Underactive thyroid help
suenewberry81
Posts: 241 Member
Anyone struggled to lose weight with having an underactive thyroid? And did it get better after given medication?
Not sure if I have thyroid problems got doctors booked but I have a lot of the symptoms
If I don't have any problems then I will be shocked and there must be something else wrong
Not sure if I have thyroid problems got doctors booked but I have a lot of the symptoms
If I don't have any problems then I will be shocked and there must be something else wrong
0
Replies
-
Once you're on the correct medication losing weight is the same as losing weight without hypothyroidism.
-43lbs and counting!4 -
Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly0
-
even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)2
-
deannalfisher wrote: »even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)
No. Even a small dose -- ever notice how tiny even a full replacement dose is? -- can throw someone with a normal thyroid into the opposite situation, which has its own risks.
By all means ask for T3 and T4 to be checked separately if you have no confidence in the TSH number by itself, but experimentation with hormones just to see what they might do is asking for trouble.1 -
I would ask for free T3, free T4 and TSH. Free T's should be in the 50-75% range of the normal range and TSH should be very close to 1. Do net get T4, T3 or total T4 or total T3 - they aren't as useful. Those should give you an idea of how things are.
I have been able to lose with untreated hypothyroidism and treated hypothyroidism. What makes it hard for me is when my levels change. For instance, this fall my thyroid slowed again. It was a subtle change but I was a bit more tired, eating a bit more for energy and my metabolism slowed (body temp below 97 F again). I put on almost 10 lbs without much of a dietary change. Once I increased my meds, I started losing again.0 -
I feel ever since I was sterilised and had my tubes clamped I've slowly got worse and feel rubbish and I've heard a few people say they've had thyroid problems after sterilisation
Was ok for the first yr but I've gained 2 stone in a yr my periods have gone from spot on date and even time to being a week later every months for the last 5 months
Really tired, hair breaking, nails splitting eyebrows really thin, grumpy all the time and very snappy, muscles in my foot legs and back and hands are really painful
Because I want to see the best doctor the earliest appointment is on the 24th April0 -
Please try to read into the situation for yourself, you mention your symptoms so you probably have been doing some research. You could try these sites, stop the thyroid madness, (STTM) some say it is pro natural thyroid treatments but it gives a good background to the problem. Being hypo will probably also mean having Hashimoto's thyroiditis where antibodies are formed and cause issues, not all doctors test for these and many do not see a reason to try to reduce them either. There are also national thyroid support sites, I've looked at several and they all give good information. The Hypothyroid Mom, (close up spaces) also gives a wealth of information, including a list of 300 possible symptoms. Some of us have more than others but nothing like the full list. (Big Relief) I've lived with being under informed for what felt like a life time. Those of us who have difficulty achieving a good diagnosis present with least often associated symptoms or ones regularly found with other conditions.
The prevalent treatment offered is t4 supplement, this can be very effective for some who's body is able to convert it into t3 the more active form, this requires minerals and vitamins which some of us lack because our digestive tracts are on a go slow. Much depends on how longstanding your issue is. T3 is sometimes offered to patients usually in combination with t4 this helps others who are fortunate to find someone who knows their subject. The other product is Natural Desiccated Thyroid, it is taken from animals (specially kept) and is a combination of t4 and t3, most modern doctors do not like this. It is said it is inconsistent but to fulfil the regulations it has to conform to their stipulations. European doctors are restricted if not actually prevented from using this product tough it was used widely and effetely in the early to mid 20th C. Many countries have their own prescribing issues too. Once you achieve a good form of treatment, what suits you, it is advisable not to change the brand because there can be different fillers or binders at very best which can change the effects. The NDT products are made with different amounts of hormone so it pays to read the very small print.
The treatment you need will/should, depend on the blood tests taken, t4, t3 in available forms, the tsh is usually taken and may be helpful but it takes someone with a real interest to get to the bottom of a persons issues properly. it can indicate the feedback loups of the TPA axis. Achieving a good level dose for you particularly, can take a while to achieve it will require repeat tests at intervals. We are all different with one umbrella condition.
If you can wade through information as it relates to you and your particular symptoms this will help you when you talk to your doctor. I have to confess my local (UK) doctor and endocrinologist have a totally different take to that of a Professor of Immunology I encountered so I wish you the best of good fortune. Take notes from what you have read and log the flow of your symptoms and probably take, print off your food log too. I wish you all the very best and hope you hit the jackpot first try. Thyroid conditions when/if your symptoms are out of the ordinary is not a good place to be, I'm so very sorry it is not always as simple as many seem to think. I'm of the opinion it does not help one (me) to be taken seriously if weight is seen as the only issue, usually by the doctors who repeatedly did not listen.1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)
No. Even a small dose -- ever notice how tiny even a full replacement dose is? -- can throw someone with a normal thyroid into the opposite situation, which has its own risks.
