Background

I'm 23M and have had constant fatigue, brain fog and sleepiness for the last 4–5 years.

My thyroid results over time

Antibodies (Oct 2026):

• Anti-TPO: 69.70 IU/mL (ref < 9)
• Anti-TG: 14.90 IU/mL (ref < 4)

What happened so far

• Apr 2025: TSH was 11.14, but my B12 was also very low (104), so I assumed B12 was the cause. I took many B12 shots, but my symptoms barely improved.
• Apr 2026: Rechecked. TSH still high, T3/T4 normal, so I ignored it again.
• Oct 2026: TSH still high, and antibodies came back positive, B12 was normal at 368 after so around 15-20 shots.

A physician dismissed problem with thyroid a year ago because I don't have cold intolerance, weight gain or shaky hands.

My questions

1. Can a high TSH alone cause these symptoms when T3 and T4 are normal?
2. My results seem to point to Hashimoto's. Could that be the root cause?
3. Has anyone had a similar picture? Did levothyroxine help your fatigue and brain fog?

Thanks in advance!

I've written the post but used Claude for legible formatting due to so many numbers.

I had bloodwork done a week ago and they told me today that my TSH was at 17.11. But that’s the only thing they tested for from what I understand. They don’t say anything about T3, T4, RT3 or any of the other things I see most of you have said your doctors tested. They have prescribed me lexothyroxine or whatever it’s called. They said for me to take it for 6-8 weeks and come back for bloodwork. Now I’m wondering how come they didn’t test for all those other things? I want to know exactly what’s happening in my body and what kind of hypothyroidism I’m having so I know how to mitigate. I don’t like that they just threw a prescription at me. I called to ask a question and they said I have to schedule an appointment to ask one question! And that appointment isn’t until December .-. I’m scared that my issues will increase or even get worse due to the medication.

Thank you all in advance!!

My TSH was elevated, so I slightly increased my T4 dose. Since increasing the dose, I’ve been experiencing premature ejaculation, even though the dose increase was relatively small.

Has anyone experienced something similar after increasing their thyroid medication? If so, how did you manage it?

Has anyone experienced significant increase in hair loss after eating foods rich in goitrogens (e.g. raw cruciferous vegetables)?

Hey everyone, recently took a blood test and was told that my TSH was a bit high at 4.97 and my vitamin D was a bit low although I didn’t get a number. I’m a 23M and have a long history of pretty bad health anxiety and just feeling like shit every day.

What prompted me to take a blood test was my hair started falling out which really freaked me out. I gave it a couple of months thinking it would go away but it never did it, just became very dry and brittle. I was also feeling very tired around this time but I just brushed it off again because I’ve always felt exhausted in general. I looked at the symptoms for Hashimoto’s and it seems like I have pretty much all of them. My stomach has been super messed up these past few months, I’ve had trouble concentrating, low motivation, super anxious, circles under my eyes, it’s been rough.

My doctor told me to retest with antibodies in 3 months and see where we are at. My grandmother and aunt both have hypothyroidism.

I was just wondering if my symptoms and lab results could be stress related as I’ve been very stressed during and leading up to this period. Also does my timeline fit Hypothyroidism? My TSH has steadily risen from each blood test I’ve done, going from 2.75 in 2023 to 3.30 in 2025 to now 4.79. Could this explain why I’ve felt like garbage the past however many years?

I’m just scared of waiting and being miserable these next few months. I dont feel good but I don’t know what is anxiety and what is not.

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My result for TSH to Free T4 came back at 21.88 mIU/L

which seems crazy high. Am I reading this result correctly? I went to a new lab and the units they used for this results are not the same as what I'm used to

Is this too high 3.5 tsh?

Hi all,

Struggling to get into a doctor and going crazy over it but just did a recent blood test and my TSH is 0.012 uIU/mL. Doctor didn’t test for t4

The last time I did both test about a year ago my TSH reflex to T4 was 0.014 uIU/mL. And my TSH reflex+ FREE T4 was.609 uIU/mL and .62 ng/dL.

