levothyroxine

[michellek440]

my doctor told me that i have hyperthyroidism and put me on .05mg of levothyroxine to start with. i have read about alot of side affects and am worried about the hair loss and weight gain the most. anyone on this medication and can give me some feedback that would be great. i am already overweight, at 170 now i have gained almost 40 lbs in 4 years. my left eye is also larger than my right, she said it will get better with time. somehow i have a hard time believing that, it has been this way since last september.

thanks,
michelle

Please help!

[goolarra]

Just make sure your doctor tests FREE T3 and FREE T4.  It sounds like you might still be undermedicated or might need a different med.

Ask your doctor for your lab report, and post your results and ranges when you have them.  Ranges vary lab to lab, so they have to come from your own lab report.  Just being "in range" is often not enough to relieve symptoms, but many doctors think it is.  We'll try to help point you in the right direction.

[michellek440]

wow, forgot i had this and just found my posting from last year. well still feel like crap. Meds been raised to .150 now. gotta go in around dec. 16th to get levels checked again. Eye still messed up. and now i am having other problems which the doctors can't find out what the heck is wrong. driving me crazy. not literly.
:)

[goolarra]

You have hypOthyroidism, not hypERthyroidism.  Hair loss and weight gain are due to hypo, not the meds.  Too often, doctors UNDERmedicate their patients, so it looks like the drug causes hair loss and weight gain when continuing hypo is really the culprit.  Your hair will grow back, and you will find it easier to lose weight once your thyroid levels are stabilized.  

Be sure your doctor is testing free T3 and free T4 inaddition to TSH.  These are the actual thyroid hormones and much more important than TSH.  

It will get better with time as long as your doctor is willing to treat you until all symproms have been relieved.  You have to judge on how you feel, not what your lab numbers say.

How are you feeling?