when will I lose the weight

[Marymore44]

My TSH was 41. I have been on synthroid  for 6 weeks and was just increased to 100mcg. My last TSH was 5.5. When will I start to lose the weight I have gained. Nothing seems to work. How long does it take to get back to feeling normal. I have heard it takes a long time.  

[Marymore44]

Chrissy
If you can find a Dr who is a D.O. instead of M.D. They tend to be more into wholistic and " natural"  treatments and will prescribe Armour or bioidentical hormones. I empathize with you and your frustration but hang in there. NEVER NEVER give up. Keep on talking to others with similar problems  When I feel despondant I try to be thankfull and remember that 50 years ago we probably would just have died by now

[cheshire]

I totally understand your suffering, and I'm sorry there is such a lack of knowledge in the medical community. Cholesterol and weight were TOTALLY thyroid related for me as well. My LDL was the highest my doctor had seen in her career, and now it is low around the same as my HDL.

I switched from synthroid to Armour completely, and raised by 30 mgs every two weeks for a couple of months until i reached 3 grains. At that point I held for a month and tested my Free T3 and Free t4. i also had to take Cortef for low cortisol. I found this out with a simple 4point saliva test. And also supplemented with DHEA as that was low as well. My ferritin was quite low at 11, so i took irom for a few months until i got it over 60.

i am now on 265mgs of Armour, but I think you will need more than this.

There was no doctor to help me on this mission -- I did all the research on my own, and except for the blood work which my endo ran anyway, he did not help me in any way. There were a few folks on a forum that helped me along, and i dare say they saved my life!

[Chrissy8759]

I am on as I have quoted in another forum .155 mcg Synthroid and 60 mgs Armour.  It seemed to make me feel better at first but now I am feeling absolutely exhausted again. Dr. Lupo mind you please, I feel hypothryroidism has a great deal to do with weight problems.  I manage my portions and eat very healthy but there is absolutely no reason I should have gained 75 pounds over the last 8 years.  I was placed on a diuretic and blood pressure medication and last meeting I had with my doctor my Cholesterol levels were way out of proportion---good and bad.  I was advised if it is up this next time I may have to take Cholesterol medication.  Fine print shows that Synthroid causes this....I never had Cholesterol problems either until I was placed on this medication; after I have seen a total of 8 doctors and 1 endo....not one has ever done a scan on my thyroid or ultrasound.  My neck throbs at times and yes I have difficulty swallowing. I feel like you do chesire, I am on a journey to find an answer since noone is helping me and it's left up to me now.  I am tempted today to stop everything and if I have a stroke or whatever maybe someone at the hospital will help me.  Oh yes, where is the real "Dr. House" when you need him.   I am so frustrated right now.

[cheshire]

I was like an inflated water balloon on synthroid, and I had most symptoms listed above plus others. I'm on 265mgs of Armour now, no hyper or hypo symptoms, and I've also lost 35 pounds without dieting. Mind you, I have a very healthy diet. But I was eating healthy on synthroid to no avail.

I feel like I did study medicine, for 4 hours a day for a year, to figure out what the heck was wrong with me! And now I know for certain that I was on the wrong medication.

[Chrissy8759]

I completely understand your dilemma.  I am 5'6" and weigh 204 now.  I have complete fatigue, tried working out at the gym...no good, no weight loss, can't sleep...now I take ambian at night just to rest, I have severe dry skin too, Fogged brain, memory loss, I fall asleep sometimes talking to people....It's scary when you have a high profile job and you fear dozing and start snoring...I want to feel great again, do we need to go to Mexico or South America...I heard alot of people have been "cured" from alot of ailments traveling abroad.  My aunt had osteoarthritis in her knees went to Mexico and her legs look great now.  Do we need to study medicine to find the answers??

[laplars]

Hi,  My doctor just prescribed synthoid due to my thyroid being low.  I was actaully diagnosed 2 years ago but quit taking synthoid because I had breast cancer and both my doctor and I forgot to restart my synthoid.  Sense then I've gained 60 pounds.  My doctor gave me synthoid today and I am decreasing my effexor from 75 to 37.5 and starting meridia for wieght loss.  I also work out 7 days a week with a nutritionist and personal trainer ( last 90 days with no weight loss).  With the mentioned medical changes above, what realistic time line give or take, can you suggest where I might see changes not only in weight loss, but an over all feeling of change?
fatigue
bloating
insomnia
swelling of ankles
severe dry skin
foggy brain
lathargy
I'm 5'4 193lbs.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

It may take 2-3 months once the TSH is normalized (0.5-2.5 typically) to see the full benefit.  For weight loss -- regular exercise and portion control are the mainstay -- correcting the thyroid will help somewhat.