Thyroid

[meauburn]

Hi. I am 47. Went to the doctor with depression and issues with weight gain that even with vigorous exercising 4/5 days at the gym won't shed off. My t4 level was slightly elevated above normal so he prescribed Levothyroxine 25 mgs for me. I am just beginning Wellbutrin 25 mgs also. I am worried that I will have the side effects that I am reading on blog sites of dizziness, tiredness and hunger issues. Lord knows that I don't need this because I already feel those now! What is the percentage that this medicine will work for me and help me lose this weight. I am only 5 foot 3 and weigh 170 pounds which I have been trying for over a year to lose. I was 180 when I began to exercise and I am sick of feeling like a 'sack of potatoes'.  Any advice?? Thanks, Michele.

[goolarra]

I see in your original post (question) above that your doctor put you on 25 mcg.  Now you say that you are on 150 mcg.  There were some interim doses, werent there?  If not, that a HUGE (way too big) jump that probably accounts for your symptoms.

[meauburn]

Thank you! Whew! I was beginning to think that I was sh*t out of luck. I hate to be one of those complainers BUT--- its only been the second day taking the Levothyroxine 150mg and I feel pretty awful. My symptoms have seemed to get extremely worse. My head-from the back of the neck to the front feels like its going to explode. I keep getting dizzy spells. I have to pee alot with increased urgency. my hands and feet are swelling and feel like numb in some areas. I usually go to the gym everyday. I don't feel that I can do it, I feel out-of-it and tired. Is this normal?? I can't go thru this, I would much rather not take it- if I can't make it to the gym.  Thank you everyone for your support! I am not really the whining type, but I really don't like the way I feel.

[goolarra]

Don't get too discouraged.  We've all managed to find something that works for each of us.  Don't forget that forums don't have a whole lot of members who are HAPPY with their treatment.  We're the bottom of the barrel, here...not the textbook cases.

Treatment is very individual and what works for one often doesn't for the other.  

I also think the meds get a bad rep because doctors stop increasing too soon, leaving their patients with lingering symptoms that are then ascribed to the meds, when the problem is really inept doctors.

Yes, it WILL get better.  We see this all the time...people come on the forum because something (everything?) is not working for them.  A few hang around after their problems have resolved, but, by and large, they dessert us!  So, the preponderance of what you read here is not going to be from happy campers.

I feel good, my meds have been stable for a couple of years now.  It took me a while to get there, but I have no complaints at the moment.  I guess maybe some of us should make that apparent more frequently!

[meauburn]

Thank you-  I WILL get the numbers so that I can post them. My doctor was sceptical at first, telling me that maybe I wasn't 'as fit' as I thought I was or maybe I wasn't trying hard enough. I had a list of issues that I was having.  Some would look at me and my 5 foot 4 frame and say that I didn't look overweight- but I carry it mostly in the middle and clothes hide it well!! I just like Ebeth09 (*thank you by the way) was up to 183 the heaviest Ive ever been and over a year of faithfully trying only got down to 173!  
Some of the other problems that I  having were not drastic, but enough that I noticed- Swollen hands and feet. Pain in my pinchers (thumb and forefingers) which I was having problems opening jars & write, etc.. I felt like I had to go Pee WAY TOO MUCH. Not sleeping well, having dull headaches, itchy skin, losing alot of hair in the shower, depressed, sleeplessness, went from not wearing glasses to having prescriptions* sent to an eye specialist where they found my eye pressure very 'high' being indicitive of Glaucoma. I have been looking for similiar problems online from others- to compare- and ya know what- most have these issues WITH THE MEDICATION. My god- will it get better?? I only hear the negative.

[Ebeth09]

Hey there! I used to take Paxil and over the course of a couple of years I gained 60 lbs!!! Maybe you want to try a new anti-depressant! (Although your thyroid is also linked to weight issues as well, it may take your thyroid being regulated before you start to shed lbs...good luck!)

[FTB4]

Have you had a thyroid blood work up done? If so it is best to post your test results and the ranges provided with them, this way the more experienced members can see where you are at regarding your thyroid, weight gain and depression are symptoms of an underactive thyroid, are you sure it was your T4 that is high? I would think for underactive your T4 would be low and your TSH would be high. Anyway post your labs from the test if not, you can request them from your MD. As far as anti-depressants, I was prescribed Wellbutrin and Trazodone, it made the depression worse for me, Good Luck FTB4