February 1th
2009
6:36 PM
I had my thyroid removed because of cancer. I was 18 years old. At that time, I was put on Armour thyroid because that was the only thing available. I am now 56. Somewhere along the line they figured out how to make chemical thyroid and of course I was put on it - for the next 35 years. Blood checked so many times I can't remember, dosages changed. Always a runny nose, hot and cold always a problem. I drink something hot and I start sweating, I drink something with ice and I get the chills. Back on Armour now - not the absolute best - but certainly much better than synthroid! Still what do you do when you have no thyroid? Also to let you all know, after the thyroid was removed I was treated with Radioactive Iodine, and told that I probably could not have children. Well, I am stubborn - I have three boys - had them at ages 23, 25 and 37! Many, many problems through the years ( oh yeah, the radiation treatment that I had at 1 month old fried my thymus as well as starting the cancer - it took 17 years for the cancer to develop. It was only after all this that they began to find out the you really did need a thymus too. Oh well, I could go on and on. So find me a solution to my thyroid that is gone. Can we regrow it like they are regrowing ears, fingers, etc?? Something to look into for the medical profession...
-- By herblady88 | Reply | Private Message me
July 28th
2008
11:22 AM
I been on Synthroid now for 10 years. Almost right after I started the medication i started to have headaches. I had / have headaches every single day , all day long. Before the Syntthroid i NEVER had headaches, EVER. It has been 10 years and i still complain. I have spent so much money and wasted time on exams and doctors. All the doctors tell me is that i am stressed or its sinus or something else . Which i don't think i am . I have CT scans a few times. I am not crazy, i know what i am saying. Doctors don't listen. I looked on online and saw that headaches are a side effect. I went back to my doctor and explained. The doctor(s) insist that the Synthroid is not a cause of my headaches. With headaches every single day a person can not function normally.
I ran across this website and in a way i felt better knowing that this symptom is real and other people are experiencing the same thing. On the other hand it upset me that all these people are complaining and no one is listening.
Is there no solution?
-- By arn12 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 15th
2008
3:57 PM
Hi Ive been hypothyroid for about 12 years now. After i took radioactive iodine I was put on synthroid.125. Had blinding headaches constantly! Then after about 3 years I was put on levoxyl.125. Blood work sometimes comes back a little elevated but not much to say for the symptoms i am having still to this day.I am so tired i cant even go to the store. Symptoms are,
sever fatigued. headaches. muscle pain in chest and sternum. burning muscles, triggerpoints all over body. broken sleep .severe depression.Eye pain blurry vision lower back pain body feels like a punching bag.I could sleep for 12hrs and still be tired. These medicines have side effects that they are not telling us.I tried armour but it does not aggree with me. Im going to switch to either unithroid or leverthroid.If these do not work then i will try thyroler.Doctor wanted to give zoloft. Please I do not need bad medicine.
This all started when i had to take thyroid meds.Before diagnosis I was a fitness fanatic . I was doing aerobics heavy cardio, lifting weights etc. now i cant even ride my bike.The meds are no good doctors are a waste they think it is in your mind.Let them feel one day like this and see if they can function.I do not think they can.ill see what happens when i change my meds..fibromyalgia? no such thing Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when the doctors cant figure out what is wrong with you so they pawn off some atidepressives.
August 15th
2007
12:55 PM
I am extremely hot and sweaty, memory loss, fatigue, aching hands, dizzy at times and most recently had a fainting spell (black out) while I was attending a movie -- it started with dizziness and then I became totally burning up hot and wet with sweat so much so that my hair was wet -- this lasted about 1/2 hour and ended with the dry heaves. Please let me know if anyone has experienced this. I had my thyroid blasted with radioactive iodine about 3 years ago (Graves Disease) and I have been hotter than blazes since that time. I am on 112mcg of levoxyl
-- By lrm007 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
June 26th
2007
7:39 PM
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?
October 5th
2006
11:58 PM
My thyroid was destroyed in Sept. 1987 by radioactive iodine. What I know now, I wish that I knew back then. I have been hyper most of my life up until this date. Was always able to go into any store buy clothes without trying them own, knowing that they would fit perfectly; lots of energy, raised two boys by myself and even worked on a college degree. Was very active. Had to go in for surgery for my gallbladder; 24 hours later, they didn't know if I was going to live. Put me on the gieger counters to test my thyroid, was so hyper that I broke every piece of equipment in the hospital. After my thyroid was destroyed, I packed on 60 pounds and have not been able to lose it to this day. Am extrememly tired. My whole system is so messed up that I am looking to alternative methods to see if I might get some help there. Told my doctor about my problems with weight, tireness, and bowel problems (which the medication has effected), he looks at me as if I am nuts and don't know what I am talking about.
