Synthroid questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2004
Synthroid questions
3
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 11:47pm
Just a few questions. I have been taking Synthroid for years now and I haven't seen any changes in myself except weight gain. I'm taking .125 MG's. I don't even know if that is high or not. How is synthroid supposed to help with Hypothyroid? Is my MG's too low? Last visit to the doctor a year and a half ago she said my levels were normal on .125 but I don't see any difference in me. It's driving me crazy not knowing what this medicine does for me. And my doctor told me that I would lose weight with this medicine and well that was about 100lbs ago.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Sat, 09-25-2004 - 8:35am
Hi and welcome - Synthroid or any other thyroid hormone replacement medication replaces the thyroid hormone named T4, that your body is not making enough of on it's own. It's the lack of thyroid hormone that causes all of your symptoms of hypothyroidism. Or the body's inability to absorb it properly. This is what causes your slower metabolism and that's what causes the weight gain.

If you haven't had a blood test for a year and half, you're pretty much overdue. And your giving your doctor an easy time of it by not questioning why you don't feel better at the dose your on and why you can't lose weight!! So try to make an apppointment and run through your concerns with her.

When you get your new blood test, ask for the actual results - the number of your TSH level. When the office calls and tells you it's "normal", you need to ask what the actual number is. This whole issue of what's normal might be something to discuss with your doctor when yuo have your appoinment. Some doctors accept the lab ranges "normal", which can be as high as 5.5. Others - really good ones :) - know that a real normal thyroid level comes in between 1.0 and 2.0. That can be a big difference for some people. It is for me. If you're not losing weight, chances are you're TSH level is too high and needs to come down to the true normal range. If your TSH level actually *is* between that range when you're test results come in, then something else may be going on. You may not be converting your T4 hormone to the body's more usuable T3 hormone, which is a process that happens naturally but in those of us you are hypothyroid, that process might not work well. You may also do better taking a medication that either contains both T4 and T3, like Armour thyroid, or taking an additional medication of T3 only like Cytomel.

I hope I've answered your questions and not confused you!!There is really alot to know about being hypo or hyper thyroid. Doctors routinely make it sound like such a simple condition and give out little or no information on it. But in many cases, it's not simple at all and takes some knowledge to get the care you need and some "tinkering" to get the medication at thelevel you need it to be at. 125 mcg isn't high but it's at the high end. It's what my medication was just adjusted to 3 months ago. But there's no reason for you not to take more if you need it. It isn't like adding something to your body that isn't supposed to be there. It's *replacing* what your body needs but can't make on its own. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions you night have! Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2004
Sun, 09-26-2004 - 3:36pm
Thank you for that explanation. I will talk to my doctor once I get a new one. I have to wait 90 days before I can get health insurance under my husbands new job. Which brings me to my next question: If I have to go a little while without medicine (about a month) will everything be ok? I didn't know if it would be a threat to my health or anything. I'd really like to know. I'm hoping my next doctor will be more understanding of my weight and not criticize me (acting like I don't try to lose weight). But anyways I think I'm just letting out my anger on here and I shouldn't. Thanks for your help.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Mon, 09-27-2004 - 8:47am
Hi again - you can come here and be angry. It's ok!! :) We all do it from time to time because dealing with this can be so frustrating!! You really shouldn't go without your medicine for a month. It's not very expensive, relative to other things. I think a month's supply costs about 20 to 25 dollars. I know how it can be hard when money is tight but if you can manage to fit that into your budget, I would highly recommend that you do. You'll compromise your health without it and lose ground. Cathy :)