Hypothyroidism + PCOS = Weight Loss Woes

1234lbsgone

Ahhh, ok. Is there a reason why he went with T3 instead? Did he suspect you had an issue converting T4 to T3?

Sorry to grill, I just like to get as much info as I can. Sometimes doctors speak so quickly and rushed that I don't actually get to learn what I need/want to.

No it's cool. He used to spend 2-3 hours with me talking about this stuff and drawing diagrams, talking about food and exercize. He let me chime in when he had students there, he'd ask a question of the students and they would all be silent. I would raise my hand and say "I know, I know!" LOL Every appointment felt like I was a medical student. I loved him, so sorry he had to retire and go to Florida. LOL

He did it because I had gained so much weight so quickly and had been misdiagnosed AND have anorexia. The T3 absorbs quicker I guess and it worked faster. Plus he suspected that I was misfiring hormones, which was why my test results were so sporatic. I was misfiring alot of things, like adreneline, and having panic attacks. Happened to be something he spent his career researching at the University, so I got lucky there. No other doctor since has been able to grasp it. He did suspect that I was having trouble converting to T3, so he decided to "cut to the chase"- his words, lol.

rhichi

Oh man...I wish I had your doctor. I had a really great one, but he was pediatric so I only got to see him for a little while.

I also have the adrenaline problems and the panic (I started having panic attacks at 8, when all this started. It was horrible, and I only recently got over them with the help of an amazing therapist at my school), but I mostly have that under control now.

Did he have any advice about things like getting exercise even when you're really tired? That's my major problem. I just can't force myself to go do something active, and if I do, I end up feeling really sick or inordinately injured afterwards.

1234lbsgone

I have to get out of class now. I'll be back later on when I get home. Feel free to add me if you want.

1234lbsgone

Oh man...I wish I had your doctor. I had a really great one, but he was pediatric so I only got to see him for a little while.

I also have the adrenaline problems and the panic (I started having panic attacks at 8, when all this started. It was horrible, and I only recently got over them with the help of an amazing therapist at my school), but I mostly have that under control now.

Did he have any advice about things like getting exercise even when you're really tired? That's my major problem. I just can't force myself to go do something active, and if I do, I end up feeling really sick or inordinately injured afterwards.

When I first went to see this guy, my eating habits were impeccable. I had been gaining so much weight and the regular doctors I was seeing insisted that there was no reason for me to gain weight unless I was eating too much. I have been battling anorexia my whole life so what they accused me of was irrational. I took it personally and was researching diet and logging everything on here. By the time I got to him, I was practically a nutritionist. I printed months worth of reports from here and was dillegent about logging everything. I truly believe that that is the main reason he treated me the way he did and as aggresively as he did. Because I was practically insane with information by then from being misdiagnosed so many times.

As far as energy, combining the almost perfect diet with the Cytomel, I had energy within the first month. I felt like a new person. I can't even describe the difference. It was like all of a sudden, I came to life. The more I moved, the better I felt. The better I felt, the more I did. The more I did, the the more I moved. It took time and I have a tendency to go too far and then crash. So I had to learn balance. He recommended waking up and exercizing for 30 minutes. Exercize of any kind at first, no matter how easy. Even just 15 minutes to start. Just to get into the habit. Plus, he recommended first taking the cytomel as soon as I wake up, then working out, THEN eating a big breakfast and never going longer than 4-5 hours without eating something. I swear, it was more habit than medicine that has helped me. He said that working large muscle groups, like the thighs, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, released a specific hormone that did something spectacular for energy and metabolism throughout the day. (I don't remember the details, but regardless, the habit was the clencher.)

I understand what you are describing EXACTLY! It's a horrible feeling. When you crash, you crash hard and it's hard to even move. It messes with your head. On top of it being physically debillitating, its emotionally crippling. I want to hug you so bad right now because I remember that clear as day. Please just know that I doesn't have to last forever. You can get past it, but you need a good foundation. Once you get that, it's a much smoother ride. Anything you want to know, just ask. I want to watch you succeed!

rhichi

Thank you for all your encouragement. I really hope that you've been able to overcome your anorexia issues with your doctor's help.

How do you do exercise before eating? I'm always exhausted and nauseous when I first wake up for some reason (perpetual morning sickness!) so I don't know how I would be able to do any sort of workout before breakfast. What kind of exercise did he suggest?

1234lbsgone

Thank you for all your encouragement. I really hope that you've been able to overcome your anorexia issues with your doctor's help.

How do you do exercise before eating? I'm always exhausted and nauseous when I first wake up for some reason (perpetual morning sickness!) so I don't know how I would be able to do any sort of workout before breakfast. What kind of exercise did he suggest?

