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has anyone else had weight gain on synthroid
has anyone else had weight gain while taking synthroid?
Yes, I'd say that your current doctor doesn't know very much about thyroid problems. Time to start looking for a good thyroid doctor, which isn't easy to find. To help understand what your doctor should have been doing, I thought I'd make it easy on my typing fingers by copying a message I just posted to another member. We hear many stories similar to yours every day on the Forum.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables. As such, it is inadequate to be used to determine thyroid medication dosage. At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with the more important indicators which are symptoms and also the levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4. Note that these are not the same as total T3 and total T4, which are somewhat obsolete tests and not very useful in diagnosing and treating a patient.
Free T3 (FT3) is actually the most important because FT3 is four times as active as FT4, plus studies have shown that FT3 levels correlate best with hypo symptoms. For this reason, in my opinion the very best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever medication is required to alleviate symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptoms should be all important. Relief of hypo symptoms frequently necessitates moving FT3 level into the upper part of its range and FT4 at least to the midpoint of its range. The most difficult part of this is usually finding a doctor that will treat your symptoms in this manner, rather than just treating you by TSH level.
In view of your doctor's recent reduction of your meds, I'd say that he was prompted to do that by your most recent TSH test. This happens quite frequently under the mistaken belief that a low TSH automatically means that you are hyper. You should be defined as hyper only if you have hyper symptoms. You are hypo if you have hypo symptoms. your goal should be to become Euthyroid, by which I mean neither hypo nor hyper symptoms. For example, I have had a TSH level less than .05 for well over 20 years, yet still had lingering hypo symptoms, until I switched meds from T4 type to T4/T3 combo, after learning about the vital importance of FT3 in alleviating hypo symptoms and adjusting my FT3 level into the upper part of its range.
Be aware that if you decide to go to an Endo, that doesn't guarantee that he will be a good thyroid doctor. Many specialize in diabetes, not thyroid. Also, many still rigidly cling to the "Immaculate TSH" belief and don't want to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 as required to alleviate symptoms. In fact many doctors pay no/little attention to symptoms and only want to go by lab test results. In many cases, if they do agree to test FT3 and FT4, if the results are in even the low end of the reference range, they don't want to do anything further, even if you still have hypo symptoms.
The best way to find a good thyroid doctor is to get a recommendation from a happy thyroid patient that happens to be in your area. You can sometimes get lucky on this by posting a new message asking for private messages from members with any recommendation for such a doctor in your area.
If you have to just start searching, you might consider this approach. Call the office of any prospective doctor and tell them you are looking for a good thyroid doctor and ask if a nurse could please answer a few questions. This usually works. Then ask if the doctor is willing to treat a thyroid patient's symptoms by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever medication is required to alleviate those symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels? If the answer is yes, then ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe thyroid medications other than just T4 types? If the answers to both questions are yes, then chances are pretty good that you can get what you need. If no to either one, then keep looking.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables. As such, it is inadequate to be used to determine thyroid medication dosage. At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with the more important indicators which are symptoms and also the levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4. Note that these are not the same as total T3 and total T4, which are somewhat obsolete tests and not very useful in diagnosing and treating a patient.
Free T3 (FT3) is actually the most important because FT3 is four times as active as FT4, plus studies have shown that FT3 levels correlate best with hypo symptoms. For this reason, in my opinion the very best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever medication is required to alleviate symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptoms should be all important. Relief of hypo symptoms frequently necessitates moving FT3 level into the upper part of its range and FT4 at least to the midpoint of its range. The most difficult part of this is usually finding a doctor that will treat your symptoms in this manner, rather than just treating you by TSH level.
In view of your doctor's recent reduction of your meds, I'd say that he was prompted to do that by your most recent TSH test. This happens quite frequently under the mistaken belief that a low TSH automatically means that you are hyper. You should be defined as hyper only if you have hyper symptoms. You are hypo if you have hypo symptoms. your goal should be to become Euthyroid, by which I mean neither hypo nor hyper symptoms. For example, I have had a TSH level less than .05 for well over 20 years, yet still had lingering hypo symptoms, until I switched meds from T4 type to T4/T3 combo, after learning about the vital importance of FT3 in alleviating hypo symptoms and adjusting my FT3 level into the upper part of its range.
Be aware that if you decide to go to an Endo, that doesn't guarantee that he will be a good thyroid doctor. Many specialize in diabetes, not thyroid. Also, many still rigidly cling to the "Immaculate TSH" belief and don't want to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 as required to alleviate symptoms. In fact many doctors pay no/little attention to symptoms and only want to go by lab test results. In many cases, if they do agree to test FT3 and FT4, if the results are in even the low end of the reference range, they don't want to do anything further, even if you still have hypo symptoms.
The best way to find a good thyroid doctor is to get a recommendation from a happy thyroid patient that happens to be in your area. You can sometimes get lucky on this by posting a new message asking for private messages from members with any recommendation for such a doctor in your area.
If you have to just start searching, you might consider this approach. Call the office of any prospective doctor and tell them you are looking for a good thyroid doctor and ask if a nurse could please answer a few questions. This usually works. Then ask if the doctor is willing to treat a thyroid patient's symptoms by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever medication is required to alleviate those symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels? If the answer is yes, then ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe thyroid medications other than just T4 types? If the answers to both questions are yes, then chances are pretty good that you can get what you need. If no to either one, then keep looking.
