Hypothyroidism and weightloss
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Hashi's patient for 25 years here. Once you're properly medicated, losing weight is no different than anyone else. It's just a matter of monitoring your calories, creating a deficit, and exercising. Totally possible to lose weight.
I have other autoimmune diseases in addition to the Hashi's and have fatigue from one of them, so it's hard for me to tell when the Hashi's is acting up. I keep in pretty good touch with my endo because of it. I also moderate my carbs. It helps me keep my energy levels in check. I don't take them really low... just 150g at the highest. This isn't necessary for everyone with hypo-T, though.
Im pretty sure it's possible I've lost 32 pounds but now I feel like it's slowing no matter what . I don't log in my cardio or exercise anymore because I think it helps me to be more cautious on my calories . ( lol so I don't eat my hard work ) but hopefully the scale continues to move . Thank you so much
Weight loss slows down as you get closer to goal. Have you readjusted your goals through MFP recently?
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mamapeach910 wrote: »As one of those people who believe it's no big deal, I think any medical condition is what you make of it.
As I stated in my post, I've lived with Hashi's for 25 years. I also live with celiac disease, fibromyalgia/CFS, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic migraines. None of them are big deals. They are just deals. I do what needs to be done to deal with them and go on with my life.
Hypothyroidism is not that big a deal. It's easily treatable. The symptoms are fairly evident. When you feel them spiking, you go to the doctor and get tested and get your medication adjusted and go on with your life. It's an easily managed condition. And I say this as someone who came out of a Hashi's crash last year. So what? It's still no big deal.
This is all especially true when it comes to weight loss. Nothing about properly treated hypothyroidism would prevent a person from losing weight. It might go a little slower for some of us, but meh... it still happens for us.
Not sure why someone would flag that, it is a waste of the moderator's time, and against the rules to flag someone just because you don't like what they said. (Edited to add that it's not too late, you can still unflag it by repeating the same procedure as you did to flag it in the first place)
Anyway, Mama is right, that properly treated hypothyroidism is not a big deal and will not stop you from losing weight. It is just a matter of learning how to lose weight, just like every other person who wants to lose weight. Logging accurately, using a food scale, moderation, staying within your calorie limit...
Life is what you make it, no use crying about the hand you're dealt! Just imagine how much worse you could have it.0 -
Tha
Dr says I don't need meds because my hypothyroidism isn't that bad . So i get my levels checked a lot .
Then it comes down to eating less.
I eat less now but I also breastfeed .
If you're breastfeeding then you have to be very careful while dieting. You should consult with your obstetrician or physician.0 -
I agree my weight is always off I'm 176 but in less than a week I jumped up 4 pounds so u think that my hypothyroidism played a part in it , because I've been eating pretty good on my diet .I suffer from hasimotos and it does suck. I have to be very regimented with my meds and my diet to keep the weight off. I don't agree with some of the less informed posters on this discussion who seem to take a "stop complaining it isn't a big deal attitude". The thyroid is quite possibly one of the most important organs in the body. "The thyroid gland produces hormones which regulate the body's metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance." Yeah when this doesn't work right you are going to have lots of issues. I agree that close on-going management with your doctor is key. Most doctors are reluctant to start people on meds because that is more of a management strategy and not a "cure". The best advise I can give is to start a diary/journal in addition to logging your foods. This will allow you to make connections to what foods may be causing you trouble. It sounds weird but tracking if you are tired, lethargic or "hangry" (hungry and angry put together) might help you to rid your diet of foods keeping you from your goals. I have managed to lose weight, but I know that due to my condition this will be a lifelong struggle to maintain a healthy weight. Good luck!
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Ugh this dumb phone lol0
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Dr says I don't need meds because my hypothyroidism isn't that bad . So i get my levels checked a lot .
My levels are usually only borderline too (but have been higher in the past) and my doctor said that I shouldn't need meds but after I told him that my periods were becoming irregular again he put me on a small dose, tried that out for 6 months and still had low energy and irregular periods, so he bumped it up again and now my cycles are better and energy is improved. I started at 25mcg of levothyroxine then 50mcg and it has made a real difference even though a lot of doctors wouldn't have prescribed anything.0 -
Hashis here too... Diagnosed about 4 years ago. Not going to repeat what everyone's said on here, so all I'm going to say is... It can definitely be frustrating.