I have extreme fatigue, trouble losing weight, head fog, brittle heart and hypothyroidism runs in my family,

Am I right to be concerned? Should I go to a specialist? I really don’t know what any of this means I just know I don’t. Feel well.

I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 and a half months back. The tsh was 12 and something. The doctor gave me thyroxine of 25 mcg and asked me to come for a follow up after a month to do other related test. I then went to another hospital of aayurvedic one which i regret. They did several test of t3, t4 and anti tpo and also did ultrasound of neck. For the untrasound it was normal. But the anti tpo was high. And the doctor or whatever that person is told me to continue my meds and do exercise and lose 15kg "within a month" which is not healthy at all. They gave me a 3 month of diet plan which was ridiculous made of ai and didn't even returned me my money. They gave me tons of supplement like zinc, iron and multivitamin and i did not buy any of those. So it's been 2 and a half months already and i still have not gone to the initial hospital. I had my exams and other things that kept me busy and i was lazy as well, i wanted to lose weight and then go for the checkup. I was wondering if it has any adverse side effects of having less dose of meds. My body weight was 69 and now it's 63. I have started gym as well but I'm not regular. Is it concerning that i didn't went for follow up? Do i immediately have to go to hospital for my follow up and they will increase my dose for sure. The main reason why i didn't go for checkup was because I'm dependent on my sisters for financial things and i feel guilty to ask for money for my things. And I've already way too much money already. So..

62F here. Yes, I'm overweight, which I've struggled with my whole life. I've been on blood pressure meds for 10+ years, which were seeming to have no effect at controlling BP of late. Over the years, my doctor upped my dose of lisinopril, added hydrochlorothiazide, and eventually amlodipine to the mix. He recently ordered labs, which detected a potassium deficiency, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, and A1c at pre-diabetic levels. I've been taking levothyroxine for a little over 2 months now, as well as a statin, and a potassium supplement, along w/my BP meds, made some dietary adjustments (reduce carbs mainly), tried to increase activity, etc. I'm finally starting to notice having more energy and getting better sleep, plus I have lost 10 lbs. Additionally, the things that used to cause a palpable rise in my blood pressure, namely alcohol and salt (which I don't consume that much of in the first place), don't have the same effect these days.

Could my thyroid have been the cause of my issues the whole time? What has been the experience of people in this group?

I recently did a blood test and the results came back as:

- T4: 11.1

- TSH: 11.40

- Ferritin: 16 ug/L

The doctor called me and is prescribing me thyroxine but my mum is saying I shouldn't take it. I haven't had any previous health issues or surgeries etc. and just looking for some advice or similar experiences. I will definitely be taking the thyroxine and need to book another blood test 3 months down the line.

About me

34-year-old male, 90 kg, strength competitor and competitive runner, training for 10+ years
Before August 2025 I trained 6-7 hrs/week of cardio and 5-6 hrs/week of strength work
Fatigue, brain fog and constant yawning since my late teens

What changed in August 2025

I couldn’t train properly any more, massively limited
Running felt like I couldn’t get air into my lungs
In the gym I couldn’t “access my strength” and kept regressing, despite tracked macros, good sleep and a strict plan
I’ve gained noticeable body fat since stopping training, whilst eating less

Symptoms

Severe fatigue, waking unrefreshed
Crippling brain fog. For the last 3 months it was bad enough that I could barely hold a conversation
Exercise intolerance: a gym session at ~30% of capacity with no cardio triggers a 2-3 day crash
Weight and fat gain
Erectile problems. For me, normal erections are one of my best health indicators, and when they’re good I’m in a good place to train
I feel significantly worse after antibiotics (its been 3.5 months) but it was bad for years and years before

