thank god I have found this website! I am getting so fru...

How I sympathise, I also feel that to-day when I am really done would be a good day for a blood test, not a fortnight ago when I was reasonably okay. I await the result with interest, it will probably say that I am on too much thyroxine, ie. it isn't possible to find any TSH in my blood sample. As it is one has to battle on as best one can.

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I am amazed this website exists and that my gp actually was the one to suggest it to me. He did so because I was querying why I am putting wieght on now I am taking Thyroxiine when before it wasn't happening- all the official bodies say that the opposite happens! I have always been on the heavy side but when my thyroid wasn't being treated I wasn't putting wieght on which I am now, about a pound every fortnight, and I am at a loss as to what to do as I already eat mostly fruit and veg and lean fish/chicken (and exercise at least 4 times per week)! My dosage is 100 at present and the gp is reluctant to raise it as he says I am now chemically normal but he has no helpful suggestions as far as the wieght goes. I also found that this last 3 weeks I have been tired again and I still can't concentrate enough to go back to my job, which is quite academic and needs a high level of concentration and understanding- I seem to lose the thread half way into a meeting.

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So pleased others have similar problem. I've been on levothyroxine many years - GP keeps insisting blood tests come back in normal range but I still have all symptoms as before (some worsening)- hair very sparse, weight dangerously high, energy levels non-existent etc. Went to doc's again yesterday to try to explain how feel + how down it makes me. getting another blood test - which will probably show thyroid level 'within "normal" range' again and so the viscious cycle continues.

A friend (also with hypothyroid)has endocrine specialist who monitors her treatment regularly, explains everything, and her symptoms are all under control! She tells me - keep hassling GP 'til treatment enables symptoms to decrease.

I veer between thinking it's not worth it there are so many really sick people out there and getting so angry at my quality of life that I have another try to get things sorted.

:roll:

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When I first approached my GP, like most people, I was told that I was 'stressed'!!! The GP reluctantly gave me a blood test which showed that my TSH and T4 were 'in the normal range'. Mercifully a friend recommended a private doctor who immediately told me that I had an underactive thyroid (it was obvious!). He always uses a urine test as the blood test is, in his opinion, unreliable. I now have a urine test done every year to check levels. The private doctor also recommends Armour Thyroid, which is a natural product rather than a synthetic one, as it contains all the Ts: T1, T2, T3 and T4. (When I was prescribed purely synthetic T3, as this was a little low, I had a reaction to it and stopped.) I can't say that I am now 'fit as a fiddle' but am better and have steadily increased the dose myself until I have found one which suits me. (Any help on shedding the pounds, though, would be helpful.)

Best Wishes

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Hello,

I know just want you mean, I started taking Levothyroxine 2 months ago and have put on weight . I have had no monthly cycle for 3 months. It has taken me one and half years to get results . I have all the symptoms of underactive thyroid but no TSH or T4 to show ,countless blood test and then finally something happend. But the GP has not even gone though it with me just gave me the pills and said off you go. When I went back to say about the weight gain and lack of cycle he responded that nothing is wrong with me and get over it. So still feeling tired low energy hair loss and so on.

So if you live in Stafford good luck the doctors here ,are useless and have no idea on what they are treating or how to treat it. GP what a joke.

My question is how do you know what 'normal' is, i was hypo for alot of years and i considered myself normal untill...

So you got to think there is more to depression than chemicals in your brain.. people without hypo also get depressed and down

Only think i think is if you wanna lose weight - do what everyone has to do, workout eat right cut the smokes and drink..

You can feel good again, but it takes more than a couple of little pills a day

Cheers

Alan

Another thing that occurs is, if you are eating a poor diet with underactive thyroid you body may not be breaking down the food turning it into fat..

Now when you are treated your body WILL process all the food you eat and as such if you are eating s**t then it stands to reason you may gain weight..

Just a thought

Cheers

Alan