I was always really active my whole life, so I find that I personally have to continue to be active and when I wanna create a deficit and speed up the weight loss process, I gotta reeeeaaaally amp the exercise up. I do a lot of weight lifting to keep the metabolism up in general though (although I've been slacking lately)... Makes me feel a whole lot better compared to the days I do absolutely nothing. I always find I have more energy after a workout for that reason for sure.0 -
Something to add for food for thought for those of you finding things frustrating. I was very, very fortunate to be initially diagnosed by a very good endocrinologist in a college town. He was used to advising students who would be moving on, so he gave all his patients advice to carry with them for life-long treatment plans.
What he told me was that I was going to have a fight of sorts on my hands for the rest of my life. He said that I would always have to strive to be treated by doctors by my symptoms and not be test results numbers.
If you're struggling, but test normal, perhaps you have not been treated to your optimum level yet. For example, I know, through years of treatment, that my optimum TSH level needs to be 1.2 or lower. There is a WIDE range of "normal" readings above that, but I would still feel quite awful within those readings.
If you don't have a doctor who will listen to you and treat you to the symptoms? Find a better doctor. I've never had a problem. Good doctors know about this. Bad ones don't.0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »Something to add for food for thought for those of you finding things frustrating. I was very, very fortunate to be initially diagnosed by a very good endocrinologist in a college town. He was used to advising students who would be moving on, so he gave all his patients advice to carry with them for life-long treatment plans.
What he told me was that I was going to have a fight of sorts on my hands for the rest of my life. He said that I would always have to strive to be treated by doctors by my symptoms and not be test results numbers.
If you're struggling, but test normal, perhaps you have not been treated to your optimum level yet. For example, I know, through years of treatment, that my optimum TSH level needs to be 1.2 or lower. There is a WIDE range of "normal" readings above that, but I would still feel quite awful within those readings.
If you don't have a doctor who will listen to you and treat you to the symptoms? Find a better doctor. I've never had a problem. Good doctors know about this. Bad ones don't.
See, the thing about those spots bolded is that not everyone gets that lucky.
Not many "good" doctors out there.
I've been to 10 doctors now over the last 5 years telling them something wasn't right. They all until doctor number 9 and several thousands of dollars spent after insurance and a large, large chunk of it out of pocket to get answer just to get the stupid test above and beyond the TSH test.
Which as a newly diagnosed Hashimoto's but with nodules and damage that according to the endocrinologist I saw is at LEAST 10 + years old.
Just since January of this year I have had to drive to New Orleans to get a doctor willing to order the tests, he was out of network and because of the Obamacare no longer accepts insurance anyway. Then when I got the doctor after numerous hours of my own research to find this guy, paid $1500 to get blood work done, again in New Orleans through his lab.
Then I had to bring his diagnosis and stuff back to my home 3 hours away from New Orleans and get an appointment with my PCP to get the referral to the endocrinologist. I waited 8 weeks for that appointment.
To get told that my TSH was still in range. So no treatment despite my antibodies destroying my thyroid numbering >1000. Oh and that TSH his range is .378 to 4.579, my TSH that day 4.55, so he's not going to treat because I am .02 in "range".
I am currently seeking doctor number 11 and/or saving up to go back to the doctor in New Orleans and pay out of pocket $325 for an office visit that will require more labs, more current than the Jan 30 visit I had with him, so he will prescribe medication.
Not everyone gets a good doctor, not everyone gets that lucky. Some of us go YEARS, Literally YEARS and numerous doctors with Hashimoto's, before we can ever get the diagnosis, much less decent medical care.
I also tested positive to another autoimmune at the same time. Which makes sense, they typically travel in packs. I paid out of pocket for that test too.
Yes, losing weight is possible. but this is not as easy to manage as the literature would suggest, given that good doctors are as rare as finding a diamond mine in your backyard.0 -
Don't you think it's possible after 10 different doctors have tested you and told you you're not hypothyroid that... you're NOT hypothyroid?0
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Don't you think it's possible after 10 different doctors have tested you and told you you're not hypothyroid that... you're NOT hypothyroid?
Look up the literature. reference ranges were lowered. with Hashimoto's it is entirely possible to be hypothyroid and have wonky tsh because the gland occasionally works until it doesn't.
the TPOab numbers along with the ultrasound and fine needle aspiration I went which had hurthle cells confirm my diagnosis.
