Hi G.!
First, ask your OB/GYN for the name of the best endocrinologist in town. In my opinion that is the key.
Thyroid meds take 6 weeks to feel the effects of an increase or decrease in the dosage. It is a trial and error game. They do not want to start out with too high of a dosage because it makes all the systems in your body work faster/harder. For example, it can make your heart race.
Symptoms of not enough thyroid meds:
*Cold to the bone
*Weight gain
*Constipation
*No menstrual cycle (They have to be real low to have this happen)
*Sadness, depression, crying over nothing
*Oily hair and skin
*Dark circles under your eyes
*Diminished sex drive
*My brain felt fuzzy, like I wasn't quite as sharp as I had always been.
*Exhaustion, no energy, no motivation
It felt like all I could do was tread water, but not ever swim or get anywhere
*Late, I am always late everywhere when my thyroid meds are too low. It takes too much energy to get places on time.
Symptoms of too much thyroid medication:
*Heart races
*Diahrea
*Anger, easily agitated
*Trouble sleeping, waking up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep
*Mind racing
*Warm
*Dry skin and hair
*Weight loss (20% of the population gains weight with too little thyroid hormone AND gains weight too much thyroid hormone. I was in that "unlucky" 20%)
I have had three tumors on my thyroid gland. The first tumor was producing thyroid hormone. I had dangerous levels of thyroid hormone in my system. The first tumor was removed and they gave me synthroid. I didn't like synthroid. When I took it I felt like I was on an amphetamine. When it wore off I crashed. The endocrinologist switched me to levoxyl which she said is more time released. For me, it works a lot better.
Five years later, when I had two more tumors on my thyroid I freaked out. I was worried the tumors might be malignat when they came back. I told them to cut my thyroid out--less than two weeks later it was gone. I had a new baby and I wanted my son to grow up and know his momma.
It took one year from the day they removed my thyroid until I felt "back to normal." Patience is the name of the game with thyroid problems and get a top notch endocrinologist.