difficult question on synthroid

fitinyoga14
fitinyoga14 Posts: 448 Member
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
About a year ago, I easily lost 20 pounds, simply by becoming more active and eating right. However, I continued to lose until I stopped menstruation. I went to a doctor, and was put on synthroid to level out my hormones. Since then, I've consistently been gaining weight, and now I weigh more than I my goal! I have not changed any of my habits since losing the initial weight, so how will I be able to get back to my healthy weight again? My doctor has not been much help in explaining things to me.

Thanks!

Replies

  • carlfry
    carlfry Posts: 62
    Synthroid is for your Thyroid. Do you have low/high TSH, T3 T4 levels or is the Doctor just sticking you on something to shush you up? I do not take medication unless I have thourally scoped it out and have asked 100 questions. If there is no talk about thyroid hormones being out of whack, then I wouldn't take the medication.
  • ♥_Ellybean_♥
    ♥_Ellybean_♥ Posts: 1,646 Member
    have you had your thyroid levels rechecked? Could it possibly be your still off balance? Once you levels are balanced it should become easier for you t o lose weight. It took me two tries to get mine leveled... I was originally 5.1 and put on 50mcg and 6 weeks later it was at 2.9, and then she put me on 62mcg and it went down to 1.9.
  • NikkisNewStart
    NikkisNewStart Posts: 1,075 Member
    You need to see an endocrinologist. Have you had your levels checked recently? A year is too long ago- you should be checked monthly to see if your levels are in normal range and once they are consistently- you should be checked at least every 3 months. I've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's since 2002 and I just went to my endo yesterday... I'll go back in a few months for recheck or sooner if I have symptoms (which I easily recognize now since I've had thyroid disease so long). As you can see by my ticker- it IS possible to lose weight with thyroid issues. Don't believe the hype.
  • lulu1962
    lulu1962 Posts: 210
    I've been on synthroid since I had a thyroid operation when I was 12 years old. I have to have my thyroid levels checked every 6 months to make sure they're not too low/high. As long as my thyroid levels are ok, I don't have a problem losing weight. Hope this helps somewhat.:smile:
  • schobert101
    schobert101 Posts: 218 Member
    Assuming you have had the thyroid levels rechecked on the medication? If you are on the right dose with blood levels in a good range then the synthroid and the thyroid should not be an issue and should not be causing your weight gain. You are very young and around this time of life some weight gain can be normal. What is your current height and weight? If you lost your period previously that suggests to me that you may have been too underweight. The best thing is to go back to your doc and make sure he/she explains things well. It will help if you go in with specific questions that you have concerns about, make sure your blood levels of the thyroid have been checked etc.

    PS I am a doctor, also happen to be on synthroid as well...................
  • mlpradines
    mlpradines Posts: 1
    Did you visit an endocrinologist, not just your family doctor? I was misdiagnosed with one type of overactive thyroid (toxic nodules) and then correctly diagnosed years later with Grave's disease (after much illness, dropping weight, but eventually no energy at all). I have been on synthroid now for years and feel better than ever (i had to have surgery though, so my situation is different than yours in beginning). But proper diagnosis with any thyroid disease and adjusting your medication dosage is key, and requires TSH levels to be checked regularly until you are stable. Unfortunately, its likely your previous habits were fine with your current metabolic rate, and now that things might be more stable, those habits wont sustain you anymore! I used to eat a ton and still lose. Now I have to workout hard, watch what I eat, etc. but I feel so much more stable and energetic. Bottonline-- your TSH levels need to be monitored and there is a period of adjustment when you first start, so do be tested and have patience. around 2.0 is goal (some say under 4.O is ok, but my doc likes around 2), but a good endocrinologist will ensure proper treatment, dosage, and corrections over time.
  • glendadykstra
    glendadykstra Posts: 24
    If you had a hypo- active thyroid, then your doctor will put you on thyroid. They will usually do a blood test to check your level before doing the prescription. I have no thyroid and it took about a year to get me regulated. I did gain weight at first. Now I am losing steadily. I did have to increase my activity though and yeah, it was/is a pain.

    If your thyroid was hypo you should have had a harder time losing weight. Hyper on the other hand will help you lose weight faster. I have to run a bit hyper as my thyroid tried to grow back and it was cancerous. There are a lot of differences between how the two affect you and you might want to check out
    http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/symptoms.htm
    http://www.thyroidproblems.org/

    They can inform you of the basics as well as the many ways of treatment
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