Low thyroid function symptoms and conditions

I was prescribed Simva 30mg to replace Lipex which is no longer government funded 6 weeks ago. Since taking this medication I am waking up with tingling in my elbows and fingers blurry eyesight and what really worries me and no one seems to have mentioned is low body temp 34.2 and then a reading of 34.8 now averaging around 35.2

Please is anyone out there suffering from low body temp

I am a 48 year old woman, 5'1" (now 145 pounds). I had Mirena inserted almost exactly 5 years ago, and am scheduled to have it removed in 2 weeks. I gained 25 pounds over the course of the last three years; prior to that, my maximum weight for my whole (non pregnant) life was 123 (I was at 120 when Mirena was inserted, four years after the birth of my second child). I have always been very healthy, never abnormal blood tests except during my two pregnancies was tested as pre-gestational diabetic and had to watch my carbs.

I never put it together with Mirena until just recently, when I started doing research on hypothyroidism after a friend told me that my symptoms could be due to that problem. Depression, hair loss, acne on my back, and the terrible weight gain. I went to see my G.P. who referred me for blood work. I hoped to see evidence of low thyroid function (actual TSH value, 3.12 -- I was told this is normal on a range of .4 to 4.5). I also discovered that I now have high cholesterol (269 triglycerides, 251 total cholesterol, 46 HDL, and 151 LDL). My fasting (14 hours) glucose # is 99 (I was told this is normal on a range of 65-99 mg/dL), and my vitamin D, 25-OH is 21 (also was told this is still normal but low on a range of 20-100 ng/mL). I tried to give blood six months ago, and was turned down because of anemia, so I've been eating a lot of spinach, greens, and more red meat than I normally would, so I was interested to see if I am still anemic -- the red blood cell count is 3.8 (told it was normal on a range of 3.8-5.1 mill/uL). I mention these specific results because although I was told they were normal (except for cholesterol), when I physically went to the doctor's office and requested a copy of the results and did some research online I see that my thyroid IS actually low-functioning -- according to guidelines revised six years ago, anything over 3.0 is considered hypothyroid and should be treated. Plus, isn't a fasting glucose of 99 pretty high? Yet my doctor's only suggestion: diet and exercise. Good grief, I've been on a diet since I had my first child, 13 years ago. True, I don't exercise regularly (I'm a teacher and mom of 2; I never seem to have the me time.) I guess I have an excuse to get a gym membership now.

Also, for the last year I've had increasing pain in my shoulder (I couldn't lay on my side, for example, and lately I can't reach behind me or over my head). An x-ray turned up mild bone degeneration, but not enough to cause the pain I've been having. I was referred to an orthopedist, who today diagnosed a shoulder rotator cuff injury (I've had no injury; he says it is a common degenerative complaint in the over-40 crowd). He gave me a cortisone injection and I'll be on PT for a while to see if the pain goes away. If not, I'll have to have an MRI and surgery to correct the tear.

I'm posting all of this in case it might be useful to someone out there who might be going through the same thing. I had a thyroid test done about six years ago at my OB/GYN, and it was normal then (though I don't have the number; I'll get it in 2 weeks at the OB/GYN). It will be interesting to learn whether my thyroid level has gone up since Mirena. Also, although my research suggests that the effects of these synthetic hormones do not wear off for some time, possibly even years, I will finally feel like there may be hope if my symptoms improve over the next few months when Mirena is gone. If so, I will share it with you.

If you are reading this, perhaps you have a similar story. I wish I had been more aggressive about checking out the possible causes of my many symptoms, but I let them go for years because, I guess, I just figured I'm a healthy woman who is no longer young. (Oh, one more thing: for the first year or even two years that I had Mirena, I had incredibly heavy periods. The blood flow was similar to that during the day or two after the vaginal births of my daughters. Don't know if that's significant, but it took a couple of years for my periods to get fairly normal on Mirena.)

