Question

[Tracie515]

I was taking medication for a hypothyroid. I quit taking it cause i thought it would stall my weight loss. But now i am 3 weeks with no weight loss at all. I know ya'll aren't doctors but do you think that could be the cause of me not losing? Maybe i should start taking it again.

[DAWNIMMEL]

Tracie, if you are hypothyroid it is harder to loose weight. By stopping you medication you are taking a chance of gaining more weight, plus it is unhealthy to stop a medication without a doctor's prior approval. I have hashimotos and if I go off my synthroid, I gain weight, get extreamly tired, and I also start to have muscle and joint aches. I have only gone off it once and that was when my pharmacy didn't have it, years ago they were going to take synthroid off the market, I didn't want a generic so I shopped around till I found it. I would suggest you talk to your doctor and let her know you stopped taking it. You may need to start at a smaller dose again and work your way back up. Good luck. Hope you start loosing soon and don't give up.........Dawn

[julirama723]

As a general rule, always speak with your doctor before starting/stopping medication!

If you have hypothyroidism, that means your medication helps BOOST your thyroid, metabolism, hormones, etc. because it is underactive. By stopping the medication, you have made your body more sluggish and put yourself at risk for serious health problems.

I can't even imagine how you're functioning--my mother takes synthroid and if she misses a day (like if the pharmacy is closed and she runs out) her body is WAYYYYYYYYY out of whack.

[Tracie515]

I started taking it again the day of the 1st post. I have been feeling much better. I didn't realize it would make such an impact on my day to day life. I won't do that again.

[Lulubell]

for sure. hypothyroidism is a condition, if left undiagnosed or treated, can cause irreversible damage to the ticker. i was diagnosed at about 18 with it and have been on a daily med for it ever sice. if you are recently diagnosed, your endocrinologist will want to do bloodwork on you every 3-6 mos. to make sure you are at the right level of hormone replacement. hypothyroidism means that your own thyroid gland cannot make enough of the master hormone you need for proper metabolic function (i know, i know - just great ), and so a daily replacement will supplement that.

it took about 2 years before i reached my current dose (150 ug/daily, levothyroxine). "synthroid" is another brand name for the same thing. as your dose reaches where it should be, you will notice that you will be less fatigued, will not be as hungry, perhaps will not have bad mood swings, and your hair and nails should grow better.

it is also passed on from your paternal side. in my case, my paternal grandfather, one sister, one uncle, and one cousin on my dad's side of the family have it. is there anyone else in your family that has it? if so, maybe you could tap into them for some extra support. good luck!

[DAWNIMMEL]

Good for you. I have to go tomorrow to get my six month check on my levels. I will have the results by friday, but I have been doing good on this dosage of synthroid. Make sure you get your TSH and other blood work done at least twice a year. Good luck.........dawn

[Tracie515]

Just for any's information who is reading this. I started taking my synthroid again and 1 week later started losing again. Don't stop taking this especially if you are trying to lose weight.

[julirama723]

Actually, thyroid disorders are passed from EITHER side of the family. It is something that is simply inherited, and is not a sex-linked trait, like baldness (which means anyway it's passed from the MOTHER) I inherited mine from my mother, and she, from her mother.

[Tracie515]

My mother also has a thyroid problem. That is where i inherited mine.

[DAWNIMMEL]

I inherited it through both sides of the family. My mother had Graves, my aunt has hashimotos, I have hashimotos and both my grandmothers had underactive. Diabetes runs heavy in the family too, so I want to do everything I can to avoid that...........Dawn