I have experienced weight gain, severe cramping in feet, skin problems, severe muscle soreness. What else should I expect?
Hi Tammylee72, weight gain and skin problems are definately caused by hypothyroidism. You'll want to do a quick search for hypothyroid symptoms for a complete list.
For me, there were two issues with the levo: 1) it didn't work properly at any level, so I was continually hypothyroid the entire time Iwas on it, 2) I was allergic to it. I don't really mean allergic, I mean it seemed to cause an autoimmne response, triggering my immune system.
My experience has been, EVERY TIME, I have symptoms, it's generally due to low thyroid. So, when you dose, you have to check the T3, T4, rT3, and T3 to reverse T3 ratios. The TSH gives you an idea what your brain thinks is going on, but doesn't tell you anything about the rest of the feedback loop that happens with the thyroid and thyroxin.
So, the first thing to do is to make sure that your levels are actually working for your body, which means that in addition to your blood work, you have to consider your symptoms, what's going on in the body, Is your hair falling out, vision problems, are your hands and feet cold? Do you feel chilled all the time? If so you're probably too low on the meds.
Now! At the end of the day, I was on a very high dose of levo- nearly 200 mcg/ day. My body seemed to react extremely badly to this medication and so as the dose was increased, I also had increased autoimmune response, so water retention, bloating, weightgain all increased. You can see how it's hard to distinguish the difference between hypothyroidism and a medication reaction.
The levo is T4 only, which requires your body to be healthy enough to convert to T3 as needed. This requires a healthy gut and liver. So if you don't have a healthy gut and liver, you'll end up with low T3 and high T4 on the levo. This difference is expanded, as you go to higher doses. Check your blood work and see where in the range both T3 and T4 are. If your T4 is at high end of normal and your T3 is at the low end of normal, this could indicate your T3 is low: this could be more precisely your problem, typical for levo patients. If your T3 is low, you'll have anxiety among other problems. For me, I need all my levels to be towards the high end of the ranges for me to feel well.
What I did, was tried with the levo until it was to a point where I thought it was as good as it could get. (Sadly, this took two years of insanity!) When I was still sick on a dose of nearly 200mcg/ day, I tried a natural dessicated thyroxin. That was somewhat better, but I eventually switched to an OTC bovine dessicated thyroxin.
Hope that helps. With the thyroid stuff, you pretty much have to learn to be your own doctor and advocate for yourself. Then try things until you fins what works best for you.
You may be very tired. sip on pickle juice for the cramps. Turmeric ppills help with pain. Get a good multi vitiman. Be sure to report this to your doctor.
Wow...I had no clue about any of that. I have 3 auto immune disorders. 2of them are blood clotting disorder. The most important one is a rare skin disease. I've been seeing a new doctor since September and I have been really sick. I was in remission until this doctor. He changed my dose and didn't tell me. I just thought it was a different manufacturer. I have been hospitalized at least 4 times. With cellulitis of the legs..they think it was mrsa but I try to tell this new doctors my medical conditions but they have the God complex. I have also gained a ton of weight, losing more hair, tired, cold feet, basically all that you described. Thank you so much for you help. Have a great night.
Yes very tired...wow pickle juice, I will try that. I take perocet and fentanyl patches, but still have pain issues too. My new doctor sucks lol.. thank you. Have a good night.
Hope we all rest good.
How long ago was dosage change? I've been as low as 125 and as high as 200.diagnosed with Hoshimotos at Mayo over 37 years ago.However have more serious issues right now.Yes u may experience weight gain and brittle hair and maybe colder temperature. One time pharmacy actually filled my prescription ten percent of actual prescription. .they read doctors note incorrectly. I started gaining weight and hair was brittle. .took a mon then for me to check the email label.take care
Sorry to hear that! You do have a load of illnesses. I don't trust my doctors one bit. All they do is keep adding more prescriptions.
Yes. BeeTx, pretty typical. Unfortunately, since all those prescriptions generally make things worse for people. Better to find an herbal solution- fewer side effects and more effective.
Pickle juice? That's interesting, basically vinegar. Does that help the liver? Like apple cider vinegar?
I use turmeric/ bromelin combo for the pain and inflammation.
I also do frequent liver cleanses. which I feel have been invaluable in keeping me on track!
Michele123, OMG! That's so nutty about the prescription. Boy the posts today really say it all. We've all been through it with the autoimmune disease, chronic illness, crazy prescriptions and doctors.
Hi Tl72, Yes, MtnViewCatherine is dead right. It is basically your DOSE. Increase it in tiny steps and if you hit 150 mcg and you still feel horrible give up on Levo and try an NDT (that is a Natural Dessicated Thyroid). But, if you are new to this, read up on everything you can to educate yourself to the whole thyroid world. Study it as if your life depended upon it because your feeling of well being certainly will.
I wish I could find an herbal replacement for all of my meds. The thyroid replacement for one but there is nothing but Armour thyroid as far as I know.
I changed doctor 6months ago. I was with my previous doctor for 25 years...n didn't have this bad of a problem. You take care ad well.
Thank you very much. You all are being so helpful thank you.
I have never heard of those medications you take for pain.ARE They new? I also have never cleansed my liver. How does that help?
Pickle juice has electrolytes and helps muscle cramps. I'm not sure about the liver and pickle juice. Turmeric works good for inflamation.
There are loads of other NDTs. Ask and people will tell you what they're on.
Hi beeTx,
Barbara is right, here is a list of five:
Acella – NP Thyroid
Armour thyroid
Nature-Throid
WesThroid
And there are more, Google Natural Dessicated Thyroid Med
WP Thyroid
Sorry, WP Thyroid is #5 in the list, not my signature!