Synthroid Achy Legs, Check Ups, Cholestrol Levels, Ups, Hair Loss
Posted over a year ago
I have been on synthroid for about 6 months now. Some of the side effects I have been experiencing are numerous.I have hair loss, sometimes I get so ill that no one can stand to be around me, my weight has gone up about 30 pounds, my cholesterol levels ... more »
I have been on synthroid for about 6 months now. Some of the side effects I have been experiencing are numerous.I have hair loss, sometimes I get so ill that no one can stand to be around me, my weight has gone up about 30 pounds, my cholesterol levels went sky high so now I'm taking Crestor, I'm bloated most times, I have episodes where my face flushes and gets so red that it feels like its on fire, and now I've just started experiencing burning and aching of the legs, I'm tired a lot too! My doctor said I would lose the weight but every time I go for check ups and get on the scale it just keeps going up. I would like to know if anyone else out there is experiencing the burning and achy legs because I have been tested for everything and they can't find out what is going on. They of course say it's not the medication.It seems to never be. Does anyone feel me??
Donji1 - omg...your side effects are the same as mine. I started taking synthroid in August. At first I felt great the tiredness went away and I had more energy. That all changed, I'm always tired, I wake up with a headache everyday, my hot flashes have gotten worse my face gets so flushed it scares me, leg cramps, my joints hurt so bad esp. my knees, I"ve gained 15 pounds, and it feels like I'm listening to the ocean through a seashell ...my ears feel really weird. I want to go off synthroid but I don't know how to do it....I think I want to try the all natural way.
Marybunny - Yes, I have a recent problem with burning just under my knees, on my shins. My synthroid medication was increased about six months ago to 125. I am about 16 months post TT. The pain is very intense and especially tender if I lean on my legs. I have not been to a doctor just yet about this problem and wonder if perhaps I am being over medicated? Any thoughts please help. I have spent a lot of time on the internet trying to find information about this. Thanks.
Athena20 - OMG! I was having th esame issues too, at first I felt great and then things started changing and going downhill fast, i brush my hair and globs fall out and i never have any energy, and these horrible headaches
Karly122 - I experience burning sensations in my upper body if the dose is too high for me. It sounds like you are overmedicated. Peoples bodies are different. I have heard one person may reduce the dosage the next day and their bodies adjust and slowly these over symptoms pass. However, for me, if I am on a dose that is too high, I need to stop taking it for 6 or 7 days (synthroid has a half life of 6-7 days), and then start on a much lower dose. Good luck.
Thyroid - I am so glad to know that I am not the only person with these symptoms I have hypothyroidism and my legs ache and cramp so bad and yes my hair falls out like crazy and I have really bad headaches I also take synthroid 100mg I have been taking it for 4yrs. now I was beginning to think I was going crazy but reading everyones stories I know I am not alone I need to know what you guys did about hair loss leg cramps and headaches I really need some releif!!!!!!! please let me know thanks Robin email rgood@se-tel.com
Mamakittyof3 - I have gone through hell and just now my hubby and I think its the sinthroid and cytemel they put me on. I have had all my joints in such great pain I had to walk with a cane in and out of Er heart palps high blood presure and high blood sugar. Dr think I have Stills disease but this all came on me after starting the drug for Hypo. I have a rash that appearce after showers on chest and arm. I feel like Im having hot flashes my arms and legs hurt so bad. Im stopping today and see what happens. I was so healthy till this medication. My problems went from not great to terrible. Im going to see what happens. lost 2 jobs and ill for 4 months just hit me the other night that maybe its the med because I feel ok in the morning till after taking the med I go down hilll. Dr didnt even think it could be my med but Im really wondering now. Switching to a new DR. also. They wanted to start me On Methotrexate on friday for my Supposed Stills disease they think this could be but holding off to go of Sinthroid for a few weeks and see what happens to me. I will keep you posted if you want to send me your email. I will Email you to let you know what happend to me.
