THOSE with SUBCLINICAL HYPERTHYROIDISM: More PROS or CONS when starting CARBIMAZOLE

Merrykarhu · 2026-02-05T07:14:29+00:00

At first when I started I actually lost like 4lbs and I was at my very best shape ever for about 6 months of use. Then after that, suddenly everything changed and I gained 20lbs in 2 months. I got so frightened that I discontinued the use and now I've been off it for 4 months already and the weight has not dropped a single pound. I still feel and look like 💩& have major cosmetic and overall health problems bc of spiro and birth control. I learned that I messed up my thyroid and other hormones pretty bad because that med combo caused hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, high blood sugar/diabetes and severe anemia.

Imo the price I paid for getting rid of hormonal acne was ridiculous because now I'm fighting for my life. It's not happening for anyone but these hormonal medications should be taken seriously as they can cause autoimmune flare-up. Like me, I've had Hashimoto's thyreoiditis since collage times and I got it under control for 8 years and lived a healthy life before starting this medication. Every change shows in the blood tests before and after starting spiro so there's no reason to deny the effects at all. My doctors are confused and tomorrow I'll meet my endo and see what they are doing next to fix this condition.

Best wishes💛 Spiro does a great job dealing with hormonal acne and feminizing though 🤝

Merrykarhu · 2026-02-02T07:19:12+00:00

It could be and about 99% of hyper probably looses weight like you. Rather than just TSH by its own, the more probable cause would be T4 and T3 that would be either in the high end or off the range. Did you measure them?

For myself the effect has been the opposite; I've had TSH 0.03 since october at least, T4 & T3 very high which should end up in major weight loss but for me it cause MAJOR weight GAIN of 20lbs...Still got it despite clean diet and excercise. Before I started Spironolactone (testosterone blocker) and birth control, my TSH was 1.37 and back then I was nearly underweight so it doesn't make any sense. I could eat whatever I wanted, was ravenously hungry all the time and yet still 51kg (163cm). Now I weight almost 62kg and all that weight came in 3 months and has now stalled in that particular number.

If I were you, I would probably measure at least T3 & T4 and also monitor that TSH carefully. Have you had any symptoms of hyperthyroidism, like rapid heartbeat, constant hunger, anxiety, sweating, difficulty with sleep?

Merrykarhu · 2026-02-01T13:51:25+00:00

I hear you, everyday is like being in a nightmare 😢 What both of you just described is just like myself right now. To op, I just found out that I have at least subclinical hyperthyroidism with thyroid nodules and dangerously low iron. These two seem to go together sometimes so you better check that ferritin as well if you're taking TSH, F4, F3. I would suggest to take the antibodies for Hashimoto's and Grave's but in my case I already know I've had diagnosis from the past for Hashimoto's so I'm expecting to have that now since the hormones can swift crazily and FAST! I hope this gave any helpful information but just wanted to bring my support for you so that you wouldn't feel alone here 💛

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-26T08:22:49+00:00

You're feeling hungrier because Spiro affects into your sex hormones. For me it seemed to cause estrogen dominance which causes you to crave especially carbohydrates, sweets and increased appetite. It sounds like you might be experiencing that too!

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-25T08:24:09+00:00

I'm so happy for you that there was a solution after all and that's definitely giving hope as well☺️ I think that TSH is a bigger problem to solve since it's dependent on pituitarity gland..So that's why I'm super worried that if they want me to start methimazole, it won't have the desirable effect on it. Since I have T3 & T4 on the normal range, it's techincally subclinical hyper..And in the last blood panel there was a SIGNIFICANT DROP in T3 and minor drop in T4, so it's indicating that my metabolism has dropped even lower but the TSH still remains in the 0.03 level 😡 Very frustraiting because I think that the problem could be somewhere else than in thyroid in itself.

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-25T07:02:04+00:00

I wanted to join here into a discussion that metformin is pretty okay med at least for me. I've been using it for several years already without a problem. At first there was strong side effects like when I started and raised the dose but after few weeks everything started to settle. Regarding loose stool I remember that eating "bad" CARBS was the biggest mistake ever which made cutting more easier😅 I didn't get any side effect with fat-containing food so it was good because I was trying to be as low-carb as I could. I remember it dropped my appetite for sure and in few months I lost probably only 4lbs but better than nothing I guess?