By all means ask for T3 and T4 to be checked separately if you have no confidence in the TSH number by itself, but experimentation with hormones just to see what they might do is asking for trouble.
Yes I do know and having undiagnosed hashimoto's then then thyroid cancer for several years because my blood work was 'normal' is why I say that
I have to wonder if I would be having the issues I have now and continue to have if someone had listened to me early on rather than just telling me I was fine because my lab work was 'normal'1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)
No. Even a small dose -- ever notice how tiny even a full replacement dose is? -- can throw someone with a normal thyroid into the opposite situation, which has its own risks.
By all means ask for T3 and T4 to be checked separately if you have no confidence in the TSH number by itself, but experimentation with hormones just to see what they might do is asking for trouble.
Yes I do know and having undiagnosed hashimoto's then then thyroid cancer for several years because my blood work was 'normal' is why I say that
I have to wonder if I would be having the issues I have now and continue to have if someone had listened to me early on rather than just telling me I was fine because my lab work was 'normal'
Unless we're going to jump to the conclusion that OP has thyroid cancer, we still don't do this.
Sometimes the best a doctor can do in some kind of unusual presentation of symptoms is to say "I don't know." Which is why it took them over half a year to diagnose my shoulder injury correctly, for instance. That's just how it is sometimes.
What you're advocating here is for doctors to diagnose conditions by throwing drugs at them to see which ones work. That is exceptionally risky.0 -
I have been on thyroxine for years, you can still lose when properly medicated2
-
I have to work overtime to lose weight! I am losing, but it takes daily exercise and constant vigilance on my eating. I'm doing Mediterranean with absolutely no sugar or refined carbs and nothing fried. Today I lunched at my favorite Mexican restaurant. My friends had chips and that oh-so-good creamy dip. I bit the bullet and had no chips. I ordered a grilled chicken salad with oil/vinegar and no croutons and a side of beans. I drank unsweetened tea. I was so full I couldn't finish the lettuce! So losing weight is possible with hypothyroidism, but it takes more effort.0
-
deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)
No. Even a small dose -- ever notice how tiny even a full replacement dose is? -- can throw someone with a normal thyroid into the opposite situation, which has its own risks.
By all means ask for T3 and T4 to be checked separately if you have no confidence in the TSH number by itself, but experimentation with hormones just to see what they might do is asking for trouble.
Yes I do know and having undiagnosed hashimoto's then then thyroid cancer for several years because my blood work was 'normal' is why I say that
I have to wonder if I would be having the issues I have now and continue to have if someone had listened to me early on rather than just telling me I was fine because my lab work was 'normal'
Unless we're going to jump to the conclusion that OP has thyroid cancer, we still don't do this.
Sometimes the best a doctor can do in some kind of unusual presentation of symptoms is to say "I don't know." Which is why it took them over half a year to diagnose my shoulder injury correctly, for instance. That's just how it is sometimes.
What you're advocating here is for doctors to diagnose conditions by throwing drugs at them to see which ones work. That is exceptionally risky.
I'm advocating that there is a huge range of normal for thyroid results and that just because blood work might be normal but not an individual person's normal0 -
-
deannalfisher wrote: »even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)
No. Even a small dose -- ever notice how tiny even a full replacement dose is? -- can throw someone with a normal thyroid into the opposite situation, which has its own risks.
Heart arrhythmia! And then you take cold medicine with a decongestant (these raise blood pressure and heart rate) and end up in the hospital. Not fun! Thanks to my sister for the memories.
0 -
See the doctor. Let them do a medical work up.
You don't even know if the issue is hypothyroidism yet. It's important not to self diagnose (guess) and get too invested in a particular diagnosis.
Wait and see what the doctor suggests.1 -
suenewberry81 wrote: »Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly
Why would you hope for something to be wrong?0 -
suenewberry81 wrote: »Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly
Why would you hope for something to be wrong?
My guess is that they mean that they KNOW something is wrong and they hope that the problem can be discovered, and then corrected.0 -
suenewberry81 wrote: »Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly
Why would you hope for something to be wrong?
My guess is that they mean that they KNOW something is wrong and they hope that the problem can be discovered, and then corrected.
I disagree.suenewberry81 wrote: »Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly
To be blunt, it sounds like they want a reason (other than just over eating) for their weight gain; and want an easy way out instead of taking responsibility. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is how it is coming across to me.2 -
suenewberry81 wrote: »Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly
Why would you hope for something to be wrong?
My guess is that they mean that they KNOW something is wrong and they hope that the problem can be discovered, and then corrected.
I disagree.suenewberry81 wrote: »Just hope they find something wrong and can put me on meds asap! I feel awful and gaining weight rapidly
To be blunt, it sounds like they want a reason (other than just over eating) for their weight gain; and want an easy way out instead of taking responsibility. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is how it is coming across to me.
