Since I have been on Synthroid (6 mos) I have only gained weight! I am so frustrated. My TSH levels are now normal (1.0-1.1), but I am feeling tired and just plain lousy--most of the time. I have stayed in bed for the past 3 weekends!
In addition to gaining weight and feeling exhausted, my PCOS symptoms (acne, feeling blue) are back after being dormant for so many years.
What's going on?
I have an appt. with my endo on Monday. Hopefully, she can shed some light to why I actually feel worse now that my TSH levels are in the normal range.
I keep waiting for the fog to lift...
Anyone know a reason why? My endo checks only TSH...could other levels be the cause of my distress? I thought Synthroid would help regulate everything...
Thanks to anyone who can help me
__________________ Me - 29/ DH - 29
Married: 03/03
DX PCOS: 06/1995 at 171 lbs.
DX Hypothyroid: 04/2004
CW: 140 lbs. (5'8"--almost)
2000 mg/glucophage, 75 mcg Synthroid, 10 mcg cytomel, Yasmin, Jogging, Master's Swimming
Your experience is more common than not. When you begin taking thyroid meds, your thyroid gland becomes lazy and produces less thyroid hormones. It takes a while to get your levels adjusted, which is why it's important to get checked every few weeks and adjust your med dosage.
Weight gain and bloating are two common side effects of Synthroid. Some people feel best when they add in a T3 med (Cytomel), or when they switch over to Armour (natural thyroid med which contains T4, T3, and other T's as well). Hopefully your doc will check your Free T4 and Free T3 levels (TSH is unreliable, especially after beginning treatment); if your body is not converting T4 to T3 sufficiently, adding a T3 med might be just the thing to help you feel better. T3 is the metabolism hormone, and will also help with weight loss.
Linda
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
UGH! ANOTHER DOC WHO ONLY CHECKS TSH! WHEN'S IT GONNA END!
Ok, I had to get that out of my system...first of all, to trulyl diagnose a thyroid problem there are a few tests that need to take place and if you didn't get them done DEMAND THEM!
Here goes:
Free T3
Free T4
TSH
Antibodies
The reason for it all, if you don't know what's going on with your T3, it could very well be that your body isn't coverting things right. A lack of proper T3 can make you feel exactly like you're feeling right now. Also, the antibodies are incredibly important. If there's antibodies present, then you have Hashimotos disease. It's an autoimmunde disease. You need to know about that. It can be a tricky thing to get under control.
TSH now normal, but why am I sooo tired? 
