Other Moms with Hypothyroidism

Hi E.!
I also have hypothyroidism, and I cannot stress enough how important it is that you continue to take your medicine regularly. The symptoms you describe are typical of the condition.
When the doctor says that your TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is high it is because your body is pumping this hormone into your system trying to get your thyroid to produce more hormone to keep you in balance. I can't speak for all doctors but MY doctor checks my TSH level every 3-4 months to be sure the medicine is working and to see if it needs adjusting. I take Synthroid and it works well when taken regularly. (I did go through a phase of not taking it and ended up worse... silly from a nurse huh? lol)

I hope this helps but if you have more questions I'd be happy to so what I can. I always recommend that people be their own advocate in their health care. There are a lot of great websites to research your condition. Doctors are great, but they are humans too.. sometimes they forget to tell us something. If need be, make a list of questions to talk with your doctor about the next time you see him.
Have a great day!
Bev

i am hypothyroid. I believe my TSH was 73 when i was diagnosed.
I thought I was nuts and so i went to a counselor. I was so depressed I nearly turned right in front of a lumber truck, and I had gained a hundred pounds. No, I was not pregnant either.
The counselor sent me to my MD to get antidepressants, and he sent me a script for synthroid when the lab results came back. I was so excited that I was going to finally feel better, but I didn't. Apparantly something in the medicine reacted poorly with me and my hair started falling out and I was so sleepy I could barely drive to work.
My doc put me on Armour Thyroid and I have felt better since then.
If you don't start feeling better in a few weeks, get your doc to change your medicine. Also , if you google thyroid, you'll find lots of support.

I also was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I went to my doctor for seriously heavy menstrual bleeding and she did a blood test and found my TSH level was 4.4. She put me on the lowest dose (50mcg) of synthroid. Two days after I took it the first time, I felt great! I felt awake, lighter, more alert. That only lasted a couple of days, and then the good effects started to wain. I go back soon to have my blood done again and I am sure they will increase the medicine. My mom also has it and she said it took many tries to get the medicine level just right. I don't fully understand the level numbers...some of my research had people with numbers like 85.6 but the one I was given is 4.4, which is, according to my doc, "somewhat high"

I will tell you that when I finally went to the doctor I was feeling AWFUL. I had no energy. I woke up tired and spet all day trying not to get too comfortable because I knew I would fall asleep. My hair in thin, I can't remember anything, I was getting dizzy.

I feel a bit better know. I am losing a bit of weight (YAY!) and not feeling as tired all the time. I also take a multivitamin now and iron supplements as well as B complex pills. My doc recommended them.

hey I know this is way late I just found your request form
april. I do have thryoid issues. I found mine myself by reading a article in a magizine while in college I had 6 of the 8 symptoms so ask my dr. He did blood work and sure enough my thyroid was off the levels at my first check were 132 highest dr or any of his colleages had ever seen said i should not be able to walk. Normal levels are 4-6. I can definetly tell when I miss a dose of the meds. I get very tired and gain weight with no real change in habits. also thryoid is like your thermostat so i was always cold. I have been on synthroid for about 10 years, (a generic form some of this time. I have had no negative side effects from this med. I realize you probabbly have most of your questions answered by now but if not feel free to ask.

I now have hypothyroidism. I was hyper (I actually had a goiter, it looked like I had an adam's apple!) They gave me radioactive iodine to kill my thyroid. That completely bottoms out all your levels. I gained 15 pounds in 3 weeks and in three years I have never been able to get it off. I can't stress how important it is to take your medicine and to keep with the check ups. We didn't watch my level close enough when I was pregnant and I gained 60 pounds. Thankfully I have taken that weight off. But please, please follow up with your doctor. And just so you know they will read T3, T4 and TSH levels. TSH is your body calling for T3 and T4 (also other hormones) So when your TSH is high your body wants more T3 and T4. When your TSH is low and T3 and T4 are high you are getting too much. I am actually happiest when my T3 and T4 are on the low side of normal. You must communicate with your doctor and be willing to adjust your dosage even if your levels are in the normal range but you still don't feel just right. Hope this helps.