Have You Experienced Weight Gain on Thyroid Meds?

kirdyq

Hi everyone.

Back in early Feb, my husband and I started going to an integrative health care provider. My hubby was having issues he was struggling with, and I had just gone through a painful prior year which culminated in September of 2021 with a diagnosis of stage 3 endometriosis - and at that time I had an endometriosis excision surgery. I was still feeling tired, worn out, brain fog, and constantly bloated. So I decided to get checked out too.

They did a multitude of every sort of blood test on us. I ended up getting put on a testosterone cream as I showed low T, magnesium, and a vitamin for adrenal fatigue. They also started me on levothyroxine, as my thyroid labs were not in the optimal range (although they were in the reference range). We went back in June for a checkup. I told them that I'd been sleeping SO much better, brain fog had cleared, and felt more energetic. However, I'd noticed that I started to gradually put on weight since February. They suggested that I go ahead and start taking liothyronine (another thyroid T3 pill) in addition to the levo. And also add in a fish oil supplement. So I did. My weight has continued to creep up. Despite eating basically the same as always and exercising. I contacted the APN I see via email and voiced concern as my next check isn't until December. Also as a TMI, I started getting the most extremely tender breasts starting at ovulation and lasting until my period. Like more tender than during pregnancy. She suggested that I start taking something called EstroDIM from Ortho Molecular to help potentially with estrogen symptoms. So I've been taking that as well now too. For a few weeks.

I'm not noticing any reduction in my weight back to where my old baseline was. I'm a little concerned that perhaps one of the prescriptions I'm taking - maybe the thyroid pills - are causing me to somehow slowly put on pounds.

I'm just curious if any of you have experienced anything like this? I feel like I may need to bump up my December visit with the APN to sooner. I'm really unhappy and starting to have trouble fitting into my clothes.

spiriteagle99

The levoxyl shouldn't be the culprit. I've been on it for years and it helped me lose weight when I first started it but since then I've been up or down depending on food and exercise, not medication.

SuzanneC1l9zz

I gain weight if I STOP my thyroid meds, not FROM them!

paperpudding

No.

Had one side of thyroid removed in 2016, Went on thyroxine replacement.

Was already maintaining after getting to goal weight - made no difference to that.

kirdyq

This is good to know - I appreciate your comments. Just so curious what's up with me. Hmmm. I had put on just a couple pounds after my surgery, which seemed reasonable to me given I had two abdominal hernias repaired at the same time, and had to somewhat chill with activities. That was leveled out though. As soon as I started with all these different meds and supplements - things started to climb! I can see it in my charting through myfitness pal. It's nice having the charts/tracking to look back on. Something is up. I need to figure it out.

cmriverside

I've been on levo for decades. If you're in range, you shouldn't have trouble losing weight.

Are you logging your food every day? Weight is about calories. . . figure out how to cut back a little.

claireychn074

Just a thought, with your surgery and meds treating your issues, you’re probably feeling much better now. That can lead to (unnoticed) increased activity which can also lead to bigger appetite I.e. maybe you now feel well enough to do those jobs you lacked energy for, and your body responds by being hungry?

yirara

claireychn074 wrote: »

Just a thought, with your surgery and meds treating your issues, you’re probably feeling much better now. That can lead to (unnoticed) increased activity which can also lead to bigger appetite I.e. maybe you now feel well enough to do those jobs you lacked energy for, and your body responds by being hungry?

Something like that. Or like me: I get utterly restless when I'm very low in energy. As in: lots of fidgeting, suddenly jumping up and walking around, etc. I'm overall much calmer when my thyroid meds are spot on. But I might be an exception here.