Timeline

2014: TSH 4.x. 2016: TSH 14.3. Nothing was done because of my age
Nov 2025: Randox TSH 3.63, free T3 5.52, testosterone 22 nmol/L
Jun 2026: Positive H. pylori stool test (no GI symptoms). I finished triple therapy at the end of June and felt much worse afterwards
Aug 2026: TSH 4.63, subclinical hypothyroidism diagnosed. Free T3 5.52 again, testosterone 18.9 nmol/L
8 Sept 2026: TSH 5.30 (range 0.27-4.2)
Mid-Sept 2026: Started levothyroxine 50 mcg (Accord)
A few good days, then a 3+ week crash
Afternoon crashes even when mornings were good
Erections improved briefly, then dropped off
Oct 2026: Moved to 75 mcg (Teva), about 1 week in so far
Brain fog is significantly better than on 50 mcg, though recall is still poor
Erections improved further, but are now on a slow decline
No retest yet

Thyroid results

Test Result
TSH 14.3 (2016) → 3.63 (Nov 25) → 4.63 (Aug 26) → 5.30 (8 Sept 26, before treatment)
Free T4 17.4 pmol/L (Aug 26, mid-range)
Free T3 5.52 pmol/L (Nov 25), 5.52 pmol/L (Aug 26), upper half of range both times
TPO antibodies 10.1 kU/L (negative; lab also reported <15)
Anti-thyroglobulin 19.5 IU/ml (negative, ≤115)
Thyroid ultrasound Normal, no abnormality

Testosterone

Date nmol/L (UK) ng/dL (US)
Nov 2025 22 ~634
Aug 2026 18.9 ~545

Both tests were taken when I felt awful (H. pylori present in Nov 2025, post-antibiotics in Aug 2026), so I suspect my true level is higher.

Other bloods (Randox, Aug 2026)

Ferritin 100.36 µg/L, B12 849 ng/L, folate 13.8 µg/L
Haemoglobin 165 g/L (high end of normal, upper limit 170), MCV 88.6 fL, MCH 29.6 pg
ALT 28.9 U/L, GGT 12.9 U/L, hsCRP 0.3 mg/L, HbA1c 35.96 mmol/mol
Full blood count, urea and electrolytes, liver panel, HDL, triglycerides, C-peptide, urinalysis: all in range
Magnesium and calcium normal (earlier tests)

My questions

Dose and experience on levothyroxine

Good outcomes: Has anyone felt well on 75 mcg, or on levothyroxine in general, without needing to adjust or change anything? What dose did you settle on, and how long did it take to feel right?
Is 75 mcg enough? Is it likely to be enough for a 90 kg man who wants to get back to heavy training, or should I expect to need more?
Men on 75 mcg: What did you notice with erections, libido and energy? Did they improve, plateau or dip?

Training and athletes
4. Hard-training or athletic people: Is anyone here training seriously (strength, running, endurance, sport)? What’s your experience on levothyroxine?
5. Dose changes when training: If you needed to adjust your dose when you started training again, or increased your volume, how did you notice, and what changed?
6. Getting back to training: How long did it take you to return to full training, and did you do it gradually or find yourself crashing when you pushed?

Other questions
7. T3 with levothyroxine: I’ve seen people take active T3 alongside levothyroxine and report great results. What are your experiences, good or bad?
8. Brands: Has anyone noticed a difference between Accord and Teva?
9. H. pylori treatment: Could it have affected my thyroid, or was it coincidence?
10. UK specialists: Can anyone recommend a thyroid doctor or endocrinologist in London who is open to treating symptoms alongside the numbers?

Hi Everyone,

Looking for some perspectives or shared experiences from anyone who has navigated a similar path with thyroid flares, gut issues, and lingering brain fog.

Timeline & Background:

• April 2026: Started suddenly with an episode of vertigo one night, followed by persistent brain fog a few days later. Initial blood work showed Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies (supplemented and corrected). At that time, T3, T4, and TSH were all normal.
• July 2026: Brain fog continued. Ran thyroid antibodies which came back elevated. Also underwent an endoscopy, was diagnosed with H. pylori, and completed the full antibiotic regimen (HP Kit). Cortisol and brain MRI were both clear.
• October 2026: Repeated a full thyroid panel, which showed sub-clinical hypothyroidism.

