Hashimoto help, feeling defeated and desperate

@ndough
My thyroid hormones levels are at lower levels of normal, although I have Hashimoto's with high TPO Ab and fibroids in the gland. The doctor did not initiate hormone replacement yet, but maybe I should, given fatigue from all other causes.

My Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody level TPO Ab is high at 190. I was wondering if initiating hormone replacement would reduce TPO Ab levels. Based on some responses, it looks like TPO Abs may go down with hormone replacement therapy.

@lkirnbauer
Thanks very much for the reply. I"m writing because I'm rapidly losing confidence with the doctors with whom I'm dealing. While dealing with Long Covid I've not been able to get explanations from doctors concerning treatments for various symptoms I've experienced, or as they prefer to call it, PACS.
I'm finding solace on these forum sites. I've recognized there's a lot of us out there.
Initially, my primary care physician told me there was nothing for me - I'm on my own - This was 2022.
This opened the gates for me to do my own research, thinking , "What do I have to loose".
I found research papers concerning experimental treatments, that indicated a probiotic therapy had reduced recovery times of people dealing with LC symptoms. I found a probiotic, "immune strain" that helped with my initial episodes.
The early episodes lasted about a month, or so, Which I considered manageable.
This episode however, has affected every part of my body from head to toes, and also depleting many bodily functions, lasting 3 months, and counting.
This led me to look into iodine deficiency.
I had symptoms ranging from Fatigue, Brain fog; Confusion, Smell, taste, depression, gastrointestinal,etc,etc.
This time, the scary symptoms were the mental and vascular symptoms. There were days I felt I was beginning to show signs of dementia, then Alzheimer's.
After this,the vascular symptoms started.
As I said, all my symptoms have diminished over the last 6 weeks. Even my smell and taste clearly came back.

You might be thinking , fine, but what has this to do with my Symptoms?
The thing is; I never realized how LC can affect so many bodily functions.
We might treat the symptoms, individually, but the main cause is still within us. I read that anywhere from 10%, to 18% of people dealing with covid infections, are dealing with this Long Covid illness in it's many manifestations. (That's approx 20 million people).

At the moment, I'm looking into viruses lingering within our bodies, that can be dormant, but become reactivated due to covid infections.
From what I understand, this is when the body needs a healthy thyroid, - and how the body utilizes iodine.

I'm not saying this is fact, but it is food for thought,
I'm reading, It's not just people dealing with Long covid who are dealing with many of these symptoms.

P.S. I've read recently that doctors and nurses used diluted iodine nasal, and throat spray to thwart covid during the pandemic. I was not aware of this until reading the research papers.
I had a cardiologist's assistant call me today, asking if I would be interested in getting a heart scan. I rejected it as I really don't think it would be of any use. I've come to believe that if my Long Covid illness continues, in the future, any of my many symptoms will result in possible organ dysfunction, with possible terminal results.
I've tried to be concise, but it didn't work out too well.
All the Best.
Mike

@maryje
Hello Maryje, I'm just getting ready to make an appointment with my GP. I saw a Long Covid specialist twice over the last 6 months. Got another appointment in January to see the specialist. I had the suggestion to take Colchicine ( off prescription), from the specialist. It seemed to of worked with the inflammation I experienced. The covid symptoms continued however.
Seeing the specialist seems to be mainly information gathering.
Because of my reading, I've been supplementing with various vitamins, minerals, and diet. I have also been isolating, in an attempt heal, and not catch covid, or other viruses, while trying to heal. Things have been promising recently.
The specialist I'm seeing pretty much takes my information on my symptoms, except for the colchicine, ( which helped), everything else has been rudimentary. e.g. suggestions on various rehab methods. RECOVERY website, etc.
I'll tell the specialist the supplements I'm taking, but don't feel telling my GP ,will make any difference. Can you tell me why I should let him know?
My GP and specialist are both part of a large hospital system, near where I live.

@altabiznet They might, but I’m not a doctor. Is the doctor you’re referring to an endocrinologist? Usually they would know what’s best. If you’re having other symptoms, like fatigue, etc., definitely bring it up.

@aikomike I’m sorry you’re suffering. I too have Long Covid and my constant and most annoying symptoms is now no taste or smell. This is now for over 3 years! Many of my other symptoms have subsided some like stuttering, brain fog, balance issues, terrible headaches, body tremors of which are much less due to having 7 Stellate Ganglion Block injections. When did you have Covid and for how long did you loose your taste and smell before it came back. This is the most annoying symptoms as I can’t smell anything, so I never get hungry. If I stopped eating, I guess I would die.

@aikomike, here is an example of why telling your doctor is important. I have had several different surgeries and some herbs can interfere with prescription medicines and should should not be taken together. Some of those herbs can thin the blood, so if you are taking a medicine to thin your blood or the doctor has told you to take aspirin to keep your blood thin, then you need to watch how much you bleed when cut. Another good sign is massive nose bleeds. Anyway can you imagine the problem if your going to have surgery? Before a surgery your doctor will take you off all blood thinners, but what if you were also taking a herbal supplement, like turmeric for inflammation and pain, but didn't tell your surgery team? "Turmeric, especially in supplement form, is a blood thinner and can significantly increase the risk of bleeding when combined with anticoagulant (like warfarin) or antiplatelet (like clopidogrel) medications, raising the chance of bruising, internal bleeding, or prolonged clotting." All I can say is poor surgery team if you bleed out and they have no knowledge of why. Thank goodness before surgery, "doctors commonly order blood tests called coagulation studies, specifically the Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) tests, to assess a patient's blood clotting ability." Hope this answers your question, take care. I highly suggest doing research on any herbs you take before using.

@aikomike The main problem to not letting your GP know of a medicine prescribed another doctor, is if you were ever admitted to a hospital or had a strong reaction to the ‘other medicine’ the hospital notifies your GP only. This could lead to the question of ‘trust.’ Or the GP might say “hey, I’m okay with this as long as you always let me know.” And there is a problem with drug interactions.

Have you tried eliminating any food? Carbs would be a good place to start. I also have Hashimoto’s and gave up eating gluten, dairy and soy. There are so many safe alternatives now. I also have Hypothyroidism as well and am treated with Synthroid for that. Hashimoto’s is only controlled by food elimination. If you’re looking for a drug for it, there isn’t one. I also had a food sensitivity test done to see what foods you’re sensitive or allergic to. Stay away from those foods. Your body will tell you that you shouldn’t be eating something as you’ll become bloated and inflamed. Good luck!