Hypothyroid symptoms and conditions

i have just been reading this site and god am i glad, i took Yasmin for two months and came off as my boyfriend said i was being really nasty, i was also suffering with side affects. But i spoke to the doctor and they said to try and last it out as i have skin problems and she said it would help, so i continued to take it. But within one week in taking it side effects seem worse!! I have now two days left and decided not to finish the pack. The side affects are scary i thought there was something wrong with me . They include ...
* Moodiness*no energy*Pale*tired*muscle pain in legs, arms, hands, neck and the bottom of my back*Very sore tender breasts*no sex drive*thrush & dryness*needing to wee more often*Strange heart beats*itching more often everywhere!!
And there are probably more, im just hoping i loose all the side affects as quickly as possible.

Just want to survey everyone and ask for responses for the following 3 questions:

1. how long did you keep your Mirena and if you no longer have it, why did you have it removed?

2. how many of you had your thyroid checked? who's came back abnormal? what were the levels?

(I'm a medical student doing research on this one since I believe the levonorgestrel affects our thyroid hormone. My TSH was elevated to 5.2 which is considered "subclinical HYPOthyroidism". This was mid cycle when my natural progesterone AND synthetic progestin were cumulatively high. When I had it rechecked 6 weeks later (around my period when any natural progesterone level is gone) it was normalized at 1.5. So I think that the P+P screws up our thyroid and can throw us into a high TSH and "hypothyroid state". The opposite effect may be true during menstruation and we can become HYPERthyroid for a few days... hence the really bad anxiety?!)

3. where is everyone from? perhaps we can have support group meetings?

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Iodine is essential to a proper functioning thyroid. But as we grow older, our thyroid starts slowing down. It just can’t metabolize the iodine it needs as efficiently, and that means the hormone produced (also known as thyroid) goes down as well.

There are 2 other reasons why most of us are iodine deficient:

Inadequate dietary intake, and
Exposure to toxic substances that displace iodine.

Iodine is a mineral, but one that is not abundant in the food we eat. Primarily found in very small quantities in seawater, soils are naturally deficient in iodine, especially the further away you get from the ocean.

Iodine is also fairly easily displaced from your body by toxins called toxic halides… fluoride, bromine and chloride.

Fluoride is by far the worst culprit. Found in toothpaste and in your water supply, every time you take a shower, brush your teeth or drink from the tap, your body gets a little exposure to fluoride, leeching out good iodine. And contrary to popular belief, fluoridated water is actually rather poor at preventing tooth decay.

Why is it in our water supply then? Poor science combined with corporate greed and political ignorance paved the way. Basically a toxic by-product of aluminum production, fluoridation was sold as a way to prevent cavities because some areas with natural fluoride in the water also had lower instances of tooth decay. Based upon that spurious observation, fluoridation began.

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Because of these factors, 96% of all people tested are iodine deficient! This according to a study of 4000 patients conducted by Dr. David Brownstein, Medical Director for The Center of Holistic Medicine, and renowned author of several books on hormones, iodine and hypothyroidism.

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This trend is worsening. Over the last 30 years, the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I) shows iodine levels have dropped 50% in the U.S.A. alone.

This website is absolutely amazing to me...
I started the nuvaring in March of 2007, but got off of it after a few months because I had gained some weight. My doctor didn't think this was related (she is a wonderful doctor, and this form of birth control was also new to her), so in September of 2007, I got back on it. At this time, I had lost over 26 lbs in between the months I hadn't had it.

Since September of 2007, I have gained back 18 lbs, yet I go to the gym at MINIMUM 1.5 hours, 4 times a week, and that scale will not budge. I have done South Beach in the past with great success, but I could drink only water right now and not shed a lb.

Also, I've been in and out of the ob's office with Candida and itchy vagina in general for months. Now, reading these posts, it's all starting to make sense to me.

I was also diagnosed with hypothyroid. Which I'm starting to wonder if there is a connection.

My migraines were so bad last year, that I had to have Fiorocet prescribed to me to get rid of them.

And lastly, I feel much more tired than I have been in the last few years. I need my energy back!

Either way, I will be coming off the ring, again, this week, and my husband and I will be back to condoms. And I can't wait to see if I feel normal.

