Natural thyroid symptoms and conditions

I have been on Levoxyl 0.112MG for about 18 years. I do have some of the symptoms described by others, hair loss, hot flashes, etc. , but I think the alternative to this is a lot worse. If I do not take it for long periods of time, it gets to the point where I am freezing cold and the bags that develop under my eyes are embarrassing. I think the problem with most of you that are having very bad side effects is the dosage. If the amount is off just a little bit you can feel like you were just run over by a truck. I went through this many years ago. I would suggest continuing to change the dosage until you get it right. I wish I did not have to take it but it is absolutely necessary in my case.

EFFFF Levoxyl!!! My life has been really, really difficult since being on this medication. Reading all of your posts truly makes me feel like I am not alone in my struggle, anger, and frustration! If we could only sit in a room and talk about this face to face, how much better we might all feel. I think there needs to be thyroid support groups. Does anyone know of any?

I went back on Levoxyl about 2 months ago, because I was feeling tired again. I took myself off of it a year ago because I felt like I didn't need it anymore. I wasn't feeling great being on it and I had given myself a year on it already. Which by the way was a year from hell. I experienced depression for the first time in my life, gained about 20 lbs. from binge eating (never had an eating disorder or weight problem in my life), was fatigued constantly, then blamed myself for being so lazy all the time, lost friends because I canceled soooo much on hanging out, "I'm really sorry but I'm just not feeling good." Yeah that excuse gets really old to people with a normal functioning endocrine gland. Mind you I was diagnosed with this at 23. Sure I am mad that I have this problem, but when I am trying to get myself well and take the steps necessary per my doctor, it's really frustrating to just not feel like yourself. During the year off of it I took a natural thyroid support. Feeling fine, I slacked on taking the support thinking I had kick started my thyroid.
Two months of being back on it and I'm done! In a moment of emotional anger I threw my Levoxyl pills in the toilet. You know what they did...expanded to the size of a bazooka joe bubble gum piece. Uh that's big considering it's such a small pill.
I went to my doctor today because I've been experiencing bloating, pain and constipation for 3 weeks now. He told me to drink coffee and take benefiber, because perhaps I'm not getting enough ruffage in my diet. Just to see if I'm crazy about the expanding pill, I dropped an advil and tylenol in there. They simply fizzled down. I think these meds are making me bloated etc. and it's not worth it to me to feel this way. My body is telling me something is wrong and I need to listen!!
I eat right, take vitamins, drink PLENTY of water etc. and I still feel crummy.
I have been doing research online and have found a product called IODORAL. It is Iodine and Potassium Iodide. I have read many posts from people stating that this product has given them energy, helped with fatigue, their memory, overall well being. What was shocking for me learn is that Iodine helps fibristic breast tissue along with other parts of the body. Did you all know that 30 years ago breast cancer affected 1 in 20 women, and now it's 1 in 8 ???! Iodine used to be part of our diets. It has since been depleted from our soils and other foods. Bread used to be made with Iodine. Now Bromine is used in the baking process. Did you know that Bromine blocks the thyroid from producing necessary hormones for function. I bought myself some IODORAL and I'm going to see if it works. I am not a doctor but I am a person who is very in tune with their body. The bible says that there IS A CURE for everything on earth. I pray that all of you who have posted on here and are in discomfort do not give up your hope and find a different doctor or start doing your own research and be your own advocate for your health. There has to be something better out there! Something that isn't hurting our bodies! I am not giving up hope yet and neither should you!

I've had numerous side effects from Synthroid, but the ones that finally scared me off the drug were the thoughts of death, dying and suicide.

These thoughts came as casually as thoughts of what I'll wear tomorrow, which was more frightening. They also came unbidden. First, I was thinking about death generally. About a month later, I began thinking about dying, and the whole process of dying. Then, when I started thinking about just walking in front of a train, I got on the Internet and did some research.

Synthroid was the only medication I take daily, so I stopped taking it at once. And about a week later, the thoughts of death, dying and suicide stopped. My doctor refuses to prescribe natural thyroid, so I'm out of luck until I find a doctor who will help me.

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 was put on Levoxyl for 20 years. Hair kept falling out, muscles aches, acid reflux, plantar fasciitis, carpel tunel, tired, cranky, brain fog. I could barely walk and had developed a stutter. I was to be tested for Alzheimers at 45. I was told there was no other drug for hypothyroidism and it wasn't the Levoxyl doing these things to me.

Well I found another drug thanks to the internet and Yahoo Natural Thyroid Group. It was Armour. I have been on Armour for about 2 years now. All those problems I had on Levoxyl are gone. Completely GONE! Wasn't the Levoxyl huh?

extremely depressed after a week of taking levoxyl. Also face is swollen, eye swollen and red and face and eyes burn. These were the same symptoms after taking synthroid after a week. What's next? I am close to being suicidal after having survived lung cancer, surgery, chemo and radiation. To get another primary cancer and have things slide downhill after such a remarkable recovery, I can do nothing but cry after making the decision to have a cancerous thyroid removed that could have served me for years and years since it was such a slow growing cancer. I should have followed my instincts and just left it alone. Now all I want to do is lie on the couch and cry.

