Is this side effects of levo

[Ladylee]

Weight gain. Why can't I seem to lose weight. I try to eat healthy and it seem like I'm gaining 5 pounds every two weeks. I only eat 3 healthy meals per day. I don't eat late nights. I try to walk. But now after I walk a mile my hips and legs hurt so bad I have to stop

[leanne2410]

Hi ladylee. I had my thyroid removed 2 years ago now. Was on 125mcg of Levo and calcium etc. No matter how much I exercised or what I ate I was putting on weight. The Levo also played havoc with my stomach. Severe bloatedness stomach cramps. I bit the bullet and changed endo who put me on t4/t3 combination my bloods were showing I was underactive. Being on a lower dose of Levo didn't get rid of my symptoms. So I now self medicate with ndt, (which I purchase online) assisted by my endo. Been on it now for 6 weeks. Best thing I ever did. It takes a lot of tweaking with the dosage to find the right amount. But I feel almost "normal"  now and my weight is starting to come off. Hope this helps. 

[Hidden in reply to leanne2410]

Hi Leanne, so pleased to hear you're feeling better.

Could you tell me where you get you're NDT please.

Can you private message me please.

Many thanks

[Ladylee in reply to leanne2410]

Thank you. Now what is t3 and t4

[leanne2410]

Forgot to mention get your levels checked sounds like you are underactive. 

[shaws Administrator]

First of all Ladylee I would say you are undermedicated. If you've had your Thyroid gland removed the very least they should offer you is levothyroxine and liothyronine.

I had a thyroid gland and I could barely move and everything in my body was pain, pain and more pain. It's all relieved now and I have no clinical symptoms and feel well.

It didn't happen straight away but slow and gradual is better and sometimes we have to try one or two alternatives, despite the guidelines laid down for hypothyroid patients.

You need either T3 added to your T4 or NDT. They cannot keep us unwell for years and thus develop other more serious conditions (as if hypo isn't enough)

[Ladylee in reply to shaws]

Thank you. I will definitely  tell this to my doctor.  Now what is t3 and t4

[shaws Administrator in reply to Ladylee]

Healthy thyroid hormones are 'thyroxine' T4 and liothyronine 'T3'. 

We are prescribed synthetic levothyroxine which is T4 to convert to T3. 

T3 is the only active hormone in our bodies which enables our metabolism/energy to function normally if given an adequate dose to remove all clinical symptoms, which sometimes the doctor falls short on supplying, going more by the whereabouts of the TSH level than our symptoms. There is also a synthetic T3 which can be added to T4 for the benefit of the patient, particularly without a thyroid gland (my view) and I keep forgetting to say that I'm not medically qualified, only have my own experience of hypothyroidism and finding my way through the maze thanks to Thyroiduk.org.uk before the forum was thought of.

So its a learning curve for all of us on this forum and many have been successful in finding a way through the clinical symptoms due to their own endeavours. As I hope you will too.

[shaws Administrator]

Another link:

web.archive.org/web/2010103...