Does anyone with Hashimoto's have a varying rate of weight loss?

four_bumblebees

I take levothyroxine 50mcg once daily, so my thyroid is still on its decline. Over the last ~3 weeks I've been losing weight 0.5 - 0.75 lbs/week faster than planned. I track daily weights in Libra. Looking back through Garmin Connect app, my physical activity has not changed and I'm working out less than before (family stuff going on). My caloric intake has also stayed the same. Initially I thought it was just a whoosh, but it's been going on a bit too long for that. I'm increasing calories to correct this issue, but given no correlating changes in intake or activity, I'm wondering if my Hashimoto's has changed. I know the autoimmune attack/inflammation can come and go a bit. Maybe I'm in a low-flare period and am actually a bit hyperthyroid right now?

I wanted to poll the crowd though. Has anyone else experienced similar? If it continues I will see my doctor of course!

spiriteagle99

If you are working out less, your body may not be retaining as much water to rebuild muscle.

It is also possible that with the weight you have lost, your body needs less levoxyl. When was the last time you were tested?

FWIW - I am hypothyroid and my body burns more calories than the average.

A few years ago I had my thyroid tested as usual and my medication was lowered. I was tested again, and my meds were increased, then a third test had them put back to where they had been before. Not sure what was going on, but I felt fine at the original dose so rather than see-saw back and forth, I decided to stick to the dose that seemed to work. OTOH, I'm currently having issues with energy, so that may not have been the right answer.

AnnPT77

I'm hypothyroid, but not Hashi's. IMU, Hashi's can involve fluctuating levels of thyroid hormones whereas changes in non-Hashi's are more likely to be gradual.

I'm not sure whether cycling thyroid hormone levels alone would account for 250-375 calories worth of calorie burn on average daily. (I had read that the difference between untreated and treated hypothyroidism might be up to around 5% difference in calorie needs.) If you are effectively hyper, there could be increased spontaneous movement without it being subjectively obvious, maybe, on top of any more metabolic effects.

Sometimes people do need an adjustment to thyroid med dosage after losing some weight, too. (I didn't, but I've seen people here say they did.) I've also seen a few say they need more calories when lighter in weight because they're more energetic, i.e., move more . . . perhaps in subtle ways.

But sometimes bodies are just temporarily weird, seems like; and scale weight can fluctuate for little or no obvious reason over a small number of weeks.

If you develop any other symptoms of hyperthyroidism - heart palpitations, trouble sleeping, anxiety, digestive issues, etc. - I'd suggest contacting your doctor sooner rather than later.

Otherwise, re-testing is probably a good idea to see if it's thyroid-related.

four_bumblebees

Thank you, thanks a good point about weight loss and possible dose changes. I was tested last October I believe, before I started losing weight.

I don't think it's decreased water retention, just because I've lost more than I typically retain + expected rate of loss.

My doctor has a standing order for TSH so maybe I'll get that done in a few weeks if it's still an issue.

Thanks again!