changed thyroid med - getting results finally!

Nursejuliej

I just wanted to share with anyone out there struggling with hypothyroidism. My doctor recently switched me from synthroid 125mcg & cytomel (T3) 25 mcg daily to now Nature Throid 1 1/2 grain daily. I've been taking it now for a couple weeks and the scale is finally starting to budge! The initial dose change was to 1 grain daily and my numbers dropped from high to low. I initially felt horrible, but he switched my dosage based on my levels and symptoms. He's watching me closely (lab draws every two weeks of free T3, free T4 & tsh) until my levels get in the right range and I'm asymptomatic.

Anyway, I'm so excited about how much better I'm feeling and to finally seeing the scale move a little. I've been so frustrated over the past few months. I exercise 6 days a week and eat very healthy within the calorie range - the scale just kept going up 3 and then slowly down 3 and so on....

Hoping to continue on the great path. Will keep you all posted!

helthymom6

that is wonderful. I am going to my doctor tomorrow to talk to her about my thyroid. I have been doing everything I am suppose to but I am not losing well. we'll see what she says.

sarabellum

That sounds like exactly what I've been going through - I've been working out and eating well for almost a year and have seen barely any results - I made an appointment with my doctor and am now waiting for the results of my bloodwork.

I'm so happy to see that you're getting some results now - good for you and keep us posted!!!

kat05317

That's great!
I take my meds and so much of my hair still comes out, did you have that problem?
Congrats!

calmmomw3minimeez

Hello. I'm glad I found this thread...I have been working out and watching my cals and my scale keeps going up...went for a checkup 3 wks ago and I asked for my thyroid levels to be checked. I haven't gotten the results back yet but I have been suspecting that I may have a problem due to the following symptoms: hair loss, fast wgt.gain, feel nautious in the morning. I know I'm not pregnant, so if you could please post a list of symptoms of hypothyroidism to me that would be great to help me out until I get my test results back and I'll let you know. You can add me if you like...thanks!:flowerforyou:

VickiMitkins

Hello. I'm glad I found this thread...I have been working out and watching my cals and my scale keeps going up...went for a checkup 3 wks ago and I asked for my thyroid levels to be checked. I haven't gotten the results back yet but I have been suspecting that I may have a problem due to the following symptoms: hair loss, fast wgt.gain, feel nautious in the morning. I know I'm not pregnant, so if you could please post a list of symptoms of hypothyroidism to me that would be great to help me out until I get my test results back and I'll let you know. You can add me if you like...thanks!:flowerforyou:

I've been hypo for 20 years. The symptoms are vague - but many - some are listed below:
hair loss
cold sensitively (get cold easily and it's difficult to get warm again)
menstral irregularity
sluggishness
dizziness
constipation
skin sensitivey - I hated for anything to touch me
dry skin

Hope that helps. I had all of the symptoms above at age 24 . It took another 5 years to actually have a diagnosis because I was much younger than typical. The symptoms are not really much of an issue for many but the effect on later health is big. Untreated it can cause bone loss, heart problems, etc.

calmmomw3minimeez

Oh my goodness, thank you so much! I have gone at least 2 years with definitely 5 of those symptoms and last year I found out about my being severely vitamin D deficient which did cause a lot of joint pain and weakness...I'm on megadoses of the D and my wrists, feet, and legs feel stronger now: but I'm about to call dr.'s office today to see if they have my bloodwork results in on the thyroid... I REALLY appreciate the list and you have been such a great help to me... thanks a bunch!!!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

AbiNichole

BUMP for my friend @sharper43

She was just talking about that. Hope it helps :-)

lovinlife71

Depression is also a symptom. I have been hypo for 11 years. My original complaint was post partum depression. I have been on synthroid for 11 years and have even switched doctors to see if he/she would change to a different med just for the reasons you stated...no luck! I think I may have to suggest a regimen like yours. THANKS for posting!

calmmomw3minimeez

I just talked to my dr. and my results did NOT show anything wrong with the thyroid...I was sure that something would show up but it didn't...however my blood sugar and cholesterol were elevated and I'm still low on that vitamin D...I guess that's where my symptoms are coming from...I'll wait a little longer to see if any of these symptoms go away with the D megadoses and keep working out and watching the cals for the glucose and triglycerides to come down, but if this keeps up, I think I'll get a second opinion, because doc don't seem too concerned. Thank you guys for all of you help!:huh: :ohwell:

Serenitytoo

Glad to hear your finally feeling results. :flowerforyou:

I just had blood taken this morning to check mine again. I tried Cytomel back in the beginning and it didn't seem to help so I have been on synthroid only since. My Dr can't seem to get my levels regulated and recently bumped me up to 164.5 (I am thinking that is still too low). For some reason mine fluctuates with little indication why. I lost 80lbs in 2009 relatively easily (counting cals and working out) but this time round has been much harder to get the scale to move and I still have quite a way to go.

macjenkins

Thanks for this post! I've had Hypo since the age of 12, now 28. I've seen some movement on the scales but am also wondering if a med change would make a difference. I go back to the doc in June so I'll ask then. Thanks again!

dirtyblue

Great to find this topic as Thyroid problems and the related meds can cause such horrible symptoms in our bodies. I suspected for many years I was hypo but my bloodwork would always come back normal. Well back in Sept 2010 I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. All I could think of was all the really hard work I did to loose 15lbs would be all gone! I got through the surgery and radiation treatment and was finally able to go on thyroid meds, but I was still feeling lousy...cold, tired, no energey, weight gain, achey - even though my T4 and TSH levels were in the "normal" range. So thankfully I found a doctor that finally listened to how I was feeling and didn't just go by the numbers on my bloodwork. So he put me on a combination of Synthroid (112mcg) and Cytomel (25mcg). I am feeling much better and the scale isn't continuing to climb anymore!!!