Thanks
Heather Ann
Dodiday - I have leg pain, I've been taking Crestor and Synthroid for about the same amont of time and I have been gaining weight! Even with the leg pain, I force myself on the treamill and sill gain weight. Please, if you've heard anything else new, please let me know. Thanks. odeanj@msn.com
Sandyo - I had been taking levothyroxin for 7 years after my thyroid was removed with no side effects as long as the dosage was correct. I have blood work every 6 months to be sure I am taking the correct amount. About a month ago my doctor put me on Crestor for high cholestrol and within 2 weeks I was headed down hill rapidly. I had muscle spasms in my feet and legs and an aching in my hips and back that was hard to deal with. But the worst was the depression. The depression finally has put me to a point that getting out of bed in the morning is with great effort. I called my doctor yesterday and went for blood work to check by thyroid levels. I am told that too high a level can cause depression and that it has nothing to do with the Crestor, but to stop the Crestor for now until they have the blood test results back. Since I had no problems prior to adding the Crestor to the mix, I am convinced that the Crestor is the problem. I'm also convinced that Crestor is a dangerous drug for me to be taking. We'll see what the blood results show but I'm wondering if the Crestor might be throwing my thyroid levels out of whack. We'll see.
Mbonsteel - When my doctor prescribed Crestor to me, she warned me about the leg/muscle pains. She advised me to start taking 60mg CoEnzyme Q10 daily along with the crestor.
The CoQ10 helps with the muscle problems
Mitch48 - I have been on synthroid for a little over a year now and I also have gained about 30 pounds and my hip joints and legs hurt all the time. I do not take anything else except Clonidine and a fluid pill. I started with minor leg pain when I first started and now some days I can hardly get out of bed.
Jcbrown - i have been on levothyrovine for about 20 months then went to synthroid for about the last 3. I had my thyroid removed about 2 years ago. I have not felt good since. achy heavy legs,very tired all the time!!!most days I feel i can't put one foot in front of the other. They keep changing the dose every couple months but I still feel about the same.I too,have gained about 35pounds.looking for an alternative!!!
Kmb123 - I have been on thyroid medicine for under a year now and in that time I have gained over 20 lbs and have recently been having leg cramps at night. The last time I had leg cramps at night was when I was pregnant 13 years ago so this was a surprise for me to start having cramps out of the blue like this and the weight gain has also been very bothersome to me as no matter what I seem to do, the scale keeps going up instead of down. It sounds like the medicine may be causing some of these issues?
Saspencer - I have the same problems that you are experiencing. Its driving me nuts. I feel that if I would discontinue this medicine I would feel better, but, you can't quit it suddenly. My doctor says its partly menopause, but if I cut back on the synthryoid I feel better, but have chest pains.Is this normal?
Moodswing - I take levoxol and thought I was doing fine till I was lowered to 112mg to 100mg since the 100 mg I to get severe leg and feet cramps my feet and legs ache always my joints hurt and my hands too! I am gaining weight in a very fast pace I am tired always I drink starbucks to give me a second wind to make it through my shifts at work??? I get dingy and spacey it concerns me? I have no thyroid and I am at a loss on what to do I have never had a weight problem or ached or been so tired in my life my surgery was 3/14/08 Any answers out there please help! Patty
Teresapam123 - yes i have some of your side effects. i have gained weight and im fighting it every day. i hardly eat anything and i keep gaining weight. im going to the Dr. next week hoping there is another med. i can take. its driving me crazy, because i was always 20 pds lighter than now.
Tatacim - I've had my thyroid removed in 2006 and since then I've been on medication, i was ok first and i thought i was ok until now. i had leg pains that woke me up from my sleep and i went to doctor and couldn't figure out why i was having this pain, i thought i had restless leg syndrome or sciatic but doctor said no. now i'm reading all your side effects and I'm in shock, i had no idea that it can cause to leg pain. also I've change my medication to generic (because of insurance issues) since then i guess my itching started. i thought i had allergic reaction to food or bugs or something and i went to allergist of course nothing came out. now I'm reading the side effects of this medication, it can cause hives, rashes, itching and even urticaria which i have right now. i went crazy to find anything in my house to find a bed bug, spider, flea or anything that can make me itch like this. the other side effects that I'm having are hair loss, red/hot face. i can not believe all these symptoms are actually side effects to a medication supposed to make me feel better.