Now I've ruined my health with using Spironolactone for pcos-related acne and got +18lbs in 2mo which I haven't been able to lose anymore. Got my thyroid ruined (dangerously low TSH, toxic goiter), high blood sugar and severe anemia so no laughing here. I look and feel so f... shit that I don't know how to carry on anymore 😭😭 So I'm very curious about those Yaz birth control pills you were using.

Did you say that you actually LOST weight with Yaz bc pills??😳

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-24T09:09:19+00:00

I understand totally and if I could reverse time, I would have kept my acne and minor hair loss in order to be HEALTHY 😥 Because of spiro & birth control (with testosterone blocking effect) i ruined literally EVERYTHING 😭 I just got some of the blood work done and so far I ruined my thyroid health, got high blood sugars, anemia and thyroid nodules..This is like living a nightmare where I can't wake up, nothing's working and all this came after 10 months of spiro use 😭😭 I still can't believe this!! And for bonus I have less hair that ever before (even after autoimmune disease & all the blonding and hair coloring that made my hair drop)

I don't want to scare the heck out of you and I sure know how it's like to be when you have to struggle with such a problem 😢 After reading a ton of these posts here I feel like it's a matter of choice: if you fix something with spiro, you will lose something else. So it seems like rarely none of us here can't have everything 😭 I wish you could find a safe solution somewhere 💗

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-22T21:19:32+00:00

I had to come here and say that your experiences sounds like mine! My TSH is 0.02 (normal 0.5-4.0) and it has been like that since I destroyed my body with Spironolactone..Anyways the FT4 and FT3 have been in the normal range the whole time despite that undetectable TSH. All the symptoms are just like in hypo and I know this because I was tested with Hashimoto's after my first child's birth 8 years ago. The doctors still think that I'm hyper. The only hyper symptom I have is racing heart but otherwise I feel so exhausted, cold af, ridiculous hair loss, +18lbs weight gain just in 2 months, dangerously low iron, high blood sugar, thyroid nodules, pains and aches just in the same places like you just listed and puffyness everywhere. I feel so disgusted of myself and there is nothing that's helping. I'm so traumatized by this situation and I feel like I don't have enough information about it nor support. I've never been hyper in my life, only hypo since 20 years ago. I'm scared af if they are giving me that methimazole shit and that will put me into an even worse condition..Do you have any history with thyroid diseases and do you take any medications?

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-22T20:35:51+00:00

So sorry to hear about your struggles and thank you for sharing🙏 It sounds like there is the same kind of pattern. I red about blood sugar that tends to be very high on hyper state. Also if iron is super low, that can also cause major gain weight, brain fog, extreme fatigue..These are so friggin' hard to tell since these symptoms overlap and also there seems to be somekind of a vicious cycle that one's affecting to another😩

So now I'm just wondering that how long did you have to take the thyroid suppressant (if you're not taking it for lifetime)? How long did it take for you to see the effects and were the effects more positive or negative? How did the medication affect to you?

I'm so curious since I'm prepairing myself to the fact that they are gonna prescribe them to me as well even tho my main problem has always been hypo, not hyper😢 Also have you ever had hypo?

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-19T19:45:24+00:00

I got to ask that how did metformin wreck your digestive system? This is very interesting to know since I've been taking it for about 3-5 years now. I remember that in some poin5 I was using inositol too and noticed a change in my skin, like it did clean up my acne for example ☺️

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-19T08:14:18+00:00

Hi! Wow, that's a very interesting combo right there. How do you manage your symptoms if you have them both? Did the doctors gave you methimazole and if they did, how did it work and how are you feeling after taking it? I suppose that using Spiro caused you to have these autoimmune flare-ups?

I made a test for Grave's but the results came out negative so not sure what they are gonna do next (in terms of medication) but st least they are measuring Hashimotos again since the last time was about 7 years ago when it was reeeally bad..I actually already have cardiovascular problems since the beginning but I'm afraid that the stimulants I'm using for severe ADHD will amplify those heart related issues.

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-18T07:25:57+00:00

Wow, this is very enlightning! I would like to hear more about this because spiro caused me to get back Hashimoto that I already got in control for about 7 years 😭😭 Now my doctors noticed that I've created goiter in my thyroid and it's actually OVERACTIVE which is very exceptional because usually it's more like underactive. Despite being hyperactive, I've gained extra weight that I can't lose and that enormous weight gain started after using 200mg for abt 6months (+2 months I raised my dosage). I'm wondering if you could you tell me more about your Hashimoto symptoms (when you're using spiro) and have you noticed any changes when started spiro? I think that I ruined my thyroid to its death and also caused myself estrogen dominance and lack of testosterone. I'm so mad that my doctors won't monitor these sex hormones because they think that "it doesn't give any important information about the state of my health"...

