Underactive Thyroid

hey all,
I had a blood test today to check if I have an underactive thyroid and I have to wait a week for the results. I'm kinda nervous because I think it could be positive, if it is then it would explain a lot of things and I could hopefully fix them. If not, well I don't really know what's going on with my body.

Has anyone got Hypothyroidism?

If so, what were your symptoms like before and how are you now its treated?

Please I would like to know cause I think it might ease my mind a little even if I'm worrying over nothing, thanks in advance! xxx

Today I just got my tsh test results. My TSH has been fluctuating from 5.75 to 4.74 and it has gotten worse on birth control pills. This explains my inability to lose weight, my dry skin and my fatigue. My doctor wants me to start taking synthroid 25mcg dose  but I'm scared to death. My wedding is in June and I'm so scared my hair will fall out or I'll gain weight. Does anyone take meds on these levels? Does anyone have any postivie comments for me? Will I have to take this med and increase the dose for the rest of my life??? HELP!

hi smurfybride....i have actually had a fairly positive experience.  my tsh levels were consistently 5.75 and i was put on levothyroxine (50mcg) two months ago.  i have had no real side effects except that the medicine tends to keep me up at night.  i just got my tsh levels checked last week and i am down to 1.75.  i have also noticed that my hair doesn't fall out in the shower like it used to before i went on the meds...the medicine maybe helping with that.

my doc plans to test every three months for the first year to make sure my tsh levels are in check and then move to every 6 months, etc.  hope this helps!

Old school didn't put you on thyroid until you had a TSH higher than about 8 but these days endocrinologists are recommending keeping TSH at 1-2 and titrating to symptoms.   I would see a specialist because you seriously sound like you need T4 (levothyroxine).  I definately would have put you on meds.

Original Post by smurfybride:

Today I just got my tsh test results. My TSH has been fluctuating from 5.75 to 4.74 and it has gotten worse on birth control pills. This explains my inability to lose weight, my dry skin and my fatigue. My doctor wants me to start taking synthroid 25mcg dose  but I'm scared to death. My wedding is in June and I'm so scared my hair will fall out or I'll gain weight. Does anyone take meds on these levels? Does anyone have any postivie comments for me? Will I have to take this med and increase the dose for the rest of my life??? HELP!

That is an extraordinarily low dosage, and you are going to have more problems by not taking a medications you need than starting something.  Remember this is not like a lot of drugs out there, this is not something foreign.  You are supposed to have this hormone in your body and it doesn't function properly without it.  In fact being without these meds can cause you to gain weight and your hair to fall out.  Please read other's experiences with hypothyroidism.  If you are really afraid there are bioidentical preparations out there.

I'm a rare case that was born without a thyroid altogether...I had a high-risk chance of being permanently brain damaged if I did not receive medication before I think 2 months. So I've taken Eltroxin all my life starting at 2 weeks old.

My sister also had goiter the size of a golf-balls removed, so she only has half her thyroid. She did gain weight, but then again she has terrible, terrible eating habits.

It is difficult to deal with...mostly the fatigue & depression. I get extremely dry and need moisturizer right after I take a shower or I will itch & crack and my skin will be so so tight, it just feels horrible. I need lip balm constantly...my hair does fall out a bit when I shower I lose about 20-30 hairs. I can't handle temperatures...especially too cold or too hot. It is kind of difficult to lose weight, and my periods are always out of whack. I'm pretty sure I shouldn't still be having these symptoms, though.

I read that millions of people with thyroid problems are under-treated, which I think I am and everyone else should know about this, too. *Source*

I'm seeing my doc next week and I'm going to show him this. I know it sucks but you get used to it. Just make sure you have the right dose of medication..it takes a few weeks to adjust to see which is best.

