Taking levothyroxine and gaining weight

[midwestnunderactive]

I take 157mcg levothyroxine, am 54 years old.  I have been going through menopause since 2008, I think.  I have been gaining on average of 2 pounds every year since diagnosed with toxic thyroid in 2000.  Before treatment, I weighed 125 pounds and felt great until my mother passed away in early 2000.  I now struggle to stay below 150 pounds.  After treatment, I take my thyroid hormone first thing in the morning and my blood pressure, lisinopril, in the evening at dinner.  I then feel hungry all day and try to be careful not to consume high fat/carb foods but seem to crave these more than fruits and veggies.  I work in front of a computer all day and really don't have time to exercise as much as I would like.  What is going on with my body?

[goolarra]

No, I am not a physician, nor do I have any medical training whatsoever.  We are all fellow patients on this forum.

I'd like to see your labs before commenting.  Do you have any other hypo symptoms besides weight gain?  Two pounds a year isn't typical of the weight gain due to thyroid.  When hypo or undermedicated, many of us easily put that on in a week or less.  Thyroid weight gain tends to be fast and furious.  

You have a couple of other things going on:  age (don't we all?!) and menopause, both of which are more apt to cause slow but steady weight gain.  

However, if you get labs and ranges, we can take a look and see how your levels look.  

I really don't know much about comtraceptives boosting hormone levels (did you mean thyroid hormone levels?).  Although many people are on replacement therapy for both, I don't know that one necessarily boosts the other.

[midwestnunderactive]

Thank you for commenting on my question.  That is very generous of you.  I have one question:  Are you a physician?  I can ask for lab results and they will give them to me.  As for reference ranges, I will also ask.  This may take awhile to obtain this information as my physician takes awhile to get back with me.  I was also wondering about the possibility of low dose contraceptive as a way to boost hormone levels.  I was not able to take even the lowest dose when younger and I have a cystic ovary as well that landed me in the hospital two times more than 10 years ago when a cyst broke (so they conclude) .  Gosh, wish I could start feeling better.  Any other ideas?

[goolarra]

Do you have recent thyroid labs to post?  If so, please do with reference ranges (vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report).

It sounds like you might be undermedicated or on the wrong meds.