kirdyq

These are all good points. And I have been tracking, yes, and will continue on with that. It's just very odd in my charting how my increase in weight began when I started taking the various items that they recommended. I feel a bit confused b/c I'd really only been taking a daily vitamin and Vit D prior to all of this (I'd had tests showing I needed it, and have been at a healthy range with it for years using a supplement). But they had me start taking so many things at the same time...it's kinda hard knowing if it's just one or two things that have improved sleep/energy, etc...or a combo. And also...WHAT (if anything) might be causing this weird (although not massive) increase in weight. I'm just uncomfortable in my clothes and I hate it. LOL. I know that with hormones, there is a lot to consider. The convert to different things, sometimes don't convert how you want, etc. Like...I started doing testosterone cream. Pardon my not 100% spot on terms, but I know that testosterone in some ways converts to a form of estrogen. So...am I already having issues with estrogen dominance due to endometriosis (I have a long history of horrible periods, cramping, I've had to have and ablation, grapefruit size ovarian cysts, and about 5 years ago I was hospitalized b/c I developed a blood clot in my head due to estrogen containing birth control)....and maybe throwing this testosterone in...am I tipping myself over some breaking point. They tested both my estrogen and progesterone, as I know those are optimal at a certain ratio at differing times of your cycle. However, I'm not sure they went of the specifics of when they actually drew blood vs. the ratio. And then I'm taking the thyroid pills b/c I was slightly off there. They just started me on the levo, but at my follow up when I brought up how my weight had started increasing...she added in the Cytomel. I know that sometimes your thyroid stuff (like T4) doesn't always convert over into the T3 correctly, or sometimes the reverse T3 is out of whack. Also, all things that they tested, but haven't had the thyroid tests again since starting the Cytomel. Also add in that they started magnesium, adrenal vitamins, and fish oil for imflammation. It's just all confusing when you are taking hardly any pills...then you start taking handfuls of things a day.

cmriverside

Maybe you could visit an endocrinologist. "Functional medicine" will just keep adding more and more supplements if you keep going back.

I mean, if you hurt your arm, a surgeon will suggest surgery, ya know? A chiropractor will tell you "adjustments!" and a physical therapist will start with exercise.

I stopped taking all the pills and potions my doctor(s) prescribed (except levo, I agree I need that) started eating a nutritious plan, started regular exercise, lost weight, and my life actually improved in every way.

sollyn23l2

kirdyq wrote: »

These are all good points. And I have been tracking, yes, and will continue on with that. It's just very odd in my charting how my increase in weight began when I started taking the various items that they recommended. I feel a bit confused b/c I'd really only been taking a daily vitamin and Vit D prior to all of this (I'd had tests showing I needed it, and have been at a healthy range with it for years using a supplement). But they had me start taking so many things at the same time...it's kinda hard knowing if it's just one or two things that have improved sleep/energy, etc...or a combo. And also...WHAT (if anything) might be causing this weird (although not massive) increase in weight. I'm just uncomfortable in my clothes and I hate it. LOL. I know that with hormones, there is a lot to consider. The convert to different things, sometimes don't convert how you want, etc. Like...I started doing testosterone cream. Pardon my not 100% spot on terms, but I know that testosterone in some ways converts to a form of estrogen. So...am I already having issues with estrogen dominance due to endometriosis (I have a long history of horrible periods, cramping, I've had to have and ablation, grapefruit size ovarian cysts, and about 5 years ago I was hospitalized b/c I developed a blood clot in my head due to estrogen containing birth control)....and maybe throwing this testosterone in...am I tipping myself over some breaking point. They tested both my estrogen and progesterone, as I know those are optimal at a certain ratio at differing times of your cycle. However, I'm not sure they went of the specifics of when they actually drew blood vs. the ratio. And then I'm taking the thyroid pills b/c I was slightly off there. They just started me on the levo, but at my follow up when I brought up how my weight had started increasing...she added in the Cytomel. I know that sometimes your thyroid stuff (like T4) doesn't always convert over into the T3 correctly, or sometimes the reverse T3 is out of whack. Also, all things that they tested, but haven't had the thyroid tests again since starting the Cytomel. Also add in that they started magnesium, adrenal vitamins, and fish oil for imflammation. It's just all confusing when you are taking hardly any pills...then you start taking handfuls of things a day.

If you started cytomel, you really need to retest. These are real medications, not just vitamins and "supplements" as a previous poster stated. But no, the thyroid meds are highly unlikely to cause weight gain. If anything, they would cause weight loss. Testosterone, however, can cause weight gain.