I've been battling hypo issues for more than 20 years. So much so that my doc (and a specialist) thought i didn't need medication and was off meds for more than a year.
I started back on thyroxine on February after a health test at work revealed a resting heart rate of 95bpm. My GP suggested I start back on thyroxine and i've slowly climbed up to 75mcg.
Although brain fog is lifting a little, I keep gaining weight, which I can't control. It's all in my stomach and it's pretty unsightly and extremely uncomfortable. It can also be pretty sore and pressurised/gassy most afternoons, which isn't ideal when it's noisy in meetings. No matter what I do I can't shift the weight. Lack of appetite, hair loss and extremely itchy inner ears continue to be a problem.
Although I know if I came off/reduced meds, I'd probably drop a few pounds. I usually feel better after a few days of coming off them but I'm trying hard not to mess about with my meds.
Does anyone else have this problem? I should say I'm on Vitamin D and B12, too.
Most recent blood tests when on 75mcg:
TSH 2.34 (0.55-4.78)
FT4 18 (10-25)
FT3 4.7 (4.0-7.0)
Tests from 3 months ago when on 25mcg:
TSH 4.41 (0.55-4.78)
Ft4 14 (10-25)
As always, thanks for listening,
Tired x
Written by
Tiredofthis77
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
cant tell you anything im afraid. but im increasingly concerned by the number of people coming on here saying their dr decided they didnt need meds (wtf!!!)
Yup. I even went to a private specialist and he told me I was just unfortunate and depressed lol. That advice was costly money-wise and health-wise which left me untreated for a year and a half
You are still undermedicated. Your symptoms are more likely to be due to low thyroid hormones rather than levo. When on levo your tsh should be 1 or lower. This is where we generally feel at our best. You Ft3 is low and an increase in levo should raise this. It is low ft3 that causes the symptoms.
There are a few of us on here who have done that.... And made themselves quite ill. It is a strange thing that we can't explain but when you stop levo you feel quite good......... For a while. Then hypo hits. I was undermedicated for years and put my symptoms down to levo so I reduced and reduced. By the time the symptoms really hit tsh was 32,ft4 10 and Ft3 3.
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Thank you. I’m just puzzled as to why I’ve lost weight when I’ve stopped meds in the past. I’m particularly puzzled as to why I’ve gained a stone since going back on meds in February and just wondered if anyone else had the same issue. It’s so soul destroying
As a person who drastically gains weight, suffers terrible bloating, and generally feels terrible the higher my levo dose goes, I would suggest reading posts on here about T3/T4-combined and T3-only treatment. For me, slowwwwly reducing my levo back and sloooowly increasing my T3, plus all the advice about vitamins, as directed here, has helped a great deal. I am convinced that while some people - millions - do fine on levo only, for some of us levo is somehow just not a good medicine, and taking more makes it worse, not better. Just my opinion, for my own self!
Many do Great with T4 only because they are good converters. But some of us that are not good converters need to add some T3/NDT to our T4 dose . Journaling ones symptoms and getting copies of the lab results with the dose written on the lab results are very helpful to find our *Optimal*.
It's very possible that your adrenals picked up the slack . That can cause adrenal fatigue . Thyroid and adrenals work in unison. Being optimally dosed with thyroid meds will help you with over all well being.
I agree to check adrenals, as I couldn't even get to levo 50 until I'd worked on adrenals, now I'm stuck on 75 Tsh 4.5
But I feel as though I still have a piece of jigsaw missing. I've worked on gut. I am gf Yes important and the vits helped a lot. But am very stressed unfortunately
I rang for an iodine test at Medichecks but they have stopped it now, I'm grasping at straws but 🤷♀️ I'd like to know
May I ask what was your t3 when you were on 25mg?
