But my weight DID come on overnight!

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Replies

  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    Most doctors only test the TSH. Very few will test the full thyroid panels because of insurance issues and payment. I know first hand because of having to drive 3 hours to New Orleans to get a doctor willing to order all of them and pay out of pocket for both doctor and labs. $1500 later I know I have thyroid problems and am still waiting for the endocrinologist appointment.

    To get that endocrinologist appointment I had to take the records from the doctor at Tulane to the doctor up here for a referral. None of the endocrinologists up here will see you without a referral.

    So, its very possible she could have Hashimoto's and a very normal range TSH.

    Good luck Op. It's hard to find a good doctor.

    For Hashimotos to affect noticeably her metabolism, she should have to be at the point where not only her TSH but also her T4 would be completely out off limits, she would have no energy to walk up the stairs and she would be falling asleep while in the middle of normal activities. Hashimoto's can be diagnosed from antibodies years before her TSH or T4 are affected, but there will be no significant change to the metabolism at this point. Until it gets really really bad it can perhaps affect a bit weight, mostly by water retention, but cannot add 60 lbs!

    Actually, not always.

    My TSH 1.64

    My TPOab 1153

    My T4, T3 both in range, although barely. can't say about weight for me, (But everyone is different.) currently because well, half of what I personally eat isn't staying down, I really wish that would stop. And I severely restrict calories to combat weight.
    So if you just ran that one test and discounted the swelling in my throat, you'd really think everything was fine.

    OP, I really hope you can get it sorted out. A good doctor seems to be the biggest hurdle to leap. If you are anywhere in Louisiana, Tulane Medical in New Orleans has a fabulous team of Doctors. I just wish my insurance would cover them and they were closer.

    I admit I am a bit confused by what you mean. You can have Hashimoto's and still not be hypothryoid yet (or ever). You have the antibodies, not the elevated TSH right now. Which is how Hashimoto's starts (and can stay for decades) for everyone. What is weird about it? I do nto think any dr would tell you you can blame weight issues on this, because you are not hypothyroid.

  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    MKEgal wrote: »
    Grumpy619 wrote:
    I am NOT a fan of calories in vs. calories out...
    I gained 50 pounds of my excess weight years ago in a 6 months stint on medication - yes, calories in vs. calories out did NOT work then, and doesn't always work now...
    CICO is the only thing that works, because science.
    Your experience was not a violation of CICO.
    That drug changed your CO and you didn't change your CI.

    If you eat more than your body needs, you will gain weight. It doesn't matter if that's because your thyroid is wonky or because you eat a large pizza & 2 banana splits every day while sitting on the couch playing video games.

    If you eat less than your body needs, you will lose weight. It doesn't matter if that's because you're anorexic/bulemic or because you're running a marathon every day and only eating 2000 calories.

    Yeah, um...it's not that simple. We're talking hormonal changes, which is so much more specific than the broad idea of metabolism. In a time like this, it's also about the KIND of food eaten. Do you even know what metabolism is? Not what it does, but what it IS. It is determined by hormones, and different foods affect your hormones. At a time of hormone imbalance, one may need to adjust the foods in their diet, NOT just how much they eat.

    Uhm, no. A hormonal imbalance can cause you to lose energy and motivation to do much, which means you will not be burning many calories, so unless you restrict your intake a lot, or solve the medical problem, you will be gaining weight. It can affect where fat is stored at the body. It can cause water retention, like 10 or 10 or 30 lbs, not the 1-2 lbs normal fluctuation. What hormones cannot do is defy the laws of thermodynamics and have a person fuel normal activities, gain 100 lbs and achieve that on 500 calories per day.
  • JiveDoc
    JiveDoc Posts: 284 Member

    [/quote]

    I admit I am a bit confused by what you mean. You can have Hashimoto's and still not be hypothryoid yet (or ever). You have the antibodies, not the elevated TSH right now. Which is how Hashimoto's starts (and can stay for decades) for everyone. What is weird about it? I do nto think any dr would tell you you can blame weight issues on this, because you are not hypothyroid.

