Hi everyone,
I’ve had Hashimotos for 30 years and I can never manage to stay balanced on my synthroid for very long. This last time I was suddenly hypo (6) and then with adjusted meds three months later I was hyper(.25) Been hyper for a year but gaining weight like crazy . I usually lose weight when I’m hyper. Has this happened to anyone? What is the fix? I’ve gone from being thin to overweight and I’m miserable.
Well, that's how Hashi's works. There's nothing unusual about that. But, what do you call 'hyper'? Do you mean going by symptoms? Or a low TSH? Or a high FT3? Perhaps if you put your actual blood test results - with the ranges, of course - you'd get more intelligent answers than this one! 
Thank for your reply. I will ask my doctor for the actual numbers although TSH was 6 , then .25. I’m waiting to hear what it is now. But I am incredulous that at.25 I’d be gaining weight! I’ll post actual numbers when I get the results of the last bloodwork done on Friday.
Gaining or losing weight has nothing to do with the TSH itself. That doesn't cause symptoms whether it's high or low. It's the T3 that causes symptoms, and that could still be low even with a TSH of 0.25.
Having said that, it's not unknown for people with hyperthyroidism to gain weight. It can go either way.
But, just having a TSH of 0.25 doesn't automatically make you hyper - or even 'hyper' (over-medicated). Is that all your doctor is testing?
No she( my doctor - GP) tests T3 and T4 as well.shes had me on T3 before, but again I gained weight and felt sluggish. I’ve just ambled on with this disease my whole life and don’t truly know that much about it, as is witnessed by your reply! I was also diagnosed with Pernicious anemia a few years ago and my thyroid seems to have gone very out of whack since then. Any suggestions as to dosing?
Well, what are you taking at the moment?
The first thing to do is get hold of your last blood test results, with the ranges, and post them on here. Then we'll have a better idea what's going on.
Will do. In the meantime, any good articles to recommend ?And thank you!
Depends what you want to read about. If you just want general knowledge of thyroid, then this is a good place to read:
Hi I am back with my thyroid blood test resultsTSH : .06 ( .35 - 4.3)
T 4.: 17 ( 9- 19)
T3: 4.71 ( 2.8 - 5.65)
I was taking .125MG 5 days a week and .150 MG 2 days a week. My instructions now are to take . 125 only. And I have gained 22 lbs. (9.9 kg) in the past 2 years since my thyroid was unbalanced yet again. Any ideas ? And thanks for any help you can provide
TSH : .06 ( .35 - 4.3)
T 4.: 17 ( 9- 19) 80%
T3: 4.71 ( 2.8 - 5.65) 67.02%
since my thyroid was unbalanced yet again
What does that mean, 'unbalanced'? What does a 'balanced' thyroid look like? I mean, what exactly are they looking for?
Did they reduce your dose because of those results above? If so, they have no idea what they're doing. Nothing wrong with those results. But I expect they were just looking at the TSH. Sigh.
You could possibly have done with a slight increase with those results, because the FT3 wasn't very high - could have been higher. And, there was plenty of room to go up to 150 daily. So, all in all, you've got a right wally for a doctor, I'm afraid.
Dosing hypothyroidism has nothing to do with 'balance'! And having a suppressed TSH in no way makes you hyper. For a start, you can't 'go hyper' if you are hypo, the thyroid doesn't work that way. You can be over-medicated, but you were in no way over-medicated because that FT3 wasn't much over mid-range. You are only over-medicated if your FT3 is very much over the top of the range. So, with that reduction, you will now possibly have an FT3 below mid-range, and that's why you've put on weight.
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
TSH of 0.25 doesn’t necessarily mean over treated....only high above range Ft3 means over treatment
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with Hashimoto’s
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Are you on strictly gluten free diet?
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes 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
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...
The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease
nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Thanks so much. Some great info. I am gluten free and it definitely helps with stomach issues. I’m looking forward to posting my latest bloodwork results when I get them and see what you think.
Dear Slap, I have have Hashimoto's for a very long time as well. Iwas diagnosed with pernicious anemia as well. Within the last 2 years I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism, and I had an operation that took the bad one out. I would suggest you have an endocrinologist test your parathyroid, trouble there can put weight on you. I am 74, and I dont pretend to have anywhere near the knowledge these fine ladies have here on this site, Iam sure you will find some answers here, and I pray you will get good results❤blessings, Littlebowpeep
Many thanks! Knowledge is power! I’m grateful for that information!
Dear Slap, you are so kind to reply back, Iam so happy it was informative, take care, and blessings❤Littlebowpeep
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