Can't Afford Thyroid Meds and Gained 40 Lbs in 2 Months

Meds for hypo-thyroid are pretty inexpensive. Find a free or reduced clinic. Do what you can to make it happen. You will feel sooooo much better.

When my brother was down on his luck he went to Parkland and got very good care. It was worth the long wait. You may qualify for free or reduced medical care. Good luck.

Not sure about paying to see a dr but once you get a prescription you can take synthroid's generic which is Levothyroxin and it is one on the list at Walmart(and several other places now) for $4 a month or $10 every 3 months. Much cheaper than the real Synthroid. I hope that helps at least a little.

Have you looked into the Health Center Program run by the government? Here is the website to find participating health centers - http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

When I put in my zip code, it came up with 2 in Fort Worth, 2 in Grand Prairie, 4 in Dallas, 1 in Waxahachie and 1 center in McKinney.

I think you basically pay based on how much you make. Maybe a reduced doctor's visit through them, plus the $10/3 months worth of meds at Walmart will help you afford your thyroid care.

I would suggest you get the meds if you can. I have hypothyroidism and I didn't realize how much difference the meds made until I went off of them for about 9 months and gained about 70 pounds. :-(

Blessings,
N.

I very much trust Dr. Mercola's advice on his website.
He says to stay away from Bromides (which is in a lot of different foods & drinks, he goes into what to stay away from) and to make sure you're getting enough iodine. This article is a good one and there's a bunch more on his site as well as diet suggestions:

"Avoid This if You Want to Keep Your Thyroid Healthy"

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/0...

He also says if you do end up taking meds, opt for the more natural ones like Armour Thyroid.

I offer an affordable prescription drug plan that I'll be happy to speak to you about. You can enjoy over 80 benefits including Rx plan, cash benefits for hospital stay, injury and more. I am a licensed health insurance agent in Dallas.
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My husband lost his job this summer and there went the Insurance for the whole family. I am also Self Employeed, so I got my kids on CHIPS. I was just told about a RX plan from Dallas County by the Pharmacist at Wal-Greens.. Have not checked it out yet. The number is 1-800-931-8872, www.coast2coastrx.com/dallastx. They also have a plan to cover labs and other test. A lot of times a Dr. will discount a visit for a long time patient. Don't be too proud to ask. It can end up costing you and your family a lot more if you do not get it under controll.

Try contacting the pharmaceutical company directly to ask about their prescription assistance program; most companies have one. If they have one, you can give the number of their program to your doctor that originally prescribed it and there is usually a form that he/she will have to sign.

Where do you live? If you are in Dallas County and the doctor who originally prescribed the meds to you is not available, you may qualify to get help through a community based Parkland clinic. There are other clinic set ups in other counties, so if you're elsewhere, just let me know and I can try to get you a referral.

I take synthroid and my doctor said the generic doesn't work for everyone for some reason, so I have to stick with the brand. It's only $44 for a three month supply at Sam's Club, and you don't have to be a member. That might be my insurance copay price, I don't know. I have bad insurance coverage, so we pay a lot out of pocket. I paid monthly at CVS until I realized I could get 1 month free by doing the 3 month option at Sam's every quarter.

Anyway, like others said, it's worse not to take the meds because it's not just about weight gain.

Good luck.

You need to make seeing the doctor a number one priority!!! ASAP!!!! Save up and see if you can get in to see a family doctor- they will be able to do the blood tests and prescribe some meds for you- you can put off going to a specalist for a while as long as you get on some meds.
See if you can qualify for State health care(Im not sure what it's called here in Texas)
This is something that cannot be ignored! It can shorten your life! Go to a clinic- they can do the blood work and prescribe meds for you also.
I have an under active thyroid also. I am currently on meds($4 a month at Wal-mart). Look it up on line and see what you are faceing if you don't go to the Doc and then weigh the pro's and con's. Do everything you can to get in to see the doctor and tell him what's going on. He might be able to suggest some less expensive ways to get your blood work done.
good luck!
~C.

*edit* I took synthroid and it didn't work too well for me- it got my blood levels up, but I felt horrible. I now take levoxythroxin(sp?). I have tried alternitives also but they haven't worked for me- they don't work for everyone.

Please go talk with your doctor. Thyroid issues can be very serious, not just about weight gain. If your thyroid completely stops working it can cause cardiac arrest.