Saradavis37 - I converted to Armour from Synthroid several months ago. Since then I have developed neck, back and leg aches, especially during the night. So bad I would have to get up out of bed at least four or five times a night.Mentally, I felt great for the first time in forever. Doctor said it was degenerative disc disease and nothing could be done about it. After that I developed tingling in my hands and left shin and Dr. said it was carpal tunnel in the hand and degenerative disc disease for my leg. Also have heart palpatations now and fight high blood pressure continuously. I exercise all the time and have five fruits and veggies a day. Anyway, for the last two days I accidently took a much lower dose of my thyroid medication. For the first time in months, my legs don't hurt. I can walk more than a mile with no pain when last week I couldn't even walk around the block without hip joints killing me. My blood pressure is also normal today and NO palpitations. I just looked at the synthroid/armour medication conversion chart and discovered I was taking to much medication and had been ever since the conversion to Armour. Why has not the doctor told me this. I thought I was dying when actually I was becoming hyperthyroid instead of being Hashimoto as I have always been. Think I should change doctors?
Zsmom - My husband took Synthroid for years and felt terrible - even when lab tests showed his thyroid hormone levels to be in the normal range. He recently switched to Armour (natural thyroid hormone) and is feeling better than he has in years. An excellent website called stopthethyroidmadness.com has been very helpful to us in understanding the ins and outs of thyroid treatment. I highly recommend visiting this site. Good luck.
Payge - Hi Sharone ,
I had to have my thyroid removed 4 years ago (mulit-nodular goiter pressing on my windpipe and esoph.)It was a horrible nightmare to say the least. I have since been on Synthroid for 4 years and OMG even though I seem to be in a normal range with my T.S.H. I have many side affects from this drug and the gland now gone.
For me the most severe would be the leg pain/muscle pain/headaches,high B.P. and just overall feel like garbage (if you can think of how garbage feels). Ughhh I can relate to your situation.
What I have found is that whenever the docs change my Synthroid dosage my already existing pain gopes OFF THE MAP . My bosy hates not having the thyroid and isn't happy abuot the artificial Synthroid. I am at a loss because I have tried every doc under the sun and that included the INFAMOUS endocrinology community as well. The endo docs are number counters and as far as I'm concerned don't listen to my symptoms and only look at numbers.
It's been 4 years of living HELL and counting and I feel for anyone out there that has any sort of THyroid issues at all. For me my gland was surgically removed and now I went from one hell to another. Walking today was a chore and the pain is a nightmare. I'm going to try yet another doc and pray they know what they are doing but somehow I feel that Synthroid is just not for me. Ihave been suffering with headaches,leg/musclepain and more ever since I started taking this drug. There has to be another choice that will help people who need thyroid replacement. Good luck to you and God Bless
Hypo1970 - Yes, Synthroid will def make your hair fall out - get off and get on Armour or Thyrolar - if your endo will not give to you find and endo in your area that will - here is a website I found that will list docs in your area that are willing to try other drugs to treat your thyroid. I am taking Armour. Website: www.thyroid-info.com
Trebri - I had my thyroid removed 10/30/09 and begin experiencing episodes of severe leg cramps in January/10. Catscans, labwork, etc has been done. Still no answers why. My generic synthroid med has been changed 3X. Now Im on the brand name Synthroid 88mg (down from 125 mg). But still the painful episodes of leg cramps come & go. I lost my job, now on unemployment, $18.00 dollars over the income guideline for a medical assistance, so now no health coverage. The pain, the depression, etc, etc ongoing. I feel your frustration.
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Ruhamah - I have been on levothyroxin for several years. I found I could not take cholesterol medication, as it made me ache in the legs. Also I had a bad reaction to the flu shot as the eggs that were used caused me to whelp and rash. A couple years ago my doctor increased my thyroid med from .05 to 1mg. I began hurting in my right knee. He said it was weight bearing. Weight that he wouldn't acknowledge came on since I began with thyroid med. I got off the med and found my knee pain stopped, but got back on thinking that it might be my imagination. Found my pain back in three days. I got off again and Dr. said to get back on, but subscribed a med I use to take for my sciatica. Oh I forgot to mention that I started having exzema skin problem where calysis form and on top of feet , and in the arches.
