I had read the burnout phase could be a month or two months. I nearing the 2 month phase so I'm optimistic I will be over this hurdle soon and can face the next one a bit more easily...espcially since I know more about what I'll be dealing with. Tell me, does the emotional rollercoaster side of it improve? I've been so down and weepy these past few weeks. Part of it I know is from the aspect that I feel like no one around me can relate to how badly I feel (the "poor me" syndrome) and the other is I'm just plain scared. Please tell me this will get better with time.
There really isn't any official 'stages' to this disease that have common time lines among the people that have it. Were all different as to how it affects us. Most refer to what your going through as the rollar coaster, in the beginning. It gets really confusing too. Most assume palpitations and high blood pressure are only from hyper. Fact is, hypo is also responsible for palpitations and even high blood press as the heart is required to work harder than normal.
Just try to get your labs at the same time if you can, makes comparing more accurate.
Yous wrote "I'm 44 years old and have led an extremely healthy life, so having health issues has been devastating to me emotionally and psychologically. I also know this is only phase 1 of Hashi..."
I so understand! I am 55 and have been dealing with this new complication in my life for the last 3 months! I have cried and cried over this! Yet, looking back I do believe I've had this for quite a few years, just not in this stage.
The first med I was put on was Levoxyl 75mcg. It was so terrible (for me) that I was in great despair the entire month. My blood came back looking good TSH .4 (too low for me!) I felt hyper. But the endo said STAY on it regardless of the parethesia (pins & needles) and other awful side effects. She is now my EX-endo. I had my PCP prescribe Armour. It has made a BIG difference for me. However, Hashis is an auto-immune disease. It did not begin in the thyroid - it began somewhere else but attacked your thyroid. I suggest reading "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal" by Datis Kharrazian - we have a different battle on our hands...this book helped me to understand the difference between Hashis & typical thyroid conditions.
No-one can predict how long the burnout takes ...only regular blood tests can tell you that unfortunately :(