My tsh has been everything from .2 below range to 5.6, but the Hashimoto's diagnosis is valid and it will entirely stop working, when is anyone's guess.
if you don't have it, good for you. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But finding a good doctor is hard. Even harder when your tsh bounces all over the place from technically Hyperthyroid to Hypothyroid0 -
Danilynn1975 wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »Something to add for food for thought for those of you finding things frustrating. I was very, very fortunate to be initially diagnosed by a very good endocrinologist in a college town. He was used to advising students who would be moving on, so he gave all his patients advice to carry with them for life-long treatment plans.
What he told me was that I was going to have a fight of sorts on my hands for the rest of my life. He said that I would always have to strive to be treated by doctors by my symptoms and not be test results numbers.
If you're struggling, but test normal, perhaps you have not been treated to your optimum level yet. For example, I know, through years of treatment, that my optimum TSH level needs to be 1.2 or lower. There is a WIDE range of "normal" readings above that, but I would still feel quite awful within those readings.
If you don't have a doctor who will listen to you and treat you to the symptoms? Find a better doctor. I've never had a problem. Good doctors know about this. Bad ones don't.
See, the thing about those spots bolded is that not everyone gets that lucky.
Not many "good" doctors out there.
I've been to 10 doctors now over the last 5 years telling them something wasn't right. They all until doctor number 9 and several thousands of dollars spent after insurance and a large, large chunk of it out of pocket to get answer just to get the stupid test above and beyond the TSH test.
Which as a newly diagnosed Hashimoto's but with nodules and damage that according to the endocrinologist I saw is at LEAST 10 + years old.
Just since January of this year I have had to drive to New Orleans to get a doctor willing to order the tests, he was out of network and because of the Obamacare no longer accepts insurance anyway. Then when I got the doctor after numerous hours of my own research to find this guy, paid $1500 to get blood work done, again in New Orleans through his lab.
Then I had to bring his diagnosis and stuff back to my home 3 hours away from New Orleans and get an appointment with my PCP to get the referral to the endocrinologist. I waited 8 weeks for that appointment.
To get told that my TSH was still in range. So no treatment despite my antibodies destroying my thyroid numbering >1000. Oh and that TSH his range is .378 to 4.579, my TSH that day 4.55, so he's not going to treat because I am .02 in "range".
I am currently seeking doctor number 11 and/or saving up to go back to the doctor in New Orleans and pay out of pocket $325 for an office visit that will require more labs, more current than the Jan 30 visit I had with him, so he will prescribe medication.
Not everyone gets a good doctor, not everyone gets that lucky. Some of us go YEARS, Literally YEARS and numerous doctors with Hashimoto's, before we can ever get the diagnosis, much less decent medical care.
I also tested positive to another autoimmune at the same time. Which makes sense, they typically travel in packs. I paid out of pocket for that test too.
Yes, losing weight is possible. but this is not as easy to manage as the literature would suggest, given that good doctors are as rare as finding a diamond mine in your backyard.
My worry would be that this one dr might be out for money, not that all the rest of the Dr's didn't know what they are talking about. Not saying that is the case, but I would worry that it might be.0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »Danilynn1975 wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »Something to add for food for thought for those of you finding things frustrating. I was very, very fortunate to be initially diagnosed by a very good endocrinologist in a college town. He was used to advising students who would be moving on, so he gave all his patients advice to carry with them for life-long treatment plans.
What he told me was that I was going to have a fight of sorts on my hands for the rest of my life. He said that I would always have to strive to be treated by doctors by my symptoms and not be test results numbers.
If you're struggling, but test normal, perhaps you have not been treated to your optimum level yet. For example, I know, through years of treatment, that my optimum TSH level needs to be 1.2 or lower. There is a WIDE range of "normal" readings above that, but I would still feel quite awful within those readings.
If you don't have a doctor who will listen to you and treat you to the symptoms? Find a better doctor. I've never had a problem. Good doctors know about this. Bad ones don't.
See, the thing about those spots bolded is that not everyone gets that lucky.
Not many "good" doctors out there.
I've been to 10 doctors now over the last 5 years telling them something wasn't right. They all until doctor number 9 and several thousands of dollars spent after insurance and a large, large chunk of it out of pocket to get answer just to get the stupid test above and beyond the TSH test.