Since the pharmacy didn't have anymore Armour Thyroid, I called my doc and told the nurse that I had been taking the leftover 300mcg of levothyroxine; better than nothing I thought. She told me to come in the next day to get my levels checked. Found out that my levels were normal and she said the doc will put me on 75 mcg of levothyroxine. Why? I was taking 300mcg for over a year, felt freat, lost 40 pounds, when I changed doctors, he thought it was too much and lowered it to 200mcg. Thats when the problems started. Excruciating pain in my hand, especially my middle finger, hair falling out, extremely tired, and gained the 40 pounds back. It didnt dawn on him that I did a weigh in one week and EXACTLY a week later the office weighed me and I had gained 14 pounds. They didn't see this as a red flag!
In regards to the joint pain in hands and knees, he did refer me to a nerve doctor, tests were normal, even had a MRI done, all normal. He told me that since he couldn't figure out the problem for me to go to the ER!!!!
Seriously!
Now, he lowered my dose to more than half. Is it safe to say that he doesn't know what the hell he is doing? Looking for another doctor for sure.
Just because someones level is "normal" doesn't mean that lowering the dose is right for that person. Everyone is different. I don't see how some doctors became doctors because in my opinion, some are dumber than dirt. I feel as if no one give a s--t about me. I am so very depressed and feel alone!
In regards to the joint pain in hands and knees, he did refer me to a nerve doctor, tests were normal, even had a MRI done, all normal. He told me that since he couldn't figure out the problem for me to go to the ER!!!!
Seriously!
Now, he lowered my dose to more than half. Is it safe to say that he doesn't know what the hell he is doing? Looking for another doctor for sure.
Just because someones level is "normal" doesn't mean that lowering the dose is right for that person. Everyone is different. I don't see how some doctors became doctors because in my opinion, some are dumber than dirt. I feel as if no one give a s--t about me. I am so very depressed and feel alone!
I gained weight while on it, Switched back to armour and lost 10 lbs is 5 days. Hard to believe I know, but it is true.
Armour has its side effects though....
Armour has its side effects though....
I think its just really wierd to be gaining more weight and it not relate it to the synthroid. My TSH is really low now at 1.65 and so I am not sure if it is the hypo. Its just really confusing but I will continue the battle
I really thought that once I was on med.(synthroid) that I would be able to lose some weight-but not happening. I feel like I am still adjusting to the med. I think it is stil the hypo. But getting my Dr. to think that is another thing.
I also am playing the waiting game.
Good luck to everyone.
I also am playing the waiting game.
Good luck to everyone.
I have been on synthroid 100 for about 2 months and now on 112 for the last two weeks. I have been steady gaining weight,but I not sure if its from the synthroid or the thyroid.
I will continue to watch and see.
I will be glad when I get stable.
Take care
Terri
I will continue to watch and see.
I will be glad when I get stable.
Take care
Terri
Hi - have been away for a month and couldn't post. I have read all these posts and will go to the website you stated as I am also interested in weight gain. I have gained weight between 15 and 20 lbs since I have been on the synthroid. I never attributed it to the synthroid but to the hypothyroidism. I have struggled so much with symptoms that the weight gain didn't bother me. I now am feeling better and the weight gain is starting to concern me. I go to the doctors next week and I will ask her how much I have gained since I started the synthroid. Again I am glad for this forum to find out it is just not me. lol linda
Well I asked my IVF doctor and he does not agree that synthroid may cause weight gain. just started telling me about immunilogical disorders that come with abnormal TSH levels and to just keep getting tested. We will see how it goes?
I have gained belly fat while on synthroid. I was told that it was one of the side effects from my doctor, I have been up and down with my weight from my other medical problems as well.
Wow there is a lot to take in with this....I started IVF in May of this year and my TSH was only 5.3 my RE wants it below 2. My PCP was sceptical about putting me on meds but agreed to listen to the IVF docs. He ran his own tests that would detect problems in the future. They were sky rocketing so he said I have to be on these meds forever. I was happy at first thought I would loose weight....but seems like I have only gained.... I will start asap getting rid of sugar and only adding protein in my diet.
thanks so much
thanks so much
I have been on synthroid since November, I dont know if it is the meds or my thyroid but I have gained 20 lbs : ( I am trying to at least walk or swim for 30 mins a day, but it is such a struggle. I had gastric bypass so I watch my carbs and sugars too. It is such a bummer.
About the weight gain you mentioned, what is considered a short time? The docs I have didn't flinch when I asked about my weight gain.
I have been on Sythroid for about 9 years. I have my ups and downs. It just takes a littIe time to get all these things right. Everyone is diff and you just have to listen to your body. I have been told if you gain of lose between 10-15 lbs in a short time there can be a problem.
If you are gaining weight - rule of thumb is you are still within the levels of hypothyroidism.
Alos you must change your diet to accomodate this disease - you must starve sugar out of the body and eat frequent small high protein meals to balance insulin.
Please see the post
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/568436
Alos you must change your diet to accomodate this disease - you must starve sugar out of the body and eat frequent small high protein meals to balance insulin.
Please see the post
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/568436
Thanks for your comment, we are doing IVF too and just seems like I cant loose weight gained 5lbs in a month just freaking I guess.
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