Anyone else have no thyroid or dysfunctional thyroid?

NoelleED

Thyroid cancer, thyroidectomy in 2010 (the cancer was benign but the thyroid had turned into a tumor that wrapped around my neck). Since then, I feel somewhat discouraged about weight loss. Everyone says things like "oh, you have no thyroid, now you will always be fat."

Anyone else trying to lose weight or successfully keeping weight off with no thyroid?

I take levothyroxine.

Advice welcome from anyone who knows about metabolism dysfunction.

Since posting this I have seen another similar thread. Sorry for the repeat, don't know how to delete this thread.

janiceclark08

I had to have my thyroid removed over 22years ago, with liquid radiation, due to graves disease. I also take the same medicine 175mg. About 17 years ago, my medicine was less and I started gaining alot of weight, after my gain another Dr. that I seen inthe same office looked at my chart and said, my medicine should have been changed 10 months earlier, my levels in my bloodwork were off then. Anyway you can lose weight, over the past several months I have lost 33 lbs, counting calories. My point is just keep an eye on your levels, by getting your bloodwork done. The reason I didnt lose my weight before was because I'd lose some and then quit. Now I'm determined, your thyroid should not hold you back. Good luck!

NoelleED

Thank you! I should call the dr. and get my blood work done ASAP.

marcenepea

I have Hypothyroidism and I am also on Levothyroxine. My problem is remembering to take it when I'm supposed to. To be honest I have only known about this for a short time. And I just started trying to lose again, so I don't really know how it has affected my weight loss.
I saw this post and was hoping to learn some new information and tips. I was also wondering how often you get your levels checked?

NoelleED

I think I am supposed to get my levels checked every 6 months, but I haven't had them checked in a year or so. I kind of suck at things like going to the doctor.

NoelleED

I switched to taking my levothyroxine at night because I can't wake up and then wait 2 hours to eat, it just never happens. Instead I take it a few hours after I last eat at night. I know that's "wrong" but I feel like it works better.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

Thyroid cancer in 2005, right lobe removed. I'm on 100mcg Synthroid. At the time of my surgery I was 230lbs which was my all time heaviest (3 major health issues diagnosed within 5 years). Cancer made me angry. Saw pictures of myself and decided to take my health back. I lost 90lbs over the next 18 months (diet and exercise). Am back here now to lose the weight I gained during a miracle pregnancy.

Once your hormones are stabilized you really shouldn't have trouble losing weight if you eat at a deficit. Best of luck!

hislittlelights

I am hypothyroid as well, and have been on medication (Levothyroxine) for the past three years. They started me on a low dose: 25mcg, which brought me down to "normal" levels. It helped, but I still had symptoms. I asked my Dr. if I could try increasing my dosage to 50mcg in case my body functioned better with a lower number. She agreed with the condition that I test regularly so that I don't become hyperthyroid. I went from a level of 3.6 (normal -- middle) to 1.8 (low-normal), and I felt soooo much better! So, even if you are at a "normal" level, you might not be "normal" for your body. Also, have them check your vitamin D level. Mine was low and probably had been for years. I started taking a Vit. D supplement, and between that and the proper dose of thyroid meds, I feel better than I have in years. Vit. D also affects metabolism. By getting these two areas straightened out I have been able to lose over 30 lbs since May using diet and exercise (some weight lost before joining MFP). So, it IS doable even with thyroid issues -- with diet and exercise -- you just have to stay on top of your bloodwork.

NoelleED

Is it common for people with no thyroid to have low Vitamin D levels? Mine are abysmally low, and I am the whitest person at 7000 feet - you would think I would get it from the UV rays alone.

KDar1988

I have hypothyroid for 20+ years. I take 125mcg a day. The doc increased my dose once to 175 and I felt wonderful!! Best I had in years. But blood said I then became hyperthyroid and she wouldn't let me continue. Dropped back and I feel like crap most of the time. Tired and lethargic. Weight loss is a struggle even when I'm doing everything right. I always wondered if the diets out there that are supposed to be for someone with thyroid issues are worth trying. Mainly removing soy and goitrogens (sp?).
+

MelanieRBrace

Thank you for this post. I have hypothyrodism diagnosed about eight months ago - totally bottomed out before I was diagnosed properly (gaining 70 pounds, sleeping an extra 5 hours per day, etc.). Now I get my blood checked every 3 months. I am struggling with weight loss and my doctor told me that now I'm all leveled out, I will lose weight like others with a normal thyroid. Because of my lack of progress, I'm skeptical. It helps reading from others - to gain knowledge and gain empathy.

dannyxtyler

Hypothyroidism here, too. I was being under-dosed for years and just kept gaining before I found a dr who knew how to treat it and got my levels perfect. It stopped me from gaining as much, but I still eat way fewer calories than MFP recommends (I eat 1900 to lose, MFP says 2300 but I was only a couple of ounces per week doing that).

kendalslimmer

I have an under-active thyroid and I have a blood test once a year to check my levels. I might get a 6 months check up this time around though because I'm pretty sure that your weight affects your levels/dosage. (I'm on 150 right now, although a specialist told me I should be on 175 - but the more you take, the more you encourage your own gland to give up the ghost and that's not something I want to happen.) Anyway, I seem to be losing weight okay. :-) I have hope! I know I'm usually B12 deficient, not sure about Vitamin D. I feel like I should check now! :-)

Kalikel

Every pound I've lost, I lost after my thyroid came out. I started the thyroid medicine when I had the thing removed. Mine was strangling me, too. It was so nice to be able to breathe normally again!!