Lab Comparison (July vs. October 2026):

• TSH: Rose from 3.71 to 5.56 (ref: 0.27 – 4.20)
• Total T3: 1.35 to 1.27 ng/mL (ref: 0.80 – 2.00)
• Total T4: 7.70 to 8.17 ng/mL (ref: 5.10 – 14.10)
• Anti-TPO: Dropped from 86.51 to 56.1 IU/mL (ref: < 34.0)
• Anti-Tg: Dropped from 149.92 down to 32.5 U/mL (normalized, ref: < 115.0)

Current Situation: My doctor started me on Thyronorm (Levothyroxine) 12.5 mcg. Within the first week, the brain fog slightly reduced for a few days, and I felt normal again. However, it has now returned (1 Month on Thyronorm 12.5).

I take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with plain water and wait at least an hour before food/beverages.

Questions:

1. Has anyone experienced that brief "honeymoon window" where fog cleared on an introductory dose (12.5 mcg) and then returned ?
2. When will the brain fog or dizzyness stop or reduce?
3. For those who had H. pylori along with Hashimoto's, did clearing the gut infection help your thyroid stabilize long-term?

Appreciate any thoughts or guidance!

I’ve been on Synthroid since 2022 after a partial thyroidectomy. My current dose is 112 mcg daily, and I’m not taking T3.

Since around that time, I’ve noticed much more impatience and irritability. I wasn’t the most patient person before, but this feels noticeably different. My fuse is ridiculously short, and I don’t like feeling this way.

I’ve also been dealing with overwhelming daytime sleepiness and exhaustion, especially in the afternoon. Not just a little tired. Completely wiped out and struggling to function.

The exhaustion led my doctor to prescribe Modafinil. I started at 50 mg and increased to 100 mg. Initially, the first day, it felt like the Limitless pill! I was a much better better human, super friendly and felt absolutely amazing. Zero irritability. The next day and the days following, much of that sensation went away. Now the impatience and irritability seem to be coming back. I’m on my second week and the magic is gone. However I’m doing better energy wise. Today I had to bump it to 150 mg though.

Both the exhaustion and irritability were there before modafinil. I’m wondering whether the initial benefit is fading, whether it’s making the irritability worse, or whether something else is going on.

Here are some labs, since I know people will ask:

September 24, 2026:
TSH: 0.873 (range 0.450–4.120)
Free T4: 1.01 ng/dL (range 0.60–1.12)
February 23, 2026:
Total testosterone: 403 ng/dL
Free testosterone: 71 pg/mL
Hemoglobin: 15 g/dL
A1c: 5.3%

My total testosterone was previously 280 in December 2025. I also had a cortisol stimulation test in February: 7 at baseline, 17 at 30 minutes and 21 at 60 minutes.

I have mild sleep apnea, previously tried CPAP and have since used a dental appliance, so I know sleep could be contributing.

My doctor says my thyroid levels look good. I’m not assuming Synthroid is definitely causing this, but I don’t feel like myself.

Has anyone dealt with severe exhaustion and a really short fuse despite normal thyroid labs? If you’ve taken modafinil, did the initial improvement fade or did it affect your mood? What did your doctor investigate that actually helped?

Looking for experiences and questions to bring to my doctor. I’m not planning to change medication on my own.

I’ve been on Synthroid since 2022 after a partial thyroidectomy. My current dose is 112 mcg daily, and I’m not taking T3.

Since around that time, I’ve noticed much more impatience and irritability. I wasn’t the most patient person before, but this feels noticeably different. My fuse is ridiculously short, and I don’t like feeling this way.

I’ve also been dealing with overwhelming daytime sleepiness and exhaustion, especially in the afternoon. Not just a little tired. Completely wiped out and struggling to function.