As most of you, my TSH always came back normal/border line as well. However, due to all of my symptoms - every single one for Hypothyroid - they went ahead and did an ultrasound. I had a nodule 15mm x 5mm on the left lobe and 5mm x 4mm on the right. Because I had the constant "turtleneck" feeling around my throat, it was getting hard to swallow and sounded like I was an 11 year old boy gowing through puberty again, because of the hoarseness, I had Total Thyroidectomy last week. My surgeon put me on 150mg of Synthroid. So far so good with the side effects, granted it's only been 6 days. I actually have more energy, and a decrease in appetite. I've already lost 5 lbs. Not real sure if my energy level has gone up because I no longer have a thyroid to bring it down or if it is from the medication. Either way I hope my side effects stay as they are, I could stand to lose another 50 lbs - haha

I was prescribed this drug in hopes of keeping thyroid nodules and goiter from growing larger. My TSH levels have always been in the normal range throughout my life, so the theory that "normal TSH' means a working, normal thyroid is absolutely untrue. I am a prime example of a person who's numbers have always remained normal and yet their thyroid does not work properly. I have decided to discontinue this drug after 3 months of use. The weight is packing on faster than I can diet and exercise it off. My face is puffy, my stomach bloated and looking pregnant, and now retaining water. Anyone who does not believe that Synthroid causes weight gain, I welcome you to try this drug. It does the exact thing it claims it is combating. I am not hypo with levels of 1.07 and yet something odd is occurring within my body with this synthroid. I'm praying that if I stop the drug I might return to some form of normalcy soon.

I'm a 58 year old female & I take good care of myself & I am very healthy.
I've had borderline HP off & on. I tried a Beta Blocker 5 years ago & took myself off it, since some of my symptoms were due to my Hypothyroid.

I started Lisinopril today 10 mg, I felt a central nervous system affect almost immediately. Tonight, I'm feeling very tired which I think is due to the Lisinopril. My BP today was 152/98 it was 140/98 the week before @ the doctor's office. Tonight @ home it was 115/70 & 100/68
I have been monitoring myself @ home & some of my readings are a little high but a lot of them seem normal. I'm getting a better monitor tomorrow. I know, there is such a thing as white coat syndrome.
I could lose 15-20 lbs. which might help too. I'm very active but that doesn't seem to help.
thanks for all your postings, it has really helped me...
My doctor did mention getting a cough as a side affect.

I have had a merina in for 12 months to reduce heavy periods as tehre was no change I went back to the doctors to have it removed only to find it had been out of position, so had another one inserted and some blood tests as i was feeling unwell, depressed,weight gain,itching eyes, feeling cold, insomnia,heart palpitations,headaches the tests showed i had hyperthyroidism yet i had more symptoms of hypothyroidism i feel this was caused by mirena but the doctors deny it yet looking into different sites the above symptoms are very common so i don't know if i feel unwell due to the merina of the thyroid will be going to the specialist this week hopefully to find out has anyone else had hyperthyroidism diagnosed while on mirena

I had always been 160 lbs since 8th grade, which was a fine weight for me bacause I'm tall and muscular. When I was 25 I gained 20 lbs over 3 months with no change in diet or activity. So I went to the doctor because hypothyroidism is very prevelent in my family. The blood work showed I was borderline hypothyroid, so the dr didn't suggest starting any medication. So I started working out 4-5 times a week for at least 1-1 1/2 hours per day. I also got on phentermine to help jump start my diet. After doing this for 2 months, I had gained 5 lbs. Which is crazy because anytime I needed to lose weight, I had no problem dropping 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I was frustrated but ignored it for a while because I got pregnant shortly after that. During the pregnancy, my throid was checked again and was normal. I weighed 248 lbs the day I went in to give birth. 2 weeks later, I weighed 210lbs and a month after that I was 200lbs. Then I went back to work,(where I walk continuously all day) and I could not budge my weight below 200 lbs no matter what I did. So I went back to the dr and I was slightly hypothyroid again. I opted to go on generic Synthroid 25mcg. I then gained 37 lbs over 4-5 months. So I went to another dr. to get on phentermine. I started the phentermine and lost about 27 lbs. I have been off phentermine for a while, but have been working out vigorously working out and watching my diet and couldn't lose another pound. So, I thought the synthroid might be making it harder to lose weight. I stopped taking it and have lost about 10lbs in the last month. I think there is definitely a connection in synthroid and my inability to lose weight. But I still can't get below 200lbs and I still feel sluggish. I am only 28 and don't think I should attribute this to age. I can understand age causing weight gain of 5-10 lbs per year but not 155lbs in May '05 to 183lbs in Nov '05 then to 200lbs in Jul '07. Please give me any suggestions you might have. Diet, medication, activities???