Which as a newly diagnosed Hashimoto's but with nodules and damage that according to the endocrinologist I saw is at LEAST 10 + years old.
Just since January of this year I have had to drive to New Orleans to get a doctor willing to order the tests, he was out of network and because of the Obamacare no longer accepts insurance anyway. Then when I got the doctor after numerous hours of my own research to find this guy, paid $1500 to get blood work done, again in New Orleans through his lab.
Then I had to bring his diagnosis and stuff back to my home 3 hours away from New Orleans and get an appointment with my PCP to get the referral to the endocrinologist. I waited 8 weeks for that appointment.
To get told that my TSH was still in range. So no treatment despite my antibodies destroying my thyroid numbering >1000. Oh and that TSH his range is .378 to 4.579, my TSH that day 4.55, so he's not going to treat because I am .02 in "range".
I am currently seeking doctor number 11 and/or saving up to go back to the doctor in New Orleans and pay out of pocket $325 for an office visit that will require more labs, more current than the Jan 30 visit I had with him, so he will prescribe medication.
Not everyone gets a good doctor, not everyone gets that lucky. Some of us go YEARS, Literally YEARS and numerous doctors with Hashimoto's, before we can ever get the diagnosis, much less decent medical care.
I also tested positive to another autoimmune at the same time. Which makes sense, they typically travel in packs. I paid out of pocket for that test too.
Yes, losing weight is possible. but this is not as easy to manage as the literature would suggest, given that good doctors are as rare as finding a diamond mine in your backyard.
My worry would be that this one dr might be out for money, not that all the rest of the Dr's didn't know what they are talking about. Not saying that is the case, but I would worry that it might be.
It was my eye doctor who told me what to go ask to be tested when after losing all my eyelashes on the bottom lid and 90% of the top.
If you have another reason my eyelashes fell out, I'll be more than happy to check it out. I miss them and would like them back.
The endocrinologist did confirm via a needle into my throat and an ultrasound I do have Hashimoto's. But I only got that referral after the nurse practioner, my pcp, looked over the test results and said, I kid you not, huh, never thought to test your antibodies.0 -
I don't understand why an endocrinologist that you were referred to by your PCP would diagnose you with Hashimoto's and then refuse to treat you. What was his plan to deal with the Hashimoto's?0
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If you are being treated for a condition then that's great and I wish you all the best. However, the way you presented the story is why the outcome seems questionable. It seems that you self-diagnosed a problem, and then doctor-shopped until you found someone (who you paid) to agree with you. What is more likely? That you had ten bad doctors and one good one who had to be paid directly, or ten good doctors and one bad one who had to be paid directly?
Again, if you have a condition and are being treated then that's what matters and I wish you all the best.
I did look up the literature as you suggested. I used UpToDate which is a popular guidelines repository for physicians. The following is a direct quote from UpToDate on their article titled "Laboratory assessment of thyroid function."Presently there is considerable controversy as to the appropriate upper limit of normal for serum TSH. Most laboratories have used values of about 4.5 to 5.0 mU/L. A monograph published by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry argues that the upper limit of normal of the euthyroid reference range should be reduced to 2.5 mU/L because 95 percent of rigorously screened euthyroid volunteers have serum values between 0.4 and 2.5 mU/L [6]. However, a population study from Germany, which excluded patients with a positive family history, goiter, nodules, or positive anti-TPO antibodies, found a normal reference range of 0.3 to 3.63 mU/L [7]. The use of 2.5 mU/L as the upper limit of normal for serum TSH will increase substantially the number of patients in the United States diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. Presently, controversy exists as to whether patients with serum TSH values between 5 and 10 mU/L require treatment (see "Subclinical hypothyroidism"). Until there are data demonstrating an adverse biologic significance for serum TSH values between 2.5 and 5.0 mU/L, the wisdom of labeling such patients as hypothyroid is questionable.
It seems that the first ten docs were practising well within clinical guidelines and medical literature, whereas the final doc is pushing the limits of what is clinically acceptable. In twenty years that final doc (and those practising like him) may be proven to be a hero or a villain... but for now, the evidence is murky.
Good luck with your health and reaching your goals, truly! Self-advocacy is very important in health care.0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »I don't understand why an endocrinologist that you were referred to by your PCP would diagnose you with Hashimoto's and then refuse to treat you. What was his plan to deal with the Hashimoto's?
