Huh..low thyroid...

**cab54** · 04-30-2011, 11:21 AM

So I go to the doc yesterday, and he says my thyroid is a little low (TSH). Puts me on synthroid. Maybe that explains why I wanna lay down and take a nap every afternoon, lol. And can't lose any weight....

He's been hounding me to get on a statin for years. Finally made me take one. All of my younger siblings are on statins. I think he had writer's cramp from making out the RX's. Now, I'm on a slew of meds, just like everyone else my age. Sigh. I can't go around being smug anymore.

Time to let the hair color grow out to grey, and get a cane.

LOL!

**Contrary Housewife** · 04-30-2011, 01:14 PM

I've been on synthroid for years. It really will make a difference. You'll see in about a week, you'll have all your energy back.

Don't go grey, go red. Or blonde!

I'm not going down without a fight!

**Nishu** · 04-30-2011, 02:06 PM

Sorry bout your meds.

I hope they they all agree with you.

I have been on thyroid medication for a couple years now. I hate having to take daily meds but I do feel better. My MIL had gastric bypass surgery and her doctor told her that when she lost all the weight, she probably wouldn't have to take the meds any more. (He's an obsesity specialist, so I hope he would know.) I have lost almost 20 pounds since my birthday and I'm really, really hoping that my levels will go to normal on their own.

My pharmacist told me that synthroid was probably his most frequently prescribed med, so you're definitely in good company.

**McD** · 04-30-2011, 03:27 PM

I am on both of those meds and have been for almost 5 years. They work! I've been told that low thyroid goes hand in hand with high cholesterol.

**Josephhgoins** · 04-30-2011, 05:10 PM

I am 33 and been on sythroid for more than 15 years. When mine gets off I start sleeping a LOT. sometimes it goes the other way too and I all but stop sleeping.

You will also notice some other things too. Your mood is going to be easier to control, you will be less irritable and your joints will hurt less.

**Debbie-cat** · 04-30-2011, 05:22 PM

If it's what you need then it is good that you saw your doctor. Good luck and I hope they work for you!

**Emeraldfire** · 04-30-2011, 10:49 PM

I started taking meds for my thyroid about 3 years ago and I no longer get as sleepy and I'm not nearly as cold as I always was. I've been lucky, no cholesterol problems yet.

**frugalfranny** · 04-30-2011, 11:45 PM

Hope the meds work for you.

It could take some time and make sure they re-test you in about a month to six weeks.

I don't let them run a TSH without running the T3 and T4.......TSH only is too general. The others tell how your body is USING the meds.

**cab54** · 05-01-2011, 10:34 AM

Contrary Housewife---I have always been blonde. Naturally darker dishwater blonde, and chemically blonder blonde. DH doesn't like red, so I'd better not go there. I like red, though. Maybe black, with goth makeup. A good look for a 56 year old, no? LOL! I will be glad to have some energy back.

JosephGoins--But I like to sleep! LOL. I'll take the mood, irritability, and joint improvements!

Emeraldfire---Yes! I'm always cold! You'd think I was skinny!

frugalfranny--Right. I'm having a TSH and T4 in 5 weeks.

I know I will feel better (I actually didn't feel bad!) but the bottles of meds growing on my counter makes me feel old. Shades of my grandparents' countertops! Ah, well----better living through chemistry.

**shoiji** · 05-01-2011, 04:30 PM

Have been on the medication since my early twenties. Probably needed it in my teens.

I usually take the medication as soon as I wake up. And eat breakfast an hour later. Also, you might want to lower or omit gluten from your diet. Look up gluten intolerance and low thyroid since there seems to be a connection with many people. Not that it is a cure but may help you.

Am sure you will be feeling well soon. You might also want to look into an endocrinologist for your low thyroid since they are the ones that usually handle this. It took me a while to actually get the appropriate levels since mine were very low.

**krbshappy71** · 05-01-2011, 04:48 PM

Out of anything to "have", I'd say low thyroid is the easiest! Have been diagnosed since 5 years old, its fairly cheap (on my current insurance only $4 a month) teeny tiny pill compared to other horse-pills people have to take, and wow what a difference to be on the correct level.

I'd say 2 weeks to really feel a difference, but that's just my opinion. Depending on how low you were, you may also notice a "clarity in thinking" which is hard to explain but its sort of like a fog lifting and its easier to make decisions and think things through.

**savvy_sniper** · 05-01-2011, 06:03 PM

In this day and age doctors want to prescribe a pill to fix everything. Don't get me wrong; some things require medication. I won't argue with that. BUT many times there are things you can do/change and not have to take medication for it.

I am a perfect example. High blood pressure runs in my family and I just accepted the fact that I had to take medication to control it. Over the years I have gained weight and the dosages for my BP meds kept going up. Then I had to go on cholesterol meds.

The final straw was the doctor telling me I had to go on diabetes medication. I was already spending about $500 a year on BP and cholesterol meds and that was my copay! That didn't include doctor visit copays. Then I was going to have to start buying test strips, lancets, and diabetes meds.

I changed my eating habits and starting using my treadmill five days a week. In the beginning I could only do 10 minutes on the slowest speed and no incline.

After 90 days I had lost 25 pounds, my sugar levels were back to normal and my BP and cholesterol were down and my dosages had been reduced. Shortly I will be off of the cholesterol meds totally.

Yes you can take pills for just about everything, BUT there are alternatives for many medical problems. The drug companies don't come up with cures; they come up with medications that you have to continue to take to "control" your problem. Then those medications usually cause other side effects that you have to take more medication for.

I just turned 56 and I am healthier than I have been in 10-15 years. I have chosen to live a healthier lifestyle. The doctor CANNOT believe that I have turned my health around. He said lots of people "say" they will; but they don't.

**savvy_sniper** · 05-01-2011, 06:04 PM

OH, and I let the color grow out of my hair a couple of years ago and I now have a full head of gray hair and I am proud of it! It took some getting used to though.

**krbshappy71** · 05-01-2011, 06:41 PM

To the best of my knowledge, thyroid is not something you can fix "naturally" but kudos to you for turning around your other health issues!

**savvy_sniper** · 05-01-2011, 07:02 PM

I was referring to the statins and "slew" of meds cab54 mentioned. I know thryroid isn't something you can turn around yourself.

I doubt I will ever get off of BP meds completely. I started taking them at a fairly young age and at a time when I was healthy. High BP is on both sides of my family.

I was also more on my soapbox about doctors prescribing medications at the drop of a hat instead of recommending that patients make changes in their diet and lifestyle.

It is a fact that the elderly in the U. S. are overmedicated. We are also an obese country due to everything being "supersized", people eating fast food on a regular basis, sedentary lifestyles, etc.