Hypothyroidism from thyroid surgery, trying to lose weight while studying abroad!

erinhollander

Hello everyone,

Long story short, I only have half a thyroid because it was thought that I had thyroid cancer. I don't, thankfully enough, but the whole ordeal has left me with a malfunctioning thyroid and an autoimmune disorder which is likely to make it worse. I take thyroid medication, but I am still struggling with gaining weight since my surgery eleven months ago. Just in the past few weeks I can tell I have gained weight though my appetite has decreased, suggesting that my metabolism has crashed again.

My thyroid medication probably needs to be upped, but as I am currently studying abroad in England, I won't be able to get it checked for another month and a half! Help, how do I survive the remaining time and not gain more weight? I eat healthy and exercise 45 minutes every other day, and walk like ten miles when I am travelling on the weekends, but apparently that is not enough for my darn hypothyroidism. I am 20 years old, 5'3, and probably 135 at this point though I don't have access to a scale. I was 125 before the surgery. I was warned that this would probably happen, but I don't have to like it!

Any suggestions on how to (a) increase my metabolism and (b) lose weight while hypo?

Thanks!

lindsey1979

This is really hard. I'm so sorry to hear it. I too have an autoimmune based thyroid disorder, so it's rough. Before I was diagnosed (though I'd suspected it for years before) the only thing that I found to help was eating a Paleo diet. I started very strict Paleo and then slowly started to add things back in once I could find I tolerate it pretty well.

For me, looking back, I guess it wasn't so much Paleo but more likely eliminating gluten and reducing added sugar. I also tend to keep carbs on the lower side as I struggle with blood sugar issues as well -- so most of my carbs come from veggies and fruit. I found that when I cut back on my added sugar (which I discovered by scrupulously tracking and the Paleo diet), I felt a LOT better. I still really like all the good fats and protein on Paleo, but I think it was getting rid of gluten and getting rid of a lot of my added sugar that was the key (which naturally happens when you go Paleo).

It certainly wasn't as good once I actually got full treatment too (then it truly was like night and day), but the diet changes were key for me. I still eat a Primal diet, just not quite as strict as strict Paleo.

Kalikel

Can't you visit a doctor in England? It's not like they're a third-world country. I'm sure they can run a thyroid panel! Any doctor can do that here, so I assume any doctor could do that there.

Call some up, explain the situation. It's a short appointment, so I'm sure someone could squeeze you in.

Yi5hedr3

Don't increase meds - instead, feed your Thyroid properly!! Take Iodine!!! 1 ea. Iodoral caplet daily, to be precise. You might even be able to get off the meds prescribed by Dr, Quak at some point.