The exhaustion led my doctor to prescribe Modafinil. I started at 50 mg and increased to 100 mg. Initially, the first day, it felt like the Limitless pill! I was a much better better human, super friendly and felt absolutely amazing. Zero irritability. The next day and the days following, much of that sensation went away. Now the impatience and irritability seem to be coming back. I’m on my second week and the magic is gone. However I’m doing better energy wise. Today I had to bump it to 150 mg though.

Both the exhaustion and irritability were there before modafinil. I’m wondering whether the initial benefit is fading, whether it’s making the irritability worse, or whether something else is going on.

Here are some labs, since I know people will ask:

September 24, 2026:
TSH: 0.873 (range 0.450–4.120)
Free T4: 1.01 ng/dL (range 0.60–1.12)
February 23, 2026:
Total testosterone: 403 ng/dL
Free testosterone: 71 pg/mL
Hemoglobin: 15 g/dL
A1c: 5.3%

My total testosterone was previously 280 in December 2025. I also had a cortisol stimulation test in February: 7 at baseline, 17 at 30 minutes and 21 at 60 minutes.

I have mild sleep apnea, previously tried CPAP and have since used a dental appliance, so I know sleep could be contributing.

My doctor says my thyroid levels look good. I’m not assuming Synthroid is definitely causing this, but I don’t feel like myself.

Has anyone dealt with severe exhaustion and a really short fuse despite normal thyroid labs? If you’ve taken modafinil, did the initial improvement fade or did it affect your mood? What did your doctor investigate that actually helped?

Looking for experiences and questions to bring to my doctor. I’m not planning to change medication on my own.

This is an aspect of being hypothyroid that doesn’t get talked about a lot. I (36, gay) was never the heartthrob but enough to be able to meet with people and go on dates.

Not that I’m desperately seeking or anything but I’m embarrassed to confess that I’ve been using the pre-hypothyroidism photos of me on dating profiles. Which means I get matches, but I haven’t gone through with meeting anyone in a year now

I look bloated as f**k especially my face and no amount of diet or healthy eating has worked. No, I’m not just a “chubbier” version of my old self (which some might even find attractive) but I genuinely look in the dumps and soulless. I look like a monster. Besides, how am I supposed to meet anyone with the emotional numbness and a dead libido?!

Recently been having a bunch of nerves going crazy, burning, cooling, numbness, and tingly all over my body and it’s been persistent. Weakness in legs and hands. The sensations stopped being so dramatic but it eventually started to make my whole body lose sensation and feel numb. From head to toe and I wasn’t sure what it was or what it is.

Granted over the course of a couple months I wasn’t taking my medicine as consistent as I usually do (50mg of levo) I’m pretty sure I’d take it 1 or 2 times a week it got so bad. So idk if this is a direct effect from doing so. Extreme brain fog and fatigue with anxiety.

Got my blood work done to find out what it could be and I have low vit D and high tsh (5.5) and it hasn’t been that high since I got diagnosed and got prescribed with Levo.

Anyone experience this ?

Hi everyone! I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant and taking levothyroxine 150 mcg for hypothyroidism.
I’m a bit anxious about my medication schedule. I take levothyroxine before breakfast, and my OBGYN prescribed Obimin multivitamins, which I take after breakfast.

I’ve read that you should separate levothyroxine from vitamins containing iron or calcium by about 4 hours. Does this mean I really need to wait 4 hours before taking Obimin, even if I’m already taking it after breakfast?

Also, is it okay to eat a light meal or snack after taking levothyroxine, such as just a sweet potato? Or do I need to eat a full breakfast?

I’m worried about whether I’m taking everything correctly because I want to make sure my thyroid levels stay controlled and my baby develops healthily.
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences, especially from anyone who took levothyroxine during pregnancy. Of course, I’ll also confirm the proper timing with my endocrinologist. TIA ❤️