under active tyroid

[alibob100]

i have been on levi-thyroxide since march 2007 and i am suffering with weight gain i have put on 3 stone of weight and i am feeling very destressed about it my g.p does not seem to understand question could i stop taking my medication without telling my doctor and if so what side effects could i get please help

[Ice.Maiden]

I'm not a doctor, but I'd think that it'd be best to consult one before just stopping any medication, as that can sometimes have nasty side effects or make the original symtoms worse.

[sqad617]

Before doing ANYTHING ask your GP to arrange Thyroid function blood tests.

Stopping your thyroxine would increase your weght gain even more.

[waterboatman]

If you are not happy with your GP, ask to see another one, perhaps a female doctor would be more understanding?

[CathH]

Hi
I know how you are feeling.

I agree you need to have another blood test.
How much Thyroxine do you take a day?
The dosage may need to be increased.
I started off on 50mcg per day and am now up to 200mcg per day (and have finally lost weight - 2stone 10pounds since september)
Do persevere with the treatment and do not stop it (or increase it) without consulting your Doctor.
Hope this helps

[alibob100]

hi there cath h thanks for your answer i am on 100mg a day but i am on the correct dosage i get my blood checked once a month due to me having epilipsy which was just diagonsed last year i am due to get married next year and i have tried to lose weight but i cant . i go to keep fit twice a week also i eat sensibly so my g.p says its the levi-thyroxide that i am on getting really fed up . i have always been very slim but now i feel fat . alibob100

[sqad617]

If your thyroid tgests are within normal limits then your obesity is nothing to do with your thyroxine doses.

Myth:.....if someone who is overweight due to an under-active thyroid, then losses weight when treated with thyroxine.

[BeeMooney]

Huge sympathies with you here
I have put on slowly but surely 2 stone over the 5 years I have been on thyroxin.
Your Thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in your system, it controls your metabolic rate...there is no real substitute for the thyroxin we produce, synthetic and pig thyroxin will never properly replace the loss, however, not taking thyroxin would lead to hair loss, weight gain, lethargy, issues around the proper function of your heart, and even as extreme as coma.
So NO, don't stop taking it, maybe look at the bigger picture around autoimmune, you are clearly actively autoimmune, is there perhaps another cause for weight gain.
Easy to say but harder to do, exercise is first, supported by diet. When you are actively autoimmune this is really hard I know, I have Lupus, no thyroid and Hughes syndrome...I also love chocolate!! But don't drink, don't smoke.
Try and remember, you are getting married and not just having a wedding, you are loved and cared for, who really gives a toss if you're a couple of dress sizes up!

[Marijn]

As said before, coming OFF Levo Thyroxine will INCREASE your weight.
I came off Thyroxine, cos I didn't like taking it, it was one of the silliest things I have ever done, as I needed to go back on a higher dose when I inevitably went back on it.
What is your TSH? You should ask your Doctor every time you get your results and make a note of it, because it's good to see your results getting better.
My TSH is within the normal range now, thankfully.

[Sachs]

squad,
are you saying you believe it is a myth that thyroxine can lose you weight?

[sqad617]

Sachs, so many people who are diagnosed as hypothyroid, think that once they start on thyroxine, they will automatically lose weight......not so.

[Sachs]

sqad,
I have always lost weight when I've had my thyroxine dose increased. Just recently I have had my medication decreased & have gained weight.

[sqad617]

sachs....sorry I was watching snooker.

Well that is you experience and is worth noting, but in my experience people are so glad that their diagnosis of hypothyroidism means that after treatment they will lose weight again, that when they don't lose weight they are disappointed.

The development of hypothyroidism takes months to develop and during that time one is tired apathetic, sleeps a lot and exercise is a drudgery and the weight gain in my opinion is due to that. If after treatment they continue that sedatory life, they will not lose weight despite thyroxine treatment.

I vaue your experience sachs.

[Sachs]

Thanks for your info/ response sqad x