Water Retention

[Gloworm358]

Is it normal to retain water while on Synthroid? I never experienced water retention before I began my Synthroid. Now that I am on Synthroid, I am retaining water pretty badly. I often wake up with swollen fingers and I tend to weigh 5 or 6 pounds more in the morning than I do in the evening. This is very out of character for me. Anything I can do to help alleviate this issue?

[goolarra]

Probably.  You've been on meds for three weeks.  You might get a little more improvement, but the vast majority of the improvement comes in the first four weeks.  You might ask your doctor to move up your labs by a week or two...  

[Gloworm358]

Yes, I'm being retested in a little less than 3 weeks. Thank you for the info. So I can likely expect continued retention at a minimum until I move my dose up?

[goolarra]

Thanks, Barb.

You're on a fairly low dose of Synthroid (50 mcg).  As I said above, when you start on meds, your body has to rebalance and you can get new hypo symptoms and previous ones can get worse.  

Three weeks isn't enough time for your levels to have stabilized.  

Are you due for retesting in a couple of weeks?

[Gloworm358]

Thanks!

[Barb135]

In order to avoid repeating the same questions and information, here's another thread, containing Lauren's lab results, etc.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/Lab-Interpretation/show/2348578

[Gloworm358]

Around 3 weeks now. I feel somewhat more energetic, but I am struggling with water retention and constipation since beginning meds.

[goolarra]

How long have you been on Synthroid?  Water retention is often a hypo symptom, and until meds are properly adjusted, which can take a while, you can actually become a little more hypo as your body rebalances.