I'm new with hypothyroid....

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Registered: 11-05-2003
I'm new with hypothyroid....
5
Wed, 08-16-2006 - 6:10pm

I found out in June that I have an underactive thyroid. It explains a lot - I was attributing my fatigue and lack of libido to being a mommy and I was attributing the loss of hair and inability to tolerate cold to just hormones from having stopped breastfeeding. I didn't have an answer as to why I couldn't lose any more weight, even with exercise and increase in water intake.

My TSH was 19.5 when my OB ran my blood work (for the lack of libido issue). She recommended I visit my regular dr to get medication. I saw my PCP the following week and she tested my TSH (18.4). With all the symptoms I was having, she didn't even wait for the blood test to come back before starting me on 25mcg of Levothyroxin. She sent me in to have a thyroid ultrasound done - which showed that I had nodules. About 4 weeks later I emailed her and told her that I was feeling worse, and she brought me in for another blood test. Sure enough, the 25mcg wasn't enough and my TSH was 20.4. We upped my dosage to 50mcg - which is where I am now and she is referring me to an endocrinologist. My appointment with the endo is next week.

I've been so frustrated with the weight issue. I hit a plateau in April and haven't been able to lose any more. I started walking in May, 30min 4x's a week - that hasn't helped a single bit - other than maybe keeping me from gaining any more. In filling out the paperwork for my endo appointment next week, it asked what my highest (excluding pregnancy)/lowest weight was. Since I've done WeightWatchers since 2002, I had record of my weight. Where I am now is where I was when I started WW! ARGH! I sure hope the medication helps in this department...I'm trying to lose that last 10 pounds of pregnancy weight (I had my baby in May 2005). How long does it take for the meds to start working on weight loss?

Plus, I'm feeling depressed. It's not frequent, but it's there. I didn't actually notice my sad days until after I started the medication. Does the medication make you feel worse?! I dunno if it's still just that my TSH isn't straightened out yet or if there is something else going on.

Advice, suggestions?

Thanks!
Shannon
DS Jack Forrest 05/05/05

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Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 08-16-2006 - 9:00pm

Hi Smsusa,


Welcome to our board.


As you may have already read on this board, weight is a big issue.

 

Calley7

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Registered: 08-16-2006
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 12:25am
Hi-I am searching online for information because my daughter is having thyroid problems. Like you, she recently had a baby (Feb 2006). For the first month or so she was losing weight and feeling okay. Then she just kept feeling more and more fatigue and had significant weight gain. She is a small framed person and is very unhappy about her weight gain. She has also had a lot of "brain fog", just not being herself. I was thinking maybe she was having some postpartum depression or something. She went to the doctor and found that her thyroid was enlarged on one side. Blood showed levels being off. They did an ultrasound and found cysts or nodules in her thyroid. She is now scheduled tomorrow for a thyroid scan to check function. They have not started her on any medication yet and the time span between getting appointments and test results has been dragging things out. In the mean time, I see her getting more depressed because she is so tired and feels like a failure because she is not functioning like herself. It is very hard to watch because I know she is going through something PHYSICAL that is effecting her coping skills and EMOTIONAL well being. (the thyroid controls a lot of things). From the people I have talked to who have had different types of thyroid conditions and treatments, they all say that it takes time to get the levels balanced out and for you to start feeling like yourself again. It can be a slow process Just hang on and keep asking questions to your doctors. I think the endrocrinologist is exactly who you need to be seeing and will have expertise in answering your questions and getting your treatment right for you.
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Registered: 05-19-2004
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 9:14am

Hi sm,


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Registered: 11-05-2003
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 10:54am

Thank you for your responses. That is good to know about being on the dosage that's around your weight - I hadn't heard that before. I am taking my medication first thing in the morning and at least an hour before breakfast. I had to move my vitamin to before bed.

I'm just SOOOOO anxious to get this weight off (and feel better) and it's frustrating having to wait so long between blood tests to know whether or not I'm on the right dose. The walking has helped me gain muscle...but that scale hasn't budged since my last loss in April. Guess it was a BIG mistake to have had so many peanut butter shakes while I was pregnant! I thought at some point the muscle would help burn the left over fat...not happening for me.

I was talking to my lactation consultant and think that this is the reason why I never produced enough milk for my baby. Discovering this sure has been an AH-HA moment for a lot of issues I was having.

My appointment is on Tuesday, so I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks!
Shannon
DS Jack Forrest 05/05/05

Question - is an endo more proactive with treating the thyroid? Will he up my dosage to a higher level/skipping a dosage between? I just looked at the synthroid website and there are 7 dosages to 150 from 50 (I'm at 140lbs now)...6 weeks in between = a very long wait! UGH!




Edited 8/17/2006 11:01 am ET by smsusa
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Registered: 05-19-2004
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 11:47am

Hi,