I previously wrote articles about Hashitoxicosis but in this one, I want to relate my own experience with it plus share additional opinions I have in regard to this intermittent hyperthyroid condition that can happen to patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

When I began suffering thyroid disease symptoms in late 2002, many of them were classic hypothyroidism symptoms. In addition to these however, I was also experiencing alternating spells of hyperthyroid symptoms. At times these two different sets of symptoms would rapid cycle from one to the other.

Some Doctors may state that Hashitoxicosis can only be identified as such, if the hyperthyroid symptoms are severe however I believe that Hashitoxicosis can occur more commonly in milder forms. Just like there can be cases of sub-clinical Grave’s Disease (hyperthyroidism), I believe patients can also experience sub-clinical spells of Hashitoxicosis. It might be a better term to refer to these less severe hyper spells, as simply “thyroiditis flares” but regardless of the term used, these spells or phases result in mild to moderate symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

My Hashitoxicosis or “hypothyroid cycling with hyperthyroid” would happen more often at night when I was trying to fall asleep and in the mornings upon waking but at other times, could manifest anytime during the day as well. My thought patterns had nothing to do with these hyperthyroid spells and I knew it was not typical anxiety. I also do not experience sweating with anxiety and never have but with these hyperthyroid spells, I would sweat profusely and would soak the bed I would be laying on.

During several weeks of this hyper-phase cycling (my own term for it), I lost eight pounds of weight (I wish I had kept it off) but once these more severe hyperthyroid spells subsided, I became progressively hypothyroid. While I still have hyper phases from time to time, they are much farther between and are less severe.

I do still have the occasional mild spells of Hashitoxicosis or what might actually be better termed as “thyroiditis flares”. Just last month, my Doctor went over some blood retests I had done over an approximate six month period to monitor my hormone replacement therapy. There were clearly times I was borderline hyperthyroid and even slightly flagged-high on my dose of thyroid hormone replacement, while on previous and succeeding tests, I was only about mid-range or slightly above on my thyroid hormone levels, while taking the same dose of thyroid hormone medication. The fact is, some patients stay leveled out on their thyroid dose better than others and this can be a result of Hashitoxicosis/thyroiditis flares in my opinion.

In my opinion, mild Hashitoxicosis or if you prefer to call them thyroiditis flares, are more common than some medical sources believe and is also a factor in explaining why some Hashimoto’s patients struggle more than others with ongoing anxiety symptoms as well.


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