Re: Dosage Confusion- Synthroid

This simple of communicating dosage became confusioning. To prevent confusion synthroid is always discussed in terms of (mcg). That is, micrograms (mcg) vs. milligram (mg).

This is of tremendous value The conversion factor is 1000, for example a dose of Synthroid represented as 0.025mg, would be converted as
.025mg x 1000=25mcg. To fully understand this blogger’s statement feel comfortable to talk with your pharmacist or physician.

I am just slightly hypothyroid and could go without meds, but decided to try meds, and endocrinologist suggested Levoxyl 50 mcg per day. First day on the drug, felt exhausted by night time, next morning, usually jump out of bed for workout and was extremely tired at the gym, no energy, was starving during the day even after breakfast which is unusual for me, and exhausted by evening, and third day woke up with swollen glands and exhaustion, knew something was up. Decided to research the side effects and found others with similar symptoms and didn't like long term effects so I am going off the drug and hoping I caused no damage to my system. My doctor's reaction was "impossible" that the drug could cause this. My reaction was, "no thank you, I think for myself, know my body, and know this drug caused this reaction." I was feeling fine before 3 days ago, and how could so many have similar symptoms if it isn't the drug.

I am 43 and have been taking eltroxin for a couple of years now and apart from feeling the cold more than anyone else and the odd fatigue I have felt fine. I recently hurt my back and asked for a bone density scan. The results were that I had the beginning of osteoporosis After a little research I found that Eltroxin can effect bone density, so now am looking for a natural substance to treat my hashimotos disease.

Wow! So glad and sad to find other sufferers. I wish our doctors would listen to us and take us seriously! Why are they stuck on forcing Synthroid on us? At this point, I think I'd rather not take any Synthroid. I stumbled upon this site while looking for something I might take to counteract the effects of Synthroid. I had to halve my 112 mg pills because of the side effects: frequents headaches, bloating, weight gain, irritability and anxiety, dry mucus membranes (eyes, nose, throat, etc.), allergies, muscle fatigue, achy joints. Of course, my doctor is slowly upping the dosage again, because my TSH is chronically high, but I feel like sh*t, physically and mentally. I used to feel so much more normal and like myself before I was diagnosed and "forced" to take Synthroid.

I have been on synthroid for about 3 yrs. I am considered subclinical (can't find hypothyroidism with blood test- normal range).
Grant it, the medicine took away the almost angina pain and loss of breath. However, my body seems to have deteriated structurally. I have tremendous lower back pain, that worsened. I have been in pain every day since. I starve, (veggies - then dinner). It's been very, very difficult. Always looking for help.I'm hoping that a natural hormone will change this, I know my husband will be glad; he won't have to hear me cry anymore.

I HAVE BEEN TAKING LEVOXYL FOR 22YRS AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN NEVER GET SLEEP,I TAKE MY PILL IN THE MORNING AND CAN'T SLEEP ALL NITE AND AM TIRED OF IT,I WISH THEY HAD AN ALTERNATIVE.THAT WAY I CAN SLEEP AND NOT BE DEPRESSED ALL THE TIME

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 wouldn't give anyone ant medical advice if I thought it did not work for me. For anyone who has the side affects that follow from taking thyroid meds:itching all over, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, joint pain especially in the lower back, clicking in the knee joints when walking, feeling like you are staring(in a trance), mood swings, etc... Please talk with your doctor about APO-NABUMETONE. It is for inflammation/pain. Since two months I was prescribed it , I have no symptoms. If I stop it the symptoms come back in two to three days. I am aggressively pursuing answers to why these symptoms happen, and I have tried every thyroid drug, just recently natural Thyroid. They all produce the same symptoms. My question is whether or not any endocronologists read these forums and if so do they think that our symptoms are just in our head as my doctors do. Thank you everyone for posting because now I don't feel so alone, I am not the only one.

I have been on Levoxyl for 10 years and have never felt "good" yet. My dtr thought maybe I needed an increase, so I am on 125mcg three days a week, 112mcg the other four days. Upon taking the increased meds, I was experiencing headaches every morning, and also severe exhaustion every afternoon. I also have muscle pain and cramps, and memory loss, thinning hair. I also have developed a stomach issue- maybe acid reflux, probably because I feel hungry all the time. I would really like to explore the natural thyroid but my dtr is not familiar with it but I think would be willing to try it. Can anyone advise me on the process of switching over? Has anyone weaned themselves off the levoxyl alltogether? I have a friend who was on it for 10 years and her tyroid no longer has a problem. She is totally off all meds.

AFter taking Levoxyl for almost 6 months, I suffered severe anxiety--couldn't sleep, cried all the time, at times couldn't leave the house and other times couldn't stand to be at home. I suggested to my dr. it was the Levoxyl, but he didn't agree. So I took myself off and finaly felt like my old self. Now my thyroid is low and they are wanting to put me on synthoid. Is it any better? I can't go through that again and Is there any natural thyroid medication I could try?

I have been on Levoxyl for 14 years, over time I have had increasing problems with leg pain, joint pain, memory loss, cold hands and feet, bouts of being very tired. Until I discovered Armour Thyroid, I feel so much better since going on the natural thyroid instead of the synthetics.