https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 31 May 2026 21:48:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-781728 Tue, 14 May 2013 21:19:14 +0000 kentuckygirl 781728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not ever notice a significant difference in how I felt since starting levothyroxine. There may have been a gradual feeling better overall but I also started acupuncture and yogalates all around the same time so I can't pinpoint the thyroid meds and definitely didn't see any immediate change. Good luck, I hope you see improvement too, especially with the morning sleepiness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-780319 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:40:44 +0000 spaniellove 780319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, update...after taking the Synthroid first thing in the morning for almost a week now, I think it's definitely messing with my circadian rhythms! I've been very careful about not eating or taking supplements within a few hours of taking it, and I actually can't seem to wake up at all for several hours. It's definitely worse taking it in the morning! Maybe I should try setting an alarm to take it in the middle of the night? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-769003 Wed, 08 May 2013 23:10:08 +0000 marionberry 769003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't noticed any real difference since taking the levothyroxine but then again, I'm pregnant, so I'm tired regardless. I'll be curious to see how taking it affects me afterward. My pharmacist told me to take it in the morning and not eat or drink anything for an hour (other than water). I often take it when I randomly wake up around 5 so that if I'm hungry when I get up I can eat. I'm surprised they told you to take it at night. I really hope you start to feel better. Could it be stress or something else causing the exhaustion? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768922 Wed, 08 May 2013 21:48:59 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 768922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: ack! I'm so sorry. Insurance companies have been the bane of my existence. I'm a "sickie" and it has been mind numbingly frustrating to deal with insurance and what they will and won't cover. They cover my $2,300/ month injectable medicine at no cost to me but refuse to cover a name brand migraine medication. So frustrating. </p> <p>Talk with your doctor. If he/she thinks you should try the brand they may be able to fudge paperwork a bit to make it happen. I've had this happen before. Doctors get super frustrated that they can't help their patients because of insurance company rules and for the most part most are willing to try their best to help you out. </p> <p>Look into the coupon program. Sometimes they are really good. I get my migraine medication for much cheaper since I signed up. </p> <p>Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768897 Wed, 08 May 2013 21:19:18 +0000 spaniellove 768897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PointeShoesTutus: Ugh, I hate our prescription coverage! Our insurance is generally great but apparently Synthroid is $125 a month! Which I don't think I can shell out since my antiseizure meds are also $125/month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768890 Wed, 08 May 2013 21:08:53 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 768890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I'm not sure if the brand is better. My endo picked the brand after my surgery. Luckily, Synthroid is an old drug so it isn't as expensive as some of the other meds I've had to take. </p> <p>My insurance changed at one point and they tried to get me to switch. I refused and just paid cash since I'd been happy with my dose for years. I think it was about $100 for a three months supply through a mail order pharmacy where you pay for 2 months and you get the 3rd month free. My new insurance now covers the brand and its my middle pharmacy copay. </p> <p>Most insurance companies have drugs pricing on their website. Take a look. Also, Synthroid.com (the drug company's official website) offers a program where you can sign up to get reminders and coupons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768867 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:51:53 +0000 runsyellowlites 768867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been on levothyroxine for years now after I had my thyroid fully removed in 05. When I started taking it, a few weeks after my thyroidectomy (I had TONS of T4 in my system), they tested me weekly until I got the right dose. I also had some serious thyroid issues that wrecked havoc on my system for almost a year so they were REALLY trying to get me leveled out. Being the awesome patient I am, I've gone times where I've forgotten to take it for long periods, will test, see my tsh is high, take my meds, and literally the next day my levels be normal &amp; be feeling much better so I would definitely question still feeling bad. (It takes a long time for it to be out of your system though).</p> <p>Like @PointeShoesTutus: said, it DOES matter which one you take as some can take the name brand while others can't and vise versa with the generic... it may not even be an issue of you having the wrong dose, but the wrong brand.</p> <p>Having thyroid imbalances totally stink, I hope you can get your levels where they need to be soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768865 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:51:15 +0000 spaniellove 768865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PointeShoesTutus: Do you know if the brand is supposed to be more effective than the generic? I'm afraid to find out how much it costs, but if it works better I'd switch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768807 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:27:03 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 768807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my thyroid removed because of thyroid cancer. It was a process trying to find the right dose and I remember being very frustrated because I still felt crappy. As much as it sucks to feel so bad, most doctors do want to wait a full month before upping your dose. </p> <p>I felt a very subtle shift in my energy levels over the course of the 6 months it took to find the right dose. It was almost like one day I woke up and realized I didn't feel like crap and hadn't for the last few days. That's when I called my doctor and he tested me. He was comfortable with that dose so that's where it stayed.</p> <p>One thing about levothyroxine is that is has kind of a long half- life so you don't notice it's affects right away. Another pointer from my endo: Always take it in the morning about an hour before eating and to not take it with your vitamins. i think it's calcium and iron that can impact your body's absorption of the hormone. Also, if you start taking the brand name drug, its important to stick with the brand. Apparently with levothyroxine/Synthroid, the supposedly "inactive" ingredients do make a difference. It's frustrating! Hope you start to feel better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768801 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:24:22 +0000 spaniellove 768801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sloaneandpuffy: Oh that was just me. I originally took them in the morning, but apparently you also have to wait 4 hours before taking other supplements and it was really messing up my schedule so I tried nighttime (at least 2 hours after eating) for a few nights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768794 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:21:39 +0000 mamimami 768794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you know why they had you taking them at night? I know not everyone agrees but most people take these meds in the morning, on an empty stomach, waiting 30 min to an hour before eating or drinking anything but water. Maybe that's the problem? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768757 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:08:19 +0000 spaniellove 768757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: They told me I'd be retested in a month although I'm not sure that's going to happen. I didn't notice anything originally that made me suspect hypothyroid, but when the pregnancy nurse went over things with me she said the extreme fatigue I was feeling was probably due to the thyroid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768729 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:00:06 +0000 Shutterbug 768729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you gotten retested yet? I was originally on 25mcg, and now 50. I don't feel any different, but I didn't really have any symptoms to begin with. I think it takes 4-6 weeks to really kick in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/on-thyroid-meds-but-not-feeling-better#post-768711 Wed, 08 May 2013 19:54:37 +0000 spaniellove 768711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been taking 50mcg/day levothyroxine for a few weeks now and am wondering when I'm supposed to start feeling better. My hair stopped falling out right away, but the horrible fatigue isn't getting any better. It actually might be getting worse! </p> <p>I took an extra half dose last night as I transitioned from taking it at night to taking it in the morning, and today might have been the first day I wasn't completely asleep all day. How long should I wait to see an improvement? Or is it possible my dosage is too low? </p>