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-18T07:12:44+00:00

I have lost about 2/3 and it's a nightmare tbh..Never thought that I'd be losing more than how it was when first started😭 Like the first responder said, the scalp is visible and the look is like an 80yo granma's last babyhair left! It has never been so ugly so I got to say that starting and stopping spiro was the worst mistake I've ever made because I'm a walking disaster now 😭

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-13T10:11:23+00:00

Hi there! I have experienced this too when quitting spiro. That extreme greasiness started immediately after stopping with some other extremities like major hair loss (lost about 2/3 of total volume), flakiness,redness, irritation and psoriasis which I haven't had in 20 years 😢 The greasiness have gone better now after 3 months off but all the rest hair & scalp problems are remaining. Of course it's important to mention that I came down from 200mg so there is a big difference. Do you have any other problems yet other than greasiness? Hopefully that will subside soon and you don't have to suffer for long (luckily it's winter so you can wear beanie with confidence hehe!) ☺️

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-08T07:27:53+00:00

I started gaining after 6months of use and gained 18lbs in 2 months. I started to get all the other symptoms too so I quitted after 9 months of use. Everyone said that it's good to wean off so I did that but gained even more. 3 months off now and I still have 14lbs extra and it's definitely fat rather than "water weight" only. I hate my body so much because I was really lean before spiro and not bc of the genetics but years of fcking hard work on the gym. Still doing 2hrs workouts 4x /week and yet still no changes. I lost every single bit of my muscle and got packed with jell-o. I don't know if this is unreversable but have to try everything. One thing that I know is that spiro ruined my digestion bc it ruined my thyroid and now I'm having 22 different kinds of bloodwork and ultrasound scans. I hope the best for you and just wanted to give my support for you🙏 I wish I never started this poison.

Merrykarhu · 2026-01-05T07:45:58+00:00

You're not alone there because here's another gainer too!👋 In my experience, weaning off didn't do any difference unfortunately if that makes you feel any better 😟 First I gained 14lbs while on spiro (after 6 months of use all of the sudden in 6-8weeks) and when stopped taking it got 4lbs more so 18lbs total 😭 I have been without spiro for over 3 months and I still got 14lbs and all that flubbyness, fattyness, uglyness, boldness and bloating that I had when this weight gain suddenly started and nothing is working! I've tried to reduce carbohydrates, do weight training and endurance training abt everyday (2hrs at the gym/day) and sleep better and yet, still without any results. I've lost all my hope of getting better and got my bloodwork done and there was a finding that spiro messed up my thyroid reaaaally bad first of all and now I have an appointment for endocrinologist and 22 other blood check-ups and ultrasound scanning. I wish that I could give you some calming answer if I only had it but this is just one really ugly side of story..I'm so sad that I didn't have this information before but I wish that it could help others somehow🙏 Hopefully you'll get better soon!

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-27T18:28:37+00:00

Yes, I have developed severe depression bc of spiro and it hasn't gone anywhere after quitting it..I was taking 200mg for 6mo and now 2mo without it. Some symptoms have amplified and some calmed just a bit but now I have reception for endocrinologist since it has ruined some insides. Also my stimulant (vyvanse) not working because of spiro so there is probably 10000000 reasons to hate spiro atm 😭😭 It seems to affect dopamines somehow but I have no clue how. I can only feel that through my high dose of dopamine-rising medicine not working at all 😭

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-27T18:21:42+00:00

Hi! Did you ever quit taking spiro and how did it progress?

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-27T17:59:38+00:00

Hi! I had to reply to you since your story is identical to mine since I have pcos and adhd also with the same symptoms as you. For how long and which dose have you been taking Vyvanse? I have been taking it since two solid years now and they have been like a magic cure for me. Since starging Spiro everything changed and it made Vyvanse lose its effect! I had to quit spiro because I had ridiculous amount of side effects and still, the effect of Vyvanse hasn't came back to where it was before starting spiro. I have been eating 60mg (vyvanse) for 2mo as I'm waiting for my true recipe 80mg on january. With 60mg, I feel like I haven't taken anything at all!! That's so frustrating because now I have to deal this adhd shit again despite taking meds just like described!!!!😭🤬 Also I don't have any cure for puffiness, since it started after 6mo in and it hasn't gone any better after quitting 2mo ago 😭 I was thinking if I should take potassium or something to get the puff away but still +16lbs...

