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Hashimoto's Toxicosis and going hypo and hyper
This is kind of a survey/question to those of you diagnosed hypothyroid Hashimotos but who feel or actually are cycling into a hyper (not hypo) state. Do you seem to have symptoms of hyper like red in the face, hi b.p., shakiness, depression, hot all the time not hot flashes, hot tempered, double vision or poor vision etc etc but yet you feel run down, tired, fuzzy mentally, slow gastro processes so you go to the doctor and he/she says you are right in target range for tsh below 3.0 or thereabouts and great free t4 free t3 levels and all else looks good so maybe they raise your thyroid med dose thinking you're still a little hypo (not hyper) or have you lower dose in case you are actually hyper and for a short while you feel better or feel worse right away so now you don't know if you're up or down ? Yes, that is a run on sentence but hopefully I'm clear - here is my theory - maybe you have gone so hyper your body is shutting down or slowing down to protect itself or it's just breaking down altogether - Has anyone had this experience and if so what do you do about it or what does your doctor do or say to help you? And if our thyroid gland worked normally would pituitary and other supporting systems output consistently same amounts ? I know this is a good question for Dr. Lupo as he actually believes there is a phenomena as Hashitoxicosis unlike my past 3 endos. I'm curious what you folks think about this and what your experiences have been.
COMMUNITY LEADER
As I pointed out, just above, this is a very old thread and none of the previous posters are active on the forum any more, so I'm sure Karlyward won't respond.
You should be aware that iodine is usually contraindicated for those with Hashi's, as it makes things much worse.
You should be aware that iodine is usually contraindicated for those with Hashi's, as it makes things much worse.
I have been diagnosed with hashimotos and have had blood work for a year every 6 weeks and the dr increases my medication every time. I became irritated over it and ingested a dropper of lugals iodine and my lab work was normal for the next 4 lab tests. just saying!!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is a very old thread and I'm sure none of the previous posters will respond to your post.
You are correct that there is no dose between 175 and 200 mcg levo; therefore, in order to get a dosage between the 2, why not try alternating them -- 175 mcg one day, 200 mcg the next, which will give you an average of 187.5 mcg/day. I've done this numerous times, when I needed a dosage between the manufactured doses.
That said, if you are only getting tested for TSH, you really don't know what dose you need. TSH is a pituitary hormone and can fluctuate greatly, even intra day; it is not necessarily indicative of actual thyroid hormone status.
You need to be tested for the active thyroid hormones, which are Free T3 and Free T4. Free T4 is considered a storage hormone and can't be used directly; it must be converted to Free T3, which is the hormone used directly by the cells.
It's possible that you need to add a medication with a T3 component, such as cytomel; or switch to a desiccated porcine medication, containing both T3 and T4.
Without adequate testing, there's no way you can get adequate treatment and get your levels stabilized.
It takes 4-6 weeks for dosage change to take place, when one is on a T4 only medication. It simply takes patience to regulate levels, but patience does no good, if you aren't getting the proper tests.
You are correct that there is no dose between 175 and 200 mcg levo; therefore, in order to get a dosage between the 2, why not try alternating them -- 175 mcg one day, 200 mcg the next, which will give you an average of 187.5 mcg/day. I've done this numerous times, when I needed a dosage between the manufactured doses.
That said, if you are only getting tested for TSH, you really don't know what dose you need. TSH is a pituitary hormone and can fluctuate greatly, even intra day; it is not necessarily indicative of actual thyroid hormone status.
You need to be tested for the active thyroid hormones, which are Free T3 and Free T4. Free T4 is considered a storage hormone and can't be used directly; it must be converted to Free T3, which is the hormone used directly by the cells.
It's possible that you need to add a medication with a T3 component, such as cytomel; or switch to a desiccated porcine medication, containing both T3 and T4.
Without adequate testing, there's no way you can get adequate treatment and get your levels stabilized.
It takes 4-6 weeks for dosage change to take place, when one is on a T4 only medication. It simply takes patience to regulate levels, but patience does no good, if you aren't getting the proper tests.
I too am going from one extreme to the other. I had a Family Doctor named Dr. Shumate ( who has 11 children ) The most amazing doctor I have had the benefit of overseeing my health. In 2006 my 21 year old daughter was killed. Within the next year I lost my job. Eventually I lost my cobra and went on disability for PTSD and dissociative behaivor. When I blew off the charts from hypo to hyper during this time I was seeing Dr. Shumate. He wasted no time and completely took me off the Synthroid...I can't remember but I would say for at least 2 weeks or longer. Then he very slowly put me back on it taking baby steps with the dosage. And he corrected my problem within a relatively short period of time. Family Practice doctor..not an Endocrinologist. Due to disability I could no longer see him anymore due to insurance. He is such a wonderful doctor who "CARES" that whenever I get really uncertain about things I can leave him a message and he has called me back every single time to advise me. I will be contacting him tomorrow. Mainly because I don't agree what the Endo doctor is doing. What really ***** with a thyroid problem is everytime they alter the dosage you have to wait six weeks to see where you are and if they are going to change your dose. I have gone from .175 to 200mcg. It was determined that the dose I need is in the middle of those two numbers. The manufacturer does not produce a pill of any different dose...it's either .175 which is too low for me or 200mcg which is too high for me. So I bounce back and forth. For awhile they had me taking 1/2 of one dosage that I had and 1/2 of another which equated to the approx. .186 that my preferred physician believes I need to be on. Here is a list in order date of what my TSH has been...six weeks between each one. TSH 48.85 then TSH 15.57 then TSH 0.03 then 0.02 then 15.85 then 0.02 I f****k give up. Too complicated..too much time in between dosage changes and then they still don't have it right. I haven't even begin talking about the side effects....OMG.... I will be dropping off a copy of my TSH levels and a note to Dr. Shumate (the FANTASTIC doctor) tomorrow before I go to the hospital to check in on my almost 89 year old neighbor who is having worse difficulties than I.
I have had my TSH levels tested for almost a year now. My TSH level has jumped around from 0.02 to 48.4. Finally went to a Endocrinologist. Sometime back I was on the .175 and for quite sometime now they have had me on 200mcg. Said that the dose I need is in between the two and there is no other does manufactured between .175 and the 200mcg. I have had a variety of side effects that I believe is from my thyroid problem. Some of them have been very frightening. Twice I did something that I have no recollection of at all. Don't even remember it after someone tells me what I did. The brain is just not functioning. How severe have your side effects been?
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