My January and February were awesome. I had started exercising again, was eating completely vegan and feeling great. My energy was at levels not seen since high school/early college.

Then the Dr tells me I'm severely hypothyroid and puts me on Synthroid.

Now I feel just wretched - lethargy, freezing hands and feet, muscle aches, irritability/depression, bloating, frequent urination and bm's

It's like having the flu and the worst PMS ever at the same time!

From what I've been reading, these sound like common side effects and may or may not improve with time.

Hope you went back to see if adjustments were needed or a change of meds. Still thinking about you.

Definitely go back to see your Doctor and tell him exactly everything you have told us here...how you felt before and how you are feeling now. You might want to consider a second opinion as well.

You sound like you have a really good doctor but some of them are prescription crazy...unfortunately, I know all about the prescription crazy ones!!

Please, please, please contact your doctor about this and/or like I said above, get a second opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by MaryJo:
Google, Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis. That is what I have and it sounds like what you might have.

Yes, the Dr indicated I have thyroiditis-induced hypothyroidism.

quote:

Originally posted by Fer:
This is the first Dr. I've seen since moving to the east coast. He is much better than any that I've seen in years - doesn't talk down to me and answers my questions.

I can see that being vegan would affect my levels slightly, but not to this degree. TSH is supposed to be between 0.5 and 5 - mine was 107! To quote the Dr - "you're pretty messed up".

(You are right though. My cholesterol is very low - 139.)

Also, I was feeling well before the medication... but I did have one huge symptom. I haven't had a period since October! This is what brought me into the Dr in the first place.

He didn't start me out on the lowest dosage because of that and the very high TSH - was very concerned to get my numbers on their way quickly.

Thanks for listening. I'll let you know if I find out more.

Sounds like you're in good hands, then, it just may take some work with the medicine to get things worked out. There may be alternate meds that would not have as many side effects. Good luck!

Google, Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis. That is what I have and it sounds like what you might have.

quote:

Originally posted by Fer:

quote:

Originally posted by BrenauMom:
Could it be time for "the change"?

I sure hope not Judy - I've only just turned 26! I'd like to have a few kids before that happens.

Like I said, I didn't know how old your were .

quote:

Originally posted by BrenauMom:
Could it be time for "the change"?

I sure hope not Judy - I've only just turned 26! I'd like to have a few kids before that happens.

quote:

Originally posted by Fer:
[ ]... but I did have one huge symptom. I haven't had a period since October! This is what brought me into the Dr in the first place.

Could it be time for "the change"? Of course, I don't know your age but my change started when I was 43. The doctor didn't want to believe that was what was happening but finally accepted that it was just my time to change. I went 6 months without a period and then had a big one and went another 6 months before having another big one and haven't had another one since. I have never taken any sort of hormones before, during or after my change.

quote:

Originally posted by TriGirl:
What do you think of this doctor in general? Does he or she usually listen to you and pay attention to what you say?

If you felt good before taking the meds, I wonder if your bloodwork came out looking like you had an issue just because you eat differently than the average American. Your cholesterol, for example, is probably very, very low, and I'm sure other things might come out differently too.

Jen,

This is the first Dr. I've seen since moving to the east coast. He is much better than any that I've seen in years - doesn't talk down to me and answers my questions.

I can see that being vegan would affect my levels slightly, but not to this degree. TSH is supposed to be between 0.5 and 5 - mine was 107! To quote the Dr - "you're pretty messed up".

(You are right though. My cholesterol is very low - 139.)

Also, I was feeling well before the medication... but I did have one huge symptom. I haven't had a period since October! This is what brought me into the Dr in the first place.

He didn't start me out on the lowest dosage because of that and the very high TSH - was very concerned to get my numbers on their way quickly.

Thanks for listening. I'll let you know if I find out more.

What do you think of this doctor in general? Does he or she usually listen to you and pay attention to what you say?

If you felt good before taking the meds, I wonder if your bloodwork came out looking like you had an issue just because you eat differently than the average American. Your cholesterol, for example, is probably very, very low, and I'm sure other things might come out differently too.

Let us know how you do after you see your doc. You probably need your dose adjusted. Also, I love About.com. Mary Shamon has a very informative thyroid page.

I have been on it since 2001 and it doesn't do me that way. I take 50mcg every morning on an empty stomach.

Maybe your dosage needs adjusting. I don't know what the symptoms would be for too much or too little but if it makes you feel worse it sounds like a problem of too much to me.

i AM SORRY TO HEAR YOU AREN'T DOING WELL. i WORK WITH CLIENTS AND SOME HAVE BEEN ON sYN. tHEY ARE USALLY IN THEIR 80'S OR OLDER AND MOST DON'T DO WELL ON THAT MED. tHYROID IS HARD TO CONTROL LIKE DIAB. yOU SHOULD LET YOUR dR. KNOW RIGHT AWAY. hE MAY HAVE TO READJUST IT OR CHANGE YOU TO ANOTHER MED ALTOGETHER. mY KIDNEY DISEASE ISN'T A LOT OF FUN EITHER BUT THERE ARE SMALL THINGS THEY CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE SYMPTOMS. mY MEDS ARE ORPHAN DRUGS AND BAD SIDE EFFECTS- WERE MOSTLY JUST BEING TESTED.....ON ME. nOW i TAKE MEDS TO COUNTERACT PERMIN. SIDE EFFECTS THE REST i HAVE TO LIVE WITH. sO FROM MY HEART KNOW i AM PRAYING FOR YOU.

Fer,

I'm sorry you are feeling bad. It sounds like a call back to the doctor is in order.

I hope you feel better soon.

*hugs*

Well, this is my first round - I've been on 50 micrograms synthroid for 10 days now. I'm to have bloodwork and appt every 6 weeks for the next 6 months at least.

Other than the cold hands and feet, I didn't notice any normal hypo symptoms before I went on the med. Now I feel like I have all of them!

Perhaps you are not taking enough synthroid. For me, it meant including cytomel each day. I take .5 synthroid and .25 cytomel each morning on an empty stomach. I will say that within a day of the cytomel, it felt as though a fog were lifted from me.

I agree you should call your doctor. Maybe you are getting the flu.

I have hypothyroid and I know very well if I am not getting enough I am lethargic and almost depressed. If I am taking too much, very bad headaches and skip heartbeats.

Your thyroid is a gland that produces hormones and just like your female hormones, they fluctuate too. That is why it is important to report any symptoms and to have your blood checked every 6 months. My doctor does the blood work, prescribes the doses and rechecks my blood work in two weeks to make sure that my levels are good.

Sorry to hear you are having some trouble, I agree with Bee, I would get back to the doctor and see what is going on, you might just need an adjustment to the dosage or a completely different med.
Jill

Sounds like you need to get yourself back to the doctor and get on something else!

I'm sorry that you are going through this : (