Hashimoto personality changes

[sw1902]

I was diagnosed four years ago. I am on levythroxine and T3. I used to be so creative and always involved in something wether cooking, sewing, decorating etc. Although physically I feel better I haven’t ever gotten back to being me. I sit and read all day, avoid going out of the house unless absolutely necessary and never interested or motivated to do anything. Is this normal even after being on medication? I want my creativity back.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Can you add your most recent blood test results and ranges for TSH, FT4, FT3, plus both TPO and TG antibodies

Also vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin test results if you have them.

Members can advise is anything needs improving

Do you supplement to improve vitamins if they are low.

As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet? Many many people find it helps, sometimes significantly

[sw1902 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you.

TSH 0.01, Free T4 1.5, Free T3 3.5, Vit D total 37,

I take 1 ml. B12 injection every two weeks for PA, just started taking 1000 mcg folate (metafolin) MTHFR gene, ferritin is usually ok (I have RLS) specialist keeps watch on ferritin. Labs are from late 2017. I take 50 mcg of levythroxine and 25mcg of T3 since I do not convert. My numbers have been higher in the past and I still feel okay physically but never motivated anymore. I started taking bupropion hoping this would help motivation but after 4 months still no change. Am I taking too much T3?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sw1902]

Can you add the ranges on these results please

[sw1902 in reply to SlowDragon]

TSH 0.01 (0.40-4.50, Free T4 1.5 (0.8-1.8), Free T3 3.5 (2.3-4.2), Vit D 37 (30-100), Ferratin is 147 (20-288).

I never felt any different after adding T3. I have been taking Vit D 5000 iu for the past three months to get my D optimal. I moved to another state and have not found a doctor here yet to check my labs. I am thinking about stopping the T3 (cytomel) since I do not feel any different for several years now.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sw1902]

Have you tested vitamin B12 and folate

B vitamins, especially B12 and B5 often low with or after low vitamin D

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

Gluten free diet definitely worth trying too

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[greygoose]

It happens quite frequently, yes, I'm afraid.

[Hidden]

I agree, I'm afraid. Once your thyroid had burnt out, not sure if external replacement would ever replace what had been lost.

[Caesard]

I see it as an aftermath effect of such "endeavour". I find myself significantly changed after Graves, TT, TED and subsequent struggle to get out. I am now good and stable but changed. Actually for the better....i am mature and more connected to myself than I've ever been. Actually I can dare saying that though fragile from a health perspective, I'm better now, as a person. Difficult to grasp but I would say Graves brought something good to me, as I feel stronger and anchored. And that's great!

[sw1902]

Thank you all for answering. I have been gluten free long before my Hashimotos diagnosis. I have gluten sensitivity like many people in my family. I suspect I do not absorb nutrients properly (lactose intolerant also) . I am sure my diet is probably not helping. I do not care for meat the past few years and am not mindful of getting protein in other ways. I will try to eat a healthy diet and keep a food journal and find a new doctor in my new town to see where I can improve my health. I know I’m always searching for that one ah ha! that can fix this. I know it is not that simple. I am thankful that I am feeling better as I was sleeping 16/18 hours a day, hair falling out, dry skin etc before my diagnosis and my family doctor telling me I was only depressed. I pushed for 2 1/2 years before he finally did the right tests. Needless to say I stopped seeing him and found a new doctor in my previous state of Maryland. Time to find someone now in Florida.

[someRU3Yelse in reply to sw1902]

Where are you in Florida? I have a good referral if you're in South Florida.

[sw1902 in reply to someRU3Yelse]

Central west, Ocala, Florida. I do not mind driving. I have been going back to Maryland for several months so South Florida is okay.

[LAHs in reply to sw1902]

You might want to consider keeping your doc in Maryland, particularly if you have other reasons for traveling back there. Good docs on this subject are hard to find. I didn't move states but moved from Northern California to Central California (>200 miles). You will only have to see your doc once a year once you have stabilized and it is worth the journey to see the one far away. That is what I do. I stay with friends at the other end and listen to books on CD on the drive. It really isn't a big inconvenience and it is worth the months and possibly years of frustration with a new ill informed doc in your new town.

[sw1902 in reply to LAHs]

Yes that is what I have been doing. I make all of my doctor appointments when we go visit our children and grandchildren. I feel like that’s all I do while we are visiting. Cardiologist, restless leg specialist, mammogram etc. The doctor I see for thyroid (he is a general practitioner but seems to know more than the last one) has stopped taking my insurance so I may have to find someone anyway. I am hoping my insurance will reimburse me when I pay his full fee without insurance. I really need to look into that. May be easier then finding someone new.