If you live in Dallas County, you can go to a Parkland Clinic. If Tarrant CO, JPS. If not, there is a clinic in McKinney that is free or low cost, depends on household income. It's called Children and Community Health Center ###-###-####. They will manage your medical care, as well as assist with meds. Hypothyroid meds should be on Walmart's $4 prescription list. If your doc has prescribed something not on the list, ask him/her to change the prescription. Good luck!

Hi K., sooo sorry things aren't going well right now but it will get better. You do need to get back to the doctor. He will be able to tell you the name of the company that makes the medicine and they have 800 numbers that you can call for assistance. Most of the time you will have to file paperwork for this but you may get the med for free or at a very low cost. If you have your old presciption bottle the company name is on it get on live & contact them or search for the number. Good luck & God bless.

I have battled the thyroid issue...and because i too have no insurance, i choose the herbal route and it is great. If you have an herb store near you, pick up some Thyroid caps or something comprable. I have known way too many people on Synthroid and it is a very hard road. This is simple and works. Good luck.

I don't have advice on seeing a doctor, but Synthroid (and maybe some other thyroid meds) is $4/mo at Walmart. Plus, Walmart is rolling out their 90 mail order plan is well (I think $10 for 90 days). Also, you should call your county to see what resources they know about. I know the Collin County Assistance Center just spoke at our work telling us about how many people they help (with United Way funds). http://www.assistancecenter.org/ If you are not in Collin County, perhaps they can tell you who to call.

Hi K.,
I have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and was given Synthroid for management. However I had a hard time with the way the meds made me feel. I did research and decided to forgo the meds altogether. I now manage my thyroid with daily vitamins and exercise. I also changed the way I eat. I try to take at least a 2 mile walk/run everyday (doesn't always happen) but I never comprise my diet. Eating the right foods can make all the difference. No trans fats, no refined starches or sugars and good proteins (lean cuts of meat,poultry & fish, fresh fruit and veggies. I also intake no less than 2 cups of 100% green tea a day. It is a natural dose of energy, and keeps me going! I have never felt better and looked better in my life....I went from 197 lbs to 126 lbs....I know you can do this too, it's not always easy, but the benefits far out-weigh the depression, sluggishness, and extra pounds!
Good luck to you!

I suggest starting with a Dr. who knows what they are doing so you don't waste money. I go to Dr. Robert DeVries in Dallas ###-###-####. His prices are reasonable and he gave me Synthroid samples until we found the correct level for me to take. He does require you to take the brand name, but it is not very expensive and SO worth it. Your life will be so much better. Call and ask what the appointment will cost and then sell whatever you have to get the money. Good luck!

check with the cumminuty services this is serious, not taking those can cause a lot of health problems I'm on it and at walmart has the meds on a 4 dollar list. This also will cause a Bi polar episodes you need to read up on this it is serious this is like being a diabetic you have to get those meds this is not only a weight problem it's a life issue

According to some research I did on the internet: Some Dr.s believe thyroid problems are caused by too much insulin (not enough to cause diabetes, you are just sensitive). A book I have says NO sugar. Sugar for you is a drug: so NO fruit, NO grains, NO potatoes or corn! NO artificial sweeteners!! If you have to have some, limit to 1/4 - 1/2 cup grain (1/2 - 1 slice w/w bread) and NO caffeine (tea or coffee)or a LITTLE bit of raspberry (real not the flavored) tea. I also take spirolina. after having said all that: YOU NEED THE MEDICINE, this diet is so restrictive you can't stay on it in this culture, and even at certain times of the year I still have problems. (P.S. I DO take meds as well as, the best I can, diet.) This is only to hold you over until you can find a way to get tested and GET THE MEDS - and don't expect to lose your weight, just keep working at being healthy. Be cautious, be pro-active, we are just giving you personal advise that has worked for us. (many Dr.s will give you a financial break if you ask so negotiate)

K.,
It is so important to take this medicine! You've been given some great advice on how to get it already. I just wanted to mention that the full price of my armour thyroid is about $15 and it works for me when Synthroid did nothing.
If you want to learn more about thryroid health, listen to this call "Strategies for Thyroid Health" archived at http://www.shakword.com, username and password are "shaklee."

I read an article in First magazine about a celebrity or someone who managed her thyroid with Thytrophin PMG from Standard Process. She said it worked as well as her prescription meds, but you don't need a prescription for it. You can order it online. The only downside is you need to take it 2-3 times a day instead of just once. Anyway, maybe that could help until you could get in to see your doctor??? Good luck to you.