Hypothyroidism recovery time (Iodine deficiency induced) ?

[PolXh]

Hi, has anyone had hypothyroidism from iodine deficiency and recovered from it? How much time does it take for all the symptoms to go away ? What about other causes of hypothyroidism ? How much time does it take to recover in general ?

Hi, I had hypothyroidism from iodine deficiency and started taking iodine supplements on January 2022. I had my first test on mid - December 2021 and my TSH was 4.52 mUI/L ( range : 0.23-4.2).

I didn't test for T3/T4 at that time ,only for Anti Thyreoperoxidase/thyreoglobuline Antibodies to rule out any autoimmune disorder.

I did another test on December 2022 and TSH was 3.61 and FT4 was 18.29 picomol/l (range 9 - 20 as per my lab)

And then I did another test on May 2023 and July 2023 which came TSH 1,9 and FT4 12.81 and for July TSH 1.47 and 15.64 FT4.

I have symptoms like muscle ache, joint pain , tiredness , brain fog and a little bit of swelling (on body in general and parts like tongue/lips etc) . Swelling has increased a little bit and sleepiness seems to have reduced from before the time of taking supplements , but I'm not sure about other symptoms. If I can remember correctly at first I had patches of dark skin that now have gone.

I never tested T3. I consulted a doctor and she gave me a supplement that contained iodine and I'm quite sure I had iodine deficiency because I was taking little salt.

All in all I've been taking Iodine for 1 year and 9 months now , but not major improvement.

My question is , how much time does it take to recover from hypothyroidism from iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism from other causes in general ? Am I doing anything wrong ?

[greygoose]

How was your iodine deficiency diagnosed?

Have you been taking anything other than iodine supplements?

From what I've read, hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency doesn't always go away when iodine levels are optimised. Although I don't know why. But, as a general rule, for hypothyroidism caused by other things, you cannot cure it. It's for life.

[PolXh in reply to greygoose]

It might be hyperthyroidism caused by high intake of iodine that doesn't go away after reducing iodine intake because of the damage caused by the immune system on the thyroid and after that you are left with hypothyroidism. Or some times you need thyroid hormones in the beginning of hypothyroidism from iodine (for example young kids).

My blood tests show good levels of TSH and FT4 which means that the thyroid is producing hormones .

My problem is that symptoms aren't going away , besides as far as I can remember hair has returned back and some skin problems have gone away. The thing is that online there is only information about recovery from the deficiency but not how much time it takes to get there.

That's why I posted here in case anyone has recovered from iodine deficiency or after how much time did the symptoms recede other causes of hypothyroidism like hashimoto after taking medications , because the body recovers similarly as you are replacing the hormones versus producing them naturally .

[greygoose in reply to PolXh]

It might be hyperthyroidism caused by high intake of iodine that doesn't go away after reducing iodine intake

No, that has nothing to do with what I was talking about. And doesn't sound likely, anyway because excess iodine is anti-thyroid and more likely to cause hypothyroidism than hyper.

But, I asked you how your iodine deficiency was diagnosed. Don't you want to tell us? Iodine deficiency is somewhat rare in the Western world. Probably not many people on here that have suffered from it.

the body recovers similarly as you are replacing the hormones versus producing them naturally .

Well, no, it doesn't really. Being hypo changes things and you tend to need higher levels of thyroid hormone than someone who produces them naturally.

Reduction of symptoms can depend on so many things. How long you've had untreated hypo, for example, and how long you're left on doses that are too low, whether or not your nutrients are optimal, or if you have low/high cortisol. It's a very personal thing, and not an easy question to answer. And what applies to one person probably won't apply to the next.

My blood tests show good levels of TSH and FT4 which means that the thyroid is producing hormones .

Well, obviously it's producing some hormone, otherwise you'd be dead. But, how good your levels are is impossible to say because you haven't given the ranges for the results. Ranges vary from lab to lab, so we always need the ranges that came with your results.

Are your blood draws always done at the same time of day?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

where about in Albania do you live

Some mountain regions do have iodine deficiency

sciencedirect.com/science/a....

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/194...

Do you eat any iodine rich foods

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

[Flyinghigh11]

Hi I'm new here in this forum. I'm asking the same question.

I'm from the Netherlands and due to celiac gluten free for over 10 years. Bread and processed salt are the main sources of iodine here, both I don't eat.

My TSH came back 6.9 and FT4 middle of the range, and the doctor wasn't helpful at all he was unreachable and spoke in my voicemail that if your FT4 is normal you should not feel bad from the thyroid and the complaints are psychological, and to just said wait and see if the FT4 is going to drop too in the next months. how dishearthening, nothing to prevent it.

Didn't ask me nothing about my diet.

I found studies online how Europe is getting increasingly more iodine deficient and 40% of the population is suffering from this. I believe it was in the Lancet, so not quackery.

I did a cronometer food analysis, just enter in everything you eat in a day for a significant period of time and it will calculate which vitamins and minerals you might be lacking.

After entering my average diet for a week I was shocked to find out my iodine didn't surpass the 100mcg level. Despite eating salmon once a week, and yoghurt and eggs daily.

So for me the math seemed simple, lack of iodine for 10 years equals hypothyroidism.

For about 10 weeks I've been taking a kelp tablet of 200mcg iodine plus I added a multivitamin with 100mcg, so in total I get about 300mcg.

Some improvements I've noticed so far, back acne gone, belly fat a lot less (I exericise) no more bleeding gums, healthier skin, less IBS pain, anxiety less. I seem to stay awake longer, not completely tired at 10 o'clock, I can stay awake until 12 more easily.

Not a complete panacea because I do still get cold easily, and general malaise feeling.

I have another doctor appointment planned in 6 weeks, I am curious if the thyroid improved or not. But the doctors are not very helpful or knowledgable about thyroid.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Flyinghigh11]

Do start your own post if you would like advice yourself.