I have Hashimotos too and I smoked for ten years, but believe me, I'd rather have this than lung cancer like my Dad who smoked for 50 years. To stop smoking is ALWAYS a good idea.

Right on yayagirl!

I did say "a part of me wishes", not that I completely regret quitting. I know things could be worse, but the Hashimotos has affected my life in a very negative way as well.

Just wondering how many of us were smokers.

I also have Hashimotos and have had it since 1970.Have had all my thyroid removed over the years.I never ever smoked,not even a puff.The dr's think mine was caused by xrays that were used in the 40's to try and cure my serious ear infection,also known as Mastoids.
Kathi

I am Hypothyroid. Just discovered a year ago during tests for other issues.

Chain smoked for 13 years before quitting in 1976. I got very fat but I was also having babies at the time. I did eventually lose the weight and kept it off for years so I don't think thyroid was the problem.

I smoked for almost 40 years and have been quit for almost 10. I have just been put on Synthroid, but can't say that it does anything for me. I gained 30 pounds after I quit and can't get rid of it.
Dee in Michigan

Taking thyroid meds won't make you lose weight, they just make your thyroid work like a normal person's thyroid. You have to lose the weight yourself. Generally, before being diagnosed, you become sluggish and achy and somewhat depressed, These conditions are what cause you to gain weight. Now you have to force yourself to move and cut calories. It's a pain but the only way.
Lydia I feel very bad for you. Any disease can be a challenge. All the effects you mentioned are part of the disease if not treated. If you're still having them then you need to tell your dr. Are you seeing a endocrinologist? Do you take a good daily vitamin? When I felt like you described my dr. ran some bloods to find out that I was dangerously deficient in vitamin D. She ran them because my symptoms (and yours) describe that deficiency to a T. She prescribed 50,000 units of D once a week for six weeks and then once a month for four months. I became a new person. All of my energy is back, the cloud lifted and I'm joyful again. I pray you can find the answers you need. Good luck.

Yayagal...I was also deficient in Vit D and B12. I take 5000+ units of Vit D3 daily (started at 50,000 a week like you) and I give myself B12 injections once a month. The unfortunate part of this is that no doctors ever suggested these tests.. I had to ask for them. I imagine there are a lot of people out there with serious deficiencies and not being treated for them!

I've been on pretty much all of the thyoid meds at one time or another. The past year I've been on 100 mcg of Cytomel daily... but something's still not quite right. My new doctor has put me on the newly formulated Armour so I'm hoping that will take care of my lingering symptoms.

I had Graves disease, was treated with radioactive iodine, and have been hypothyroid for 20 years. I have never smoked, not even tried it.