Just saw this thread so decided to chime in here... it is NOT true that medication makes your metabolism work properly, even with proper test results.

Several years ago, my thyroid tested perfectly normal. However, I had a HUGE tumor on my thyroid and all the symptoms of hypothyroid, although I did not know that at the time... thought I was going crazy! Initial biopsy indicated probably cancer; however, surgery and final biopsy showed benign. So I do know whereof I speak. :) I had half of my thyroid and one parathyroid removed.. there is NO WAY my test results should have been normal... my doctor even told me I should not have had the symptoms I was having, based on the tests. Thyroid testing, at least here in the US, is notoriously insufficient, at least IMO.

I'll be on meds for the rest of my life.. and it IS harder to lose weight and not struggle with exhaustion, etc. And no way am I using this as an excuse. I also have degenerative arthritis in one hip which will mean an eventual hip replacement. But I am going to "bust myself" and get this weight off one way or the other (healthfully speaking!). I focus on what I CAN do, which is eat lots of fruits and veggies, very little meat (esp red meat), take a great natural supplement called Tonic Alchemy, work out in the pool and with Danskin weight balls, ride my bike, etc.

But for those who are saying your metabolism works normally with hypothyroid disease either don't have it or (if they do) extremely fortunate!

I sure don't want to knock the meds.. I am VERY thankful for them and they DO make a huge difference. But there are still obstacles to climb over. :)

End of soapbox LOL

Hi everyone. I'm glad I found this thread.

I was tested for hypothyroidism yesterday and got the results back this morning. My TSH level is 9.4. Going to make an appointment with my general physician for next week. In one way I was happy to get these results because it means I'm not crazy! For the past year I have definitely had a severe decrease in energy, I'm tired all the time, gained about 25 pounds, and my hair has gotten pretty thin. I've tried WW and counting calories to lose weight and none of it has worked. I tried Atkins for about a week, where I actually dropped 5.6 lbs, but since I don't eat many vegetables I got tired of eating the same foods over and over and went back to counting calories. From what I've read, it seems low carb is the best way to lose weight with an underactive thyroid so I guess I'll go back to that again and try to make myself start eating a bigger variety of foods. Hopefully once I'm on medication I'll have more energy to be able to exercise.

I am glad I found this thread also! I guess I am subclinical, I had my test last week and my TSH was 5.2. My total T3 and T4 levels were on the low side, not abnormally low but on the borderline. I'm definitely symptomatic though; you name the symptom, I probably have it. My only saving graces are that my period is regular and I'm not constipated (I know, TMI). My doctor just started me on 50 mcg of levothyroxine. I am really hoping it reverses the hair loss, I've been losing my hair for the last 2 years and couldn't figure out why. My metabolism seems to have come to a screeching halt as well. Some days I'm tired, other days I'm fine, but moreso in the last year, I seem to have more tired days. I initially attributed the fatigue and random pains to getting old. I guess not!

Dare 2 Dream, I don't eat many veggies either but I have spent countless hours scouring the web for interesting ways to prepare the ones I will eat...I found roasting veggies is key for me...but it never occurred to me to do it! And if anyone had told me I'd love Brussels sprouts I would have said they were crazy! The one thing that keeps my diet on track is planning...every Sunday I plan all my meals for the coming week, then make my shopping list. That way I have no excuses for making bad choices and I look forward to dinner all day lol. I've lost 15lbs and now am at a plateau for months but I'm just sticking with my healthy eating habits. I started south beach diet and find it easy to stick with...Kalyn's kitchen site was priceless for recipe ideas, as well as this site.

: )
 

I feel so relieved to find this forum! It feels so good not to feel alone. I was diagnosed with hypo at 17 and hashimoto's last January. My current dr. thinks I have been hypo a lot longer than that though. I am not very symptomatic. Well except a weird (normal for me) cycle. Being horribly moody. And lethargic. and of course difficulties losing weight.. so i guess I do have symptoms...

I haven't been on meds since February. I always get discouraged when they don't work (My symptoms never seem to go away). Last time I was on them I was taking 125mcg of synthroid.

My newest dr. had me do 12 tests. The results are in, she just wants to do the results in a visit. (Makes me feel like she just wants the money, as I have done this so many other times) but it's ok because I combined the appointment for my phentermine..

