Synthroid & Fluid Retention??

Question

I read not too long ago (I think a post here on MedHelp) that Synthroid is sodium  based.  I have a problem with fluid retention (worse since beginning synthroid in June 08) and my doctor has advised me to limit sodium intake.  Is it possible that the Synthroid is contributing to my fluid retention and if so, is there a way that I can eliminate some of the fluid?  I have enough problems so that I don't want to do anything that might interfere with meds or cause other symptoms.  

Also, is shortness of breath a Hashi symptom?  I have never had a problem before, but over the past couple days, it seems that I get short of breath very easily.  In Dec, I saw a cardiologist, went through a stress test and echocardiogram.  Stress test was great; echocardiogram showed slight leakage in one heart valve, but cardiologist said, just last week, it was nothing to worry about at this point and only wants to check in a year to make sure it's still stable.

Barb135 · Answer

This is a really old thread, but I'm happy to tell you that I'm still on a synthetic thyroid med (Tirosint) and I no longer have an issue with the swelling or shortness of breath.  Those are actually symptoms of being hypo. 

Once I got my levels up closer to what I needed, the shortness of breath went away.  The only time I have swelling is if I eat too much salty food. 

Many/most of us do just fine on synthetic meds.

Lissab65 · Answer

Shortness of breath CAN be caused by Synthroid.  I took it for 10 years and steadily got worse, not better.  I steadily gained weight, no matter how I changed my diet.  I had extreme shortness of breath, like my lungs were coated with something that prevented me from getting oxygen.  I couldn't walk 20 feet without fighting to breathe.  I also felt like I had swallowed a basketball.  My stomach was extremely bloated.  No doctor would listen when told how I felt.  I finally went to an endo who was willing to switch me to Armour when I explained that I believe it to be caused by Synthroid. It's been about 8 months now and the basketball is gone.  I can breathe again! I'm losing weight, slowly.  The water is slowly going away though I still have a lot more to go.  I still get deep indentations in my legs when you press on them but I have lost 19 pounds that I'm sure was all water.   Some people just can't take Synthroid.  Keep going to other Dr's until you find one willing to give you something instead of synthetic medications.   Don't give up!   Took 10 years and many Dr's to find one willing to listen and help me!

stella5349 · Answer

I might have missed the time frame you've been on Synthroid but if you haven't seen any improvements 2 to 3 months into the therapy considering alternatives could be something to ask about. 

Waiting this period of time is important however if you feel you are taking a turn to the worse best to call the doctor about everything

Barb135 · Answer

I don't know that you need a different med, at this point, but that depends on what your Free T's look like,  as well.  If you have results for those, please post them, along with the reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and must come from your own report. 

It's not unusual for people to report worsening (or different) symptoms for a while after starting on medication.

TakingCare6789 · Answer

Hi Barb --- Fluid retention did not occur until after I was put on Synthroid.  I am hypo with a TSH of 4.7 with other symptoms of fatigue, hair loss, brain fog, etc.  However, none of those symptoms included fluid retention until I was put on Synthroid.  Should I call my doctor and get a different drug?

TakingCare6789 · Answer

Hi Stella --- I am new to all this.  My doctor gave me Synthroid.  Should I ask for Levothyroxine and get a different form of T4 or do I need a T3?

stella5349 · Answer

Classically fluid retention is found chronilogically (sp?) found in joints and muscle mass inflammation along with some hormonal functions. For a woman think of it as during your cycle. Days before it starts and into the first few days fluid retention biuld because the body is getting ready for a "dump" to find better words. Inflammation is a natural healing the body performs to "heal" however, chronic inflammation should be a huge warning to ourselves something is going on that we must fix. 

In thyroid, a deficiency most of the time is what is located. Commonly, magnesium, Vit D, Iodine, Zinc, high estrogen and low sodium (low - believe it or not) is the problem along with high blood pressure. 

Synthroid itself won't "cause" inflammation however the fillers involved making the medication can bark on our body and the inflammation occurs from those inside the pill. Changing meds to other forms of thyroid medication can help. Finding the right one is hard.