Now that I am menopausal, the sympthoms have been amplified. I know of several people that have had problems with gaining weight and others that never had any problems with the medication. GO FIG!!!!
-- By hillstarr | Reply | Private Message me
February 28th
2005
10:31 AM
I have been on Atenolol for about 7 years now - 25mg. At first I found it made me feel tired and slowed me down too much, however, I decided to cut it in 1/2 and take 1/2 in the am and 1/2 in the pm and this seems to work much better.
In fact, when I told my doctor, he said it was a better idea since instead of getting a larger dose all at once, and having it wear off later in the day, the dosage would be more constant in my blood stream all day.
Thankfully, I really can't say I have any negative side affects from it and I do not take any drug I really don't need because I do not tolerate medications very well. The only other medication I take is Synthroid because 9 years ago I had radioactive iodine for my thyroid condition.
-- By dee2142 | Reply | Private Message me
October 21th
2004
3:58 PM
I've been taking Synthroid (Levothyroxine) for about 17 YEARS. I was diagnosed with Grave's Disease, and opted for the radioactive iodine. After two years of trying to control the disease with PTU (which has serious bone marrow depletion side effects) I decided to go for the one thing I knew would work. Of course, the treatment with the radioactive iodine is very tough to estimate, and I went from hyperactive to hypoactive. As a result, I'll take 200mcg (0.2mg) for life.
I think it's important to understand that Synthroid is not a drug. It is a hormone. When you take Synthroid, you're engaging in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). You really won't experience side effects from the hormone, but you will experience problems if the amount of hormone is not within a "normal" range. Too much or too little will be a problem for anyone. What's critical here is to take the hormone at the same time every day (without food -- calcium will block its absorption), and monitor your hormone level frequently to establish a solid baseline.
The hormone will take days, or even weeks to reach its peak, and the duration is variable. BECAUSE IT'S A HORMONE, TAKING MORE OR LESS THAN IS NECESSARY WILL PRODUCE UNDESIRABLE RESULTS. Any "side effects" are really the result of improper dosing.
Having said all of that, I've never had a problem with Synthroid -- once my optimal level was determined. I worked closely with my MD and together decided that I was best at the upper side of "normal." I've made only one change in the 17 years, and that was to increase the dose.
Here's something to consider: If it weren't for this hormone, and the science behind HRT, I probably would have died years ago.
-- By mrkevinator | Reply | Private Message me
July 8th
2004
8:57 PM
Diagnosed hyperthyroid about 3 yrs ago. So extreme they deemed it necessary to not mess around with supression therapy and gave me radioactive iodine. Was all done so fast I didn't have time to think if I was doing what was best. Anyway.....1 mg of synthroid. When I am on it hair loss, thinner nails, calf cramps that kill, anxiety and depression...because of the depression I don't take care of myself therefore I don't take my meds. ta da...i feel better when I don't and all the other symptoms go away too. After a few months I freak myself out that I dont have a functioning thyroid and need to take my meds. So I restart the synthroid and bam....here the bad things all start again. And the cycle goes round and round.
-- By l33suh70 | Reply | Private Message me
Synthroid (7) Levoxyl (3) Mirena (1) Atenolol (1) MiraLax (1)
July 25th
2009
8:47 PM
Hi, my name is Eva and I am 27 years old.
-- By germangirl | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message meI am a mother of 2 and had Mirena IUD inserted a few months after my 2nd daughter was born. This was 3 1/2 years ago.
Since then I have developed Eczema on my hands (which is the least of my concerns). More importantly I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease (hyperactive thyroid function) last year.
I had developed a goiter on my neck (enlarged Thyroid) , my hair was very brittle & my eyes were always dry and itchy.
Since then I have undergone Radioactive iodine treatment to destroy my thyroid. Reading all of your posts seriously made me angry and I teared up because I definitely think that there is a link between Mirena and thyroid problems. It makes sense that your body would try and fight off any foreign object in your body and maybe that send the thyroid into a out of whack mode ?
I am currently researching if there are any clinical studies out there on this possible connection. If anyone would like to join me - pls. contact me at ******
I have an appointment to have my Mirena removed in a few days, I sincerely hope that it will make a difference in my health.
Best regards,
E.