Any ladies have hypothyroidism and on medication, trying to lose weight? If so how is it going for you. What kind of medication are you taking. Did you lose alot of hair that never grew back. Friend of mine has this problem and she is at her whits end.....I've found some info. but my gosh...there is so much conflicting info. out there ex. medication which works best etc...I think she's most upset about her hair loss (right in the front top of her head, bang area! the doc's said her hair would grow back? It hasn't and it has been a long time now. Anyways, thought I'd ask some of you who suffers from thryoid problems. Kind of interesting subject as apparently it's quite a common disease? I'm going to have mine checked. Bye.

By Momaroze on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 12:47 pm:

Sorry, I meant to categorize this under GENERAL discussion.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 08:32 pm:

Hypothyroidism is generally managed fairly easily with synthetic thyroid replacement medication. It's cheap, has no significant side effects, and works. My mom was on a synthetic thyroid medication for years. Your friend's doc should do a blood test to check the thyroid level and either refer her to an endocrinologist for further testing and treatment, or begin medication if hypothyroidism is indeed her problem. Weight gain, hair loss and lack of energy are common symptoms but the blood test is the definitive test. If her doc has started her on the medication, he should be doing periodic tests for her levels and if necessary changing the dosage.

As for getting medical information from the web, I always rely on sources which are medical schools or major hospitals, and ignore "one doctor" sites or sites which are promoting a dietary or other treatment or a specific medication. It's not that I don't believe that "alternative medicine" sometimes has the answer, it's that I don't trust sites which are selling something to give me full and accurate information if that information might contradict what they are trying to promote.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 08:36 pm:

And, if she is on medication and not improving, it wouldn't hurt to have a CT scan or MRI of the thyroid area to see if there is some other reason, like a tumor or small tumors. That also is common and can throw the thyroid glands off.

I know my mom, for about 3 years, was diagnosed as having had a heart attack each time she had a blood test because the calcium levels were too high. She was even hospitalized once and had some really serious tests, but in the end there was no sign of heart trouble. It took a dedicated doc who kept searching to learn that she had a tumor on her parathyroid gland which was causing her metabolism to leach calcium out of her bones and into her bloodstream. A fairly simple surgery resolved that problem. I don't mean to suggest that this is in any way related to your friend's problem, but that if the usual treatment is not producing the kinds of results her doctor expects, her doc should be doing more tests and/or sending her to a specialist.

By Trisa on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 09:10 pm:

I take Synthroid for mine.
It really helped with me feeling sooo tired all the time.

By Momaroze on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 10:02 am:

Hi ladies,
Thanks, for the reply. Calcium level question. Would that be checked automatically when you have your thyroid level checked? or is this a seperate blood test? Did your mom also have achy joints? Interestingly enough my sister had a tumour on her thyroid and had to have that removed. We don't talk much....but that is a story in itself. Anyways I appreciate your time. Also, did your mom lose much hair and if so did it grow back....(likely the least to worry about, but is quite devastating to a woman)how about you Trisa?? Thanks soooo much again.

By John on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 11:52 am:

My sister had hypothroidism for several years, was on medication(I don't know which one) and regularily visited an endochronologist.

The doctor took her off the medication about six months ago when her thyroid function returned to normal.

This about.com resource site on hypothroidism might be helpful to her:
http://thyroid.about.com/

By Momaroze on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 12:33 pm:

Thanks John, I should remember there aren't just women on this message board. Thanks.

By Trisa on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 08:53 am:

Yes I get the joint pain.
In fact the new doc I went to about my sciatic pain told me that it could be from my thyroid!
He said that when you have thyroid problems
it can even thin out your nerves. Just the news I wanted to hear!