    [/quote]

    Contrary to popular belief, one's TSH does not necessarily have to be elevated to indicate hypothyroidism. As I stated earlier, a low TSH in combination with a low T4 can be indicative of central hypothyroidism.

    Endocrinologist. Not internet!

  • Nikeolie
    Nikeolie Posts: 52 Member
    You can actually go to pretty much any lab and request a blood draw without a doctors order. Get a Tsh with reflux to t4. This is the standard thyroid lab to test. You shouldn't request expensive labs prior to this simple relatively cheap lab. When was your last set of labs done? Did they come back normal? I work in a doctor's office, and this is a pretty standard physical lab along with hct, cmp, and lipid panel. Maybe you're requesting labs too soon ( if no abnormalities, it's generally yearly) or you have a very lazy doctor. Good luck :)
  • Nikeolie
    Nikeolie Posts: 52 Member
    Fyi, Tsh with reflux to t4 means if Tsh is abnormal it triggers the t4 test to be tested.
  • Quasita
    Quasita Posts: 1,530 Member
    People, seriously. Current medical consensus is that hypothyroidism in itself does not cause weight gain. It's overeating that causes weight gain. There are plenty of people who are hypo who are at normal weights. You may gain more easily because you don't have the same level of metabolism as an average person, but the disease in itself does not cause the gain... what you put in your face does.

    60lbs in a year is not "overnight". Me, I gain 20lbs in 2 days just before my period. Over the last 3 weeks, I'm up 35lbs for no damn reason.

    Generally speaking, 200+oz of water is too much for anyone that weighs less than 400lbs. I mean, if you feel like that's great for you, I'd be wondering why. It's not good to be urinating clear, and if you are drinking that much water, you could be causing vitamin imbalances simply because you're continuously flushing your system. I drink a gallon of water a day plus other incidentals, but I weigh 400lbs+. The general rule of thumb is shoot for a water goal of ounces that are 1/2 your body weight. So if you weight 200lbs, you shoot for 100oz of water. Pale pee all the way.

    It's always calories in calories out. If you associate your gains with medical conditions, it's because the conditions have changed your calories in need, not because CICO doesn't work. That's why it's very important to have regular visits with professionals and trainers when you have a situation that is outside the average experience.

    People on this website worry me immensely. When my anorexia shut down my thyroid, and I started struggling with bingeing 1-2 times a week and anorexic the other days, I gained almost 200lbs in a year. 60lbs sounds like the kind of weight gain that can come with changes that happen with age.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    MKEgal wrote: »
    Grumpy619 wrote:
    I am NOT a fan of calories in vs. calories out...
    I gained 50 pounds of my excess weight years ago in a 6 months stint on medication - yes, calories in vs. calories out did NOT work then, and doesn't always work now...
    CICO is the only thing that works, because science.
    Your experience was not a violation of CICO.
    That drug changed your CO and you didn't change your CI.

    If you eat more than your body needs, you will gain weight. It doesn't matter if that's because your thyroid is wonky or because you eat a large pizza & 2 banana splits every day while sitting on the couch playing video games.

    If you eat less than your body needs, you will lose weight. It doesn't matter if that's because you're anorexic/bulemic or because you're running a marathon every day and only eating 2000 calories.

    Yeah, um...it's not that simple. We're talking hormonal changes, which is so much more specific than the broad idea of metabolism. In a time like this, it's also about the KIND of food eaten. Do you even know what metabolism is? Not what it does, but what it IS. It is determined by hormones, and different foods affect your hormones. At a time of hormone imbalance, one may need to adjust the foods in their diet, NOT just how much they eat.

    What? There are only certain conditions where you have to adjust what you eat, and they are PCOS and diabetes. Even with diabetes, it's about timing and combination.

    It's still, even with those conditions, about calories. You still have to count calories.