Just to add: I would be much happier to learn that I was just overeating than being diagnosed with a serious medical condition. Can't imagine why someone would want the opposite.2 -
deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »even if they say your blood work is normal ask them to consider putting you on a small dose - there is a HUGE range that constitutes normal (.5 to 4.5 in TSH) - I was normal for years but had hypo symptoms - took a doc finally listening to me - we keep my TSH low (right on the extreme low cusp and my T4 high)
No. Even a small dose -- ever notice how tiny even a full replacement dose is? -- can throw someone with a normal thyroid into the opposite situation, which has its own risks.
By all means ask for T3 and T4 to be checked separately if you have no confidence in the TSH number by itself, but experimentation with hormones just to see what they might do is asking for trouble.
Yes I do know and having undiagnosed hashimoto's then then thyroid cancer for several years because my blood work was 'normal' is why I say that
I have to wonder if I would be having the issues I have now and continue to have if someone had listened to me early on rather than just telling me I was fine because my lab work was 'normal'
Unless we're going to jump to the conclusion that OP has thyroid cancer, we still don't do this.
Sometimes the best a doctor can do in some kind of unusual presentation of symptoms is to say "I don't know." Which is why it took them over half a year to diagnose my shoulder injury correctly, for instance. That's just how it is sometimes.
What you're advocating here is for doctors to diagnose conditions by throwing drugs at them to see which ones work. That is exceptionally risky.
I'm advocating that there is a huge range of normal for thyroid results and that just because blood work might be normal but not an individual person's normal
You're advocating diagnosis by pharmacy. What you claim to be "advocating" might be the case, but it's not a conclusion anyone can leap to without eliminating other possibilities first.0 -
When one has covered all the obvious bases, weighing and counting, and still does not achieve weight loss or other aim like feeling better in oneself, it is natural to turn to another possible answer. Unfortunately coming up with a possible thyroid condition is as unsatisfactory as its possible to be. imv.
STTM, is of the view, the numbers, the ranges are probably off. It seems the information taken with the blood samples did not reflect the thyroid status of the person, known familial thyroid state and personal known thyroid state which is crucial for setting up the baselines. The samples from persons without known problems would have set a better base line. Then, do we ever know our best thyroid levels by the time we start being tested we are probably rather compromised. Finding the best place, health wise for oneself takes dedication for many.
I'm pleased for those who are able to achieve good results with relative ease. I feel deeply for those, like me for whom life has been one continual struggle from a very early age, symptoms being dismissed as normal and for whom there is no simple answer now because other things are so far off and need fixing too.0 -
TheJourneyToFabulous wrote: »I have been on thyroxine for years, you can still lose when properly medicated
Just wondering do you know how low your levels of t3 t4 were?
0 -
Theoretically a doctor and/or endocrinologist should test for t3 and t4 as well as tsh before they start to treat. Unfortunately some people have what are called reverse t3 which should also be tested. The reverse t3 are unavailable to our cells and so do not count and should be shown as different from available t3. I understand the purpose of treating with t4 is to give the body something to convert into t3 for the body to use properly. This makes those original numbers helpful at subsequent testing so any improvement in available t3 can be registered. Different labs use slightly different ranges which may complicate things. If the lab gives total t3 but does not test reverse/unavailable t3 which needs to be deducted from total t3 to give the available amount. The t4 supplement would be increased or lowered depending on results, hope this makes sense.
If someone is really lucky they are tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies which can contribute to conversion issues. Only testing for for antibodies which indicate either Hasimoto's Thyroiditis or Graves will confirm autoimmunity. Hashi is the common hypo/low form; when it starts it does so a range of symptoms but with normal numbers and intermittent phases of fluctuation from low to normal for the person to hyper in no particular order. Graves is hyper over activity, not in my sphere of knowledge.
Often the cause of the hashi antibody activity is food related, not every particle is reduced adequately to be small enough to pass through the semipermeable lining of the digestive tract but does so, then it becomes misidentified by the immune system as being, of not ourselves but too similar to some of our own tissue, usually the thyroid gland but it can compromise other tissue mistakenly too causing inflammation. If one is given allergy/intolerance testing these will give a strong indication of where the issue stems and the objective is then to support the thyroid as well as taking steps to reduce the antibodies but this is in the best of all possible worlds.
Sorry this is probably too much information. hope it makes sense too. Its an off day for me.0 -
I have low thyroid. I had all the symtoms thinning hair, fatigue, and gaining weight no matter how little I ate. I had a full thyroid workup. Fortunately, my Doctor found the correct dosage of medication. Now when I want/need to lose weight I can. Basically I am now at a normal weight for my height. I use the fitness pal to keep me accountable as I do like junk food and things can easily get out of hand if you don't keep tabs. The hair loss and fatigue all got better. I get a blood test every year to make sure i don't need a change in my dosaage. See a Doctor, help is on the way2
-
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »TheJourneyToFabulous wrote: »I have been on thyroxine for years, you can still lose when properly medicated
Just wondering do you know how low your levels of t3 t4 were?
Not sure to be honest, I know i was low but I take 125mg of tablets0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.7K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions