New and A Little Confused...

Aswennu

Hello out there!

I had some blood work done last week and have just been diagnosed as having hypothroidism. I'm a little shocked/scared by this and I don't really know what that means for me. I was delighted to find this group, as I feel learning about other people's experiences can only be helpful. I just started taking synthyroid a few days ago, so far it isn't too terrible. I felt very nervous and energetic last night though, so I skipped today's dose to give my body a little break and will try again tomorrow (if the same thing occurs I'll have to go back to the doctor and try finding something else I guess..). Has anyone had any issues with this medication? I've heard some things about really helping out this issue and would curious to learn about what is and isn't working for others.

As far as weight loss is concerned, I'm hoping getting this issue addressed will help that as well. I don't think that a magic pill will melt the fat away, but I'm hoping it will help kick my recently found good habits into gear. I've been obese for the last five years or so and have been working hard to get healthy for the last two. Nothing seemed to work for me until I paired drastic calorie cutting with cardio. I love weightlifting and used to do longer, harder workouts and would only ever see a boost in muscle, not any fat loss. Has anyone seen any changes in weight loss/gain since they've treated themselves? I don't really know what I'm in for with this thing and would just love to hear about other people's experiences.

Thanks for reading : )

Duchy82

I was diagnosed myself in 2010 and gained the good part of 25kg (roughly 55lbs) during the end of 2009 and 2010 ending up eventually with a bmi of 36.
I started on 25mcg of levothyroxine (UK version of synthroid) and slowly building up to 200mcg over a few years with blood test in between. Synthroid is a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone T4 and it replaces what your thyroid no longer makes itself. Stick with it, it can take a little time to get used to it and to let it build up in your system if it makes you really unwell try taking say half a tablet for a week or two before building it up to a whole one and slow it down even more that what your doctor will have told you to do.

If you take to synthroid life really doesn't have to be any different than before except for taking a pill very day, make sure you take them either in the morning about an hour before food or in the evening on an empty stomach (I tend to not eat from around 9pm not so strict with drinks) it works better for some people to take them at night I certainly never looked back after changing to the evening.


I completely understand that you haven't managed to lose any weight and you will probably struggle for a while yet until an optimal dose of synthroid is reached, it took me to 175mcg before I started to lose any and unfortunately like you say it isn't a miracle weightloss pill it will still be as hard to lose the weight as for people that are not hypothyroid. I have managed to lose 22.5kg (49.5lbs roughly) since starting to calorie count so still a little bit to go before being back at my pre-hypo weight and I would like to lose more than that still, but taking it slow and steady I rather do it that way than get super strict and making it impossible to stick to.

sorry about the essay good luck on your journey to getting well and lighter

T1DCarnivoreRunner

I'm of the opinion that the Synthroid makes sense to help with hypothyroid, but you also need to understand why because it will help you plan for the future.

For example, I have Hashimoto's... that tells me that I will always be on medication for the rest of my life, and will probably need more and more as time goes on. At least I know what to expect.

Fuzzipeg

I second Martine's message. UK here again. I found the, Stop the thyroid Madness, site helpful when trying to understand all that was not working properly. Simply looking at the headings which caught my eye on the site, was the way I progressed my understanding. I have wished I made some notes. It can feel as if you are expected to know what is going on.

I also took to taking my dose at night because my throat symptoms were preventing me sleeping. I just went for it knowing it works well for others. This was when I graduated from 25 mcg to 50, I had been told, I was not taking in enough at that point. Taking it at night made sense to me because it is available when it is needed, the body is believed to do repairs and things during sleep when other demands are not being made of it.

Weight is taking a back burner for me at the moment. I've lived with unaddressed T issues for what feels like a life time, feeling well, while not going overboard is what I am trying for now. I hope for another increase in levo from Monday. Weight came off when my thyroid balance was better. Just needs time.

Etherlily1

I take the generic of synthroid (levothyroxine). My issue was caused by taking lithium off and on for seventeen years. Talk to your pharmacist about any other medications you are taking for interactions of the medicine and with the thyroid. They tend to know more about the pills than the doctors. My pharmacist has twice caught something that when mixed together would have induced seizures.

Aswennu

Wow! Thank you all so much for the thoughtful responses! I really appreciate the time and effort you each put into your responses. It's incredible to be able to discuss this with other people who've had so much experience dealing with this-it makes me feel far less scared and alone, thank you : )

I haven't been on my synthyroid medication long (25mcg), but I have already experienced some of the weird symptoms my doctor warned me about. I sometimes feel like there is a stampede inside of me, my insides are buzzing, and I feel like I can feel my heart throughout the entirety of my torso. My sleep was disrupted today because of it... I've been taking my pill in the morning and haven't tried the evenings yet. My doctor told me to immediately stop taking the medication if I experienced any of this stuff, so I'm thinking of calling her tomorrow to see if I should try taking it a different time or splitting it in half (that's a brilliant idea, as far as I'm concerned!). I really want this treatment to work!

I've been trying to conceive for a while now and my doctor told me that this might be something that has been blocking that path. Has anyone had any issues with this?

Thanks again for being so kind, I really appreciate it : )

Fuzzipeg

Sorry to read you are starting to experience symptoms you were warned about. Yes, talk to your doctor as soon as is reasonable.

Many women experience fertility issues sometimes they are related to having thyroid imbalances. When you consider the thyroid is responsible for the control of our reproductive cycles as well as so many other systems within our bodies it is surprising more care is not taken, or better advice given into how to support our thyroid rather than as some do, take the talk of thyroid issues as an excuse for not being well rather than the reason for real issues.

I hope the cause of your conception issues are soon resolved.