  • Danilynn1975
    Danilynn1975 Posts: 294 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    Most doctors only test the TSH. Very few will test the full thyroid panels because of insurance issues and payment. I know first hand because of having to drive 3 hours to New Orleans to get a doctor willing to order all of them and pay out of pocket for both doctor and labs. $1500 later I know I have thyroid problems and am still waiting for the endocrinologist appointment.

    To get that endocrinologist appointment I had to take the records from the doctor at Tulane to the doctor up here for a referral. None of the endocrinologists up here will see you without a referral.

    So, its very possible she could have Hashimoto's and a very normal range TSH.

    Good luck Op. It's hard to find a good doctor.

    For Hashimotos to affect noticeably her metabolism, she should have to be at the point where not only her TSH but also her T4 would be completely out off limits, she would have no energy to walk up the stairs and she would be falling asleep while in the middle of normal activities. Hashimoto's can be diagnosed from antibodies years before her TSH or T4 are affected, but there will be no significant change to the metabolism at this point. Until it gets really really bad it can perhaps affect a bit weight, mostly by water retention, but cannot add 60 lbs!

    Actually, not always.

    My TSH 1.64

    My TPOab 1153

    My T4, T3 both in range, although barely. can't say about weight for me, (But everyone is different.) currently because well, half of what I personally eat isn't staying down, I really wish that would stop. And I severely restrict calories to combat weight.
    So if you just ran that one test and discounted the swelling in my throat, you'd really think everything was fine.

    OP, I really hope you can get it sorted out. A good doctor seems to be the biggest hurdle to leap. If you are anywhere in Louisiana, Tulane Medical in New Orleans has a fabulous team of Doctors. I just wish my insurance would cover them and they were closer.

    I admit I am a bit confused by what you mean. You can have Hashimoto's and still not be hypothryoid yet (or ever). You have the antibodies, not the elevated TSH right now. Which is how Hashimoto's starts (and can stay for decades) for everyone. What is weird about it? I do nto think any dr would tell you you can blame weight issues on this, because you are not hypothyroid.

    currently not overweight, but have lost more than half my hair among a whole host of other hypothyroid symptoms. so just numbers alone do not complete the whole picture.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    JiveDoc wrote: »

    I admit I am a bit confused by what you mean. You can have Hashimoto's and still not be hypothryoid yet (or ever). You have the antibodies, not the elevated TSH right now. Which is how Hashimoto's starts (and can stay for decades) for everyone. What is weird about it? I do nto think any dr would tell you you can blame weight issues on this, because you are not hypothyroid.

    [/quote]

    Contrary to popular belief, one's TSH does not necessarily have to be elevated to indicate hypothyroidism. As I stated earlier, a low TSH in combination with a low T4 can be indicative of central hypothyroidism.

    Endocrinologist. Not internet!

    [/quote]

    Uhm, you need to have a low T4 to have hypothyroidism. You cannot, by definition, be hypothyroid and not have a low T4. Elevated TSH preceeds hypothyroidism, allowing early diagnosis. Per my endocrinologist, not the internet. If your hormones are fine, you cannot be hypothyroid!
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    That hair loss thing is alarming. Does your doctor know about that and still refuse to test your thyroid?

    No - to be honest, I did not go into specifics as to why I thought my thyroid may be off. The reason I suspected it was because a loooong time ago when I was a very active dancer/cheerleader in high school, I tested having a low thyroid. I was underweight regardless, due to extreme activity, and the doctor opted to do nothing about it.
    -
    @britishbroccoli - I will double check the measurements I used. Both the pork chops and wings are oven roasted without adding oil, cooked until crispy - just the way I like my meat. The added oil is always in the veggies :)

    You tested with an underactive thyroid and the doctor left you untreated?

    I... wut?

    It was borderline low, iirc - bear with me, because it was like 12 years ago. But it stood out in my mind like a sore thumb, because I was always worried as to what it could mean.

    Oh, it wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at the stupid doctor. Thyroid health isn't just about weight and metabolism. Brain and bone health are involved too.