After being on Synthroid for a few years and getting NOTHING from it, I was switched to Levoxyl for several more years, and got NOTHING for it either. They are some of the most useless medications ever made, and all they do is put money in the pockets of the maker. Armour is what made a HUGE difference in my hypothyroid. ******

I had many of the same problems (as jssrabbit) which were a result of Lupron injections. I did not lose my job, but easily could have had I not been there so long. I did wind up taking a leave of absence. My doctors kept saying that they didn't know what was wrong with me, and that my severe muscle pain, joint pain and fatigue weren't known side effects. My life drastically changed as a result and I am still trying to recover emotionally a couple years later. My sympathy to all who have had these horrible problems. I understand that many people can take this with minimal problems (my father was given for cancer), but people should be aware of the potential for very bad side effects and be allowed to make an informed choice. It can have a huge impact on your life.
BTW, I'm just curious, do any of you who have had bad side effects have a thyroid disorder? I'm pursuing a theory - I am hypothyroid and wonder if that affected my outcome. Best of luck to all -- skrrks

I had surgery in August, 2006 for Endometriosis, and a Lupron injection 2 wks later. That one injection changed my life. Even though it was a year and a half ago, I'm still feeling the effects. Which is what brought me to this site -- I'm searching for an answer.

These were/are my symptoms:

-- I experienced immediate and increasing hot flashes that lasted for nearly 6 mos.

-- Extreme fatigue and the "activativation" of Epstein Barr Virus. I started sleeping 18-20 hrs/day and lost my career job because of it.

-- Cognitive dysfunction, memory loss, loss of concentration, etc.

-- Blurred vision (and I have otherwise perfect vision!)

-- To date, I have gained 40 lbs that will not budge no matter what my diet!

-- I have severe muscle weakness and burning (such as if I go up a
flight of stairs). Muscle atrophy and stiffness.

-- My joints (hips, knees, feet) hurt and I have a lot of back pain.

-- I have TMJ quite badly and it causes my arms to go numb.

Last year my doctor ordered a hair analysis for heavy metal poisoning -- and my levels were off the charts. I've read that Lupron is suspended in thimerosol, or mercury, and that raises a host of issues that I'd like to research, if anyone has info on that.

Today, I am doing much better in terms of being out of bed and active, but I am unable to lose the weight, despite an organic, all natural, gluten/dairy/sugar/corn/soy/caffeine/etc. free diet! My belly is always bloated and big.

I am really active, but I tire easily and still haven't been able to get over that "hump", as it were, and really exert myself. Before my surgery and the Lupron and the EBV, I was an avid dancer. It is my passion and I can hardly do it at all now. I cannot swim a full lap in a pool without my leg muscles burning.

I have read of some people having good experiences with Lupron, but I have read far more horrifying ones. Part of me doesn't want to accept that Lupron is the cause of what I'm experiencing...could it really be that simple? And part of me is happy to shed the burden of guilt that "I must just not be trying hard enough" in exchange for an outside cause. I guess research and knowledge is the best medicine in this case. =}

I was diagnosed as having Hypothyroidism in 1-07. My TSH was 83 and I was sleepy all the time, moody and anxious, hair falling out, gaining weight, heavy clotting peiods, etc. I was 51 and it was all blamed for a while in perimenopause. I have been on Synthroid .50 since then and some things are better like hair loss and sleepiness. My last check a few months ago was 1.3. What I hate most of all is waking up after a few hours of sleep and I feeing like I am on some kind of speed. My mind is wide awake and jumping from one thought to another, sometimes sweating heavily with my heart racing. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia and was on Beta blockers for a while. I have a new doctor now and never discussed this with her. The anxiety is awful sometimes too . I start to get fears of not being able to swallow or breathe but can keep it under control. An average night of sleep is five broken up hours of sleep and every now and then from exhaustion I will get close to seven hours. I am foggy headed a lot but I never hardly yawn or feel sleepy in the daytime.

I've been taking Levoxyl for approximately two years or Hypothyroid. Before that I took levothyroxine, but my symptoms were worse with that. I've never taken Synthroid.
When I was first diagnosed, my TSH level was around 144... off the charts. It tooks about 4 or 5 months before I got level. The medication seemed to make my symptoms increase. Each month however, my TSH level dropped.
I started feeling good when my TSH level was below 10. I felt awesome at TSH level 1.
My doctor became concerned that my level would drop too much so she lowered by dosage to .150mcg. Over several months, I noticed my symptoms returning. I requested to have my level checked but my physician said it wasn't time. By the time I was checked, my TSH was 20.
My dosage was increased to .175 mcg. The last two weeks after the dosage increase have been horrible. Migraines, vertigo, nausea, irritability, and absolutely no motivation.
I've been feeling better over the last two days and think I'm getting level again.
Don't assume your doctor knows you better than you do. Find out the number that works for you and fight for it!

