Levothyroxine …. causes bloat & weight gain?

[beaubeau1121]

Just wondering if those on Levothyroxine whether solo or with T3… experience immediate bloat, swelling of breasts & weight gain?

Thx!

[Hookie01]

I got immediate bloat, very painful bloat.on my right hand side. Turned out it was the lactose in it. I switched to lactose free and it stopped. Which brand are you taking?

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Hookie01]

Interesting… as a friend has as well w Synthroid… but mine has been compunded.Will ask if lactose free!

Did it go away once you made that change?

[Hookie01 in reply to beaubeau1121]

Yes it did. Didn't even know I had an issue with lactose as not a lover milk etc. I still bloat when I eat cheese etc. But I've had my thyroid removed, so it possibly be because of that that my body has changed.

[Msmustang1981]

Yes! Terrible bloating and breast pain and breast swelling. Weight also increased. I was on pure liquid levothyroxine (Tirosint SOL), so definitely not a filler. I’m now on T3 only and it’s been a much smoother ride. Bloating has gone down and breasts feel much better. Doctors looked at me like I was crazy saying it was the Levo, but it was.

[jgelliss in reply to Msmustang1981]

I agree with you. When I dose with higher T4 dose I too feel bloated. Now that I'm on a lower dose T4 and T3 combo I don't have that bloated feeling. It's very interesting.

[beaubeau1121 in reply to jgelliss]

Thanks for your reply.To appease the endo that thinks i will drop dead without “ detectable”

T4… I started w 37.5 mcg levo in am… & will continue w 50/55 mcg of T3 ….after finally finding balance at 55 or 60 mcg of T3 only daily. Hoping that the amt of T3 will offset the addition of a low dose of T4.

We shall see!

[jgelliss in reply to beaubeau1121]

Good luck. And feel great.

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Msmustang1981]

Thank you!The endo wants to blame it on everything but the levo… tried them all…

even compounded T4/levo!!!

Tried Tirosint as now the favorite of endos… & was instantly miserable…intolerable.

Stopped immediately despite the endo’s belief that it is the panacea for all & I was truly nuts.

How much T3 only are you on…. if I may

ask? Ever try combo?

Best & thx again!!!

[Msmustang1981 in reply to beaubeau1121]

I’m currently taking 15mcg T3 only - brand name Cytomel. Might have to increase but right now labs look decent with low “under 1” TSH and T3 50% through range. Before T3 only I was on combo with 50mcg Tirosint and 10mcg T3. The combo dosing made it more tolerable to take the levothyroxine, but ultimately it still made me miserable with the bloating and breast issues. I could have dropped down to 25mcg Tirosint but just decided to stop it altogether and add in extra T3.

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Msmustang1981]

Interesting!Happy to know 15mcg daily of T3 only is good for you!

[Msmustang1981 in reply to beaubeau1121]

For now lol. It has been an ever evolving situation over the last four years and I have secondary adrenal insufficiency, so I fight a battle every day. I’ve been going with the approach of another member on here by the name of Shaws, who gets by with only 20mcg of T3 only per day. Gave me hope!

[Daffers123 in reply to Msmustang1981]

Really, you manage on 20mcg T3 a day. Thats very interesting. Do you ignore your T4 readings ? I struggle with T4, but when I have tried T3 only, I thought I needed to get it up to 50 or 60mcg a day, which I couldn't tolerate.

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Daffers123]

I agree with you!I worked up to 60mcg T3 only… with a pause at 50 & 55 for a few months along the way.

Recently.. endo did bloodwork… & results showed no “ detectable T4”! Thus, she panicked & maintained no other endos in LA would abide by T3 only regimen… however, years ago..,drs did!!!

So… I am trying to add T 4 once again… but I am keeping T3 as high as possible in the process (55/50mcg)…& T4 ( compounded levo) at 37,5

Will drastically lower T3 a couple days before blood work… in hopes of satisfying the Dr & keeping the Liothyronine prescription!!!

It should not be this cagey to get it sorted!!!!

[Daffers123 in reply to beaubeau1121]

That is such a good idea! I am far better on higher T3 than trying to bump my T4 up, its makiing me fat and miserable. I had not thought of that at all (brain fog from Levo) and I tried to get used to NDT but can't get the dose quite right. Its pressure from the GPs here that makes me feel I NEED to have higher T4. ridiculous. Good luck with your experimenting and especially with that wheeze to fool the doctors test. haha

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Daffers123]

We shall see if it works!!! My body/heart/etc all feel better without t4… especially when it comes to weight/bloating. I notice it immediately… as normally lean…etc. In 4 weeks…. got blood work!

[Daffers123 in reply to beaubeau1121]

I would love to hear how you get on, if you remember

Andrea

[Chouchou1234 in reply to beaubeau1121]

Hi there ! I’m findi. I get swelling legs and bloated fromT3

And t4 . It’s terrible. How did you fix yours?

[Msmustang1981 in reply to Daffers123]

I’m at 15mcg a day right now. It’s another member on here, Shaws, who said they take 20mcg a day and do well. That’s what gave me the idea that maybe less is more and the higher doses made me feel worse. So I aimed for a lower amount and know I have room to increase if I feel like I need it. My TSH was .78 and my T4 was in the bottom quarter of the range but my free T3 was 50% through. So I have room to increase, yes, but I’m going by symptoms and the thought that less might be more. I definitely feel better without the Levo!

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Msmustang1981]

No one is more shocked than I am… cannot believe I managed to enjoy a total of 60mcg/55mcg daily. It was a slow climb. Will see how the new T4 blends w less T3… always hope for the best!

[Daffers123 in reply to Msmustang1981]

How long since you stopped theT4 ? I tried a very interesting experiment that less could be more. I spent 8 years on to much levo, thanks to uninformed Doc. Thank heaven for this forum and other people's shared experiences

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Daffers123]

I stopped the end of July , 2021!The dr had wanted me to continue w T4… & had a reaction to 25mcg tabs of levo. Dr’s office so disorganized as with a major hospital in LA…. so… I told an underling of my reaction & was stopping levo. The Dr was never told/never knew until my recent bloodwork!

[Msmustang1981 in reply to Daffers123]

It has been about 10 weeks now. My last labs done 2 weeks ago at the 8 week mark.

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Msmustang1981]

That is terrific!!!!

[Daffers123 in reply to Msmustang1981]

Thats amazingly encouraging.

[beaubeau1121]

I have been doing the same for 4 years… more recently… after Naturethroid recalled… it became a restart w levo 2 plus years ago!

[beaubeau1121]

Absolutely! I owe feeling good to this blog…& friends here that have struggled as well as did very well… until their endo retired.. & the new “ kid” is T4 or bust!