    At the very least, the fact that you were borderline then is a piece of the puzzle your current doctor should know, along with the hair loss. Those two pieces of information should be enough to get your thyroid tested.
    aggelikik wrote: »
    JiveDoc wrote: »

    I admit I am a bit confused by what you mean. You can have Hashimoto's and still not be hypothryoid yet (or ever). You have the antibodies, not the elevated TSH right now. Which is how Hashimoto's starts (and can stay for decades) for everyone. What is weird about it? I do nto think any dr would tell you you can blame weight issues on this, because you are not hypothyroid.

    Contrary to popular belief, one's TSH does not necessarily have to be elevated to indicate hypothyroidism. As I stated earlier, a low TSH in combination with a low T4 can be indicative of central hypothyroidism.

    Endocrinologist. Not internet!

    [/quote]

    Uhm, you need to have a low T4 to have hypothyroidism. You cannot, by definition, be hypothyroid and not have a low T4. Elevated TSH preceeds hypothyroidism, allowing early diagnosis. Per my endocrinologist, not the internet. If your hormones are fine, you cannot be hypothyroid![/quote]



    You are getting a simplistic explanation from your doc.

    Look up central hypothyroidism.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Quasita wrote: »
    ... 60lbs sounds like the kind of weight gain that can come with changes that happen with age.
    These posts make me wonder what the doctor is seeing that we're not. Like is the OP even 60 lbs. overweight or was she starting from an underweight number to begin with? If you walk into a doc's office at 150 lbs. and tell them you've gained 60 lbs. in a year, their internal reaction is probably going to be, "Good, because 150 is healthier than 90. And odds are you're misremembering your year-ago weight, or messing up some math. Or your scale is broken. Or you really REALLY want to believe that you are broken and I can do something to fix you." Because weight loss is slow and hard and you can absolutely gain weight eating clean, organic food.


  • ReeseG4350
    ReeseG4350 Posts: 146 Member
    "...a loooong time ago ...I tested having a low thyroid.

    THIS! THIS! THIS!
    All other arguments and discussion aside, you ARE hypothyroid. thyroid conditions are not like a cold and you just muddle through until you get over it. YOU DON'T "GET OVER" any kind of thyroid condition! If you once tested hypothyroid, you are still hypothyroid. Go find a doctor who will listen to you and tell this doctor that you are hypothyroid untreated.

    You need to get on thyroid medicine immediately. It may take a few tries to find the right medicine for you (Most doctors will start you on Synthroid but (lucky me!) I cannot take the brand name because a buffering agent screws with my joints.) It is better, for most people, to start with the generic levothyroxine but it could still take months before you find the right medicine and the right dosage for you. But, pay attention to your body and listen to what it is telling you. You'll be amazed at how much better you can feel.

    Good luck.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Quasita wrote: »
    People, seriously. Current medical consensus is that hypothyroidism in itself does not cause weight gain. It's overeating that causes weight gain. There are plenty of people who are hypo who are at normal weights. You may gain more easily because you don't have the same level of metabolism as an average person, but the disease in itself does not cause the gain... what you put in your face does.

    60lbs in a year is not "overnight". Me, I gain 20lbs in 2 days just before my period. Over the last 3 weeks, I'm up 35lbs for no damn reason.

    Generally speaking, 200+oz of water is too much for anyone that weighs less than 400lbs. I mean, if you feel like that's great for you, I'd be wondering why. It's not good to be urinating clear, and if you are drinking that much water, you could be causing vitamin imbalances simply because you're continuously flushing your system. I drink a gallon of water a day plus other incidentals, but I weigh 400lbs+. The general rule of thumb is shoot for a water goal of ounces that are 1/2 your body weight. So if you weight 200lbs, you shoot for 100oz of water. Pale pee all the way.

    It's always calories in calories out. If you associate your gains with medical conditions, it's because the conditions have changed your calories in need, not because CICO doesn't work. That's why it's very important to have regular visits with professionals and trainers when you have a situation that is outside the average experience.

