Flare

[MissFG]

Should you change your thyroid meds when going through a flare or keep it the same?

I’m on T3 only and having a flare - nearly 3 years in and hashimotos still going strong!

Any suggestions how to cope better with a flare would be welcome.

[greygoose]

How do you know you're having a flare? Have you had a blood test? Do you have hyper symptoms? If so, just stop taking your hormone for a few days, until you feel hypo again.

[MissFG in reply to greygoose]

My thyroid swells up so I struggle swallowing, migraine, fatigue, tearful, shaking, muscle pain/weakness, joint pain, lack of appetite, numbness / pins and needles, anxiety palpitations can’t sleep etc

I can tell when I have a flare just can’t figure out the trigger. Could be something I’ve eaten or stress not sure. Just need to know if I can help myself when I feel like this

[greygoose in reply to MissFG]

That sounds like you become more hypo. A flare would give you hyper symptoms. Another name for a Hashi's flare is a Hashi's 'hyper' swing.

Are you gluten-free? Because they say that that can reduce the swings. Apart from that, I'm not sure it could be anything you eat. Unless - absolute wild shot, here - you're still relying on your thyroid for some of your hormone, and it's a goitrogen that has affected you. It can happen.

[MissFG in reply to greygoose]

I’ve been gluten free since February. My flares are few and far between now but still knock me off my feet when I get them. Think it’s stress that’s a trigger for me or maybe my migraines triggering the flare rather than the flare causing the migraines?

I’m just sensitive to changes in dose so don’t know whether to increase slightly or stop for a day or two?

I find my symptoms are the same whether I’m hyper or hypo so it’s hard telling the difference. Although arm I’m not sleeping well and I’m warm. Where when hypo I sleep all the time and am cold.

[greygoose in reply to MissFG]

Well, unless you can do a blood test at the critical time, it's difficult to know if you should increase or decrease. You would have to try both to see which works for you.

[wagnermia in reply to MissFG]

I also feel close to the same w both hypo and hyper. One thing that helps me determine is by taking my temperature. This has been a good tool for me, along w BP and HR. I’m also on T3 only.

[sarosent in reply to MissFG]

Perhaps your flares are caused when you eat iodine-rich foods and your thyroid is working better ? Just a thought because -

I started iodine in July and after initial sleepiness, felt great for a few weeks especially mood. then I got what I also believe was hyper - sudden trouble sleeping, muscle weakness, anxiety, appetite Increased (aargh).

Cut back on Armour (90 mg to 45 mg), and those things improved, I also skipped a dose a couple days here & there, and the day after doing this I felt great, but feared that was a "trailing" result, so did 1/2 dose 45 mg. for about a week. Now I'm on 60 mg.

[MissFG in reply to sarosent]

My diet hasn’t changed it’s always pretty well balanced and consistent

[Wolfiesmom08]

I get migraines too. They make me tired and I feel lousy. The effects can last 4-5 days. That's when I know it's a migraine issue and not my thyroid. I feel better once it passes. For me sugar is a flare.

[HughH in reply to Wolfiesmom08]

Migraines can be caused by low thyroid.

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

And my thyroid has swollen. If it was a migraine alone my thyroid wouldn’t swell, so think maybe I’ve gone hypo which is causing the migraine

[HughH in reply to MissFG]

The enlarged thyroid, migraines and your recent post about an enlarged sore tongue are all indications that you need to increase your T3. Can I ask how much you are currently taking?

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

I have 2 days ago. I was on 32.25 and increased to 37.5. 1 1/4 T3 up to 1 1/2 pills.

I have increased before after my last blood test as I had room in my FT3 range but I felt awful so reduced back to what I felt good on.

Then I think due to stress I’ve felt ill again. The migraines are just killing me I can’t do anything they’re so severe

[HughH in reply to MissFG]

Thyroid blood test results are useful but cannot be relied on exclusively to determine optimal dose of thyroid hormones.

It can be useful to draw up a list of symptoms and give each one a score from 0 to 10 and repeat this every few days. This can give a good picture as to how the thyroid hormones are working.

Basal temperature, taken in bed before getting up in the morning, can also help guide dosage.

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

The dose I was on was good I felt well the best in a long time. Going gluten free really made a huge difference too.

I still have active hashimotos so maybe this is why I’m ill atm.

What should I look out for when checking my temperature? High? Low? Etc any advice would help thanks

[HughH in reply to MissFG]

A basal temperature test should be done as soon as you wake up and before you get out of bed. In women who are menstruating, their body temperature varies with the cycle; creating errors which can be avoided if the basal temperature is taken on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the cycle.

It doesn't really matter which kind of thermometer you use , although it is important to be consistent in how you do it.

1) Note the reading and do it for several mornings so the results can be averaged out, since they may vary slightly day by day.

2) If you have taken your temperature under the tongue the normal temperature is 36.5ºC to 37.2ºC (97.7ºF to 99.0ºF).

If your temperature is below 36.5ºC (97.7ºF), hypothyroidism/too little meds should be considered if symptoms are present.

If your temperature is above 37.4ºC (99.2ºF) hyperthyroidism/too much meds is possible if symptoms are present and if there is no other illness present to cause a fever.

This test is a guide only as some temperature variations could be due to infection, virus, etc. This test should be used in conjunction with the signs and symptoms.

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

Thank you you’ve been a huge help

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

My average temperature is 36.1 but I have increased my meds since last Thursday. So hoping my temperature should rise soon and symptoms ease!

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

Hi could you give me some advise HughH pls?

Although I increased my T3 3 weeks ago and saw my temperature increase slightly it is still 36.3 on average. Should I increase again by 1/4 pill?

I suppose I’ll soon know if I don’t feel good with the increase

[HughH in reply to MissFG]

It is probably worth trying an increase in T3, monitoring symptoms and temperature for signs of over stimulation.

[MissFG in reply to HughH]

Thanks