I have Hashimotos and was taking thyroxine. Before thyroxine I was a size 8. On thyroxine at dose of 150 mugs am now size 18. My tsh has always been 10. My t4 sits on about 12-15 on thyroxine t3 not sure and thyroid per oxidase antibodies 547. I'm gluten and lactose intolerant. Thyroxine contains lactose. Brain fog, extreme fluid retention and muscle cramps, muscle weakness really bad on thyroxine and losing sensation in my little finger and fourth finger, carpel tunnel bone aches bad on thyroxine. Gp said I neded to exercise. Before going on thyroxine I power walked 5 days a week, gym 3 days a week and size 8. On thyroxine I managed to in one year kayak around my local lake of 280 kms at 20 km spurts and this is when the 30 kg weight increase started. Yes the more I did the more weight went on. Brain fog so bad could not do simple chores like housework, etcand too embarrassed to have friends come over due to mess. I even tried natural thyroid but my t4 went to 8. It was then that I relished my thyroid was secondary to iodine deficiency and started taking 20 drops of Lugols iodine which is 50 Mgs. Felt better but not in combination with thyroxine. The more I complained to my gp the more he increased the dose causing extreme fatigue, weight gain and fluid retention everywhere. It was leaking out of my ankles and my face was so puffy. I stopped taking thyroxine three weeks ago and instantly my body began to repair. No fluid retention. No more bone aches muscle cramps etc. I went off it cause gp told me medication is working and my levels are normal and just need antidepressants. Told him to go on thyroxine 150 for three years and see how he felt. He would not tell me what my tsh or t4 was and said keep taking thyroxine. Most people with hashimotos want to know the figures and want to get and feel better. On iodine only andthyroidhealth capsules and it c 100 Mgs and vit b I feel limitless. My house is now clean, have finally caught up and I feel limitless and normal again. Not some doped out zombie with lead legs and brain so slow.you see my body was fighting the thyroxine. I wanted my cortisol levels to be checked and to be checked for addisons but gp refused. Iodine is antibacterial, antiviral, anti parasitic, and causes cancer cells to die.it is also essential for thyroid function and was the treatment for hashimototos when dr hashimotos first discovered the very first auto immune disease hashimotos in I think 1929. The problem is drug companies cannot patent iodine so cannot profit from it. Thyroxine makes your thyroid shut down. Yes. This is what modern medicine has decided is best for us. My brain fog is gone and I feel on top of the world. I have energy like you wouldn't imagine and I feel normal again. My fluid retention is subsiding and my appetite has decreased as I a eating healthy food only.on thyroxine I was eating healthy but it was just turning sushi to lard. Long way to go but I now feel the energy to exercise, and wake up fresh ready for housework and the day. Sorry for long post. Tried to condense last three years. Hope this helps someone.