Kinda Scared
fultimers
Posts: 153 Member
Hi everyone,
I was just told today that I am hypothyroid after my lab test came back with a TSH of 4.45. My doctor prescribed 25 mcg of synthroid which I'll start tomorrow.
I don't know how long I could have had this condition but I did gain 30 pounds in the last year and a half. I'm always tired and need a nap almost every day.
What should I be expecting from here on out? Could this condition be the reason why I never lose more than 1/2 to 1 pound a week?
What have been your experiences? Did your doctor have to experiment with dosages of meds to find the right one for you?
Do you have to have a lot of lab tests done to see what your levels are?
Thanks in advance for your perspectives!
I was just told today that I am hypothyroid after my lab test came back with a TSH of 4.45. My doctor prescribed 25 mcg of synthroid which I'll start tomorrow.
I don't know how long I could have had this condition but I did gain 30 pounds in the last year and a half. I'm always tired and need a nap almost every day.
What should I be expecting from here on out? Could this condition be the reason why I never lose more than 1/2 to 1 pound a week?
What have been your experiences? Did your doctor have to experiment with dosages of meds to find the right one for you?
Do you have to have a lot of lab tests done to see what your levels are?
Thanks in advance for your perspectives!
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Replies
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It's great you were diagnosed and that you are getting treatment!
Lots of folks here will likely chime in with their own experiences and perspectives.
I was diagnosed in early March of this year, and it was definitely an up and down process every 6 weeks until late June when I finally had what both felt like the right dose and resulted in good looking lab results. I went in each 6 weeks (it takes about that long for your body to fully stabilize on a dose), and had my TSH, free T4, and free T3 measured each time. (Make sure your doctor is ordering all 3 of these labs, as it's important to know how much actual thyroid hormone is being produced.) At the beginning, they also checked my antibody levels (to try to determine the cause of the hypothyroidism), as well as my ferritin (the storage form of iron), and vitamin D stores.
With each dose increase (every 6 weeks), I'd feel hot and off for a day or two, great for a few days to a week, awful for a week, then gradually more even up until the next dose change when the pattern would repeat. My sleep was seriously off for a few months (which was very frustrating), and I have definitely been having hair loss as a side effect, though the seems to be improving now.
I feel vastly better on the right dose of medication (I'm on synthroid and a small dose of cytomel), and am also taking a good multivitamin to make sure I'm getting enough iron, selenium. I'm also taking a vitamin D supplement. I have a lot more energy, no dry skin, am a normal temperature (mostly). The weight loss has been slow- 1 lb every 10-12 days, but I'll take a slow loss over none!
The process is maddenly slow and can be really frustrating initially. Just keep track of your symptoms; make sure you take your medication several hours apart from any supplements (esp with calcium and iron), high fiber, or caffeine; make sure your doctor measures TSH, free T3, and free T4 at each blood draw; experiment with what time you take your medicine (early morning or bedtime) to find what works best for you; and consider having your doctor check for other nutritional deficiencies since many hypo folks have them and nutrients like vitamin D and selenium are crucial for making your medicine work optimally.
I hope you'll start feeling better soon!0 -
With each dose increase (every 6 weeks), I'd feel hot and off for a day or two, great for a few days to a week, awful for a week, then gradually more even up until the next dose change when the pattern would repeat.
I think maracuya23 covered it pretty well, but I am esp glad the above was mentioned. I recently upped my dose and was having the hot episodes. I'd go to bed freezing and then later I'm burning up. I was scared I was taking too much of the medicine.
I have the hair loss problem too. It seems to increase for a bit when I up my meds. You might start to notice it once you start your synthroid (if you haven't noticed already), don't be alarmed.
It can definitely be the reason you had trouble losing weight and are feeling worn out. There are sooooo many symptoms, it's crazy. A great page for you to check out would be www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. There are lots of great links and info for someone new to thyroid issues.
Getting things leveled out will take some time and you probably will get frustrated, but hang in there.0 -
It's great you've been diagnosed.
My advice would just be read lots about it and take your meds.
Dont be scared getting put on the meds as they will hopefully start helping you. There is a lot to take in!
Check stopthethyroidmaddness.com loads of info.
The weight does off slowly but the main part there is it does come off! You might need to try different meds until something works for you or fix any underlying problems.
I'm also glad someone else has mentioned the being hot part!! My feet and hands will be totally freezing. Then i go out shopping and i am sweating like anything! Have tried every deodorant in the stores lol0