Cone back in 6 months for more blood work and an ultrasound. Take selenium and vit d 10,000 iu a week because my vitamin d test revealed my level is a 13, optimal range is supposed to be around 80.
Also found my iron levels are super low too.0 -
If you are being treated for a condition then that's great and I wish you all the best. However, the way you presented the story is why the outcome seems questionable. It seems that you self-diagnosed a problem, and then doctor-shopped until you found someone (who you paid) to agree with you. What is more likely? That you had ten bad doctors and one good one who had to be paid directly, or ten good doctors and one bad one who had to be paid directly?
Again, if you have a condition and are being treated then that's what matters and I wish you all the best.
I did look up the literature as you suggested. I used UpToDate which is a popular guidelines repository for physicians. The following is a direct quote from UpToDate on their article titled "Laboratory assessment of thyroid function."Presently there is considerable controversy as to the appropriate upper limit of normal for serum TSH. Most laboratories have used values of about 4.5 to 5.0 mU/L. A monograph published by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry argues that the upper limit of normal of the euthyroid reference range should be reduced to 2.5 mU/L because 95 percent of rigorously screened euthyroid volunteers have serum values between 0.4 and 2.5 mU/L [6]. However, a population study from Germany, which excluded patients with a positive family history, goiter, nodules, or positive anti-TPO antibodies, found a normal reference range of 0.3 to 3.63 mU/L [7]. The use of 2.5 mU/L as the upper limit of normal for serum TSH will increase substantially the number of patients in the United States diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. Presently, controversy exists as to whether patients with serum TSH values between 5 and 10 mU/L require treatment (see "Subclinical hypothyroidism"). Until there are data demonstrating an adverse biologic significance for serum TSH values between 2.5 and 5.0 mU/L, the wisdom of labeling such patients as hypothyroid is questionable.
It seems that the first ten docs were practising well within clinical guidelines and medical literature, whereas the final doc is pushing the limits of what is clinically acceptable. In twenty years that final doc (and those practising like him) may be proven to be a hero or a villain... but for now, the evidence is murky.
Good luck with your health and reaching your goals, truly! Self-advocacy is very important in health care.
Eyelashes are gone. Sort of speaks volumes something is wrong. The endocrinologist confirmed everything the New Orleans doctor found. Redundant blood work.0 -
You definitely need to up your vitamin D, that may be affecting your thyroid health. Take liquid drops, not chewable tablets or anything else. 5000 IU a day is what my dr has me on for a similar level.0
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Don't you think it's possible after 10 different doctors have tested you and told you you're not hypothyroid that... you're NOT hypothyroid?
It is possible. However, I had about that many gp's say "Oh a TSH of 5 is well within normal range. There is nothing wrong with your thyroid." Ignoring hairloss, weight gain, depression, dry skin, brain fog, constipation, brittle nails, constantly being cold, fatigue, anxiety attacks, insomnia, hypersomnia, lethargy, etc.... for over a decade until a doctor said "lets just see what happens to those symptoms on thyroxine" and tested me for Hashimotos. I'm not saying all GPs are like that, but lets be honest having the vague symptoms of hypothyroidism being ignored is not unusual.0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »Hashi's patient for 25 years here. Once you're properly medicated, losing weight is no different than anyone else. It's just a matter of monitoring your calories, creating a deficit, and exercising. Totally possible to lose weight.
I have other autoimmune diseases in addition to the Hashi's and have fatigue from one of them, so it's hard for me to tell when the Hashi's is acting up. I keep in pretty good touch with my endo because of it. I also moderate my carbs. It helps me keep my energy levels in check. I don't take them really low... just 150g at the highest. This isn't necessary for everyone with hypo-T, though.
Im pretty sure it's possible I've lost 32 pounds but now I feel like it's slowing no matter what . I don't log in my cardio or exercise anymore because I think it helps me to be more cautious on my calories . ( lol so I don't eat my hard work ) but hopefully the scale continues to move . Thank you so much
Weight loss slows down as you get closer to goal. Have you readjusted your goals through MFP recently?
Yes, I've lowered my calorie intake and upped my exercise. I've been losing like half a pound or so a month sometimes nothing isn't that pretty slow ? Or I don't know I've been exercising 5x a week I mean I can see a change in my muscles but not any loss0
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