent and lasted longer as the weeks went by. Doc told me to only take meds 5 days a week to drop the dose. But my next test showed that my TSH dropped again still to 2.4 and FT3 was 4.9. I know its in normal range but my heart felt strained.
Im due for another test now.
Since stopping meds, the heart raceing attacks have stopped. I still have anxiety on some days, heart palps, diarriah but not as intense so im so scared to go back on meds.

I havent been tested for adrenal fatigue, but sounds like I should. Doctors in australia seem to know next to nothing about this disease. Its horrible!
Also Im going to give the gluten free diet a go. Have nothing to lose. Your info on that is very interesting, thankyou.

Thanks for your advice and take care :)


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