I've been on levothyroxine 150mcg for about 3 months before that it was 100mcg and so on. I have gain lots of weight and tired all the time. depression also, headaches. I hate this gaining weight, sleepy all the time and depression is from gaining weight. I thought this med is to up boost my thryiode but it doesn't seem to be working. my dr. said I'm on the highest dose there is. I don't know what to do any more. I was thinking about taking myself off this but not sure what will happen if i do. I hope there is someone out there that might be able to let me know if they are going through the same things what they are doing and how they feel now.

I was on LIPITOR for 5 weeks. Am fit 60 year old Nurse. I had pain in my heel like a spasm and also near my Hip. Tiredness, Lack of concentration blurred vision and a level of deafness. I stopped taking Lipitor 1 week ago and energy levels returned to normal already. No more spasm pain. However still have blurred vision and the deafness. Anyone know how long this may take to improve?
I am on Oroxine for low thyroid function and maybe this is a contributing factor.

I have been taking fenofibrate for 2 months and have general lack of energy and lack of decisive brain thoughts. It would take me a long while to organise my way out of a paper bag! I also have low thyroid function but am on medication for that and only started feeling hazy when I had been on the Fenofibrate for a while. Does anyone else feel that their brain is ticking over only at half pace???
My fenofibrate is 160mg and sold in Australia as LIPIDIL
Pat Gaudry Sydney

i have been taking eltroxin for more then a jear and i have problems serius problems with sleepwalking and terrible nightmeares,it hapens the first two hours that i sleep.I have no problem falling asleep.Ihave no idea what to do or were it comes from.Im 39 old and i cry in my sleep.

51 year old female. I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

I just started Levothyroxine 75 micrograms last thursday. Immediately my constipation issues improved, my libido increased and I was more alert after taking it on an empty stomach in the morning. I have not experienced any joint pain or depression yet. Previous to diagnosis I had difficulty losing weight, dry skin, cold-natured, lethargy, experienced three major depressive episodes, two which were almost suicidal. My thyroid hormone levels were within normal range even though I presented with these symptoms of low thyroid function. My pregnancies were difficult (3 births but pregnant six times), with the third and last pregnancy resulting in three false labor trips to the hospital and a post partum depression that would not go away for 13 years. Accupuncture took care of the depression since i tired of the many years of antidepressant side-effects.

I finally went to an endocronologist because of the growing goiter on my neck and all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

I'll post any negative side effects as time goes on. For now, I am happy with Levothyroxine since I have begun to lose weight slowly and do not have the terrible constipation. Previous to starting this drug, no amount of Weight Watcher meetings or exercise regimens would allow consistant weight loss. Only in the years before my enlarged thyroid could I achieve my weight goal. In 2000 I lost a lot of weight by running 5 miles a day and attending Weight Watcher meetings, extreme measures by any standard. Even then, my weight loss was much slower than the other attending members.

To guest 9280 below. Sounds like classic Lipitoritis. People don't inherit high cholesterol. However people can inherit metobolic problems that lead to elevated cholesterol levels. Since you state you have dry cracking skin and elevated cholesterol, sounds like you could have low thyroid function, which is almost always "inherited." Also, females are 9 times more likely to have thyroid problems than males. Have your doctor do a thyroid test. And remember, TSH over 3.04 indicateds hypothyroidism. Also check FT4 index and FT3.

Elevated cholesterol in a person who is strict with diet and exercise, is merely a symptom of an underlying metabolic problem. Taking Lipitor won't correct that problem. It may lower your cholesterol, but it will also induce the horrible side effects you experienced.

Bobby

I agree with the person below. Low thyroid function causes elevated cholesterol. It's no secret and has been a proven fact for years, yet according to the American Association of Endocrinologists, this fact is overlooked by physicians everyday.

And here is more! The people who suffer adverse side effects from statins like Lipitor appear to be the ones with an underlying metabolic problem, which was the cause for the high cholesterol in the first place. Thyroid disorders are one of those problems.

It's easy to check. A simple blood test is all. And it is easy to treat. One simple pill a day replaces the mising thyroid hormone. Your metabolism speeds up and your body burns off the excess cholesterol.

The statin drug companies will hate me for sharing this. It is estimated that there are millions of Americans with undiagnosed hypothyroidism.