It's crazy reading back on all these posts since I first put this post up on CC! When I started this I wasn't even sure I had hypothyroidism and now I am going for my third blood test in two weeks time to find out if I need medication once and for all. Symptoms have been much worse lately so I really hope that all goes well and will keep people updated because you all want to know ;)

Staying positive as always x

Obrules, you're right, it is a very low dose and it is something that should be naturally occuring in my body. Thanks all for responding and luthien for posting! :) I've had an extraordinarlily difficult time with my symptoms. Hypothyroid and other autoimmune disorders run in my family. I got tested for everything under the sun thinking I had rheumatoid arthritis, but have come up negative for pretty much all autoimmune disorders. I know I need this med but I'm afraid of the repercussions either way I guess. Darned if you do and darned if you don't. :(

Original Post by bobbybelle:

hi smurfybride....i have actually had a fairly positive experience.  my tsh levels were consistently 5.75 and i was put on levothyroxine (50mcg) two months ago.  i have had no real side effects except that the medicine tends to keep me up at night.  i just got my tsh levels checked last week and i am down to 1.75.  i have also noticed that my hair doesn't fall out in the shower like it used to before i went on the meds...the medicine maybe helping with that.

my doc plans to test every three months for the first year to make sure my tsh levels are in check and then move to every 6 months, etc.  hope this helps!

This is very encouraging. Thank you. I've been feeling so frustrated and alone and annoyed that this is happening 4 months before my wedding. Is levothyroxine the same as synthroid? I'm just hoping this med will help my memory, libido, fatigue, skin and the ability to lose weight as it corresponds to my effor! I'm happy for you that you have had some success :)

it is my understanding that levothyroxine is the generic of synthroid.  from what i have read, some people have more side effects with levo than synthroid.  from a weight loss perspective, i haven't noticed much difference.  i lost a couple of pounds in the beginning (only 2 lbs), gained them back and then maintained my normal weight.  i will admit that i am not trying to lose weight at the moment..so, can't comment too much on the ability to lose weight.  it has definitely helped my fatigue...probably too much!

best of luck and congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding!!!

Thanks bobbybelle! Yes I have heard that the generic can be unstable dosewise. I have also heard that if you start with generic you should stay on generic and if you start on brandname stay on brand name. I don't know why they allow people to use something that isn't doing exactly what it is supposed to (?) but it sounds like you are having relative success and I'm very encouraged. As long as you aren't gaining, that is good! I'm putting together a blog to 'chronicle' my wedding preparations...I'm hoping that will help me focus on maintaining if not hopefully losing my weight so that I can post pictures on there!

Original Post by smurfybride:

Thanks bobbybelle! Yes I have heard that the generic can be unstable dosewise. I have also heard that if you start with generic you should stay on generic and if you start on brandname stay on brand name. I don't know why they allow people to use something that isn't doing exactly what it is supposed to (?) 

 It is kind of funny because some generics are unreliable but that is not the case with Levothyroxine (Brand Name Synthroid/Compound Name Levothyroxine) for some reason the bioavailability of different generics is different.  So within a brand name generic the med is the same but between labs and brands they are different.  So as long as you stay with the same brand (there are multiple different types of generics) you are OK.

I have been on the generic version of synthryoid (25mg) for the last 3 years. Admittedly, I am not very good at taking the medication at the same time everyday. I feel better than I did before I started taking it, but I still don't feel normal. I still gain weight (although not as fast as I did the year before I started medication - I gained 16lb in less than a year), I am still tired, can't stay on task some days, my memory is horrible (don't know if that is a symtom of hypothyroidism or just getting older - but I'm only 30), my hair finally started getting thicker and not coming out in chunks, but I have NO sex drive and feel like I could strangle my family for the slightest thing some days (Why do we always take things out on our family?). My yearly blood test has been normal since I have been on my medication (and at one time we were going through a hard financial time and I hadn't gotten my meds for about 4 months), but I'm back on them regularly now... I am going to go back to the dr next week and talk to him about this. I just don't feel right! Anyone else had any experience where the blood tests say your normal, but you dang sure don't feel that way!?

