Success stories

[PillJunkie]

Does anyone have success stories where they recovered from Hypothyroidism, having previously had symptoms of anxiety and depression, in particular?

I realise that that type of person may no longer be contributing, but, you never know!

[radd]

PillJunkie,

The majority of the forum members are people trying to find answers to their new or continuing ill health, but there are also many of us who continue to support the forum that enabled us to find wellbeing.

[humanbean]

Anxiety and depression can be symptoms of many conditions. They are common in thyroid disease.

Another common problem caused by thyroid disease are low vitamins and minerals. We always suggest that people get the following nutrient levels tested.

Ferritin (iron stores)

Vitamin B12

Folate

Vitamin D

If any turn out to be low or below optimal then people should supplement until they are optimal, then they should take a lower, maintenance dose to keep their levels as close to optimal as possible.

If ferritin is low then it is a good idea to do an iron panel as well. Supplementing iron is more complicated than "just take a supplement until your level is where you want it to be". Taking iron supplements doesn't always raise ferritin. Sometimes it raises serum iron, and without testing an iron panel nobody knows its happening. The worst case scenario is that serum iron goes sky high, ferritin stays low, and iron starts being deposited in your organs, and the body can't get rid of it.

Personal anecdote : In my own case my anxiety and depression mostly disappeared once I raised my Free T3 (which was very low in range before treatment), and I also had to optimise several of my nutrients. The one I have most problems with is iron/ferritin. But others might have problems with one of the other nutrients I've listed, and once they start to improve them the anxiety and depression reduces.

Regarding recovery from hypothyroidism.... There is a possibility that someone gets an infection of the thyroid (thyroiditis) and once it has been treated and goes away the person is no longer hypothyroid. But it isn't common.

[PillJunkie in reply to humanbean]

Thnk you humanbean for a very informative reply. I will take yoiur advice and get myself tested for Ferritin and Folate. B12 and D were tested and were good. Free T3 is very low and I'm on liothyronine for that.

[vroooom5 in reply to humanbean]

How long it tool before your anxiety/depression lifted after starting T3? thanks

[humanbean in reply to vroooom5]

It was quite a long time ago, and I can't remember exactly. It wasn't just raising my Free T3 that helped. It was also optimising my iron that helped too. And both those those things - improving my Free T3 and my iron - were going on at the same time. I would say that there was a noticeable improvement in my mood within 3 - 6 months, But I didn't get the full improvement for a couple of years.

[PillJunkie in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what’s the cause of your hypothyroidism

Have you had RAI or thyroidectomy

Or is this autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s usually diagnosed by high TPO or high TG antibodies or by ultrasound scan

[PillJunkie in reply to SlowDragon]

I haven't had RAI or Thyroidectomy. My endocrinologist has tested for Hashimoto's and Pituitary Gland issues but says I'm okay. He diagnosed Secondary Hypothyroidism.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PillJunkie]

Were BOTH TPO and TG antibodies tested

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are high

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies

You would need to test privately

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too.

Request coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

[PillJunkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, SlowDragon. My TPO test came out at <9. I didn't have a TG test; I'll ask my endo to authorise one for me. I'll also ask about an ultrasound scan, and test my coeliac.

[greygoose in reply to PillJunkie]

Secondary Hypo is a Pituitary issue.

[Just_Be in reply to greygoose]

Pituitary or hypothalamus issue.

[greygoose in reply to Just_Be]

No, hypothalamus is Tertiary Hypo. He probably mean Central Hypo, which covers both.

[Just_Be in reply to greygoose]

Yes, Central covers both and Tertiary identifies a hypothalamus issue but secondary means it is not primary so applicable to both a pituitary or hypothalamus issue.

.

[greygoose in reply to Just_Be]

Well, that sounds logical. But it isn't. Why give something a name if you're going to call it by the name of something else?

Primary is when the problem stems from the thyroid itself.

Secondary is when the problem stems from the pituitary.

Tertiary is when the problem stems from the hypothalamus.

And when you don't know if it's Secondary or Tertiary you call it Central Hypo. That makes it easier for everyone to understand what's being talked about. Calling Tertiary hypo Secondary Hypo is unbelievabley confusing. Why would you do that?

[Just_Be in reply to greygoose]

Wow, you are aggressive and rude Greygoose. Hardly helpful to the poster 🤷‍♀️.

I call both pituitary and hypothalamus issues "secondary hypothyrodism" because that is what forum admins call it as does the NICE guidelines, and some people called Weetman, Garber and Chaker.

Secondary hypothyroidism is the result of insufficient thyroid stimulation due to a pituitary or hypothalamic disorder [Weetman, 2010; Garber et al, 2012; Chaker, 2017; Persani, 2018].

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

[greygoose in reply to Just_Be]

I wasn't talking to the OP, I was talking to you. And it doesn't help the poster calling things by the wrong name. You think I'm aggressive and rude because I don't agree with you, but believe me, this is not aggression, I'm far too ill at the moment to be aggressive. Tactless, perhaps, but not aggressive. I just like things to be called by the correct name.

I don't think admins on this forum call Tertiary hypo Secondary. I think they know better than that.

And I'm really, really not going to take lessons in vocabulary from Weetman! He has the limited vocabulary of a five year-old.

Sorry for the confusion.

[PillJunkie in reply to greygoose]

Interesting debate guys!

[greygoose in reply to PillJunkie]

[Sleepman]

I am good. 2 years on Oct since I started on levo. Was struggling st startI now have some T3 as well. I am hashi autoimmune too. Gluten intolerrant.

I supplement b complex and D based on blood tests.

I am amazed at the kind people who have really suffered but share the learnings on this forum to help others.

[PillJunkie in reply to Sleepman]

Thank you Sleepman