I am so glad to hear you are able to see results as well with your med changes! Good luck!!!

aeagles

I am as well and tried to get my doctor to listen to me about changing doses or meds, but she wouldn't even hear me out, so it's good to hear a success story like that!

sharper43

BUMP for my friend @sharper43

She was just talking about that. Hope it helps :-)

Thanks!

My advice to anyone that is on synthetic thyroid medication and are still suffering from hypothyroid-related symptoms really need to find a doctor that will prescribe an all natural thyroid medication! Most doctors WILL NOT do it! So keep hunting for the one that will.

I was diagnosed about 5 or 6 years ago and started immediately on Synthroid. A lot of my symptoms improved, but the weight gain was still awful. I went from endo to endo to endo. The results? The same. At the last endo, I broke down crying, giving him a couple years worth of my diet and workout journal, proving to him that I really do diet and I really do workout. I was seriously at his mercy for help. What sucks is that most endocrinologists will not believe you if they look at the paperwork and see the numbers looks fine to them. I couldn't find an endo that would listen to me and hear what my symptoms are. All of them looked at the lab results and that was that.

Not only that...but they would only prescribe synthetic thyroid medication. Why? After asking two doctors for it and was denied both times, I did some research to find out that many doctors are paid by the pharmaceuticals to prescribe synthetic thyroid medication. They make way more money off of it than the natural.

I had to find an internal doctor that supported alternative medicine in order to FINALLY get a prescription for Armour. Eureka! I feel so much better! Don't get me wrong, I still have weight loss problems that drive me crazy! But I'm not gaining like I was, and most of my symptoms are non-existent. Not only that, but my internist also found out I had adrenal fatigue. This is something none of my endocrinologists never even thought about testing for. If you are sick of endos, then I suggest trying an internist.

If anyone is on synthetic medication, you are likely to be on T4-only medicine. Natural provides so much more for your thyroid (T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin). Please check this site out for more info on T4-only medicine and why it doesn't work.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work/

sharper43

I just talked to my dr. and my results did NOT show anything wrong with the thyroid...I was sure that something would show up but it didn't...however my blood sugar and cholesterol were elevated and I'm still low on that vitamin D...I guess that's where my symptoms are coming from...I'll wait a little longer to see if any of these symptoms go away with the D megadoses and keep working out and watching the cals for the glucose and triglycerides to come down, but if this keeps up, I think I'll get a second opinion, because doc don't seem too concerned. Thank you guys for all of you help!:huh: :ohwell:

make sure it was a FULL PANEL. most doctors only test for TSH. You need to have TSH, T4 and T3 tested. Get a copy of your lab results and make sure you are good!

calmmomw3minimeez

Will do...may also be changing docs too...thank you guys for all the info!!!

katapple

I show symptoms, but have normal thyroid levels. I have the antibodies for Hashimoto's Disease, so I will eventually have hypothyroidism...my question is, why not treat the disease before it destroys my thyroid??? Confused...oh well. Going back in 2 weeks for a biopsy on a nodule, I'll ask more then

Nursejuliej

Apparently it is difficult to find a good doctor who will listen to the patient. It is imperative that a lab draw include not only a TSH level, but also a Free T3 & T4. Last year I was on Synthroid 125 mcg only and my TSH was "normal", but I felt horrible, basically like I was in a brain fog all day. My T3 was still low. So, that is when my doctor tried Cytomel. For several months I felt much better; however, my T3 levels shot up to high and then my TSH level dropped, which indicated that my own level of thyroid function was getting worse. The Cytomel caused the T3 level to go to high after a few months, so my doctor chose to put me on Nature Throid so my own thyroid will start functioning better. This is ultimately the goal!

One of the risk of taking synthetic thyroid is your own thyroid function (which is indicated by the TSH level) will drop, showing you have too much synthetic on board. I know this seems confusing. I've done LOTS of research and worked very closely with my MD. He doesn't know of many other doctors who practice the way he does; however, I can tell you as his patient I'm so grateful I've found him. He has done a lot of research. Evidence shows that our fluoridated water actually can cause hypothyroidism. So, clearly there's an epidemic going on here! Just look at the response to this post.

Yesterday I spoke to my doctor about the problem patients have when communicating with their docs. It's so necessary to become your own strong advocate!!! If you can't get a doctor to listen to you, then change doctors. Ask around. Even some endocrinologist aren't clearly on board with the thyroid issues out there. I do believe; however, that with in 5 years, doctors will start catching on to all this. My own doctor always seems to be ahead of the community. He's had me on Vit D3 for almost 2 years now. I'm now taking 10,000 IU's daily and my numbers are still low, they are climbing, just very slowly. He said the goal is 50 - 70 on vit D3 level. Mine is now 38. When I started on D3 it was 17 (& I was pregnant).

I have my Vit D3 levels drawn every 4-6 weeks also.

Thank you everyone for your imput! I hope to keep posting great results here! I love this forum and MFP!