June 2026 Thyroid Update

This is an update to my post from April 26, Intense Stress Worsens My Autoimmune Condition.

I had a bad virus in December that unseated my thyroid levels.  I had hyperthyroid symptoms from around January 4 to 20.  Viral infections cause inflammation, and my thyroid was more noticeably swollen during this time.  The increase in goiter size causes the thyroid to release its stored hormone, resulting in hyperthyroid symptoms.

As the inflammation decreases, the thyroid becomes less swollen.  The output reduces, and the stored hormone is gone.  This results in a pronounced hypothyroid state that can last for a few months.  I became hypothyroid around February 3 then more profoundly hypothyroid by the middle of February.

My labs weren't that great in February, but my provider wanted to wait longer before a dose increase.  I knew that she was right, but that didn't make it any easier.

In April, my levels were improved, but I knew that I needed a boost.  My provider agreed to raise my dose from 81.5mcg to 88mcg of Tirosint.

On June 8, I had my labs done again.

TSH = 1.2333 (range 0.35 to 4.94)
T3 Free = 2.44 (range 1.71 to 3.71)
T4 Free = 0.98 (range 0.7 to 1.48)

Here are the graphs for all three hormones going back to July 2023.  Click or tap on each image in order to see it clearly.

I am most interested in comparing my levels to December 27, 2024.  At that blood draw, I felt optimal.

My TSH is noticeably lower now than in December 2024.  Strangely, my T3 and T4 are also lower than in December 2024, which is not what would be expected.  A lower TSH ought to indicate higher T3 and T4 levels.  I don't feel as good as I did in December 2024, which isn't surprising since my T3 and T4 levels are lower.  However, my body is happy with the amount of T3 and T4 in my tissues, since my TSH has come down significantly.

In my previous post, I acknowledged that my December 2024 Covid infection likely had caused my thyroid to release stored hormone, causing me to feel optimal.  My December 27, 2024 lab results were likely not representative of how I felt at that time.  I felt optimal, but how I feel at any given time is based on what my levels were two weeks before.  I suspect that the late December labs actually showed T3 and T4 levels that were above my true optimal levels due to the Covid infection of December 16, 2024.

I tend to feel hyperthyroid when my T4 level gets too much above 1.0, but for whatever reason, I didn't perceive myself as hyperthyroid in late December 2024.

[Note: This is why I am intensely annoyed when I see the T3/T4 graph on Facebook that indicates that patients need their hormone levels in the top one-half to top one-fourth of the range.  That could be true for some people, but I would end up having a heart attack due to extreme hyperthyroid symptoms.  Not everyone requires high hormone levels.]

I currently feel a mixture of euthyroid, hyperthyroid, and hypothyroid.  My energy is a lot better than it was in April.  I no longer feel cold.  I am having some briefs bouts where I am sweating or having a hot flash.  The sweating is more of a hyperthyroid symptom for me.  

I am also still having some energy crashes, which I associate with being hypothyroid.

I believe my body is still adjusting to the medication change, so my symptoms are unstable.  Also, how I feel will not be reflective of the June 8 lab values until one week from now.

I am certain that I am now on the maximum dose that my body can currently tolerate.  I would be blatantly hyperthyroid if my dose were increased.  I believe this dose is what I currently should be on, and I just need to wait for my body to finish adjusting.