    People on this website worry me immensely. When my anorexia shut down my thyroid, and I started struggling with bingeing 1-2 times a week and anorexic the other days, I gained almost 200lbs in a year. 60lbs sounds like the kind of weight gain that can come with changes that happen with age.

    Hmm 35 lbs is higher than the entirety of my weight loss since joining MyFitnessPal. It may just be relative but I'd absolutely be panicked out of my mind if those lbs showed up for any damn reason. 60 lbs in one year does not sound like any normal weight gain that should happen with age to me!!

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    Quasita wrote: »
    People, seriously. Current medical consensus is that hypothyroidism in itself does not cause weight gain. It's overeating that causes weight gain. There are plenty of people who are hypo who are at normal weights. You may gain more easily because you don't have the same level of metabolism as an average person, but the disease in itself does not cause the gain... what you put in your face does.

    60lbs in a year is not "overnight". Me, I gain 20lbs in 2 days just before my period. Over the last 3 weeks, I'm up 35lbs for no damn reason.

    Generally speaking, 200+oz of water is too much for anyone that weighs less than 400lbs. I mean, if you feel like that's great for you, I'd be wondering why. It's not good to be urinating clear, and if you are drinking that much water, you could be causing vitamin imbalances simply because you're continuously flushing your system. I drink a gallon of water a day plus other incidentals, but I weigh 400lbs+. The general rule of thumb is shoot for a water goal of ounces that are 1/2 your body weight. So if you weight 200lbs, you shoot for 100oz of water. Pale pee all the way.

    It's always calories in calories out. If you associate your gains with medical conditions, it's because the conditions have changed your calories in need, not because CICO doesn't work. That's why it's very important to have regular visits with professionals and trainers when you have a situation that is outside the average experience.

    People on this website worry me immensely. When my anorexia shut down my thyroid, and I started struggling with bingeing 1-2 times a week and anorexic the other days, I gained almost 200lbs in a year. 60lbs sounds like the kind of weight gain that can come with changes that happen with age.

    Hmm 35 lbs is higher than the entirety of my weight loss since joining MyFitnessPal. It may just be relative but I'd absolutely be panicked out of my mind if those lbs showed up for any damn reason. 60 lbs in one year does not sound like any normal weight gain that should happen with age to me!!

    60 pounds a year is quite easy to put on. Let's do the math. That's 5 pounds a month. Or about 500 calories a day. I don't know about you, but it would sure be easy for me to over eat 500 calories a day. It doesn't have to be all that much food to do that. A few slices of cheese, a piece too many of bread, a tablespoon or two extra of oil? Poof! 500 calories.

  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    Quasita wrote: »
    People, seriously. Current medical consensus is that hypothyroidism in itself does not cause weight gain. It's overeating that causes weight gain. There are plenty of people who are hypo who are at normal weights. You may gain more easily because you don't have the same level of metabolism as an average person, but the disease in itself does not cause the gain... what you put in your face does.

    60lbs in a year is not "overnight". Me, I gain 20lbs in 2 days just before my period. Over the last 3 weeks, I'm up 35lbs for no damn reason.

    Generally speaking, 200+oz of water is too much for anyone that weighs less than 400lbs. I mean, if you feel like that's great for you, I'd be wondering why. It's not good to be urinating clear, and if you are drinking that much water, you could be causing vitamin imbalances simply because you're continuously flushing your system. I drink a gallon of water a day plus other incidentals, but I weigh 400lbs+. The general rule of thumb is shoot for a water goal of ounces that are 1/2 your body weight. So if you weight 200lbs, you shoot for 100oz of water. Pale pee all the way.

    It's always calories in calories out. If you associate your gains with medical conditions, it's because the conditions have changed your calories in need, not because CICO doesn't work. That's why it's very important to have regular visits with professionals and trainers when you have a situation that is outside the average experience.

    People on this website worry me immensely. When my anorexia shut down my thyroid, and I started struggling with bingeing 1-2 times a week and anorexic the other days, I gained almost 200lbs in a year. 60lbs sounds like the kind of weight gain that can come with changes that happen with age.