I don't lose as quickly as many people and I have to eat a LOT less than they do, but I can lose, which is something that just did not happen before the Synthroid.

I'm very happy with my progress and hope you have a successful weight loss. It takes a few months to get the dosage straightened out, so don't get too discouraged until you know your levels are in place.

KMW1219

I have hashimotos and I take synthroid. My levels have been in the normal range for the past few years. Before my levels were normal, I gained a lot of weight! I am able to lose weight, but it takes me much much longer to do it than other people. I had joined weight watchers a few years back with a family member... and it was sooo frustrating to see her drop weight like nothing. I had a much harder time. I just started MFP this past week and so far its been good for me. This time around I am trying to be more positive about it and tell myself im making lifestyle changes... not dieting. Hopefully im able to lose the weight.

dramaqueen45

My body was killing it's own thyroid so I go radioactive iodine about 10 years ago and started on 75 mcg of levothyroxine and now am up to 100. I get my blood tested yearly and like to keep my level around a 1. They will (annoyingly) just tell me "your blood came back fine" and I have to bug them to see what the numbers actually are because there is a very big range of "normal". I think it's from a .33 to 5.33. Some people are fine at a 5 and some like me are much better around a 1. I finally talked to my doctor and told her I felt sluggish and had been putting on weight, so she adjusted it. I now have access to my charts online when I get my blood work done so I don't have to bug them for the actual numbers. My advice is to get educated about the numbers (doctors assume we don't know much so they don't tell us much) and insist on getting your numbers lower if you don't feel like yourself.

SaBh93

I have hypothyroid and take euthyroxin for it (150mcg)- and have had this sine I was 7 yrs old, but I blame my weight gain on bad food choices and excess calories.

Have a healthy food plan (stay away from peanuts / soy), and keep it at your BMR and exercise. The weight should come off. Don't starve yourself.

SaBh93

OH, and just a bit of a caution- get your calcium and iron levels tested. Bone density too. Something about people in my family with hypothyroid have an issue with.

Graelwyn75

Diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2004. It never had a massive impact on my weight. I think I went about 8-10 Ibs above my usual and it pretty much dropped off once I was put on levothyroxine. If I have any issues losing weight(other than learning better self control) since taking the medication, I have not noticed it.

NoelleED

KDar1988 wrote: »

I have hypothyroid for 20+ years. I take 125mcg a day. The doc increased my dose once to 175 and I felt wonderful!! Best I had in years. But blood said I then became hyperthyroid and she wouldn't let me continue. Dropped back and I feel like crap most of the time. Tired and lethargic. Weight loss is a struggle even when I'm doing everything right. I always wondered if the diets out there that are supposed to be for someone with thyroid issues are worth trying. Mainly removing soy and goitrogens (sp?).
+

I would say find a new doctor. For whatever reason, some doctors like to keep us hypo.

NoelleED

I feel like there is a consensus - people on synthetic thyroid medicine have to eat a lot less than "normal" people. I wonder if the old 3500 calorie deficit formula just doesn't apply to us. I lost about 25 pounds right away and have been hovering at the weight I am at right now for about 2 weeks. I had increased my calories by about 200 so I could meet my nutritional requirements with exercise.

ksolksol

It's my understanding that if you've had thyroid cancer, they are supposed to keep you slightly hyperthyroid to prevent recurrence. At least they do me, and I've looked up the American Thyroid Association guidelines, and that's the standard. I lost significant weight after having mine removed because a) I felt a lot better just having the thing out, and b) they finally gave me enough thyroid hormone to where I felt good. They'd always given me enough synthroid to be in the stated range, but it wasn't enough for me.

The problem with slightly hyperthyroid is that it puts bones and heart at risk. I had two DEXA scans a year apart, even though I was pre-menopausal, to make sure I wasn't losing bone mass or at low bone mass. I was fine, so we're not doing any more until post-menopause.

For the record, I don't wait two hours before eating -- more like half an hour to an hour. I've had no problems. I have been told to avoid any mineral supplements within 4 hours of taking the meds.

You might want to look at the treatment guidelines:
http://thyca.org/download/document/409/DTCguidelines.pdf

ksolksol

p.s. on the doctors keeping people slightly hypo: there is some dispute as to what constitutes normal range. Standard is typically TSH of .5 to 4.5, but some believe that should be 0.3 to 3.0. When my thyroid was sputtering out, prior to the cancer, I kept testing high normal and they kept telling me I was fine even though I had every symptom in the book -- ridiculously dry hair and skin, overwhelming fatigue, weight gain, increasing depression, you name it.

Oi_Sunshine

Hashimotos here. I'm on 50 synthroid, getting blood work done next week and may get it bumped to

I have read that certain foods can trigger hypo symptoms, and through an elimination diet, I've found that wheat aggravates it. I also try to avoid broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc. I'm also taking vitamin D and a multivitamin, but be careful to take any supplements or other medications 4 hours before or after your Synthroid, and I was told wait an hour before eating or take it two hours after eating.

I have been able to lose weight since being on synthroid, but it's only been 8 months and we're still tweaking my dosage.

NoelleED

Thank you to everyone who commented.

Chance___123

I had thyroid cancer and Hashimotos. I had a total thyroidectomy 2 months ago. I'm looking for some friends to help me stay motivated! I need help

ljpark

Hi all... I do not normally review posts on this app, as thyca has such a great community (on inspire.com). If you are not already active on that site, I encourage anyone to check it out. It has a wealth of information and support. Personnaly, I had two thyroid surgeries in 2012 and RAI late 2014. I struggle with my weight, even when I am slightly hyper on thyroxine, but that is for another time! Good to see posts from like people out there! LJP