Just wondered ? My weight is stuck too
I lost some for a wedding but mum adrenaline was pumping sorting things out and I put it back in a flash afterwards
To loose weight initially did slimming world and lost half a pound so adapted good fat diet, coconut oil, advocados, few nuts, ate clean ,eats, chicken and veg, only treat was ocassional popcorn, I was a very good girl lol which took me down a stone and half in nine months
I'm so sorry your not feeling yourself well yet . I had TT many years ago . Prior to my TT I was dosed with 112mcg T4 . At that time I still had some thyroid function so my dose was lower. After my TT I was dosed with 150mcg went up to 175mcg . My Dr wanted me to be suppressed . I was having all kinds of symptoms including palpitations , insomnia, fatigue, high blood pressure , head aches/pressure , digestive issue , anxiety, sweating, etc.
Years later I switch to a new Endo who lowered my T4 dose and added NDT for my T3 mix. It's made a huge improvements for me . I am not a good T4 converter to T3 . Being on nutrients vitamin "D"/K2 , B-Complex, B12/folate, magnesium, minerals, Iron if you test low, Celtic Sea Salt for adrenals/electrolytes.
Keep an eye out for your liver/gallbladder issues . Support it if you feel any problems rising .First and most importantly test your liver enzymes when you run thyroid markers.
Liver function tests are blood tests that check to see how well your liver is working. ... Enzymes that are found in the liver, including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) Bilirubin, a yellow substance that is part of bile.
First I would find out if you need to support your liver . I was on T4 only for many years and developed jaundice and fatty liver . I started to have pain on my upper right side abdomen . I omitted gluten sugar dairy coffee chocolate soy . In addition I take digestive enzymes Betaine HCl . Milk Thistle for my liver. In particular I use Liver Health by Herb Pharms. I exercise eat very small amounts of red beets carrots greens . Adding some small dose NDT for my T3 mix with my T4 made a huge difference for me too .
I was on NatureThroid at first . When they had problems in 2017 I switched to NP . They are currently having problems and I switched back to NatureThroid and so far it seems to work .
Hi Jeppy, thank you for your help. Unfortunately my T3 wasn’t tested when I was on a lower dose. I requested it this time as the weight has been piling on
The Only time I lost weight easily I now analyse as a hypo swing mixed with menopausal sex hormone stuff
My mood was all over the place
An interesting read is if you go on
Professor Studd Wimpole St
He shows how women's reproduction depressions, menopause etc influence and there is a patterning - yes, quite relieved to be reassured I hadn't caught a disease called bipolar. Lololol.
But if you test positive for coeliac Medics take far more notice (even nowadays) of positive coeliac results over "only" gluten intolerance .....even though they cause similar symptoms and problems
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to see GP and remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially. In practice can be very much longer)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
Hi SlowDragon, thank you again. Where in the range for FT4/FT3 should I be aiming for? My FT4 increased a good bit after increasing to 75mcg. I so wish I had the FT3 test when I was on the lower dose - I dread to think what the results would have been. You mentioned it looked like I was a poor converter. And in hindsight, I wonder if this is what my problem has always been, which is so frustrating as I've wasted so many years feeling terrible and yo-yo-ing on thyroxine. Do you think I should mention T3 to doc or go down the vitamin route first?
.....what I'd done for years to loose weight didn't work any more, and was in effect wrong and un healthy. It was very low fat , I've wondered how much this type of diet contributed, and of course it was brain washing about fats that lead the way, spreads not butter etc
....fab. It makes us feel so much better does t it, and cravings go, far easier to stick to as you feel better
I instantly feel better after oats, I've read there is a calming thing 🤷♀️ With oats. Maybe placeoba lol
Whatever works for us, but I wonder if I'd not been constantly trying to loose weight, cut out good fats etc for years when young and vain, of I'd have not developed this way, who knows
Keep going. What I struggle with is being disciplined as I've been a free spirit most of my life
A resting heart rate of 95 is perhaps a little high So why did your GP reintroduce Levothyroxine, as we’d expect it to increase your resting heart rate further.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Getting an Endo Referral - Thyroxine levels not right?
Help with blood results!
Thyroid Results and at a loss!
Total thyroidectomy- T4 levels and thyroxine levels
