Quit smoking & going hypothyroid?: Hello everyone... - Thyroid UK

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Quit smoking & going hypothyroid?

annajon1 profile image
15 Replies

Hello everyone.My thyroid seem to be fairy stable on ndt for last few months.6 weeks ago I have decided to stop smoking with help of Champix. Prior to quitting my tft's including t3 all have been in range, now 6 weeks later after quitting my thyroid took a slump down and my latest results confirm going hypo again.Did anyone experienced this when quitting?Im worried it will slump even further.Thanks

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annajon1
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15 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Just increase your dose slightly. We can have variations if we make some lifestyle changes. Sometimes a small increase in dose(s) will relieve symptoms you have.

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to shaws

Thank you -will do and hopefully it will stabilise itself

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to annajon1

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

You might need an increase in dose.

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to shaws

Increased since yesterday-fingers crossed it doesn't slump further

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to annajon1

when we feel symptoms return or new ones that's when we usually need an increase. Our body dictates with symptoms as it needs an optimum of T3 (converted from T4) in all our T3 receptor cells - we have millions.

eeng profile image
eeng

Well done for quitting smoking. Yes, I have read somewhere (probably on this forum) that quitting smoking can mean you need an increased dose of thyroid medication. I can't remember why.

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to eeng

Thank you for your reply

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Yes especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

Your blood will need testing more frequently over next year to eighteen months

You may find thyroid antibodies increase or you need small dose increase in Levothyroxine

verywellhealth.com/cigarett...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you for links and information-I will up the dose and hope it settles

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSo

Hi! I’m on the same boat at the moment! I quit few weeks back and almost immediately started to feel worse- extremely fatigued, brain fog, flu like symptoms. It’s slowly getting better, I moved to NDT since.

I’ve read in Isabella Wentz book that it’s something to do with anatabine.

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to AnnaSo

I have increased my medication slightly now ,I'm just hoping it will not slump further.

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSo in reply to annajon1

Are you feeling better? I implemented D3 yesterday and that helped today.

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to AnnaSo

Followed by forum people advice I have increased my dose slightly yesterday and today and although I feel a bit spaced out after dose increase my feet don't hurt as much today and I'm not as achy as for last couple of weeks.I do take D3 and iron as well during the day

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSo in reply to annajon1

Do you mind me asking what other symptoms did you get? Just curious if we experienced something similar. It is comforting to speak to you about this experience :) You mentioned achy, in fact this past weekend I was so achy I couldn’t leave the house- never experienced anything like that before! My skin was hurting when touched. It was terrible. Sunday night I started crying to my boyfriend thinking this could be Fibromyalgia but luckily it’s gone now.

annajon1 profile image
annajon1 in reply to AnnaSo

first sign of problems for me was sudden sciatica with both my feet hurting and burning feeling all day.Because I'm on Champix I wasn't sure if it's side effect of those pills.After that I started feeling achy all over and tired/sleepy and started swelling on my face and belly.By that point I tested thyroid function and it went down from 3.91 (TSH) to 7.01 .Now increased my dose and fingers crossed in 3-4 weeks will feel me again. If you suffer as well after quitting I think you should test your thyroid function as well.

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