[Hashi-Monster]

The responses to this question are upsetting.

I thought the goal was to get “optimally” medicated so that you returned to normal.

[Saya85 in reply to Hashi-Monster]

Hi Hashi-Monster

I know- it can be upsetting when you realise it’s never going to return to normal- this is because if you have hashi’s in particular and an autoimmune condition the effects are far-reaching and chronic and can often set off a myriad of other issues in the body. Getting your thyroid optimal is only one piece of the puzzle.

I would say diet and vitamins and nutrition is definitely a massive jigsaw piece and needs to be addressed. I didn’t get anywhere near good until that happened and I was bouncing off the walls.

However sw1902 i totally empathise. I felt like I had lost my zest for life and suddenly all my creativity and enthusiasm had disappeared.

However after IVF I had a massive change - I actually ‘woke’ up and suddenly had a passion for life and all my old interested returned overnight! I cannot explain it but it has happened again since with hormone Tx.

I believe progesterone is the root of this- and more specifically oestrogen excess causing issues- hormonal Imbalances is what caused my initial symptoms. It was such a relief to know it was a physical /biological change rather than a personality one.

It’s no surprise that a sign of

Pituitary problems is personality change.

We seem to think it’s a ‘spiritual/emotional’ thing but often it’s caused or exacerbated by our hormones.

If you have PCOS or are menopausal (assuming you’re a woman!) then definitely have this checked out. If you’re a guy it may still be hormone/testosterone/oestrogen related.

[Hashi-Monster in reply to Saya85]

Thanks Saya85

I also believe oestrogen excess triggered my Hashi when I entered peri-menopause and I’m still seeing sign of excess (palmar erythema) now which I believe is inhibiting my thyroid therapy. I’m going to discuss this with my endo.

[Saya85 in reply to Hashi-Monster]

Yes absolutely - there’s a few posts on here on biodentical hormones and progesterone creams etc

Have a look through before you meet your endo - good luck 👍🏻

( my thyroid went haywire during ivf due to the high oestrogen... but the progesterone was brill 😅)

[DeeD123]

This reply is @Missimal. Our body’s rely on us putting the right dose in, usually synthetic. Optimal when provided by our own hand will never match our own internal balance when everything is working as it should be. We put in what we think we need. When the body is taking care of itself it adjusts the dose accordingly so never the fixed dose that we insist will do from now on.Hopefully we will feel like a new version that we can relate to and like . That’s my take on it anyway. I am less than I was but better than I have been . 🙂

[Jeppy]

Thankyou D

I agree, and above comment that we change with maturity, its not this huge personality change that is i feel an unhelpful way to view it,need to be especially gentle with self without beating self up surely?

(personally find the negative comments such as, yes its just how it is now, a very negative thinking indeed) granted we can feel depression and low so being on this negative vibration can allow in all the negative unhelpful mind chatter and others not your own- please may i ask this not be impressed on others when may be more open and vulnerable to negative view points)

[Jeppy in reply to Jeppy]

Yep Hormones!! Affects from age 13 or younger!!! 🙃

[Wantie]

As a Hashimotos sufferer for over 10 years I seemed fine until gut issues brought me crashing down last year. Like you I had filled every minute of my day with creative and sporty pastimes but then was too ill to even leave the house. Started on T3 which initially seemed like a miracle drug and released me of so many aches and pains. And although many symptoms improved (also turned to gluten free) I didn’t feel like my old self and each morning was a bit of a lottery in terms of energy and outlook. My bloods were relatively good except for off the range antibodies. Some very eminent people told me that 1. There’s nothing you can do about them and 2. They don’t affect the way you feel ! I didn’t believe this and researched ways to bring them down. I found out about LDN and have been on it since December. It doesn’t work immediately but after 6 months, and looking back at my diary, I realise it has given me back my old self, I am decorating an old house, taken up my old hobby of upholstery and have undertaken a 500 mike bike ride without any issues. I know people respond differently to different things. But there are only minor side effects of LDN as the body gets used to it....weird dreams, headaches for some, so it may be worth looking at. Just a thought, all the best....

[Hashi-Monster in reply to Wantie]

500 mile bike ride !!!

I don’t think I could do 1 mile at the moment

[Hashi-Monster in reply to Wantie]

What was the impact of LDN on your antibodies?