    Hmm 35 lbs is higher than the entirety of my weight loss since joining MyFitnessPal. It may just be relative but I'd absolutely be panicked out of my mind if those lbs showed up for any damn reason. 60 lbs in one year does not sound like any normal weight gain that should happen with age to me!!

    60 pounds a year is quite easy to put on. Let's do the math. That's 5 pounds a month. Or about 500 calories a day. I don't know about you, but it would sure be easy for me to over eat 500 calories a day. It doesn't have to be all that much food to do that. A few slices of cheese, a piece too many of bread, a tablespoon or two extra of oil? Poof! 500 calories.

    Agreed. I'm not saying it's hard. I'm saying I'd worry if I couldn't explain the weight gain. And that as far as I can tell, there's nothing about turning 29 that automatically means you'll randomly gain unexplained weight! The OP has also repeatedly said she maintained her 120 lb weight for years and hasn't changed her eating. She did mention not liking to run much anymore though she still does it from time to time. I do wonder how much her physical activity has reduced but mostly agree it's time to be very adamant about figuring out what's going on medically

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    Quasita wrote: »
    People, seriously. Current medical consensus is that hypothyroidism in itself does not cause weight gain. It's overeating that causes weight gain. There are plenty of people who are hypo who are at normal weights. You may gain more easily because you don't have the same level of metabolism as an average person, but the disease in itself does not cause the gain... what you put in your face does.

    60lbs in a year is not "overnight". Me, I gain 20lbs in 2 days just before my period. Over the last 3 weeks, I'm up 35lbs for no damn reason.

    Generally speaking, 200+oz of water is too much for anyone that weighs less than 400lbs. I mean, if you feel like that's great for you, I'd be wondering why. It's not good to be urinating clear, and if you are drinking that much water, you could be causing vitamin imbalances simply because you're continuously flushing your system. I drink a gallon of water a day plus other incidentals, but I weigh 400lbs+. The general rule of thumb is shoot for a water goal of ounces that are 1/2 your body weight. So if you weight 200lbs, you shoot for 100oz of water. Pale pee all the way.

    It's always calories in calories out. If you associate your gains with medical conditions, it's because the conditions have changed your calories in need, not because CICO doesn't work. That's why it's very important to have regular visits with professionals and trainers when you have a situation that is outside the average experience.

    People on this website worry me immensely. When my anorexia shut down my thyroid, and I started struggling with bingeing 1-2 times a week and anorexic the other days, I gained almost 200lbs in a year. 60lbs sounds like the kind of weight gain that can come with changes that happen with age.

    Hmm 35 lbs is higher than the entirety of my weight loss since joining MyFitnessPal. It may just be relative but I'd absolutely be panicked out of my mind if those lbs showed up for any damn reason. 60 lbs in one year does not sound like any normal weight gain that should happen with age to me!!

    60 pounds a year is quite easy to put on. Let's do the math. That's 5 pounds a month. Or about 500 calories a day. I don't know about you, but it would sure be easy for me to over eat 500 calories a day. It doesn't have to be all that much food to do that. A few slices of cheese, a piece too many of bread, a tablespoon or two extra of oil? Poof! 500 calories.

    Agreed. I'm not saying it's hard. I'm saying I'd worry if I couldn't explain the weight gain. And that as far as I can tell, there's nothing about turning 29 that automatically means you'll randomly gain unexplained weight! The OP has also repeatedly said she maintained her 120 lb weight for years and hasn't changed her eating. She did mention not liking to run much anymore though she still does it from time to time. I do wonder how much her physical activity has reduced but mostly agree it's time to be very adamant about figuring out what's going on medically

    Oh, I do agree with that. 29 is a bit young for the age thing to be a factor. Were there 20 more years happening? Well, maybe then age would be a factor.

    There are two threads now and I keep confusing them. On one of them, I do think the OP has a problem. I think this is the one where I think she has a thyroid problem and I got confused for a second. :blush:

This discussion has been closed.