I take Levothroid and have for years. My side effects of the disease are carpal tunnel problems and higher cholesterol, which necessitates a second drug. Ack. I hate taking stuff!
I think hating being tied to a prescription bottle is pretty ubiquitous amongst those who find themselves in that position. Some folks just don't understand though. The doctor that informed me of my hypothyroidism at age 19 just phoned and nonchalantly announced that I would be taking medication everyday for the rest of my life, with frequent blood tests. It's no big deal she said, it's just like diabetes.
I went to an Endocrinologist and it was he who put me on levothyroid 150mm I did well on it and suddenly I lost all that weight I went from 150 to 108 within 6 months. I did not have any symtoms other than that. We moved and in our town I had to go to another doctor. He put me on Levothyroxine and I gained weight he also changed dosage to 125mm. When I started having all kinds of problems on this med I went back to him. I was having very funny headaches and neckpain. He had me get a MIR I later learned he thought it was brain cancer. He did however change my meds again to Synthyroid. I did fine on them. I maintained my 150 pounds but I could function. 10 months ago I had to change doctors again as my other doctor sold his practice to return to his own country. This new doctor put me on levothyroxin. Thats when all the problems started again. I know all my symtoms where exactly like I was off all medication but I was not. I took it every day. until I saw this website. I have also found out that starting january 1 there will be new regulations for levethyroxin as every company that produces it has a different level of sodium in each pill. They are also checking into the fact that it doesnt have a good shelf life. I have learned the hard way you really have to be your own doctor so to speak Only you know what you are feeling and how medications affect you.
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It sounds to me like you need to have it on file that you are to take only Synthroid. Of course, if they never followed up with blood work to make sure you were at the right dose when they changed you that could be the problem too.
I suffered with Hypothyroidism for more than 25 years.
I took both Levothyroxine and Synthroid and had awful symptoms the ENTIRE time. These chemical DRUGS do not contain what the body desperately needs - they contain only T4. When one has low T3 levels, which are typical with synthetic hormone use, the entire body, but especially the brain, does not work properly.
Now I take Armour Thyroid and the difference is truly amazing. It contains mono-iodothryonine, di-iodothryonine, T3 and T4 - the entire range of thyroid hormones.
However, I did not really feel completely optimal until I started taking it in this new way:
Split the daily dose into three to maintain consistent blood levels. Be sure to take the last dose around 4-5 p.m., no later (T3 has a short half-life).
Put each dose under the tongue and allow it to dissolve naturally rather than swallowing it.
After taking Armour this way for only 2 weeks, I felt like I "woke up" after all these years.
I dropped 30 pounds in 15 months, and still dropping.
No more brain fog and far less short-term memory problems.
No more swelling and joint pain.
No more massive hair and eyebrow loss & horribly dry skin.
No more painful carpal tunnel & plantar fasciitis.
No more goiter.
I truly feel like a miracle happened to me.
If you want more detailed info about this new method please let me know by PM! I'd be ecstatic to help.
My Mother has been on treatment for under active thyroid since she was 37. She is now 81. Both her brothers and sister also had to be treated, and her mother, so it runs in families. Only one of my generation have the condition so far. Keep an eye on other family members in case they start with it.
When my uncle came down with it he was over-active and the doctor treated him for nerves for ages. My gran thought that he was dying because he was losing weight so fast and passing blood in his urine, so she went to the doctors with him and insisted that something was done. They gave him a dose of radio-active iodine and that burnt out his thyroid gland and he was stable for years until he went under-active.