Heads a shed

[K8TE]

Hi all,

I'm new so keep adding probably stupid questions...but I have another...

I am hypothyroid due to Hashimotos. Something I've determined by myself/on here rather than being advised by the doctor.

I'm on levothyroxine and am currently working toward optimum meds.

My question.... Once I get optimum treatment. If I ever do... but assuming I do. Will my symptoms go? Or will I always feel like his because it is a chronic illness and therefore levothyroxine just treats the symptom of hypo?

I've had it in my head that the fatigue and pain and total loss of control, over my life is short term, that meds will eventually get me ok. Am I an idiot? Is this a chronic illness that will have me forever in fatigue and pain?

My doctors have played it all down and I was led to believe that once my med levels are right ill have no symptoms and lose weight and be back to normal. But if it's autoimmune and a chronic illness how can that be right?

Any answers gratefully received.

Confused.com.

[Clutter]

K8TE,

When you are optimally medicated your symptoms should resolve and you should feel well enough to increase your exercise in order to lose some of the weight you've gained.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 1.0 or lower with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Treepie]

Not sure how you can self diagnose Hashimotos without the antibody tests.

[NatChap in reply to Treepie]

Private blood tests x

[K8TE in reply to Treepie]

I have the high antibodies, what I mean is that the Dr didn't say that meant it was autoimmune and hashimotos, I had to work that out for myself

[NatChap]

I'm not sure you can get to the point where you can forget you have Hashimotos but you can eliminate symptoms once optimally medicated. I think that due to hormones changing as we age that it will be a case of adjusting meds and supplements as we go through life and so we must maybe accept that periodically we may suffer some setbacks? I have only had it for 2 years and I am getting on top of it and for the most part I am almost symptom free but still have the odd day or week where I feel a bit crap, or when a symptom reappears and I have to check but/mineral levels and adjust accordingly. It is more difficult than doctors tell us it is but I believe it's possible 😉

[puncturedbicycle]

If you have done a lot of reading here you may be under the impression that no one ever feels better on levo but in fact many people feel very well on it. A few months ago my friend had his entire thyroid removed, is on 125mcg levo and seems to have experienced no transition whatsoever.

Some of the problems are (as I see them):

- docs don't want to diagnose people even when there are clear signs (high tsh, low t3/t4, antibodies, symptoms etc) they are hypo

- docs often want to keep us on low levels of hormone that may not be appropriate for us

- there is a 'one size fits all' approach to uat which means they want us all on the same meds

- they believe if your test results look good and you still feel unwell it must be a mental health problem

- you may feel great on levo for a period of time (5mos, 5yrs, 15yrs, 50yrs etc) and suddenly not feel well at all in which case your doc may diagnose you w a mental health problem

- we are not tested enough, not tested/meds adjusted until we're stable and well, sometimes just one test, 50mcg levo and that's that

- sometimes the only test we get is tsh or tsh and t4

...I could go on.

So you've had some of those experiences. And one thing we know is that a happy customer goes away and is quietly happy but an unhappy customer tells everyone. But don't despair, you may feel really well when on the right dose of the right meds. Many people do.

[K8TE]

Thanks all x