Back to the doctors solution of dyclofinac for the knees which was my siatica med that I stopped taking; it made me too relaxed and mentally out there. I quit both meds he has me on now and about to take Amazon's adrenaline hormone product to see if my problem is in the adrenaline instead. Also I now take solenium and lugol's iodine that I mix with water and drink. i'm on a herbal water pill to try to shrink the fat cells the thyroid med activated and maybe I'll lose this weight that's affecting my blood pressure and false reading diabetes. I have a lab and doctor's appt. tomorrow and I'm wondering about whether to be honest with him unless he talks about seeing a lack of meds or about raising the level. The knee pain for sure has subsided along with the cramping hip; as I have stopped both meds as well as the siatica. Lastly let me add that taking B-complex subliminally is vital everyday.
Turbokitty - And wouldn't you know, after being on Armor Thyroid for almost 20 years, the only all natural thyroid supplement and being right as rain, Armor Thyroid was bought by Abbott Pharmaceuticals and ever since they revamped the formula, I have leg cramps, hot flashes and burning feet ...
Pamacosta4 - I have been on sythroid for over a year &have gained 20 pds. My knee started hurting
about 8 months ago, could hardly walk. Then my feet started hurting, i have to hold the wall when i get up in the mornings to keep from falling. I think its the meds. I ace, am fat & so lazy & moody i can't stand myself. I have never been lazy, moody or sick my whole life. I hate this feeling. Do u think Armour would help?
Awake0215@att.net - I had a complete thyroidectomy 28 yrs ago and have been on synthroid 1 mg ever since. I am now 73 yrs old. I have not had any problems, I though , but looking back maybe the depression and panic attacks are from taking synthroid. I also take Zoloft and trazodone. And now at 73 my hair is starting to fall out and I feel bad every day - like having the flu. I have no energy at all - can hardly make it thru the day. Can anyone out there help.
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Mitch48 - Once I stopped the synthroid a lot of my symptons went away. the hip and joint pain went away with in just a few days after stopping the drug, but I continued to gain weigt for a while. I have been able to lose some of it and I am able to walk and I do have more energy. I tried the Armour but it gave me such a case of heartburn and indegestion that I stopped it also. I am taking a natural supplement called Michael's Thyroid factors and it keeps my levels at borderline. I still take the high blood pressure meds but they are the only prescription meds I take.
I feel like some of the damage that was done by the synthroid is permemant and will never get better. I just know that I will never take it again.
Dontgiveup - This reply is mostly for the person whose doctor kept increasing her/hs dose without even checking blood levels. Run run as fast as you cn from this doctor. Tat is horrible!! Malpractice! I've done a lot of research on hypothyroidism. Read as much as you can, please, all of you. The margin of error is very very small- the dose has to be perfect or you will feel bad, period. Today I took my first lower dose, doctor is having me go down from 88 mcg to 75 mcg of Synthroid, due to recent lab work results plus symptoms such as higher blood pressure, hot flashes, etc. I have lost about 7 pounds-hear this- even a small weight gain or loss changes how much medication you need to take. So this isone reason I need to take a little less. But will have blood tested in 3 months. Being a little too low or too high on your dose can cause symptoms that you all are talking about. ALSO, I was allergic to the generic brand, got a bad rash. However, I do fine with name brand Synthroid. They are never exactly te same even though the generic companies say so. BUT, my friend had the opposite problem, her hair started to fall out and she felt crazy on the brand name, but feels fine on generic.
From my experiences so far, when my dosage is exactly right I feel pretty good, maybe not perfect, but way better than before I was diagnosed- the fatigue was horrible. Make sure you always read your lad results yourself. Some labs use the old reference range which is way to big- you will be told you are fine, when you are not. Thankfully my new endocrinologist uses the newer range- for TSH the normal range is 0.340-3.0. There are many good web sites like Medline, and American Academy of Family Physicians. I had to be very assertive with doctors, and change doctors but it's worth it. Don't give up.
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