At first I just got up and got on the stationary bike slowly. Sometimes I'd only make it 10 minutes. But once it became a habit, I was doing full videos or heading out in the morning to watch the sunrise. His recommendation was walking to running. At least walking, working up to a brisk pace. 30 minutes a day. He mainly said whatever floats your boat, just move. But walking and running were high on the list because they work those large leg muscles. I know what you mean about the morning sckness too. Even now, sometimes I just plain HATE waking up. I actually used to throw up every morning. I notice that if I eat late, I wake up sick. He said to make sure I went to bed 3 hours after my last meal so that there is nothing in my stomach. I noticed that that helped alot. I guess food digesting can mess with your sleep cycles and ertain hormones that are released while you sleep, like HGH. I know for sure, when I go to bed on an empty stomach, I wake up feeling hurgry, but not sick, and with a much more pleasant attitude. But thats just my experience, I know alot of people who don't agree.

rhichi

Huh, I always knew that I couldn't eat an hour before sleep. If I do, I can't sleep and I get really panicked in bed. I'm going to try expanding that to three hours and see if that helps my mornings. The major problem is that sometimes I get really hungry about an hour or so before bed sometimes. I might not be able to go to sleep just yet, or even if I do, my hunger will keep me up. Any suggestions for that situation? I tried eating lettuce and cucumbers and small fruit and things like that, you know, mainly quick burning foods, but they didn't fill me up enough.

maryannmiclat

I have PCOS so I know what you are going through. My doctor had me go on a low carb diet, but that never worked for me. He also put me on Metformin... I am not a diabetic plus the medicine made me sick so I quit taking it. Several months ago I toyed with eating mostly a vegan based diet with as much organic as I could, I noticed a HUGE change in my symptoms. Also, I went to the doctor for an ultra sound and my cysts we almost gone. I've gone back to eating animal products (I needed protein from things other than beans, nuts and tofu) anyway, when I eat chicken I try to buy organic, if I want milk I buy almond milk. Just from trying all of that, I think that by cutting out the foods that have hormones added to them kept the cyst from growing. Maybe its all in my head, but I haven't had any problems with my PCOS in months. I just haven't had great success with weight loss. hope this helps.

1234lbsgone

Huh, I always knew that I couldn't eat an hour before sleep. If I do, I can't sleep and I get really panicked in bed. I'm going to try expanding that to three hours and see if that helps my mornings. The major problem is that sometimes I get really hungry about an hour or so before bed sometimes. I might not be able to go to sleep just yet, or even if I do, my hunger will keep me up. Any suggestions for that situation? I tried eating lettuce and cucumbers and small fruit and things like that, you know, mainly quick burning foods, but they didn't fill me up enough.

It kind of goes back into the habit of things. I try to eat more calories in the morning, less at lunch, and even less at dinner. But I eat more carbs in the morning and more fat in the evening. I don't know if there is any solid research to all that, but it seems to keep me on an even keel all day long. I also drink half my bodyweight in ounces of water, more in the evening. Its a habit, but now that I think of it, its probably keeping me from feeling hungry at night. Sometimes thirst is confused by the body for hunger.

rhichi

That all makes a lot of sense. I definitely try to drink at least my 8 cups of water a day, and I usually go over a bit. It makes a big difference, especially in the summer. If I go under, my body notices and the next day I have really bad water retention.

This morning my fiance got up and walked my dad's dog for a half hour. When I got back, we both noticed that we were actually hungry, not just awake and thinking we should eat something. We're going to try and keep up that exercise after waking up, so thanks for the tip!

midget12

Hi everyone, I'm new to here. Let me tell you a little about my self, I was diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance about 6 years ago and recently got diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I been have trouble losing weight. I tried everything, eating healthy and exercising, and it has just not worked. I was put on metformin since I got diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance. I also sometimes take provera to get a period on the months that I don't get one. I have also been put on spirolactone because PCos was making me retain water, but stopped taking it because I hated hoe it made me feel and it was not helping me, so my ob/gyn said it was fine to get off of it. I started going to a weight control doctor about 2 yrs. ago because nothing was helping me lose weight and because my husband and I were trying to have a baby. I lost about 40 lbs. I got referred to a fertility specialist so that I could IVF, It was successful, I got pregnant with boy twins, but I lost them at 18 weeks (it will be a year on july 24 since I lost my angels) because of incompetent cervix. I recently started going to the weight control doctor again so that I could loss weight and get to my goal weight. I have lost about 10 lbs in 3 months, which is good, I guess, according to my doctor because of what i have. I want to attempt to get pregnant again.

I'm so sick and tired of pcos, insulin resistance, and hypothyroidism. I hate how they make me feel.

clynnrager

I have the same issues! It's very frustrating, and I would love to hear what worked for others. Sluggish off and on thyroid and PCOS is such a frustrating combination!

Clsauc

Ask your doctor if you'd be a candidate for Metformin. My Dr. recommended it for my pcos because hormone levels are connected to insulin levels. Just an idea!