Questions regarding hypothyroid

[overwhelmed]

I am 24 years old and have struggled for about 5 years to lose weight. I have tried everything. I finally got discouraged enough to go to the doctor and have blood work done. The results= Hypothyroid.

He put me on 25mcg of Levothroxin. For the last four weeks I have been going to the gym 6 days a week (mixing cardio and weight training) and limit myself to 1200 calories a day, with no results. I started my medicine yesterday.

From the research I've done, I have a ton of questions. I am so overwhelmed and worried.

1) 25 mcg is a very low dose. Will it help at all?

2) On average how long does it take until you can see results losing weight with the help of the medicine for hypothyroid?

3.) I have read on some support forums about people GAINING weight after being put on Levothroxine/Synthroid/Levoxyl. Is this common?

4) Is one med better than another: Levothroxine/Synthroid/Levoxyl?

5) I took my first dose this morning about 9 am on an empty stomach. While I was at the gym about 7pm, I suddenly felt extremely hot, faint, and nausiated. Is this normal?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

First off, hypothyroidism may account for an average of 5-7 pound weight gain -- despite what people claim -- and most of this is fluid retention.  There can be more severe cases.  So, the thyroid is likely only part of the issue with weight.

with that in mind,

1 -- somewhat low dose for a 24yo healthy person, but this needs to be individualized

2 -- the response to meds may take 2-3 months overall, and it may not involve weight loss

3 -- some do report weight gain, but this is not common.  Likely due to appetite stimulation

4 -- no, but avoid generics

5 -- not likely related, but some people are sensitive and take 10-14 days to get used to the medication -- if these symptoms persist, you may need an even lower dose

[GlennaJ]

Hi there.  I am not a doctor but I have been Hypothyroid for over 6 years now and I will share my story with you.  I became Hypothyroid after the birth of my son.  I could not lose weight for nothing.  They always start you with a low dose of Meds and move you up after testing.....it just depends on how low your thyroid was to start with.  My struggle with weight lasted for 6 years until I finally tried the low carb diet......that is the ONLY thing that worked for me...basically cutting out bread and sugar.  I lost 40 pounds and was feeling great......then I got pregnant......as soon as I  started eating things I shouldn't.....I've already gained 15 pounds and I am 13 weeks pregnant...but I know how to lose it and I will after my pregnancy.  I tried low fat....DID NOT WORK.....I honestly believe that ONLY low carbs will help people with Thyroid problems lose weight.  The feelings you were having were probably because you got a full dose of the thyroid medicine without anything to eat which is actually the best way to take it so your body can absorb it.  Just a quick note to you.....I have been on the Name brand Synthroid my whole time and I tried the levothyroxine and it DID NOT WORK at all for me.....my body almost shut down after being on it for 12 days....I tried it because of insurance issues.  I honestly believe that ONLY name brand actually works properly for you.  Good luck to you, GJ

[Craniac3]

It is my understanding, after 6 weeks of reading everything available online about hypothyroidism, that the doctor prescribes the dosage of meds based on 1) your TSH result and 2) your weight. They tend to err on the side of underdosing because overdosing can send you the other way into hypERthyroidism and possible heart issues. It takes quite some time (weeks) to notice improvement (unlike 24 hours on an antibiotic for an infection). Usually the doctor will have you repeat labwork in 6 weeks and make dosage changes from there.

If you took your med at 9 a.m. and felt poorly at 7 p.m., I don't think it was the medicine. You may not have eaten enough during the day, or since your thyroid affects pretty much every metabolic process in your body, working out may have pushed it (thyroid) past its ability and you were working off your adrenals. You may have to bring your workout down a notch or two until you are feeling better.

Hang in there. It's incredibly easy to be paranoid and anxious right now. But gather as much information as you can and don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions. They are under rigid time restraints from the insurance companies, but if you are organized and have a list of questions ready at your appointment, you can usually get the answers you need.

I found these websites very informative:

www.thyroid.about.com
www.mythyroid.com
www.thyroid.org

and Mary Shomon's book, "Living Well with Hypothyroidism."

Good Luck!