I am wondering. Should I see an endocrinologist? It would stink to put another doctor into the routine, but it would be nice to know what is actually going on with my body.

Also, does anyone take yaz or the generic form? How does it affect life with hypothyroid/hashimotos? Lady doctor prescribed it and as excited as I am with the nobaby game, I don't want it to mess up my thyroid any more than it already is.

thanks!

My T4/T3 thyroid issues
 

I believe strength training is an important key to the puzzle of weight loss. But first, I have to get my thyroid issues straightened out, so I have the energy to strength train.

After I moved to Canada, my local doctor prescribed me about 1/4 the dose I had been taking for years in the States. He placed me on eltroxyn, which is the generic for Synthroid here.

I cannot take Synthroid. After problems and low testing, an endocrinologist in California switched me to a different T4, and a T3 supplement, after which I felt pretty good, and it was easier to keep my weight down and my energy up. When the Synthroid law suit was going on, she placed me on Armour, which is natural and contains both T3 and T4, and I felt fine. Even though, coming from sheep, it is supposed to not provide a steady dose, depending on the seasonal grass the sheep feed on, it seems to have been standardized now, coming from New Zealand. But, you cannot get it in Canada.

Since I have other competing health issues, this has not been my primary reason for doctor visits. They only recently started carrying a natural thyroid supplement in my province, and now, after reading what some of you have to say on this forum, I am reminded, again, to request a referral to an endocrinologist. I really want to fit into my clothes and feel good again!

I also was prescribed, and took phentermine, several years ago, and that helped me tremendously. But, that is another medication I cannot get in Canada. And I do not know of another, comparable medication. Its a good thing I love my Canadian husband, after reading what I just wrote, except for him, I might have moved back to the States!

I do not know if I have a problem with absorption, or not, but sometimes, even though I try to take my dose at the same time every day, blood tests come back either high or really low. It is very frustrating, as I have been fighting this battle for ten years, since I moved to Canada.

I have had an injury that prevented me from doing much exercise at all for over a year, but am now trying to cycle, and hope to get back to strength training. Just reading this forum provides some of the inspiration I think I need. But, I have to get my energy back up!

I hope my post was not tooo long...

Hmm I didn't know there was a synthroid lawsuit. I have been thinking about talking to my doctors about Armour. Are the newer weightloss drugs available in Canada? I know one of them can't be used with other medications though.. I have heard wonderful things about water fitness classes. They are much easier on the body. Plus it's fun, because you don't realize when you are sweating.

My big problem with my thyroid is my own fault. I can never stay on my medication. I hate it. I don't want to give into the fact that I need this medication to function in daily life.

Problems with Synthroid
 

Hi, Bea, and everyone,

Yes, the maker of Synthroid was the subject of class action lawsuit about its stability. I think it was filed in 2000, on behalf of those who took it between 1990 and 2000. It was settled in 2009. Anyway, the monetary value of the settlement was less than $1000 per patient. But the point was made, and I guess corrected, that potency and absorption was inconsistent in the pills they were making then. I am sure they have fixed that problem.

I was on 2 mg. and still tested low. My endocrinologist confirmed, and switched me to Armour, after trying me on another T4 and cytomel for T3. That is why I want to get off eltroxyn, here in Canada, because I believe I have the same problem with it as I had with Synthroid. My blood test levels seem to have little to do with the dosage I am taking, and I think I need the combination of T3 and T4 natural thyroid hormone provides.

The only other reason I can think of, is that I am not waiting long enough after taking the med before I eat breakfast. You should wait two hours. I have switched to taking it before bed, on an empty stomach, to avoid that problem, and am waiting for test results to see if that helps.

But, mostly, I want to go back on Armour, or whatever whole, natural thyroid hormone is in Canada, because that worked well for me, before.

You have to take thyroid medication as prescribed, usually every day. You can't be inconsistent. Thyroid controls so many bodily functions, taking it just when remember to, can really mess you up. I remember reading it takes about 48 hours for the effects to be noticed, if you feel the effects of taking it, so you don't get a quick body reminder, like arthritis if you forget to take aspirin. But, you have to take it, and get your regular blood testing, to verify that your dosage is correct.

