Low Thyroid

robynrae_1

Try reducing your carb intake. You want to keep the "good" fats in your diet to help you feel full. I do much better when I cut carbs.

andestep

Hang in there. I just got diagnosed with Hashimoto's 2 months ago. At the time I was eating 1200 calories a day and exercising 2 hours a day to try to lose weight (I've gained 70 pounds in the last 4 years) I was barely maintaining my weight on that program. When I finally saw my endocrinologist she told me I was doing an excessive amount of diet and exercise and told me to eat 1500-1800 calories a day and exercise for 1 hour a day. two months later I'm 10 pounds heavier and for the record usually keep my net calories around 1500 or less. So I know that thyroid issues make losing weight a totally different situation for us. I wish I had the answers but doing a sensible problem just doesn't cut it for us with Hashi's. My friend has Hashi's and her weight is up and down but in the 50-70 pound range and she does everything you're "supposed" to do. Recently I've been reading about wheat and sugar sensitivities for people with Hashi's and so you might research that or see an allergist. My trainer at the rec center says people with low thyroid should avoid sugars and anything that comes from a package because they're so sensitive to sodium and water retention. just a few thoughts. Obviously I don't have it figured out but I'm not giving up and neither should you!

Sierrarain86

I've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism for 8 years. Im taking Synthroid. My advice is to find an endo that works with a lot of thyroid patients and understands it! A lot of endocrinologist deal with diabetes patients and spend a lot of their time researching that. I feel they forget about us with the bum thyroid. Having Drs that don't understand or look at each patients on an case by case level. I have a Nodule growing on mine that i have to have monitored every few months. this could have been fine if my past drs would have checked all my levels thoroughly, that being said find a good Dr & Do your own research! the better prepared you are when you go in there the more serious they will take you. Print up what you find if its to hard to remember everything! I've learned a lot from reading articles i find online. even if it has nothing to do with losing weight just feeling better is great. I've found its very hard to lose weight with my low thyroid levels. Its very easy to get discouraged cause we have to work out and diet much harder then your average person. The pounds shed slowly, but, Im confident that with proper medications, diet and exercise they will all come off! I found some articles the other night online thought I'd share!

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/losingweight.htm

http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/ss/dietsecrets.htm

Im going to try the approach that they talk about with insulin resistance. Hoping I'll have better luck with losing the weight!:happy:

purple1butterfly

A friend of mine posted this on facebook for us all to read, i thought i would share this article http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/soy dangers.htm.
I have been told by my doc that i am borderline on my thyroid so i have to wait 6wks and have another blood test done to compare them. My mum told me gran has it & mum thinks she is borderline & so is my sister. I had no idea till i told her my results. so i will just have to wait & see.

kriswigg

Anyone out there who is a Thyroid cancer survivor? Technically, I am hypothyroid, since I've had mine removed, but at the med. levels they have me on, it would look on paper as if I'm HYPERthyroid. Talk about confusing. I never had a wieght problem until the combination of two pregnancies and the cancer. According to the food diary I started, I'm not eating enough calories, yet I can't lose any weight and have a really hard time fitting in excercise. I'm gonna start making it a priority though. Any one have a similar story and ideas?

fittocycle

I'm glad I'm not alone with hypothyroidism. Seems like there are lots of others out there dealing with the same condition!

I have a question for you all. Do you eat the calories you earn working out? I know everyone recommends you do, but with a sluggish thyroid, I wondered if it made a difference.

grumpyswife123

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism/ Hashimoto's disease 12 years ago. Although it is more difficult to lose weight, it is not impossible. I comes off slower than most and goes up easier than most, but it can be done. As long as your meds are adjusted to your normal levels. Hang in there. Don't give up

Marll

Any tips on how to get to talk to an Endo doc? I know that a lot of insurance companies won't let you see a specialist until your family Dr. refers you.

My wife had her blood tested, and it's "normal", but on an extensive checklist of symptoms she has no less than 37 symptoms currently, and has always struggled with weight.

maeghanalyson

I didn't read all of the responses so I'm sorry if this is repetitive but I wanted to add my two cents.

You need to see an Endocrinologist. I strongly suggest this because they are the only ones who really know the right tests to run. An Endo needs to be managing your synthroid as well. I started out with hyperthyroidism then went to hypothriodism. I the was diagnosed with Hashimotos. The goiter (enlarged thyroid) got much much bigger. I had surgery to have it out because it got so big it was blocking my air way. AFter they took it out I got diagnoised with thyroid cancer.My body went through hell but I learned an important lesson. Don't let your PCP run you thyroid care. How often are they checking your levels? Are you on any medication for it?

maeghanalyson

Any tips on how to get to talk to an Endo doc? I know that a lot of insurance companies won't let you see a specialist until your family Dr. refers you.

My wife had her blood tested, and it's "normal", but on an extensive checklist of symptoms she has no less than 37 symptoms currently, and has always struggled with weight.

The normal blood work done by most PCP's do not cover the full range of the thyroid. You need more than just the basic panel for a dx. The normal tests always came back normal for me as well. I would get in wiht an Endo any way you can even if it means paying ut of pocket or find a new PCP that will listen to your concerns.

Marll

As an update, I went over the list with her last night and she filled in a few more check boxes that I didn't really know about.

Out of 80 listed symptoms she had 52 of them. I'd say that should be a red flag right there!

Marll

So, our family doctor refused to give a referral to Endo. Says the tests are "normal" so nothing warrants giving a referral. Never mind the 52 symptoms that she has, probably just imagining it....

I hate doctors.

Neach

Thank you all for your posts and your information.

I turned 40 7 years ago and my body went into revolt!!!

I have had problems with weight loss ever since. It seems I am steadily climbing and not really able to lose despite my best efforts. I am constantly falling asleep - on the bus home, in the car going anywhere I am not fussy. I can't continue to call my weight problems - baby fat because I had 3 children but a glandular condition is not really good either.

I am on a very low does of Synthroid but it is just not working. It helps with my period problems but not with my sleepiness nor my weight loss. I get very discouraged when I work out. I joined Curves for 6 months, watched what I ate, did what I thought was everything right and I lost only about 3 pounds. I was so discouraged - I stopped everything and did not gain anymore weight. So I thought what is the point of this!!

I joined this MFP within the last month and this blog is the first time I feel that someone gets my problem. I will make another appointment with my doctor to test what are good points made by you. Hypothyroidism runs throughout my entire family. I would love to be friends with you ladies. I feel your support already.

Thanks for posting!!

kriswigg

to Marll:
Can you go around your dr.? If your insurance doesn't require a referral, you should find an endo yourself. Or, you might try calling your insurance co. If you feel there is a problem, and your dr will not cooperate, they may be able to work something out for you. It's worth a phone call.

Marll

We are self referring to Endo, though I fear a lot of the same nonsense from them. The usual "your tests are normal". I'm compiling research and the types of tests that should be conducted so that my wife (and I'll probably accompany her, as Drs. have a way of steamrolling her) can go in armed with enough info so they don't try to sweep it under the rug.

They are doing the usual Dr. jig too symptoms are caused by being overweight and you should see a rhumetologist for some other blood work that came back odd (never mind that many rhumetological symptoms stem from thyroid...)

All in all this is the typical overly cautious "We don't want to do anything drastic, so we'll do nothing at all" approach that doctors in this country have gotten into lately and it's doing way more harm than anyone will realize.