Should I take Levothyroxine?

[v_cosmics]

I have gained 20 lbs in 3 months without changing my eating habit and it's difficult to lose the gained weight with different methods which i have tried. Below please find my blood test results:
FREE T4 12.6 pmol/L (10.0-25.0)
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE(TSH) 0.99 mlU/L 0.20 - 6.00

Can this result explain my sudden weight gain?
Should I take Levothyroxine

Please help. thanks!

[v_cosmics]

Thank you!!!!

It's so important that you understand my feelings and situation.

i m sure i m taking calories less than what i use but still......
sigh.....
i have tried many ways....
so disappointing....

[Barb135]

I can identify with the annoyance; been there for nearly 5 years.   A lot depends on the type of exercise you do and the "healthy diet".

No matter what, we have to eat less calories than we use or we won't lose weight. You need to look at the portion sizes.  

You might want to check out the Food diary, here on MH; it can help you figure out how many calories you need daily and let you track them.

[v_cosmics]

other symptoms include always feeling tired, dry skin.

anything can help with my weight gain? i m doing one hour exercise everyday with health diet already.....it is really annoying...

thanks for your help!

[Barb135]

You should get the thyroid antibody tests, also.  The ones you need to diagnose Hashi's are Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab).  

Is weight gain the only symptom you have?

[v_cosmics]

thank you for your reply. i will check my Free T3 also.

meanwhile, what else should i do?

[Barb135]

While your FT4 is pretty low in the range, it doesn't really appear that you  have a thyroid issue, at this point. Do you  have, or can you get a Free T3 test?  That's the hormone that correlates best with symptoms.

You might also want to get tested for thyroid antibodies to see if you have the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  With Hashi's symptoms can show up long before blood tests reveal a problem.