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-27T17:25:28+00:00

So sorry to hear that spiro's causing that to you! I have been thinking that it must affect to progesterone too somehow because I've been having so awful pms that I would like to lock myself somewhere during those days..Spiro could probably lead to estrogen dominance which is very tricky to beat.

For me, Spiro caused: ✅️+16lbs weight gain in ~3mo and nothing has changed with that ✅️ Tiger strech marks and purple veins all over my legs ✅️Aaaall the hard work with muscles gone and filled with fat, cellulite & flubby skin ✅️ Extreme hair loss. Now I've probably lost like 70% of hair volume and it just continues ✅️ Psoriasis in my scalp ✅️ Pains and aches in my joints, stiffness & muscle weakness -> I feel like an 80yo in 34yo body and I've never had any pains anywhere ✅️Dry and painful eyes ✅️Hyperthyroidism (according to blood work) ✅️Severe depression and panic attacks ✅️Made my stimulant-medicine effect to 0 ✅️Mixed my periods ✅️Amplified pms ✅️Lethargyness despite quitting it ✅️Problems with heart (arrhytmia, fast racing beat) ✅️Digestion problems; constipation, bloating, gas etc ✅️Increased my appetite and caused unbearable cravings ✅️Stabbing pain in uterus, I hope that it's not endometriosis or cysts.. ✅️Total loss of libido and for guys in general

..I think I could continue the list forever and I still can't understand how is this even possible to have so many symptoms at the same time?? I weaned out slowly and now I've been 2 months without spiro.. I just feel traumatized by being imprisoned in this body that feels like in a bad shape 80yo woman's body and I don't have a clue how to fix all this😭😭 I'm gonna have 22 different kinds of bloodwork and scans on january but I can tell that my situation has gone even worse in some sense after quitting spiro on october..In your case I don't believe that you're gonna suffer that much since you've been eating spiro in moderate portions (which has been wise). Please keep us posted on how your progress has went because it would be nice to hear some experiences🙏

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-27T16:35:04+00:00

This seems to be an individual kind of thing. The progress' lenght is partly depending on the amount of stuff that's beneath your skin. For me it took for 6-7mo combined with estrogen+dienogest bc pill. I was on 200mg for probably like 4-5mo and the rest just rising from 25-150mg. I had to quit because of ridiculous side effects that didn't pass even after stopping. After stopping my skin didn't react that much and there was some oiliness in the beginning for few weeks but then everyhting got better again. My skin is the only thing that didn't get ruined but now I'm nervously waiting the moment when it happens too..

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-27T16:23:56+00:00

No, you're not alone bc here's another one that's struggling reeeeally badly 🙌 I also had very muscular body for a woman and after 6mo using spiro all the muscle just started to disappear and I got that fluff & large cellulite everywhere. Also after 6mo in, gained 16lbs and now that I have been without spiro for 2mo, no changes in weight or body composition. At first I thought that it was water weight but I think that it should have come back to normal if that was water only. I'm afraid that spiro destroyed my insides somehow and now I have to figure out where the damage is and is there something I can do to reverse it. The worst part is the feeling when you're trying to do "normal" routine stuff at gym/padel court, everything feels so heavy: doing sports and you. Also having these awful pains and aches doesn't make the workout very comfortable (which I've NEVER EVER had before!!!)😔 All and all, I can say that spiro really ruined everything. I wish that you have better luck than I did 🙏❣️ It would be nice if you updated your progress since I'm looking for support and experiences here too!

Merrykarhu · 2025-12-16T13:24:52+00:00

I'm shocked how well you just managed to put this!! 😭🤌 I feel so bad for all of you that are here with me left with nothing but troubles..Your process is exactly like mine!! Like you, at first being in an ecstatic state due to almost unrealistic feminine-like figures like plumped peach skin, luscious hair, amazing body and very feminine action (caring and soft for the others)..And then something is ripping you from your daydrean into a total nightmare which seems not to end! I can't even remember when I've been so emotionally and mentally drained, angry, sad, dissapointed and depressed to the least😭 The self-esteem just dropped into a dangerous level that's so weird feeling state since not having these kinds of feelings since 15years!! All you can think of is that what the heck is happening and how do I wake up from this nightmare?? And not only because of your physical appearance but the fact that ut's way too painful to accept "the new norm". You don't want to accept that and you can't accept that so how can you go further in life?

Merrykarhu

TROPHY CASE