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I have both hypothyroidism and Hashimoto disease. When first diagnosed in ‘23, my TPO levels were just over 100. TSH levels were around 200. T3and T4 were and always have always been normal, up to the last labs taken. There were nodules as well, confirmed by an ultrasound. At the time, I was going to a specialty clinic and the doctor prescribed Armor 30. It was not effective. I remained fatigued. For about a year, we tried different strengths; 60, which affected my heart and caused palpitations. Then I was put on 45, which was 90 split in half. Still no improvement with fatigue. Within that year, I was put on Levothyroxine 100 mcg, then 112. Still no change by late May. Apparently I was over medicated and the higher doses caused weight loss and that is when my TSH levels crashed to 0.01.
Currently, I am on 50 mcg, which showed normal labs; TSH 1.35, in December and my PCP felt no nodules during my last physical but since around early winter I have been getting fatigued and have decreased energy. I’ve about resigned to being stuck here, but am not happy. I would like to know if a “normal” TSH level, according to my doctor is actually too low for me and if it increased would I feel better. Also, what causes the fatigue, high TPO, or low TSH, or both since they affect the thyroid.
Replies to "I have both hypothyroidism and Hashimoto disease. When first diagnosed in ‘23, my TPO levels were..."
When I was prescribed Armour for Hypothyroidism, I developed heart and blood pressure fluctuations every 15 minutes that eventually hospitalized me. My physician decided that Armour was too hard to regulate and prescribed Levothyroxine instead. She retired soon after this. Within a year, I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in my hands. I was prescribed immune suppressants and other heavy duty meds. I work in nursing facilities, so this was concerning as my exposure rate for everything was high. Eventually, the NP, not the Rheumatologist, agreed to test me for Hashimotos. My sister had been diagnosed, and I had repeatedly requested testing. I tested positive but was treated the same. I ran out of the levothyroxine near Christmas and decided to use up the left over Armour. The arthritis in my hands stopped hurting and stopped progressing within 2 weeks. I now take a compound prescribed through a functional medicine RNP under supervision of the physician at the group. It works, but has to be adjusted regularly. Both of my daughters have normal TSH and have been tested for and diagnosed with Hashimotos. Chronic fatigue, brain fog and painful feet were the symptoms we all experienced first. We all made the statement as we progressed with the disease that we felt like human slugs. This has become a generational war for us.
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I have had hypothyroidism since 1991 and after having covid in 2020 it escalated to hashimotos and then Thyroid Eye Disease.... my thyroid meds have changed 15 or 20 times since 2020 and now I take two thyroid meds and get checked every 6 months... some of your symptoms will improve with some exercise and determination. Hang in there❣️