Thyroid issues

kgibbz

Hello, anyone who has thyroid issues hypo or hyper please weigh in. Tell me: whether you are hyper or hypo, if you're medicated, what meds you're on, If you know what your TSH was, and what symptoms led you to be tested.

It runs in my family and last time I was tested my TSH was 3.04 which my doc said was normal. I have been reading reports that .3-3.0 is normal which would make me above normal. I have a myriad of symptoms obviously including weight gain and I'd like to get others' point of view.

THANKS!

ginger_gnome

Hi, I've got hypothryroidism. I'm pretty settled now on medication (I take thyroxine) and have been so for the past seven or eight years.

My hypothyroidism was picked up when I had a miscarriage ... the doctor tested and my levels were too low. I don't know if it's medically correct or not but I had glandular fever 18 months before and had felt ill and weak ever since then ... the symptoms I experienced were the same as when I had glandular fever. Ironically I didn't experience any weight gain before I started medication ... but I've made up for it since having my children.

Hope that helps :-)

kgibbz

Thanks Ginger I appreciate it!

cari4jc1

I'm also hypothyroid. I'm on 60mg of Armour, just started that about 6 months ago I think. Before that a different doctor had me on 25 mg of levothyroxine. I can't remember for sure what my TSH level was at 1st...I think it was 1. something, but my T3 and T4 levels were pretty low. My TSH level is now around .1-.3...can't remember for sure, but my T3 and T4 levels are good.

My main symptoms were hair loss & extreme fatigue...the fatigue was absolutely debilitating. It took several months, but I finally am feeling better and almost like "normal".

If you do a search in the groups, there's a group for hypothyroid & hyperthyroid that's a great source of support and information.

MostlyWater

There are tons of us on the Board with thyroid issues. Do a search.

I have an underactive thyroid. With Synthroid and regular workouts, I managed to lose 25 lbs in middle age and keep them off.

kgibbz

Thank you both so much! Ill be joining your group today

jenbk2

I was just diagnosed with hypothyroid. My levels were 4.09. I am on 25 mg of levothyroxine.

Booksandbeaches

Hello, anyone who has thyroid issues hypo or hyper please weigh in. Tell me: whether you are hyper or hypo, if you're medicated, what meds you're on, If you know what your TSH was, and what symptoms led you to be tested.

It runs in my family and last time I was tested my TSH was 3.04 which my doc said was normal. I have been reading reports that .3-3.0 is normal which would make me above normal. I have a myriad of symptoms obviously including weight gain and I'd like to get others' point of view.

THANKS!

My husband has a hyperactive thyroid. He's not on anything for it right now. He can go months and months without any thyroid problems at all. When he can sense a flare up, his doctor tests him and gives him the medication for it whose name escapes me now. The first sign of something was was dramatic weight loss without any effort on his part. He didn't need to lose weight either. He had a racing heartbeat and felt hot all the time.

sjp_511

For a long time TSH levels below 5.0 were considered "normal" and not needing medication. Before then, the standards were even higher. As recently as 2008, I had a doctor say my medication level was just fine because my TSH of 9 was in the normal range. I was very tired and gaining weight even while dieting and exercising. Doctor said she didn't believe me when I described my diet and exercise and told me to eat 1200 calories. I think she also thought I had depression contributing to the weight gain - she told me to go to church and find a husband. She even wrote down a checklist for me the included my calorie limit, a list of churches I might like, and traits to look for in a husband. I have not been to that doctor since.

I then struggled for a while to find a doctor that would properly treat my thyroid. My current doctor was increasing my dose very slowly, targeting a TSH of 2.0. She was also checking my T4. When my sybthroid dose got up to 200mcg, she sent me to an endocrinologist. He agrees with the 2.0 target, but now wants to get me down to 1.0 since my husband and I have started to TTC.

So what I am saying is, the "normal range" for TSH has changed a lot over the last few years. And even though the current range with the 3.0 max is several years old, many doctors and labs are very slow to adopt.

Has you T3 and/or T4 also been checked? If they are alright, maybe your doc doesn't want to medicate you slightly high TSH?

Edited since I suck at typing on my phone

lunapetu0311

I was diagnosed 11 years ago with Hypothyroidism. I take 75 mcg of Synthroid daily. I don't know what my levels are -- I should ask but my doctor just tells me if it's okay or not I was experiencing frequent heart palpitations and extreme fatigue and that is when my doctor tested me and I was low. It's amazing that the symptoms almost immediately disappeared once I started taking the medication. I've never had an issue losing weight though.

Definitely go see a doctor and specifically ask to be retested. If they tell you are normal then maybe get a second opinion. Only because it runs in your family and you are experiencing symptoms. Good luck to you!

msthang444

I am hypothyroid. Just got diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. Tired. Weight gain. borderline depression. can't remember what's what, but one of my numbers was 5.3....

Taking levothyroxine.

Go back for followup tests in about 4 weeks.

mamato3inca

Are you seeing and Endocrinologist? The "normal" TSH levels have changed over the years and my Dr treated me when my TSH reached 3.0. My symptoms were fatigue and a little weight gain. I eventually had my thyroid removed because of nodules and my TSH went up to 18.0. Now that was horrible. I could hardly move I was so tired, brain fog, confusion and I gained like 10 pounds pretty quick. I would see an endo who will go off of your symptoms not just "numbers".

CarrieMac28

I have recently diagnosed hypothyroidism. I go to a holistic doctor, and he did extensive blood tests on me, and even though some of the levels he tested for came back in the "normal" range, he told me that our idea of normal is skewed because normal isn't synonymous with healthy, and he said he wants to look at what is optimal rather than what is considered normal. So he's treating me with Armour bioidentical thyroid med, as well as some hormone creams to help regulate various things to get me to optimal health.

