Hashi's and unhappiness

[Starlight1976]

In January I was diagnosed with Hashimotos however I think that I may have had it for at least 10 years, maybe more. I am 42.

I was eating sensibly and exercising 5 times a week and not losing weight, but if I had a treat or go on holidays I would pile on the weight that I could never lose. I'm not talking pigging out just a holiday week of 'extras'. The last few years I've suffered from low mood and anxiety. It took 3 years from going to the Doctors about my symptoms to get a diagnosis of Hashi's.

At first, I felt elated that I finally knew what was wrong with me. But this has gradually turn into a feeling of 'losing' myself. Like I'm not the person I was anymore. I feel that I no longer have any control over my life. I hate the weight that I have put on but feel that it is no longer under my control. I hear people saying they've been hypo for years and can never lose weight and now feel this is my future. I am trapped in a body I can't get out of. I started Paleo on Monday but not with any sense of optimism. Over the last few years, I have done so many different exercise programs and cleaned up my diet, only to find that I've put on pounds and inches instead of losing them. Small life events are pushing me over the edge. We have building work going on next door and the noise is driving me mad. My son is having a large, rare vascular birthmark on his arm removed on Thursday and I am worried to death about it. I worry about what my health will be when I am in my 60's and still having to work until 68. After all its not like Hashi's is a disability yet no doubt the symptoms are going to make things a lot more challenging.

My 42-year-old sister in law has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and I despite constantly telling myself that my situation could be so much worse, I can't shift the feeling. I just feel so terribly sad about everything, I am crying as I am writing this. I just feel numb about everything, that the future is bleak. I suddenly feel old. Fat, ugly and old. This lack of control over my body has just left me feeling that I no longer have control of my life. I feel like a spectator watching other people's lives going as planned. I don't want to feel full of self-pity, I'm not usually like this.

I don't want to be this terribly sad, miserable looking person. But I can't seem to stop it.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Starlight1976

Weight loss is difficult if we are not optimally medicated.

For a full picture of thyroid status we need the following tested

TSH

FT4

FT3

If TSH is down to around 1, and FT4 is high in range with FT3 low in range, that means that T4:T3 conversion is poor. We need FT4 and FT3 well balanced.

Low T3 causes symptoms and makes weight loss difficult.

Hard exercise depletes T3 - this could be part of your problem.

Optimal nutrient levels are also necessary.

So what you need now is to post your actual results for thyroid and nutrients, with their reference ranges, and members will comment.

As you have Hashi's, are you addressing this with a gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily, as these can help reduce the antibodies.

[Starlight1976]

I am on 100mcg of Levo and my results are:

TSH 1.080 IU/ML (0.3-4.5)

FT3 3.80 (1.5-4.2)

FT4 1.61 (0.9-1.9)

VITAMIN D IS 88ng/ml

My B12 was low so now have regular injections so no recent bloodtests for this.

I've cut out alcohol and caffeine and started Paleo on Monday so no gluten/dairy etc.

I'm exercising 5 days a week but just for 30 minutes lifting weights, pilates, moderate cardio nothing too intense.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Starlight1976]

Ask your GP to test folate and ferritin too

Or as you already get B12 injections you may benefit from adding a daily good quality vitamin B complex. This will help keep all B vitamins in balance and may help B12 levels between injections

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

If you decide to start B complex....just ask GP to test ferritin

[MissGrace]

Starlight - I totally understand the feeling you expressed so well that you feel you have lost yourself. The first time I went to see my endo I remember telling him that ‘I miss the person I used to be.’

I think your medication isn’t yet right for you. Now I am closer to optimum, a lot of the old me has come back - so I’m sure you can find yourself again too - the real you is still there - but the energy for those aspects of self to return is not there yet.

Maybe an increase in dose will help? Or some T3? Thyroid medication is such a difficult balance - and I don’t think that balance is right for you yet. Good luck.

🤸🏿‍♀️🥛

[Peanut31]

Hi Starlight1976,

I totally understand how your feeling, I have been very ill for many years not realised what it was. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2017 but never put on medication until my TSH reached 12.2 and I was put on Levothyroxine.

I felt I had lost my identity and thought my life was going to be doom and gloom forever. I couldn’t get excited about anything and despite thinking I was lucky and not suffering from a terminal illness it didn’t help.

I was started on Levothyroxine and was desperate for it to work, but, despite following the correct procedures with increases etc I never felt better, in fact worse.

I struggled with my weight and only had to eat one thing and pile the weight on.

I decided to ditch the Levothyroxine and self medicate with NDT, it is a very slow process of finding the right dosage, but, I’m getting there slowly.

Would you be confident enough to self medicate on NDT?

Levothyroxine doesn’t suit us all, and I made the decision to take matters into my own hands and self medicate rather than relying on the NHS.

With help from members on here and further research it has given me the confidence to ditch my GP and there treatment for thyroid.

The thyroid blood tests you took, did you stop Levothyroxine 24 hours before and what time was the blood test taken?

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Assiya in reply to Peanut31]

WhAt is NDt?

[silverfox7]

I would stop the exercise for a week and see if you feel any better just doing walking/swimming if only for elimination.

[Assiya]

How are doing? Hows paleo going?

[Starlight1976 in reply to Assiya]

It's coming up to a year since I was diagnosed and I had quite a few rough months. The last couple of months I seem to have turned a corner. I tried Paleo but it didn't seem to make much difference. The biggest improvement for me came when I started T3, just 5mcg a day alongside Levo and completely cutting out caffeine. The last 2 months I have started to feel more like myself. Thanks for asking.

[Assiya in reply to Starlight1976]

And thank you for responding. Good to read you feel better, continue like that. Try mascarpone It did me good!