Thyroid Questions? (hot flashes, pain, infection, blood pressure)

[younglisa7]

I have an underactive thyroid and I have been taking the generic for synthroid for years. I have very bad reactions to the real synthroid. Anyway, what would happen if I stopped taking my medicine? Before I was put on it I never knew I had a problem other than being clumsy, LOL which was cured when I went on the medication. My doctor told me I have to stay on this for the rest of my life. True?

Thanks,
Lisa

[midge2914]

There are two kinds of thyroid disorders - hypo (thyroidism), meaning under active thyroid, and hyper (thyroidism), meaning over active thyroid. So, you have hypothyroidism, you were started on medication, and now that you are feeling better, you want to stop your medication. Isn't that how it always goes. When someone has bronchitis or a lung infection, and they start on an antibiotic, and as soon as they feel better, they stop taking the antibiotic without finishing out the whole course because they feel like they are back to normal. But, what happens when you stop the medication -- the infection comes back and sometimes worse. In your case, per your physician, your medical diagnosis has to be treated for the rest of your life. It will not go back to being normal again by itself alone, and your medication is doing the job that your thyroid can't. Your lucky that you only had one symptom, which was being clumsy. Other people are not so lucky and have numerous symptoms. Some other symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

• Severe fatigue, loss of energy, persistent sleepiness
• Weight gain, difficulty losing weight
• Depressed mood
• Joint and muscle pain
• Dry skin, brittle nails and hair, thinning hair
• Irregular periods

Other symptoms include intolerance to cold, fuzzy thinking or difficulty concentrating, loss of libido (not wanting to have sex), and puffiness in the face or extremities.

Hypothyroidism usually starts out mild -- you know something is wrong with you, but you can't quite pin-point what it is. You are just not yourself. Over time, one or all of the symptoms get progressively worse until you finally get to a doctor. Simple laboratory tests will confirm if you are having a thyroid problem or not. If this is your only symptom, feel blessed, but consider this the perfect opportunity to tune in and listen to what your body is trying to tell you. If you go off your medication, your condition could progress until you have all of the above symptoms. The medication you are taking is doing its exact purpose -- it is treating your hypothyroidism. Before going off any medication, I would contact your physician and ask him to run more tests on your thyroid and explain to you exactly what is wrong with your thyroid and what the medication is doing. Hang in there and stay on your medications until you talk to your doctor and then you can make an informed decision. But tell me, why do you want to stop your medication?

[Flamingo13]

Don't stop taking your medication. Google "Thyroid Storm" (which is something that can happen if you get out of whack). I would also read up on medical sites about discontinuing.

[SXMGirl]

Years ago, I had a radioactive treatment for thyroid and the specialist told me that I was cured. I had no meds to take. After the treatment, I lost about 20 pounds in about a week. Since I was on a roll, I went to Weight Watchers to lose the extra 10 pounds. At first, I lost weight, but then I started to gain weight. Called the specialist, who first told me that I was probably eating too much and then said maybe not eating enough. Anyway, within another month, I thought I was having a heart attack with serious chest pain and numbness down my arm. Blood pressure went to 220/120 and I ended up in the hospital in the cardiac unit. Even though it wasn't a heart attack, I had a cardiologist because not taking the meds can seriously damage the heart. The problem was that my thyroid had shut down without meds. I now take meds every day. Do yourself a favor and keep on taking the meds.

[younglisa7]

Wow!

Thank you all so much for telling me all you know. I really didn't understand "why" I had to stay on it. My doctor never went into detail as to what would happen if I stopped.

Looks like I'll stay on it, but not Synthroid. That stuff is really bad news for me.

Lisa

[texdav]

When taking medicaine for thsi condition you are only controlling it, Like high blood pressure you still have the disease. with meds you can control it.

[PatsyTyrik]

can anyone tell me what the difference is between underactive and overactive thyroid? do they have the same symptoms?

Also are there things we can do to help a problem without prescription meds-like alternative med natural etc?...

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Can thyroid problems make a person too hot?

[Jimrob1]

I have had both hyper and hypothyroism, in fact in my case they came back to back. I started on the levothyroxine some 10 years ago. I was told I must take the medication for the rest of my life. If I did not I would slowly widdle away as the doctor put it. The thyroid controls much of the bodys functions and basically without the hormone in the body, it would die, just like with a lack of insulin. Keep taking your medication.

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA

Can thyroid problems make a person too hot?

Definitely when I first developed thyroid problems I was Hyperthyroid. Along with losing much to much weight the hot flashes became a very confusing part of my life especially at night. It wasn't until hyperthroidism went after my heart and the heart beat was so high did I see the doctor. I had no idea men even had this problem, or I would have gone when the hot flashes started.. I honestly thought all the weight loss and losing my hair was due to alot of exercise and I was just going bald. Its a confusing disease but it has to be treated because it gets out of hand very fast.