Section one
Goiter and Hyperthyroid - my personal experience story
Ultrasound
Comparison - results
before and after thyroid treatment
Misc. bits of thyroid information
Frequently Asked Thyroid Questions
Section two
Miscellaneous information about this website
Section three
Email
Copyright ©1998 - 2006
molly b. All Rights Reserved
Molly b.'s Goiter and Hyperthyroid Page 4
September 1999: Nearly time for a six month TSH test. I'm feeling okay, and am up to 118 pounds. Not sure when this weight gain happened. I'm not used to having to weigh myself, but I suppose anyone who's on thyroid hormones really should weigh themselves regularly, just to catch any potential hyper/hypothyroid symptoms early.
October 1999: I stopped going to the chiropractor last summer, after pains started in my hand, arm and wrist, in addition to the intermittent back and shoulder pain. I'm waiting for an appointment with a rheumatologist, taking Celebrex (celecoxib) - an anti-inflammatory, and using an ice pack often. The 6 month TSH test result was normal. I'm 119 pounds now. I'm comfortable with this. I refuse to worry until I gain at least another 2 or 3 pounds, which may be next February or so, according to my calculations...
July, 2000: The TSH test in March 2000 was in normal range, and I feel fine. Between January 2000 and early April 2000, my weight increased to 122 pounds. [ I was hungry all the time, and constantly 'nibbling' on something }.
From mid-April until now, I've gradually lost 8 pounds. I've not felt like
snacking all the time. [ Could be due to summertime, warmer weather and sunshine?? }
I now weigh 114 pounds, again.
I've also started an exercise program, for the past 6 weeks. It was recommended by the specialist I went to, for my back pain. The diagnosis was weak muscles, not arthritis. { I suppose I should be glad about this, but I find it almost embarrassing. Who knew such pain and discomfort could be caused by bad muscle tone?? } BTW, the exercises help, and I feel better already.Update May, 2001: Still normal TSH levels, and I'm 109 pounds, just can't seem to gain a couple more, although I'd like to! I've continued to exercise, 3 times per week. It's helped the back pain considerably.
Update February, 2002: Well, over the past few months, [since November, 2001] the doctor's tests revealed that I've entered menopause [I'm 48 years old]. I've been prescribed Premarin, and am taking it mainly for the 'feel like I'm going to get dizzy' feelings I've had. This symptom, as well as early morning hot flashes and mid day cold chills have all been alleviated. I quit smoking [using nicotine patches]. I've experienced weight gain, but since Premarin may cause an increase in weight, and quitting smoking always causes at least a small increase in weight, I'm not too surprised that I've gone from weighing 110 pounds in September, 2001 to a current [February 1] weight of 126 pounds. Since an increase in weight can mean that the dosage of Synthroid [or other thyroid hormone replacement pill] will need to be changed; and because an increase in weight *may* be a sign of hypothyroidism; I plan to have my doctor check my TSH levels, just to be safe. He did that test along with the FSH, which showed I'd entered menopause, in November, and the TSH was fine then.
Update February 9, 2003: My TSH levels continue to be in normal range, despite the fact that I've gained a total of 50 pounds since I quit smoking, 15 months ago! I weigh 160 pounds, and have never been this heavy in my whole life. In high school, I weighed 110, and that's what I weighed when I quit smoking.
Everyone tells me how good I look, so I can only assume I looked terrible at 110 pounds lol!
[110 pounds is about 8 stone, and 160 pounds is about 11.4 stone, for those of you in Britain].I've done a bit of research on weight gain, and have learned that by the time a woman reaches the age of 40 or 45, her metabolism begins to slow down, and weight gain does occur -- so don't go blaming the thyroid, ladies! It *may* not be!
Thankfully, I have not experienced any dizzy spells in quite some time, and even the hot flashes seem to be getting farther and farther apart, so perhaps I'll be able to stop taking Premarin soon. Menopause symptoms can last for 10 years or more, but may disappear long before that...so I'm hoping.
The back pain gets bad if I don't exercise for a few days, but I'm okay as long as I do the stretching exercises, and use weights -- I used to use 3 pound weights [upper body exercises] but have now got 5 pound weights, as the 3's were too light.
April 26, 2003: I haven't gained any more weight, at least, just holding steady at 160 pounds. I've discovered that the Zyprexa medication I'm taking can also cause weight gain. So. between quitting smoking, Premarin, and Zyprexa, I have no way of knowing which might have been involved in the weight gain! Oh well, I will watch my diet, and not eat too much junk food. Luckily, I love veggies, and will try to eat sensibly.
Copyright ©1998 - 2006 molly b. All Rights Reserved
