Hello I had two years of doctors trips to get me to this point. They finally gave me a diagnois of hypothroid after my TSH level was at 9. I had all the symptoms of hyper but blood said hypo. I have been taking 25mg of levothryoxine for 5 weeks. Initially it made me feel a bit sick (for 2 days) then I felt much better (2 weeks) now I feel the same as I did before and have started to gain wieght (half a stone in 3 weeks)!!! I walk 5 miles a day and go to the gym 3 timesa week and heat healthy. I have always been skinny and never EVER had any problems with weight gain, in fact I have always struggled to GAIN weight. My period is also 6 days late (and no I'm not pregnant I have taken a test). Has anyone else had any of these issues.
Is it possible I'm being under treated? What else could be causing my problems.
Thank you in advance for your help and advice
Hi Anna, this often happens. Doctors start you on a low 25mcg dose to give your body time to adapt, then increase it slowly until the blood tests show you're in range. As you are getting hypothyroid symptoms I suggest a trip back to your doctor to tell them. It's likely you'll be asked to get another blood test (remember to take your thyroid medication AFTER the blood test - otherwise it gives misleading results) and then be asked to increase your dose.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have another blood test booked in in 2 weeks. I had no idea that I shouldn't take my medication before the test so thank you for letting me know.
Do you think the weightgain is just a symptom of the Hypothyroidism rather than the medication (even though it started after I was taking the medication)?
Yes I do think the weight gain is likely to be due to hypothyroidism. The only way to be sure is to get a blood test. Don't be concerned about the scare stories for levethyroxine - it works for 85% of people. I am one of the people for whom it didn't work - my own pet theory is that it doesn't work very well for people whose thyroid is completely broken or has been taken out by surgery. If this is true, it is likely it will work for you. I think it's likely that the people for whom levothryoxine works aren't likely to be posting on this site - they are off enjoying life.
Thank you. You have made me feel so much better. It difficult not to read into some of the things on forums.
I'm sorry to hear you have trouble with it.
Thanks again
I would also ask the doctor to test your free T3 levels as well as t4 and tsh to get the whole picture of what's going on. In the UK they don't test for it unless you ask. You need both hormones to be functioning properly
Hello Anna:
My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA. I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease.
People tend to gain weight when low in thyroid hormone. Since your TSH is high at 9 that means Hypo. Scale is 0.45-4.50 and the high end means Hypo low end is Hyper. They are opposite of each other.
When you first start medication you need to give 6 to 12 weeks and then they will draw blood and see what the TSH level is. Next time you have blood ask for a copy of the results.
Take Levo on an empty stomach and wait 1 hour before eating. Food can block the medication.
Ask for a mineral panel, to include, Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, ferritin and iron and Vit D and B-12 as thyroid people can be low in these.
Give it some time and you should start to see your periods get regular or near to that. Do not be surprised if they adjust the medication upwards. They start low and then add to it.
Keep us posted on how you do, any questions just ask.
Shelly
Thank you Shelly,
I really appreciate your reply. There is so much misinformation and scaremongering on the internet surrounding thyroid desiese, it's really difficult to know what is right and wrong.
I have a blood test in two weeks so I will keep you all posted.
In the UK I'm not sure how easy it is to get a mineral panel but I will ask as it makes sense to find out if I need a boost in something else.
I was tested for hashimotos but the test implied I didn't have it. Is it worth at a later date asking to have my antibodies checked again?
Thyroid desiese runs in my family - well graves desiese does, but know one that I know of has hashimotos. Would my family having graves desiese increase the chances of me having hashimotos?
Thanks again,
Anna
Anna, there are two tests that need to be done to test for hashimotos. These are TPOA and TgAb. Ask your doctor if they tested using these.
Hello Anna:
Graves is Hashimoto's counter-part. Graves and Hashi's are both autoimmune and run in families.
TPOA and TGab tests and ESR (sed. rate) tests all can tell any autoimmune disease in the body. I would ask for them next time you see your Endocrinologist, and explain that you have Graves disease in your family. I would ask for it again and in UK maybe your Endocrinologist may have to order the above tests.
A mineral panel is done by any GP and is fairly common. It is good to ask for it. All of these are considered routine but as they say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", so ask for it. All they can do is say no. Many of the ladies in the UK can get this blood work done.
Keep us posted we care how you do,
Shelly
I got my blood tests back. My TSH was at 3.7 so they have put me on 50mg of Levothyroixine to try and get my TSH into the optimal level e.g. between 1 and 2.
So thats good news.
The other results I didn't understand. Can anyone shed any light.
TSH receptor Ab 0.5 IUL
Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration (XabCy) <5 iu/ML
Serum Prolatin level 375 mlU/L
Serum Ferritin level 39 ug/L
Thank you in advance
Hello Anna:
It is Nurse Shelly here, let me explain your lab work.
TSH should be between 0.45 to 4.20 and most doctor's like it between 1.0 to 2.5 or so. So yes it will take a bit of time like 6 to 8 weeks and should come down more on 50mcg of levo.
Ferritin: Is a component of Iron and is needed to make LEVO work well. You need it to be 70+ to make Levo work well. So on paper it may be within range but you need a vitamin with Iron or Iron supplement. This is very important. So you can buy a Multivitamin with Iron and take it everyday. Please ask your doctor if you are able to take iron.
TSH ab receptor is antibodies test, there are a few of them, and it is okay
TPOA is also called Serum Thyroid Perixodase Antibodies serum means blood and in the medical world it is called TPOA.
That is okay under 5 which is good. You don't want that high as it would mean autoimmune disease! SO that is good news also because it is to be lower than 34.
Serum Prolactin level is a hormone level secreted by the Pituitary gland and it looks to be okay.
Regards,
Shelly
Thanks Shelly for explaining it all to me. So you think multi vitamin with iron would be beneficial?
Anna
Anna:
Correction: To serum prolactin levels it should read NOT OKAY as it should be under 209. Please tell me the reference range on this that is on your report as it can vary from country to country and or Lab used, and I am in the USA.
Did you have a baby recently? Just asking as it caould be a cause of this.
Regards,
Shelly
Anna:
Most of us with thyroid disease need the Iron badly so YES it would help. I take a women's multi-vitamin with IRON. Yes, it will help.
Shelly
Hi Shelly,
No I have never had a baby. The reference range on the lab test says between 102 - 450.
What does elevated prolactin mean?
Anna
Anna:
That is why I asked the range. It should be lower. It means the Pituitary Gland which works directly with the Thyroid making TSH (thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and it seems to be putting out a bit much hormone. It should come down when your TSH comes down a bit more.
So I think it is only temporary and will correct itself now that you are on the 50mcg Levo.
Keep me posted after the next blood draw, any questions just ask.
Shelly
Thank you For your help Shelly, I will keep you posted
Anna
I have been taking 50mg of levo for 2 weeks and taking a multi vit I feel 100 times better. Still not there yet but I can't beleive the difference. Thank you for all your help.
I see your doctor only tested your TPO antibodies. There is the other antibody test that was mentioned which is the Tgab. Although your Tpo antibodies were in normal range and low, you can still have high Tgab antibodies and have Hashimoto's. My Tpo antibodies were low but my Tgab's were very high which would indicate Hashimoto's. Perhaps your doctor can check these antibodies also.