More questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2003
More questions
1
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 11:13am
I started the synthroid (generic) two months ago and while my thyroid went from over 5 to 2.07 I am still gaining weight. I am still tired a lot also. about three weeks after I started meds I noticed that I had a sore throat. I thought it might be allergy but I still have it. Is it coincidence or shoud I mention it to the endo? I won't see him for another month or so. I need to have the bloodwork redone before I go. Also, While my tsh and t4 were fine, my t3 was elevated. I don't know what it was elevated to, just that it was slightly elevated. I'm thinking some of my weigh is attributed to my surgery two weeks ago for the kidney but again I don't know. The other problem I have right now is that after I lost all the extra weight a couple years ago, my Carpal Tunnel went away and now with the increased weight ans swelling, it's back. I hate it. Any suggestions? Mary
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
In reply to: mrosti
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 3:50pm
Hi Mary - The first thing I owuld do is switch to a brand name thyroid medication and off the generic. Type generic up in the little white search box above, where it says "Find Messages About .....", and you'll get some articles and posts that discuss the concerns of generics. I think it may be what's holding you back from feeling better. Why are you still gaining weight? That's a difficult question. Are you gaining, or just not losing? I think you mat be right about the surgery affecting your weight gain. I'm sure it's been hard to be too active in recovering. And the stress of the operation certainly will affect your thyroid, probably causing it to use more thyroid hormone than usual. AN elevated T3 is not something to be worried about - I don't think. I'll check it and let you knowi f there's any reason to worry!! But it just means that you are getting enough thyroid hormone is the T4 and not using what you're making and/or taking in the T3. I'll double check it, though. The carpal tunnel syndrome, that may have been a coincidnece that it went away when you lost weight. I don't think the two are related. But it is definitely related to your thyroid levels. The thing about being at 2.7 is that it may be fine for many people, but it doesn't seem fine for you. You're probably going to have symptoms and problems with weight loss or weight gain until you finally get down into that 1.0 to 2.0 range. And if you still don't feel well, you may need the addition of T3, in the form of Cytomel.

But please, check out the generics posts and switch off if you can. That will give you the best shot at having the purest and maximum dose possible. Then at least you won't have that to worry about. Hugs, Cathy :)