I just started a low dose of synthroid as I said earlier 25mg, and it seems to have jump started my period 2 weeks early, cramps and all. Has anyone else had this experience?? I was regular before Lutera and Synthroid, I just had awful cramps which is why I got on the pill.

funny you mention this actually....i just had breakthrough bleeding this month (i am on my 2nd month of levo and have been on the pill FOREVER with no breakthrough).  just thought it was kind of random this happened, but reading your post am wondering if it was the levo!!

Hi Bobbybelle,

Isn't it somethin'? I think I was better off before the pill with excruciating cramps! Yeah, I guess the hormones shake things up a little. Sometimes women who are hypo have irregular periods, I read that Synthroid helps them--not sure about what it does to those with fairly normal peroids. (!) The synthroid also created some sort of lactose intolerance in me, I think. I was having all kinds of GI issues (sorry everyone too much info I'm sure!!) But people need to know this! My doctor was doubtful because I'd never really had lactose issues until I told her a lactose enzyme pill quieted my tummy within minutes! I swear I feel like I'll never get it right! How is the weight loss going for you Bobby? Any progress?

Original Post by smurfybride:

Thanks bobbybelle! Yes I have heard that the generic can be unstable dosewise. I have also heard that if you start with generic you should stay on generic and if you start on brandname stay on brand name. I don't know why they allow people to use something that isn't doing exactly what it is supposed to (?) but it sounds like you are having relative success and I'm very encouraged. As long as you aren't gaining, that is good! I'm putting together a blog to 'chronicle' my wedding preparations...I'm hoping that will help me focus on maintaining if not hopefully losing my weight so that I can post pictures on there!

In the uk they seem to give me a different generic brand every time, I've never noticed a difference between them. If you were on a very low dose i guess the differnce between 24 and 26mg might be noticable but most people seem to end up on about 100mg daily (i'm now 125mg) so they won't notice brand differnce really. I find the most stressful thing about being hypo is the confution. I can bairly have a conversation, can't find words, forget i'm talking. I must seem so thick! Dry skin is a close second though.

I wouldn't worry too much about having to go on thyroxine, it makes my life so much better (and most women my age take pills every day one way or another).

Thanks vwiggins, the fact that it has made your life better is very encouraging because everything I've read on line for the most part sounds a nightmare! I tend to be really sensitive for some reason. The first time I took the generic my body freaked out with welts on my palms, stomach ache and palpitations. I didn't sleep for 2 days--odd. When I took the brand name for synthroid I was fine except for my tummy--this last one Levoxyl seems to be okay for now. From the UK huh? Awesome! I plan on going there for my honeymoon!

Hi Luthien_j!

I've been following Jillian Michaels' "Making the Cut" book, and along with the diet and exercise regimen, she gives good advice about supplementing with vitamins and other things. Now, I don't know if this helps, and I'm not a doctor or anything, but she recommends supplementing with kelp to speed up an underproductive thyroid. She claims she has this condition and it has worked for her on firsthand experience; however, she also recommends consulting your doctor before going through with the supplementation. The iodine in the kelp can help, but may also be harmful in high levels.

Hope this helps, and good luck! =)

smurfybride: I hope you're coming in the summer because..... it really does rain a lot!

jaanarocks: I'm not sure about Kelp for a lot of people, if the dr says you're hypothyroid becuase of an iodine defitiency it would fix it, but the majority of yonger women with the problem have Hashimotos (which is autoimmune )so the healthier you are the faster it progresses! Thankfully my imune system has finished eating my thyroid so I'm as bad as I'll get!

Vwiggins, :) yes, we're coming in June (if no plans change). Out of curiousity, I just started thyroid treatment. For about 5 days I was on Synthroid and I felt okay except for my stomach/lactose intolerance. I switched to Levoxyl and the last 2 days I've been on it I've been exhausted. Is this normal in the beginning? At what point do I call the doc?? Any info would be so appreciated!!