I had the thyroid removed and am now on levothyroxine 100 mc. Does anyone know if the surgery plus the synthetic thyroid drug (even if my levels are normal) can cause weight gain? I am also taking Zoloft, dexadrine and xanax. The dexadrine kills my appetite and I don't eat much. Could it be caused by another drug?
I feel as though I am packing on lbs. but haven't been weiighed.

[purple_fins]

My mom and one of my sisters had their thyroid removed and they didn't gain additional weight.
I didn't have to have my thyroid out but I take 100mcg of levothyroxene due to Hashimoto's Disease(had since my 20's).... and I think it has kept my weight balanced.
Maybe it's just too soon to tell yet for your body?? or it's some other med causing it??..

anyway-- I wish you the best. and hope you are recovering well.

[Ascension]

Thyroid has a good deal to do with metabolism so I could see this being an issue. You will want to confirm this with an actual doctor.

[Catherine2]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I had the thyroid removed and am now on levothyroxine 100 mc. Does anyone know if the surgery plus the synthetic thyroid drug (even if my levels are normal) can cause weight gain? I am also taking Zoloft, dexadrine and xanax. The dexadrine kills my appetite and I don't eat much. Could it be caused by another drug?
I feel as though I am packing on lbs. but haven't been weiighed.

Calista,
Ascension's suggestion about checking with your physician is a very good idea. Perhaps it's time for another blood panel to be done...
You may need to be on a combo of T3 and T4.
How do you feel on your current dosage? Are your symptoms recurring now? This is an excellent site for information about thyroid disorders.
http://thyroid.about.com/

Jme, but I do very well on the T3-T4 combo.
I also started watching the timing of taking it on an empty stomach so nothing interferes with it's absorption.
It's also helped me to watch intake of some foods; soy in any form does have a negative impact on me.

It's possible you are not getting the full benefits of your med, and this may be affecting your weight issue.

Best wishes...

[krzyk101]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I had the thyroid removed and am now on levothyroxine 100 mc. Does anyone know if the surgery plus the synthetic thyroid drug (even if my levels are normal) can cause weight gain? I am also taking Zoloft, dexadrine and xanax. The dexadrine kills my appetite and I don't eat much. Could it be caused by another drug?
I feel as though I am packing on lbs. but haven't been weiighed.

I can relate to the thyroid and weight gain. I have hypothyroidism and am on Synthroid and still gain weight.

If your family doctor cant control the weight from your thyroid removal, maybe an endocrinologist could do it I go to a specialist of the endocrine system who has done many test and is a specialist in the thyroid gland. Perhaps you would do better off the synthetic thyroid replacement and on a natural thyroid replacement as example armor-thyroid.

Hope it gets better yet a specialist is the best route in these type of endocrine issues, in my opinion.

take care, kk101

[Catherine2]

kk101,
my situation improved when I went on the natural thyroid with the T3-T-4.
Armour reformulated their formula and my symptoms started returning; I now use a compounding pharmacy. There had been issues with the availability of natural thyroid extract for most of the natural meds.
I don't know if that issue has been resolved.

On this compounded med, I'm doing very well...although it did take a few weeks for improvement.
I've lost about 8 lbs since starting it but that may also be because I am not as tired and my activity level has gone up.

In Peace

Thanks everybody for responding. Is Levothyroxine (generic synthroid) considered to be a t3/t4 drug? I was told my level is higher than the norm (hyperthyroid)but still have horrible depression and weight gain. I'm going for another level soon. I don't understand the different types of thyroid meds or their relationship to the other meds I take.
I will check out that site. Thanks Catherine. My currant dose is 125. mc and I am too depressed for words. At least the doctor and T are looking into this issue.

[Catherine2]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

Thanks everybody for responding. Is Levothyroxine (generic synthroid) considered to be a t3/t4 drug? I was told my level is higher than the norm (hyperthyroid)but still have horrible depression and weight gain. I'm going for another level soon. I don't understand the different types of thyroid meds or their relationship to the other meds I take.
I will check out that site. Thanks Catherine. My currant dose is 125. mc and I am too depressed for words. At least the doctor and T are looking into this issue.

Calista,
Here is a link for general information about it
http://www.medicinenet.com/levothyro...al/article.htm
and the site I gave you before has excellent information...it's written in "plain English."

It will help you be your own advocate whenever you see your physician again.
I'm glad you have having a blood panel done soon...
What level is showing as being high?

After surgical removal of the thyroid, it sometimes takes a bit of time to get your levels balanced...

Best wishes for a swift resolution, Calista

In Peace

I am usually more informed on medical issues than I seem here. I don't know which level was elevated; I thought thyroid levels were only one test for one level.
I will read those links Catherine; Thanks so much.

[Catherine2]

Here's another link explaining them...guess I'm going to keep you reading...

http://www.medicinenet.com/thyroid_b...ts/article.htm

in all honesty, though, I would check the
http://thyroid.about.com/
it covers just about everything about thyroid conditions. there are medical professionals that contribute to the articles.
Again, it's plain and direct information...something I needed and in no way do I imply that you need it. My brain fog was fairly bad at one point, and the information was presented in easy to understand terms.
There is good support there; different forums for various thyroid disorders.

Being a (retired) nurse was of no help to me when it came to my thyroid condition....I was nearly comatose from the depression. Only when I was stabilized on my dose was I able to do my research, etc..


it sounds like a lot, but once you read a bit it will fall into place for you...