A number of medications that are available in the States are not made available here in Canada for a while, if at all. Sometimes, that is frustrating, and sometimes, I have information about medications that my doctors have to look up, simply because they have not customarily prescribed them. And, it seems that any medication to assist with weight loss is frowned on. That, too, is frustrating.

But, the most important thing is, if your doctor has diagnosed you with hypothyroidism, take the medication regularly. You will feel better, and my understanding is that it becomes more important as you age, because all our metabolic functions begin to slow down.;)

Btrflyl8e: Thanks for the info! I'll have to give that a try.

My doctor has placed me on 75 mcg for now. I go back in 6 weeks to see if my dosage needs to be adjusted. I've only been taking it for 4 days now, and am hoping I will start feeling the effects of it soon. I start back at work on the 14th (I'm a teacher) and I've still had no energy and have been sleeping most of the day. My doctor didn't do any other tests and from what I've been reading she should have. All that was tested was my TSH level, which was 9.58, but she didn't test my T4 or T3 levels. She said the TSH was high enough to justify giving me the meds. I'll see what she tests for in 6 weeks.

Sandramac: Hi! I was doing some research on Amour type thyroid meds. I ended up on wiki. So, I don't know how reliable the information is but I thought it would be worth mentioning.

It said "Canada's desiccated thyroid is made by Erfa and is called Thyroid."

I hope it helps some!!

Also, I was wondering, everyone that takes synthroid and phentermine: Do you take them together or take one at another time? Because they both say take in the morning without food.
Thanks!!

Today, I went to the doctor for my blood test results. She said my numbers were record crazy. I don't remember all of the numbers but my TSH was 17 and My thyroid antibodies were 2600something. (Norm is about 35) I don't know if I should be feeling this proud or excited. But it's kind of nice that I have a reason to be feeling this cruddy!

Don't worry. My TSH was 19 (can't remember my antibodies) and within 6 weeks of taking meds my level was down to 0.43

Once you get on meds you will probably feel a huge difference! Within a week my energy level was so much better and I can lose weight easily now. Moods are better too! Hypothyroism doesn't have to be a curse and a struggle.

Thanks! I am glad to hear I am not alone. Do you have Hashimoto's?
I am really excited about the moodyness/lack of energy leaving!!! She also found a "impressively" low D and B12 so I'm on prescription vitamins. (never knew those existed)

I am loving this doctor because she has looked at so many things. I am actually really impressed by her.

I am also fairly frustrated by some other doctors.
My lab results were accidentally sent to my old doctor who is across the hall from my new doctor.
I hadn't seen that doctor in close to 2 years.
Well, when my doctor was wanting to go over the test results (I had 12 tests done) she wanted to go over them in person. It's the first time she had given me tests and the results were odd, I get that.
However, my old doctor called me a few days before that and said that they had my test results.
A few day later I got a call from my old pharmacy and they have my medication in. I was bewildered.
Why would she just look at a test result of a patient sent in by another doctor, of a different practice, that she saw twice, 2 years ago. With some pretty off the wall results. And she wanted me to take levothroxan which has never worked, if she would have read her file and I had some other low counts that I probably should have been made aware of. I don't know how she thinks is an okay thing to do.

Luckily I have a wonderful doctor who would like to get my junk together and let me how it's going to happen. And she put me on Amour! Good day!!! : )

Hi, Bea,


Thanks for the name of the manufacturer of Canada's Thyroid extract! I go to many medical and thyroid-specific informational sites, but never think of Wikipedia for medical info, so now I know!

Also, while I do not take phentermine, now, when I did, I took it in the morning, just before my thyroid medication. That was the instruction I was given, and it just worked out fine, because of where I stored my meds. I kept the phentermine with the coffee filters, and the thyroid with my makeup! However, since I did not wear makeup every day, my husband, dear that he is, taped a big, block-lettered note on the bathroom mirror, above my toothbrush, that just said "Take Your Thyroid!" It worked like a charm, and I never forgot. In fact, even though he hasn't had to do that since we moved to Canada, I still remember, and smile, every time I take my meds!

SandraMac: No problem. Wikipedia is full of all kinds of ...interesting... information. Normally, I just google something several times and check out the top few links. That is a cute story! And a pretty good idea too! Thanks for the tip. I have been looking everywhere for the best time to take them. My doctor put me on a generic brand amour. And the best part is that it is $7 for 3 months of the medication!