I was lead to believe that once I started the thyroid meds, and I got my body accustomed to them, that I would need them the rest of my life. Since I was borderline hypo, my doc really wanted me to be sure before we started treatment
I was wondering the same thing. I stopped taking my meds after my last Dr doubled my dose and I started feeling odd. When I told the nurse at a sick visit she told me NOT to stop taking it and that they would recheck in 6 months. I couldn't wait that long so I stopped taking my meds. I found a new Dr and it had been a few years since I took any meds. My first blood test with the new doctor and all my levels were normal. I was told I didn't have to take the meds anymore and to recheck in a year. Well my gyn decided to do the test again (4 months later) and I'm a little bit out of the normal range so back to the meds. I retest in 6 weeks but I don't understand how it all works. Maybe I will not have to take it forever??? I did lose weight between the two tests (10lbs) so I don't know if that has something to do with it or not.
Hypothyroidism doesn't go away, but your physiological needs might change. I have been on Synthroid for about 11 years. I was with one doctor for the first 6 or so years and he had to change the dose a few times. He would increase it and then recheck in 3 months and then decrease. A few times I remained on one dose for 6 months or more. I was without meds for over a year and was really run down during that time. I'm with my second Endo and I've been on my current dose for about 2 years. I am back to being checked every 3 months. I don't have a thyroid and I find it interesting how and why my medicine dose needs to be changed. It's not like I am producing anything on my own to interfere with the Synthroid, but based on bloodwork it's necessary.
i was told it may have been a major factor in the reason i miscarried years ago. for that reason i will take my medication faithfully. i was just wondering because i was told that diabetes never goes away, but it could be controled without meds if i lose weight, eat right exercise, blah, blah, blah. i was hoping that the same was true for thyroid. i would like to be med free someday.
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I had an appt with my Endo yesterday. While chatting with him he said something interesting. He said that I am not considered as having hypothyroidism now because of the meds I take and have me at a suppressive level, so longer am I "clinically hypothyroid." But to me, since I'm taking meds for hypothyroidism, I still am. Because without meds I have a problem. I just treat my hypothyroidism everyday. So, in some medical opinions it may be stated that hypothyroidism goes away...just with daily treatment!
Also, I meant to say when I was without meds for the year and half period, I was without sufficient health coverage. I couldn't afford to see an Endo, or afford meds. I was living day to day and not feeling well. I can say then that hypothyroidism was real and uncomfortable. You could take a multivitamin, use herbs, eat healthy, excericse and get enough sleep and do ok without meds for a while. But unless there is a change in your thyroid functioning, you will feel the effects of hypothyroidism again.
how interesting. if i understand that correctly, you're treating a condition that you don't have, unless you stop treating it. it sounds strange but i understand it.
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You've got it! And funny thing still is that I don't have a thyroid. I had two types of cancer across enough of my thyroid for the entire thing to be removed. Since I had cancer, I received treatment that essentially zapped any other stray thyroid cell in my body. So clinically I may not be considered hypothyroid, but without the daily pill, I will be in medically unhealthy situation soon.
I'm going to chime in here and my opinion might not be very popular but here goes. My aunt also had thyroid cancer and had it removed completely. Her doctor has her on synthroid and she is still miserable. I completely understand why she is miserable.
A healthy thyroid produces T1, T2, T3 and T4, as well as calcitonin. If you no longer have a thyroid, how would your body be able to convert T4 to T3 adequately? I understand it is converted mostly by the liver, but still - why would you take a medication that is ONLY T4? T4 is not what your body uses to metabolize, it is the storage hormone. T3 is what the body uses to be warm, have energy, etc. If you have NO thyroid gland at all, you need to replace ALL of what the thyroid would be producing on its own but isn't anymore because it no longer exists. Incidentally, calcitonin is necessary for parathyroid function. Neither Synthroid nor Cytomel (synthetic T3) will give you that.
The only way to GET the whole range of thyroid hormone is with dessicated thyroid. Synthroid isn't going to cut it. My father in law also has to take Synthroid, and his wife states he feels "ok" on it....as long as he takes his diabetes meds, his blood pressure meds, his nausea meds, his meds for dizziness, his 5575723458457 other medications...which he wouldn't need if he was getting the whole ball of wax with natural thyroid.
does it go away? 
