I'm new here - Diagnosed with Hashimotos a year ago and suddenly feel floored - any help or advice?

[Littlebee1986]

Hi everyone! I have just discovered this website and feel as though I have learnt more about Hashimotos in the last 24 hours than I have previously in the last year! I hope this post is not going to be too long.

I was diagnosed with autoimmune hyperthyroidism this time last year at the age of 30. At the time of diagnosis my free T4 was 5.6pmol/L and my TSH was more than 100mu/l. My TPO antibodies were also stated to be more than 1300U/ml. I also had other tests which showed a raised prolactin level of 764miu/L and a B12 deficiency with a level of 140ng/L. I started on Levothyroxine and my dose is currently 75mcg. At my last doctor’s appointment my levels seemed to be normal and I was told to come back in 6 months for another blood test. I have struggled getting my B12 results within the normal range but at my last blood test the level was 217ng/L. It’s taken a year to get to that point. I have been reluctant to start B12 injections as I thought if I could try and manage this myself through diet it would save being on another medication for the rest of my life.

Everything has been going ok and I have been feeling alright most of the time (although maybe a little more tired than your average 31 year old). Recently I have been going through the process of buying my first house (which has been a lot more stressful process than I anticipated) and finally get the keys next Friday. I would say I have been a lot more stressed in the last 4 weeks than usual and now this week I have felt absolutely floored with what I can only assume is symptoms of Hashimotos. The endocrinologist that I seen at the time of diagnosis confirmed that I have a soft diffuse goitre. This has never meant much to me but for the last week my neck has felt incredibly swollen and tight by my thyroid and I have little to no energy and feel completely exhausted and irritable (and snappy with my boyfriend which he has commented on). I feel as though I can’t face even the most basic tasks like cleaning, cooking etc. I have never felt this bad before.

I called the doctors on Wednesday and asked if I could go for my blood test (which I was due to have in September) early. Unfortunately I have a very demanding job (which I have had problems concentrating on this week). This involves long hours and I didn’t have the chance to go for the blood test this week. I do plan to go early next week. I am due to be tested for FBC, FOLA, PROL2, TSH & prol. I always seem to prioritise my health last over everything which I know I need to change in the future.

I wondered if you would be able to offer any advice on why I have been feeling so awful this week and if there is anything I can do to alleviate these symptoms? I guess I have put it down to it being a stressful period which has caused my hashimotos to get worse but I'm not sure how serious this is or what I should do (and the thought of packing up my flat ready to move next week feels impossible right now). Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry this post is so long!

Laura

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Littlebee1986.

It sounds as though you may be undermedicated. We need to see your thyroid results and ranges to see whether you are optimally medicated on 75mcg. Post the results and ranges in a new question for advice next week.

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). 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_...

I recommend you discuss your low B12 with healthunlocked.com/pasoc particularly if you are experiencing the symptoms in b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[Nanaedake]

I don't have Hashimoto's so I don't know anything about it but I have hypothyroidism. If your B12 is still that low it might be making you feel more stressed than you normally would. You could try oral B12 supplementation if you don't like the idea of injections, it's important to correct low vitamin B12. Could you ask your doctor about oral supplementation? Thyroid UK lists some online pharmacies on their website. B12 in the normal NHS range may not be optimal. In Japan they consider anything below 500 to be too low and other countries also would consider below 400 or 500 too low. Japan uses Methylcobalamin almost exclusively - considered the best form of Vitamin B12 and it's available in the US over the counter in pharmacies. Also, have you checked folate, ferritin and vitamin D levels?

[Littlebee1986 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thank you for the response. I just did a bit of a google and this came up in Holland and Barrett - would this be the right type of thing?

hollandandbarrett.com/shop/...

I have previously mentioned to the doctor about taking a supplement but he didn't seem to encourage it. I'm not quite sure why though. I figure trying anything to make me feel a bit better would be worth it!

I've had my folate level checked before and that was ok but im not sure about ferritin and Vitamin D - I'll ask at my next appointment.

I really think I need to try educate myself more about this as there seems to be so much information available on this site and so many helpful people 😊

[Nanaedake in reply to Littlebee1986]

I was told sublingual is best and it doesn't look like sublingual to me but as I don't have any medical knowledge I can't advise. The Pernicious Anemia Society have good information about vitamin B deficiency and what to do so it would be worth finding out more from their website PAS I think it's called. They could give good advice and they have a lot of knowledge. It's definitely worth finding out more.

[Nanaedake in reply to Littlebee1986]

There is some research to show that people with autoimmune thyroid conditions suffer from more vitamin D deficiency. I don't have an autoimmune condition but I take a small amount of vitamin D and get it checked to make sure I don't take too much. Vitamin D is one of the vitamins that you can take too much because it accumulates in your body. If you work indoors all year and don't get out in the sun, tell your doctor because it's more likely to cause deficiency than if you're outdoors a lot and then there is a good reason to test it.