Dealing with the Lows?

[quesonrias]

For the past two days, I have been extremely fatigued.  Along with this, I have been feeing pressure on my throat, like someone was pressing their hand against it (quite common for me).  This morning, I noticed that my hair is shedding a little more again.  I have been on Levothyroxine for nearly three months and just started weekly doses of Vitamin D two weeks ago.

I know this is probably fairly common for someone recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's.  It's exhausting, and I am just curious if anyone has tips on dealing with these symptoms, or just simply some ways that you yourself through the bad days without totally crashing out.

[goolarra]

If you'd like, when you get your results, you can post them, and we can help you interpret them.  The ranges for FT3 and FT4 are too broad.  The original population that made up the "normal" sample was seriously flawed...it contained many undiagnosed, but symptomatic, hypos and asymptomatic Hashi's.  As a result, the whole lower half of the ranges is questionable.  

You might also ask your doctor to test B-12.  Pernicious anemia (inability to absorb B-12 through the gut) is also an autoimmune disease, and once we have one, we're more susceptible to another.

Keep us posted...

[quesonrias]

The only tests that were done related to my Thyroid are posted.  I will definitely be getting the remaining tests done next week, as I went from feeling good this morning to being in so much pain I can barely move tonight.

[goolarra]

I agree...do you have FT3 and FT4 results?  Perhaps you didn't post them because they were "within normal limits"?  If you have those, please post them whether or not they are "normal".  Many of our members find that FT4 has to be midrange and FT3 upper half to third of range before symptoms are relieved.  Just being in range is seldom enough.

[Imc2111]

Its good to hear youve been feeling better. The vast majority of people on thyroid meds, have to deal with a wide range of ups and downs, when there are dose adjustments. Youre definitively not alone on this.
Also it would be a good idea to get your Free T3 and Free T4 levels checked. Especially Free T3 which correlates best with hypo symptoms (learned this from Gimel)

[quesonrias]

Feeling a bit better today.  Yesterday evening I curled up for a nap with a thick quilt.  I woke nice and toasty (rare) and the pressure on my throat was gone.  

My body temp (oral) generally runs between 96.5 and 97.2, so I am wondering if the extra heat helped my body cope better with the "attack."

[quesonrias]

There isn't a lot to go on right now, as I had no clue what tests to ask my doctor to do.  Vitamin D was the only Vitamin/Mineral tested, and there were no tests for thyroid other than TSH & Thyroglobulin Ab and Thyroid Peroxidase AB. The tests with abnormal results were as follows:

TSH   10.710, ref 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL (10/3/11)
RF     30.1, ref. 0.0-13.9 IU/mL    (10/3/11)
Vitamin D   16.5, ref 30 - 100 ng/mL  (12/8/11)
TPO Ab    88.0, ref 0 - 34 IU/mL  (12/8/11)

Meds:
Levothyroxine  50 mcg 1xdaily (morning)
Vitamin D   1.25 mg (50,000 units) 1xweekly

I've been on the Levothyroxine almost 3 months and am scheduled to see my General Practitioner again next week to check the levels.  I have taken the Vitamin D twice, and both times it has given me severe migraines.  This time for 2 days.  The doctor is out this week, so I have been advised not to take it again until he tells me otherwise.

I was planning on having my GP check my Selenium levels when I am in, just to be sure I would be safe taking it.  I was worried that if I tried to take it before knowing, that I might cause more harm than good.

[goolarra]

Are your meds adjusted properly, or is your doctor still in the process of fine-tuning them?

If you have recent labs, please post along with reference ranges that vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.

Some of our members report that selenium helps with the feeling of pressure or "fullness" in the neck.  Selenium can be toxic in high doses, however, so it's best to follow label directions.

[quesonrias]

typo *some way that you get yourself through the bad days