"Low Thyroid" advice, please!

LondonKat · 09-14-2007, 11:03 PM

Hi All! I posed this similar question under "other medications." I thought you ladies might also be able to help me.

I have been taking Metformin ER for years. I am now up to 2000 mg (1000 in AM, 1000 in PM). I recently saw a new Endocrinologist. She ran some bloodwork, and I just got the results back... turns out my Thyroid is boderline low and Vitamin D is low as well (other docs have said my thyroid was "low but in the normal rage," either it's lower now, or this doc knows how to fix it...).

Anyway, she prescribed Synthroid (50 mcg) once a day. I just started it 3 days ago. My mother works in the medical field and she said I might be happy with the results: won't be tired all of the time, my metabolism won't be so low, and I might actually lose some weight (ah... the endless battle). Also, I am not sure about the Vitamin D; my doc said I should take Vitamin D3 1000 2 caps by mouth daily.

I don't want to get my hopes up, but I can't help but get a little excited that I might have more energy (b/c I am soooo tired more often than not... like almost every day) and maybe see some results from my years of workouts and healthy eating... Has anyone had experience with one or both of these drugs... or have any advice about these meds? Only good news, please!

(haha! joking)

Thanks in advance,
LondonKat.

kelljeffo · 09-14-2007, 11:19 PM

hey, i was in the same boat really, i was told about my thyroid at 17 i was put on synthroid, but b4 i was, what seems a very typical teenager, never wanting to get out of bed, feeling sluggish.... and the rest lol. But when i took my tablets is did boost my metabolism and gave me more energy but truthly didnt really help with weight side of things even though i had a good diet.

The weight side of things didnt start to change till i found out about the PCOS and put on met then it did drop off.

tbh nothing has ever been mentioned to me about a vit D deficiency, but something i will surly bring up in the future.
I dont know if that is the same for everyone else, but what happened to me

kel

mommavia · 09-14-2007, 11:56 PM

I wasn't in your same situation, my TSH was over 100 when I was dx with hypothyroidism, but within a week on Synthroid I was feeling better. You should start to notice an improvement over a couple of weeks and feeling just about normal again in 6.

Do you know what your TSH was? Some doctors (not all, and I have found that it normally not endocrinologists) are still following old guidelines that state normal TSH as being 1.0-5.0 or thereabouts. New guidelines are 1.0-2.2 I believe.

Cynthia

mscaseyray · 09-15-2007, 02:00 AM

I have been taking Synthroid since 2002 for hypothyroidism and before it helped with all of my symptoms. They didn't all go completely away but it did help. I didn't loose any weight from taking it but it made it easier to loose weight with diet and exercise (if that makes sense). Synthroid is an amazing drug and it makes me feel so much better than I did. Congrats on being DX. My philosophy is that it's better to know and treat whatever is going on in our bodies.

OOHFIE · 09-16-2007, 03:51 AM

Question ladies-

Hypothyroidisim runs in my family as well as PCOS. My lab work has come back one point above low a number of times. I've never been put on medication for it though. My sister's on meds for her thyroid. My mother had to have her thyroid removed a couple of years ago. The doctos thought cancer, but thank god it wasen't. I 'm just wondering how low your numbers need to be before meds are an issue.

Thanks
oohfie

lovemychris · 09-16-2007, 04:27 AM

Synthroid is great. Can you post your TSH level? This will tell a lot. I am assuming it's somewhat low since your doc started you on a low dose of Synthroid.

Be sure not to eat anything for an hour after taking your Synthroid so it can be absorbed properly. I'm often surprised by the number of people who aren't informed by their docs about this.

Also, did your doctor check your thyroid antibodies to determine why your thyroid isn't working properly? If your antibodies come back positive, it means you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Bottom line, it's good to know why and to rule out bigger problems.

mommavia · 09-16-2007, 06:54 PM

Do you know exactly that was causing your mother and sister's hypothyroidism? I am also curious about why your mom's thyroid was removed? It's not very common for someone with simple hypothyroidism to have it removed, just curious about what events lead to a thyroidectomy.

It sounds like you are being watched closely for hypo, which is great. As Lynn asked, have you ever had your thyroid antibodies tested? That can cause your numbers to be borderline until enough of your thyroid is damaged and you are hypo. If you have your test results, it would be very helpful to post those.

Cynthia

Turtlegirl68 · 09-21-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonKat

Hi All! I posed this similar question under "other medications." I thought you ladies might also be able to help me.

