HYPO BUT HOT?

[KARRY60]

HIYA, I AM A 45 YR OLD WOMAN, NO HEALTH PROBLEMS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. RECENTLY DIAGNOSED HYPO AFTER SEEKING TREATMENT FOR EXCESSIVE MENSTRUATION, HAVE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF SYMPTOMS I.E TIREDNESS, MEMORY PROBLEMS, GETTING BIT CONFUSED, VARIOUS ACHES AND PAINS BUT HAVE PUT THEM DOWN TO OLD AGE! MY RESULTS WERE: FT4 11.7 (12.0 - 22) TSH 12.34 (0.30 - 4.2) TPO 430.1 (0 - 34). MY QUESTIONS ARE; FIRSTLY DO MY RESULTS INDICATE THAT TREATMENT IS NECCESSARY AT THIS POINT - HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED 25 MCG LEVOTHYROXINE?  THE MAIN THING THAT IS CONCERNING ME IS THAT WHILST I DO GET VERY COLD HANDS AND FEET IN WINTER, IN THE SUMMER I ABSOLUTELY BURN UP, IF I GO OUT ON A HOT DAY MY FACE GOES LIVID RED, HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER! I DO TEND TO OVERHEAT AND FEEL VILE ON EXERTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I AM TAKING A DRUG THAT IS MEANT TO SPEED UP MY METABOLISM AND "WARM ME UP" THAT MY HEAD WILL BURST INTO FLAMES NEXT SUMMER!!!  THANKS.

[charley1986]

Hey,
Thanks for your kind remarks.  I guess that I just really want to hope that the hell that I have been through for the last three years may in some way help someone else.  That's why I think these forums are so important and informative.  It's good to know that you are not alone in all this.  I kept pushing b/c a friend kept pushing me and b/c people on the undiagnosed forum gave me lots of support - now just trying to look toward the future - that will HOPEFULLY be worth the wait!!!!
Take Care,
Charley

[KARRY60]

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMMENTS, I DONT THINK I EVEN KNEW WHERE MY THYROID WAS BEFORE ALL THIS! I TAKE IT THAT BECAUSE DR DIDNT COMMENT ON WHETHER HE THOUGHT TREATMENT REALLY NECCESSARY AT THIS POINT THAT IT ACTUALLY IS?  I DONT LIKE THE THOUGHT OF TAKING TABLETS UNLESS I REALLY NEED TO. I HAVE PUT A LOT OF MY PROBLEMS DOWN TO MY AGE AND IMPENDING MENOPAUSE, AND DIDNT REALLY THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON. ANYWAY ENOUGH OF ME.  LAURIEL IT MUST BE A TERRIBLE TIME FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, NO WONDER YOUR FEELING AWFUL. KEEP YOUR CHIN UP YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS. CHARLEY HAVE BEEN BROWSING SITE AND READING OLD POSTS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU TOO HAVE HAD A ROTTEN TIME OF IT JUST LATELY. I THINK ITS SO LOVELY THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO TRY AND INFORM AND REASSURE OTHERS. THANKS AND GOD BLESS X

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The drug (levothyroxine) is meant to normalize the thyroid, not "speed up" the metabolism -- if you have had life-long "hot face" in the summers, this is not likely to change with thyroid treatment which will bring the thyroid BACK into the normal range.

[charley1986]

Hey,
Sounds like 1.0 was not a good number for you.  I hope that you get meds straight soon.
So sorry to hear about your brother.  I know that this is a very emotional time for you so I wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.  
Charley

[LAURIEL]

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT. IT SURE IS A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.. I JUST PRAY TO GOD EVERYDAY TO HELP ME. ONE DAY AT A TIME I KNOW HE WILL. LAURIEL

[LAURIEL]

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT. IT SURE IS A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.. I JUST PRAY TO GOD EVERYDAY TO HELP ME. ONE DAY AT A TIME I KNOW HE WILL. LAURIEL

[charley1986]

Hey,
I can relate.  I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 1998, and I have hated summer since!  I think that some folks are just different than others.  However, I have to tell you that your TSH is pretty high and you do need to take the meds to get the numbers down.  Once you are stable on drugs, your tsh will come down and the symptoms you are having will start to subside.  Just remember that it takes our bodies about 4 - 6 weeks to get leveled out on meds and even then, the meds might need tweaking to find the right dosage for you.  Doc here will likely tell you that most folks feel good with their tsh about 1.0.
I know how sluggish you are feeling and I hope that you get things situated soon.  Good luck to you!
Charley (not a doc)!

[LAURIEL]

I am hypo and my tsh went from 10 t0 17 after taking 25 mg synthroid for a month. Anyway my face gets red and i wake up alot at night hot. Now he wants me take Levoxyl  and 50 mg. then 25 back and worth. Has anyone heard anything bad about this drug? I think i read people have less hair loss. Is this true? I know it is a long process getting tsh right. I know my tsh was 1 this summer and i was hperthyroid and my hair fell out alot and I felt like a nervous wreak. I dont why the doctor would think 1 is good. Anyway I wish you all the best. Can stress affect  TSH because my brother died Aug. 15 and it has been gut wrenching.~God Bless You All~ Lauriel