Thyroid Problems

Also,
I just looked at your profile and realized you are from Illinois! I live in Georgia now, but grew up a little south of there! Nice to see a fellow Illinoisian!

Get your thyroid checked by an endocrinologist, not your family doc, the endo will do a more thorough exam, especially since you have a family history of thyroid problems (I don't) and are exhibiting signs that it could be starting. My primary only did TSH test and kept telling me there was no thyroid problem, couldn't figure out why in spite of eating right and exercising I could not lose weight (in fact gained 40lbs in one year).
Went to endo with two TSH results from earlier in the year by primary, she did an extended thyroid panel (plus a whole bunch of other hormone tests that can cause symptoms similar to thyroid issues). This time my TSH level was out and my c-peptide result was also out, doc said that I was early stage hypothyroid (at the point that most of the time the level is in then it shoots out of range, eventually it would go out of range and stay out) and Insulin Resistant. Have been on meds for both since last summer, just starting to get things under control now that meds have leveled out. It means a long SLOW process for weight loss, but at least now I know what's wrong and can take care of myself.

Totally agree. Go to an endocrinologist. Also, my endo told me to never take the generic medicine. You will not get the exact same dosage in each pill as you would with the name brand. I'm been taking 125mcg of Synthroid for 10 years and the only reason I gain weight is when I eat too much.

I'm Hypo. The only symptom I really ever notice is a numbness in my hands and feet, so I'm not much help. If you're interested in talking to more MFPers with thyroid issues, we have a MFP group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism

I love this excuse, please continue.

You can get out of here with that. The only reason you clicked this post was to troll, not to offer any actual advice. Hypothyroidism can cause weight gain. And yes, there ARE those people that do use it as an excuse and aren't committed to diet and exercise, but don't assume that applies to everyone with hypothyroidism.

Get it checked, it's worth the look. My symptoms were extreme fatigue, light headedness, extreme sensitvity to cold (actually, I had bad Reynauds which has been linked to hypo), digestive issues, and 20lb weight gain after maintaining 130lbs for 10years. Could not lose it for the life of me.

I am on synthroid but I think the generic kind, my insurance won't give me the good stuff or Armour. It still has helped with my energy and lightheadedness a decent amount. Weight hasn't come off but I can take the blame for that and also I am pregnant anyways. Cold sensitivity/Reynauds disappeared but I also moved from Washington state to Florida. However, grabbing a carton of milk no longer causes my fingers to go white and numb.

Go to the endo. I wish I could, military docs say yes I'm hypothyroid but "not enough" to refer me to an endo so I'm not really confident that I'm being medicated correctly. They also gave me way too high of a dose that caused me heart palpatations, leg swelling, and extreme insomnia which was worse than the hypothyroid symptoms. It does take a lot of trial and error to get the right dose though and frequent checks are recommended...

White like some of my fingers will be normal, fleshy and pink and a couple will be completely ghost white, cold, and numb...look a little corpse like. Happened to my toes too and sometimes spotted white or purplish...google Reynauds and you will see pix. Not always a hypo symtom but was for me and don't seem to have it anymore.

My friend has thyroid problem. She is taking a powdered vitamin B complex. She said that give her a lasting energy.

White like some of my fingers will be normal, fleshy and pink and a couple will be completely ghost white, cold, and numb...look a little corpse like. Happened to my toes too and sometimes spotted white or purplish...google Reynauds and you will see pix. Not always a hypo symtom but was for me and don't seem to have it anymore.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but real quick since I saw you have Raynauds I just wanted to do a quick inject. I'm a native Floridian and my Raynauds was not diagnosed til we moved up north to Massachusetts (it's worse in my feet than my hands) but even after moving back to Florida, I still will get ice cold toes if the temp drops below 75, so just keep an eye out for your symptoms, you may find that after you've been in Florida a while you may show signs of mild symptoms at certain temps. I no longer have toes and fingers that go from blue to purple to ghost white depending on the temps, but now they will just get achingly cold and turn slightly blue.
Sorry to jump in on a different subject in the middle of this, OP I do hope that those of us who have posted info about thyroid symptoms and things to do that will help have given you the info you need!

Good morning,

I want to know if any one here and an under active thyroid??? and what were your symptoms???
over the last year I have been depressed for I think no reason I have really bad anxiety and my doctor put me on Xanax low dose. I have gain 56 lbs in 1 year after I had lost 30lbs and I just couldn't seem to stop gaining. I have a family history of Thyroid problems on my moms side not sure of my dads side... my grandmother, her sister, and my grandmothers 3 kids including my mother. my mom had to have hers removed twice( didn't get it all the first time) .im tired all the time, my hair is thinning( i have very thick hair and i notice my ponytail is not as wide anymore and my brush is full of hair all the time...

called my doctor because i was worried and i thought she checked my thyroid every time we did blood work but when i called yesterday the girls said i have not had it checked in a long time and that i was due.... me and my mom have the same doctor so you would think knowing my mothers history she would check me for it...

I have a terrible hypothyroid and have to monthly get blood work and dose changes on my medication ( I don't think I have a good specialist at all but I live on an island where there's only one endo nearby). My symptoms are brittle nails, constipation, MAJOR WEIGHT GAIN, insomnia, loss of appetite and major depression.

Recently I've started taking vitamin D3 1000IU and my depression seems to be getting a lot better! ????
Heads up if you are a hypothyroid, a lot of thyroid patients will say well "I did this and this worked for me, you must be lying or not trying!" And it's a load of bull, every thyroid patient is different, what works for one person might not work for the next. Surround yourself around supportive people and get rid of the bad. Good luck!

I had my thyroid removed about 8 years ago. I told my doctor something wasn't right for 2 years, she gave me antidepressants and she only relied on TSH test. Finally she noticed it was enlarged and sent me for an ultrasound then a needle biopsy. The biopsy came back suspicious so they removed my thyroid which was the size of a softball but cancer free (Thank God). I took synthroid for many years but still felt bad. I now take Naturethroid and see an integrative medicine doctor. I learned a lot from the website stopthethyroidmadness.com I hope you get a great doctor to help you.