I have been taking Metformin ER for years. I am now up to 2000 mg (1000 in AM, 1000 in PM). I recently saw a new Endocrinologist. She ran some bloodwork, and I just got the results back... turns out my Thyroid is boderline low and Vitamin D is low as well (other docs have said my thyroid was "low but in the normal rage," either it's lower now, or this doc knows how to fix it...).

Anyway, she prescribed Synthroid (50 mcg) once a day. I just started it 3 days ago. My mother works in the medical field and she said I might be happy with the results: won't be tired all of the time, my metabolism won't be so low, and I might actually lose some weight (ah... the endless battle). Also, I am not sure about the Vitamin D; my doc said I should take Vitamin D3 1000 2 caps by mouth daily.

I don't want to get my hopes up, but I can't help but get a little excited that I might have more energy (b/c I am soooo tired more often than not... like almost every day) and maybe see some results from my years of workouts and healthy eating... Has anyone had experience with one or both of these drugs... or have any advice about these meds? Only good news, please!

(haha! joking)

Thanks in advance,
LondonKat.

I have had low thyroid levels for over 15 years now....and I am only 24!!! AHH....anyways, while taking the pill everyday can be a pain....it will help you feel better. I was really irresponsible about a year and a half ago and stopped taking my meds for about nine months...no excuse just irresponsible and it caused so many problems but I have been back on my meds for about 8-9 months and trust me they work. I have lost about 35lbs just from the meds!! I just started a regular exercise and better eating habit...I also just found out I am diabetic! But yes I promise if that is why you are feeling tired and randown then the meds will help! Good luck, I hope you start feeling better!!!!

mscaseyray · 09-24-2007, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOHFIE

Question ladies-

Hypothyroidisim runs in my family as well as PCOS. My lab work has come back one point above low a number of times. I've never been put on medication for it though. My sister's on meds for her thyroid. My mother had to have her thyroid removed a couple of years ago. The doctos thought cancer, but thank god it wasen't. I 'm just wondering how low your numbers need to be before meds are an issue.

Thanks
oohfie

The normal range for a TSH level varies. The lab that reads my results says that .03 to 5.5 is a normal range but my MD likes to keep my level between 1.5-3.0. The less your Thyroid is working the higher your TSH level will be. For instance, when I was diagnosed my level was around 10. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis like one of the other girls mentioned earlier. It IS hereditary. It's something called an autoimmune disease. It's also the most common autoimmune disease among women. So, if your mom and sis are hypo then they may have Hashimoto's...it's just a form of hypothyroidism caused by a person's thyroid attacking itself. My mom has it, my brother has it and so do I. It's really good that your MD is watching your level though. I used to get mine checked every year b/c of my mom and brother having it...my level was always within the normal range...then I went about 4 yrs without having it checked and developed hypothyroidism during that time.

mommavia · 09-25-2007, 03:59 AM

mscaseyray, The lab states the incorrect "normal" TSH ranges. In 2003, the guidelines were changed to 0.3-3.04 as being normal (http://www.aace.com/newsroom/press/2...php?r=20030118), not up to 5.5. (I stated them incorrectly above.) Many people, and some doctors who are not up-to-speed with the endocrinology world, are not aware and still go by the old guidelines. The normal range doesn't vary, but the level that each patient feels best at does. Some feel great with their TSH at 3.0, others need to have it below 1.0...it all depends on your body!

Cynthia

LondonKat · 09-29-2007, 01:54 PM

Gals,

I am kinda confused. If I am reading them correctly, my labs say that my TSH level is 4.260 and the "reference interval" is 0.350-5.500. So, how is it that I have a "low thyroid" with a number that is "high" in the range? The only thing I can figure is that the high number mean that the thyroid's activit is low? Does that make sense?

Please pardon my ignorance about all of this. I just received this diagnosis last month and am trying to figure it all out.

Thanks!
-LK

lovemychris · 09-29-2007, 03:43 PM

LK, the numbers have changed. Some labs and doctors do not recognize this new range but anything over 3.04 is considered hypo. I believe it's actually subclinical hypothyroidism until it reaches 6.0, however, a low dose of levothyroxine is recommended by most doctors. If you have positive antibodies, it will just continue to climb as the antibodies attack the thyroid.

Also, I'm not sure if you're TTC, but optimal TSH to conceive and carry the baby is roughly 1.0. The higher your TSH is over 2.0, the harder it is to do either of those.

And yes, the higher the TSH number, the less active the thyroid gland is. TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which is produced by the pituitary gland. The PG produces this to try to kickstart the thyroid to produce more T3 & T4.

You can read more here.