Stopped Smoking .....

[Harle]

I have hashimotos and I stopped smoking 4 months ago, I have been feeling ok but the last few days I have been feeling exhausted, heavy legs, climbing stairs an issue, can’t sleep. I have put on about a stone in weight but had blood tests done a few weeks ago and everything ok except T4 was a little low even though I had increased my dosage. My antiTPO is at 500. I currently take 20mg liothyronine, 100mg Levo, vitD, vitC, co-enzyme q10, zinc. Any ideas on getting my weight down besides exercising which I already do.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Stopping smoking can make Hashimoto's worse.

If FT4 is low, will GP allow an increase Levothyroxine ?

Important to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin regularly too

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

[humanbean in reply to SlowDragon]

Stopping smoking can make Hashimoto's worse.

And unfortunately, when Hashi's or hypothyroidism does get worse as a result of stopping smoking, starting to smoke again won't make the Hashi's or hypothyroidism any better.

This sounds like bad news - but just remember all the other benefits of giving up smoking. They still exist.

Edit : I should mention... I went through this worsening of my thyroid problems when I stopped smoking. It took a long time for me to start being pleased I'd succeeded in stopping smoking.

[Harle in reply to humanbean]

They don’t tell you about the really crappy after effects do they😂😂

[Harle in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, I have been Hashi for 12 years now and know the drill. Thanks for the reminder though!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Harle]

My Hashimoto's started (or became more apparent) after quitting

But stopping smoking was still the best decision