[Wantie in reply to Hashi-Monster]

Getting them tested next week. It’s not advised to check before 6 months, but I’m really hoping for something dramatic. I’ll let you know. But I was on the way to notching up diabetes as my second autoimmune condition and that was what pushed me into action. That needs to be checked too.

[MyDoctor1 in reply to Hashi-Monster]

Whats LDN please

[Hashi-Monster in reply to MyDoctor1]

low dose naltrexone

[marigold22 in reply to Wantie]

Do you buy LDN privately? I have just googled it and it seems to be prescribed for MS and other major conditions.

[Wantie in reply to marigold22]

Yes, it’s not expensive and I use a UK pharmacy that posts to France. Go to the LDN trust Facebook page. They helped me locate a doctor who provided the prescription and the pharmacy to make up the liquid LDN which is better when you start because you titrated up very slowly about 0.5 ml every two weeks up to a max of 4.5 ml. If you like pm me and I’ll give you more details.

[Jeppy]

Amazing! Pleased fior you it must feel amazing with duch amazing result, is it ok longterm x

[Wantie]

Some people have been on it for 10 years or more, some people stop after a few years. There’s no evidence to suggest long term use is ill advised, far from it, no long term issues have been reported. It’s not for everybody but for a range of conditions including autoimmunity it does have a very good track record.

[Soldieress]

I was interested with your question as I feel a bit the same as you. I still have creative ideas but never get around to do any of them and I read a lot on the internet about health, although I'm trying not to do that so much now. I discovered that I had Hashimoto's 6 years ago and a 13cm fibroid and was recommended to have a hysterectomy. I was a full time infant school teacher so needed lots of energy and creativity. Due to heavy periods my iron was nearly off the chart. At that time I wasn't medicated and I was probably having a burn out. So I googled about creativity and Hashimoto's Hypothyroid and found article by Dr Wilson,interesting information: drlwilson.com/articles/thyr...

Hope this helps xxx

[Clarrisa]

You may have decompensated from less activity a bit. I know I did this past winter after a first major fatigue spell following the flu. When the weather improved I went out in the garden & found the drive to clean up the mess.

I did go to a medical clinic prior to this & was advised to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My limited understanding of it is it’s duration is shorter term & you focus on a specific goal. I have given it a lot of thought & in my case think anxiety is holding me back somewhat. I located a book I really like, to help me called The ABCs of Coping with Anxiety by James Cowart, PHD (crownhouse.co.uk). I found it in a patient health library. I am currently striving to eat better to keep my momentum going. I will likely line up a Cognitive Therapist to help me in implementing the book’s recommendations.

As far as creativity goes my father use to say sometimes it helps to put things aside for awhile then come back to them. Perhaps this break will prove useful down the line. Joining a group in a area of interest to you is said to help. I see U.K. thyroid groups posted regularly on this forum.

Your post & forum comments help me, thanks everyone.

[Dannyboi243op]

From my experience T3 alone is better..my brain works great...add thryozine and my life is over ..brain dead ..

[sweetpotatoe]

Thankyou for the link to Dr.Wilson I’m an artist too! That article resonates so much with me my blood tests are so contrary to how I feel! The tests with the hair follicle I get that my hair is lush and no grey at 60 nearly 61 years old!!

I stopped the medication because it was making me sick I had a thyroid storm just before my blood test so my TSH las sky high ... I’m printing this off and taking it to my endocrinologist I just hope he or she is open minded.. thanks again

[Eddie83]

Where are your TPO and TG antibodies now? If they are not close to zero, you need to figure out if there is a way to get rid of them. You might want to look into the "Root Cause" book from Izabella Wentz of thyroidpharmacist.com. Your FT3=3.5 pg/ml is probably adequate, though my lab uses a different range 2.77<FT3<5.27 and I keep my FT3 over 50% up in that range. How is your sleep quality, poor sleep is a huge de-motivator. Hashi's screwed up my gut, so I use free amino acids to make sure my blood protein is high enough for good sleep. I agree that a bout of Hashi's with hypothyroid is a HUGE motivation destroyer.

[Jigoph]

Yes this has happened for me too. I believe stress, lack of sleep and/or exercise, lack of sunshine & fresh air too makes this worse. The longer you are sedimentary, the worse it gets.

I go through spurts, and I have to force myself initially to get outside, or go to the gym. Consistency is the key. Once I get over that wall, the motivation comes back. When I feel motivated or inspired, I'm more able to get creative and accomplish a lot.

Remember, no one will push you but yourself. Get your mind stronger. Once you get more control of your mind, you get more control of your body and life.