Barb135 · Answer

My FT's are up in the ranges, where they should be and I no longer have the shortness of breath, at all, even with exercise. I've had fluid retention, off and on, since I was in my 20's; in 2009, when I started this thread, the fluid retention was due mostly to being hypo, not the medication. When I have fluid retention, now, it's not thyroid related. I've found that some teas will get it down rather quickly.

Sera20 · Answer

I can commiserate with the water retention on Synthroid...had the same experience, along with massive bloating in the stomach. It did get rid of the shortness of breath,however.  Recently started experiencing the shortness of breath again,while on 50 of Tirosint,and had to go back to doc who FINALLY raised it to 75.  Let's hope this does the trick.  Oddly enough, I find the breathless feeling comes with a higher TSH.  The FreeT3's and T4's are not that different in number, but the TSH had gone up from 1.02 to 1.8. Good luck, hope that goes away, because it can be quite irritating in day to day living.

TakingCare6789 · Answer

Did you ever find out how to get rid of your water retention?  I have found this to be a problem for myself.  Would love to hear your advice on the situation.

Barb135 · Answer

My last bloods were beginning of Dec, so that would be 3 months til the end of Feb, but I felt that might not be enough when my levels were still off.  I questioned the cut from 88 to 75 mcg was blown off.  I'm told also that you can have some of the same symptoms with hyper as with hypo, so without testing what can you do?  If I could find a lab that would test w/o a doctor's order, I'd go get them on my own.  

To my knowledge, my PCP doesn't even know I have Hashi's; his records show only hypothyroidism - it's a long story, but I was actually dx'd by an ENT because my PCP refused to send me for any further testing (TPOab, ultra sound, etc) since he was lumping me into that hypochondriac group.  The referral to the endo was also done by the ENT due to the problems with PCP.  

According to the info I have about the endo, he specializes in both thyroid and diabetes.  I didn't think about calling to check for cancellations - might give that a try.  Thanks for the suggestion.

laura1967 · Answer

May have been too big of a jump back in meds. Maybe he should have had you alternate days between 88 and 75. With hashi's you should at least be kept supressed between .50-1.0, so you weren't that far off, so to cut you back to 75, I bet you went hypo. Unfortunately Barb our symptoms vary with this stupid hashi's. One months of hypo symptoms may vary from the next time. Some will always be familiar and some will be new symptoms. Strange nasty little disease isn't it? 
Don't worry....we have all been labeled hypochondriacs by drs! That is when it feels good to fire them! Apparently your dr doesnt know a whole lot about hashimoto's.
Another thing....you have hashi's and your doctor has you going for bloodwork only 1 time every 6 months???? You should be getting testing a minimum of every 3 months while you are still in thyroid destruction mode, and staying pretty optimum. Then when things start declining rapidly and consistently you will have to go more often. I go every 5-6 weeks for bloodwork, because mine is finally at the rapid dying stage.
Glad you are going to see a new endo, maybe this one specializes in thyroid and not diabetes as most do. I would call and see if they have any cancellations so they can move your appt up sooner.

Barb135 · Answer

Thanks for the responses.  I never had shortness of breath, even at the time of dx in June 08, when my TSH levels were 55+, but all of sudden it's getting rather worrisome.  Does it need to be checked out or am I safe to wait until I see my new endo on the 27th?  I've had a few problems with my PCP being unwilling to take my symptoms seriously (wants to lump me into a neat little group of hypochondriacs), so am hesitant to put this new symptom to him.  I'm sure my levels are not what they should be; last TSH (0.16) was in early Dec; my synthroid was lowered from 88 mcg to 75, but not scheduled for next labs until the middle/end of Feb.

laura1967 · Answer

I can answer the shortness of breath question.....yes it is a symptom of hypothyroidism due to hashi's....I get it when my levels are off, even slightly off.

Liz94 · Answer

I didn't know synthroid was sodium based but I also have a lot of fluid retention and I take synthroid.  Some days are worst than others depending on what I eat. I've really tried to start watching the salt because I blow up like a blowfish!  I drink a ton of water and that seems to help. I've also started using that Garnier de-puffer roller ball thing under my eyes in the morning. It works.

I'm not sure about the shortness of breath.  I know that when I start going a little hyper I can get a bit short of breath.  But mine is more like a feeling of uncomfortableness when I exhale. I feel like I'm breathing deep.