I've been taking medication for hypothyroid since 1987 with some changes of dosages and brands based on lab tests and, I suppose, doctor preferences. Until 2 days ago I was taking 112mcg Levoxyl, with no side effects, I thought. Recently, my pharmacy ran out of the usual brand and substituted another brand with 7 pills until their shipment came in. No problem. Without medication my throat and tongue starts to swell within 3 days and in 10 days I'm sitting around trying to see how little I can breath. Even that wasn't so bad but the heart beat slowing and then quickening gives an unsettling adrenaline type feeling. OK back to the switch. I retrieve my usual brand when it came in and was 5 days into that when BAM!. intense chest pain woke me up 2:30 in the morning. I took aspirin and TUMS, thinking I covered everything. The pain radiated from the center of my chest to my back, continued tingle sensation down the undersides of my arms, and achy ears. It even hurt to breathe. 30 Minutes later, and after unsuccessfully trying to minimize symptoms using WebMD, I decided to go to the ER. Lots of test later that rule out heart they said I was taking way too much Levoxyl and wrote a prescript for .75mcg. Since researching I've notice other symptoms I attributed to age (am 52) painful joints especially hands, wrist, feet, ankles, and knees that I've been popping Tylenol for 2 years. Stiffness. I'd like to blame the 20 pound weight gain in 8 months on it too but seems like I should have lost weight.
Since I can't go without medication it seems like I'm but to the hunt and peck method of finding the right dosage and brand. Any recommendations on which direction to take?

Hello, I have been on Topamax for about 2 months now for severe and unexplained dizzy spells\vertigo. I am at 100mg. The spells are gone thank God, because they were debilitating, but the side effects are HORRIBLE! First it was me just feeling like an idiot, dropping everything, forgetting words, losing my train of thought mid sentence... I am a hair stylist so this could be quite embarrasing. Then I got the crazy weird tingles everywhere, but they are kinda cool. Except when they wake you up in the middle of the night. AHH! But luckily the stupidness has worn off, and the feeling like I never get enough sleep has too. But now I AM LOSING SOOO MUCH HAIR! Like handfulls of it. I took a ziplock bag of it to my Dr. and (extreme, I know...) he says "yeah, that can happen..." not to me! I'm a hairdresser! I think I may go off of it... Has anyone else experienced this??? Soda still tastes like crap most days, but I don't like it much anyways. It can up your anxiety level at times too, i think. The positive is that it keeps you from overeating. The side effects get better, as in not as constant, but they never completely go away.

OMG! I have been on NR for 3 1/2 yrs. I too thought is was the best thing since sliced bread ;) That is until now. I am 29, married 4 years, with a 4 yr old son. I have NO sex drive. I mean ZERO. My poor husband goes MONTHS without sex. When we do, I am so dry that it isn't fun for either of us. This was not how things used to be. I am also tired and cranky all the time. My mood swings are terrible. I do have hypothyroid, and since all of these are common symptoms, I went to have my blood checked. Of couse, my thryoid came back fine. I thought I was loosing my mind. Thank god for this sight. After reading some of the withdrawl effects, I am worried. Any suggestions on a new BC?

I am 26 yrs old and I have been on Nuvaring for about 3-3 1/2 years. I thought this was the greatest thing not having to remember the pill and the short light periods. I have always sworn by this BC! I have been having side effects I never thought came from the ring until now. I have read a lot of the side effects others are having and I think my lack of sexual desire for the past 1 1/2 yrs. MAY be due to Nuvaring and not my getting married 2 yrs. ago. (lol) I also have headaches often, not bad ones but enough to carry Tylenol in my purse. And another is dryness before intercourse, that I never had a problem with 2 yrs. ago. I never put two and two together until I racked my brain and wondered why I struggled so badly with my lack of sexual desire. I could care less if I have sex or not! That just wasn't me 2 yrs ago! I just couldn't figure out what had changed, going back on any medicines I had taken the past 2 yrs., the Nuvaring is the only thing that was constant. I have a Dr. Appt today and I am going to discontinue use of the ring and see if the side effects subside like they have for some others. I will post again when I have an update. Please let me know if anyone else is having the side effects more than a year after using the Nuvaring!! Thanks!

