Hypothyroid?

[expatmama]

Anyone here being treated for hypothyroidism? At an appointment with my Doc about going off my antidepressants this week I mentioned that despite 5 months of intensive exercise, my weight was actually climbing. And that last month I started charting calories (something I am loathe to do, and instead just try to eat healthy all the time) and discovered that my intake was actually lower than I was estimating. I thought the medication was to blame, but also asked for a thyroid check.

He ran a TSH check and the numbers came back elevated, so I am now waiting on some other test results. The diagnosis would make a LOT of sense, even with the anxiety/Depression I was being treated for, but I'm still a little surprised that this could be behind a lot of my weird symptoms I've been struggling with.

Anyone here have it and taking meds? How long before you started to feel better? 

[fishes]

I do. It actually took me a long time to get diagnosed because I was symptomatic before my numbers changed enough. Which was really frustrating because I have a strong family history of it and was having so many symptoms, including a gigantic goiter, but they just wanted to put me on depression meds. (Not that there's anything wrong with them, unless of course you don't have depression.)

Anyways, I can't remember very well how long it took me to feel better because I was also beginning to have my celiac problems (another 6mos-year to diagnose) as well as some never-really-diagnosed hormone problems (went on for 4 years or so until I had DS). So I was a whole mess of problems that expressed themselves similarily. But I think the thyroid resolved pretty quickly, maybe a month or so?

[seadragon2013]

Yes, and I had all the symptoms you are describing. I was in grad school at the time and had chalked the mild depression and weight gain up to the stress of doing a PhD. I got my blood work done in preparation to TTC and it turned out that my TSH was elevated and that I have T4 antibodies (Hashimoto's syndrome). Within 6 weeks of starting meds, all sorts of symptoms that I hadn't even realized were there disappeared. I was suddenly warm enough, my hair stopped falling out, and it felt like a brain fog had lifted. I had more energy and found it easier to concentrate. I had wonky 45 - 60 day cycles after stopping BCP and they regulated within two months of starting Synthroid. I start experiencing symptoms at about a TSH of 5 and my endo is currently managing me to be below a 3, since we hope to TTC in the next year.

The nice thing about being hypo is that it is often straightforward to treat with synthroid. Good luck!

[expatmama]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. My TSH was 5, and my T4 was within normal range, but on the very low side of normal. I'll wait and see the results of the antibody test they are running right now but due to what I am reading about my symptoms (really, my planter fascitis flare up could be related? - that was a shocker) even if I am borderline, I'm going to push to try meds. I have a family history of thyroid issues, so if there is a chance I could feel better I really would like to take it.

I will say that I initially pushed for anxiety/depression meds because I thought that was what I was suffering from. I have had issues with anxiety before, but never quite like this. So I am thinking there is a relation here... hopefully I hear back soon.