Since I started my thyroid meds and hormone creams, I feel a LOT better and no longer need a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I even have less trouble getting out of bed at a normal time in the morning. I even think my hair is getting thicker! Hard to believe I have put up with these symptoms for 20+ years.

I'm taking new steps with diet and exercise, and hoping that losing weight will finally stick this time.

editorgrrl

If you do a search in the groups, there's a group for hypothyroid & hyperthyroid that's a great source of support and information.

Here's a link to the Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism

PinkyFett

I have Hashimoto's, I'm hypo, I have no idea what my TSH is because I haven't been tested in over a year, but tsh isn't the only one that matters.

I just started Armour 30 mg 2 months ago. I was on levo for about 2 years. This one is much better, but I'm still not where I should be.

RideRunRepeat

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease three years ago. I was mostly hypo...but with this disease it can flip back and forth. I'd strongly recommend you get the opinion of either a specialist or someone who really *understands* hormone problems...I went undiagnosed for years because all the GP's in my area (I tried many when no one could give me answers for my absolutely debilitating symptoms) until finally I went to a specialist and got correctly tested (NOT just TSH - that's not always the most accurate indicator) and my antibody count was literally off the charts. I had depression, severe fatigue and mental fogginess, couldn't remember more than 3 words at a time, was sleeping almost 12 hours a night and started having black outs. Of course the weight gain was there - 65 pounds overweight.

Now I'm on Nature Thyroid and I had to COMPLETELY change my life around...from what I ate, how I excised, and even my sleep patterns...I feel SOOOO much 100% better!! But in order for my body to heal I had to be willing to really change how not only I viewed myself but also how I treated my body.

kgibbz

Hi guys! I really appreciate everyone "weighing in" (no pun intended). I went to my OBGYN this morning for a second opinion since my PCP was "skeptical" that anything is really wrong with me. SO... she tested my TSH again. Im waiting for results,but she referred me to an endo anyway because of my symptoms. I'm going to make an appt with them soon.

SunShineBeastess

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease three years ago. I was mostly hypo...but with this disease it can flip back and forth. I'd strongly recommend you get the opinion of either a specialist or someone who really *understands* hormone problems...I went undiagnosed for years because all the GP's in my area (I tried many when no one could give me answers for my absolutely debilitating symptoms) until finally I went to a specialist and got correctly tested (NOT just TSH - that's not always the most accurate indicator) and my antibody count was literally off the charts. I had depression, severe fatigue and mental fogginess, couldn't remember more than 3 words at a time, was sleeping almost 12 hours a night and started having black outs. Of course the weight gain was there - 65 pounds overweight.

Now I'm on Nature Thyroid and I had to COMPLETELY change my life around...from what I ate, how I excised, and even my sleep patterns...I feel SOOOO much 100% better!! But in order for my body to heal I had to be willing to really change how not only I viewed myself but also how I treated my body.

I suffered for 2 years with this terrible life - NO ONE would look past the TSH "Normal" reading! Finally I changed GP and then was referred to Endo - I on my own researched and requested the "Anti-body bllod test" that is critical..it can cause you to go untreated because there are times your TSH is normal, but timing would have to be perfrect to catch it with just that test....YOU KNOW YOUR BODY!!! I knew laying on the floor - with a desk job - was not "NORMAL" regardless of blood test. Demand better care for yourself - it is amazing the different life I lead today vs 18 months ago.

Espressocycle

I'm hypo and for years I was under-medicated. The docs would always just tell me my labs were "normal" but they were keeping my TSK at 3.9 when 4 is "abnormal." I convinced my doc to add Cytomel to Synthroid because I thought I could benefit from combined T3/T4 therapy. That brought my TSH down around 2.5 and I feel much better. Not sure if the combined therapy makes a difference or if it's just the higher overall hormone dose, but I've been happy with this regimen for a couple years now.

I will point out, however, that I actually got fatter on the higher dosage, possibly because I'm awake a lot more hours which means more snacking.

QuietBloom

Hello, anyone who has thyroid issues hypo or hyper please weigh in. Tell me: whether you are hyper or hypo, if you're medicated, what meds you're on, If you know what your TSH was, and what symptoms led you to be tested.

It runs in my family and last time I was tested my TSH was 3.04 which my doc said was normal. I have been reading reports that .3-3.0 is normal which would make me above normal. I have a myriad of symptoms obviously including weight gain and I'd like to get others' point of view.

THANKS!

3.04 is only a tiny tiny bit over normal if you are going with a 0.3 to 3.0 spread. Be sure you keep getting it checked. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and have takimg synthetic thyroid for years.

WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr

Definintely go to the endo, my tsh was coming up normal and they thought nothing was wrong with me even though I was tired all the time, couldn't lose weight (actually gained 40lbs in a year in spite of eating right and exercising like crazy). Went to the endo and, of course she did a tsh, amongst a whole battery of tests and lo and behold, my tsh was at a 3.49 this time, she said I was in the early phase of a thyroid problem and by having the results from my PCP and then my allergist a few months later normal (my tsh was tested three times in 6 months all total) then hers that was out, she was able to tell what was going on. The other thing she discovered, which is also part of my problem is that I am insulin resistant (ie I am making more and more insulin to keep my blood sugar normal). so there may be more than just a thyroid problem going on, there may be something else too. I just got my meds stabilized for both (I'm on levothyroxine for the thyroid and metformin for the insulin) and I'm just now starting to lose weight.