I was prescribed 25 MCG tabs of levothyroxine (generic for Levoxyl) by my MD for my hypothyroid. (I was tested at a 4.5 reading -- just below a normal 5 reading). After 60 days of taking levothyroxine EXACTLY as prescribed (i.e.; on an empty stomach, 1st thing in the morning with a glass of water; no vitamins for at least 4 hrs afterward), I started to have symptoms that I've never experienced before: my hands began hurting so bad with joint pain; my lips felt numb; and I was sweating more than I ever had in my life. I decided to stop taking the medication due to these symptoms, and in about 7-10 days from stopping, ALL these symptoms had disappeared and have not returned to date. I relayed this information to my MD who told me that my symptoms had nothing to do with Levothyroxine and that I needed to continue taking the drug. It's more than strange to me how some MDs will not listen to his/her patient -- even more so now that I've read other info on the internet where many other people have had these same side effects taking levothyroxine!! On my own, I am now looking into taking an all natural alternative that I found on wellness resources called "Thyroid helper". I will not take Levothyroxine again if I can avoid it by taking an alternative. Has anyone else out there had success taking "Thyroid Helper"?

I have only been taking Levoxyl for about two weeks, following RAI treatment in May. I'm on 100 mcg. I had gone from being hyperthyroid to hypothyroid - with walking or much movement, it felt like the muscles in my back were being stretched from each side and held up to a sunlamp to the burning point. I was also having upper back pain and a stiff neck.
After a little over a week of taking Levoxyl, the stiff neck is still there, but the back pain has eased off a little. There is just one spot that feels like a sunburn from the inside out. The biggest problem I'm having is with the sodium content - it feels like I've eaten an entire shaker of salt. I suspect that my blood pressure is increasing on this med. I'm noticing restless leg syndrome and while I always have tinnitus, it has worsened in the past week. I'm also noticing fluid retention all over, puffy eyes, puffy fingers, and calves. I'm also having more headaches.
On the plus side, the unbearable muscle pain has eased up some, as I mentioned. I'm less depressed. It's too soon to tell about weight but I think I've stopped gaining for the moment.

Originally, i was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. This was about 6 years ago. I was on a beta-blocker for 3 years. Afterwards i was diagnosed as being hypothyroid (about 2.5 years ago). I've been taking synthroid ever since. At first my dosage was .075 mg. It was changed to .05 mg a year ago. I haven't gained any weight since i became hypothyroid, but i've had many other problems. Some of them include, difficulty swallowing and breathing, heaviness in throat area, memory loss, insomnia, lack of focus. These are the most serious problems.

I have been on 25mcg of sythroid for 12 days now for treatment of hypothyroid condition, last night I noticed a bald spot on the top of my head bigger than a quarter and some of the surrounding hairs turned white. I have had extremly thick black hair my entire life, I have only found 3 white hairs in the past 3 years even though I am 37 years old, I have also had swollen eyes in the morning where I have to put an ice pack on them to get rid of the bags under my eyes. I think I would rather have the hypthyroid symptoms than th synthroid side effects.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in April of this year (2007) kind of by accident through a routine checkup. I had gained a bit of weight over the past two years, but that was really my only symptom. I was begun on 75 mcg of a generic brand of Synthroid, levothyroxine. Since I began this medication, I have rapidly gained another 15 pounds despite a 1,000 calorie per day diet. I retain fluid horribly. My ankles, wrists, hands and face swell daily. My muscles ache, especially my legs, upon walking across a room. I'm fatigued, short of breath. My LDL cholesterol level has skyrocketed in only three months and now I'm being told I need to be on a statin drug. I cry frequently and feel uncharacteristically anxious and irritable, but this could be due to the frustration I am experiencing with the loss of my sense of well-being. In essence, I felt much better before being placed on the medication. I may, in fact, discontinue the medication totally and see if over time I begin to feel better. Like so many other stories I'm hearing, my doctor seems totally unconcerned.

i've been on synthroid for 9 years. started at some low dose and gradually went up to112 mg. get extreme itching all day everyday if i don't take allegra for that.not a rash just itching. that doesn't bother me as much as the fatique. every joint in my body aches all the time. sure there are better days but fo rthe most part it's bad. tried physical therapy and chiripratic care but no avail. they ended my sessions. my legs get sooo weak and my feet burn lower back really aches. sometimes muscle cramps. i'm very negative towards my loving family and it hurts me to do so. can't seem to keep upbeat. soo tired all the time.
is it the syntroid? i used to be very energenic and a doer. now i have spurts of activity in the morning , but then i just can't get motivated. help me any suggestions?

Just started on 100mcg Levothyroxine 15 days ago for mild hypothyroid. Experienced immediate side effects of ringing-in-the-ears headaches and hot flashes. Thinking of discontinuing the medicine.....I'm hardly ever sick and have no other medical conditions.