Thyroid disease and weight loss

2

Replies

  • linz1125
    linz1125 Posts: 441 Member
    I have been dealing with thyroid problems for about 10 years now. When I was 19 I was diagnosed hashi motos hypothyroid with goiters. I finally begged to have my thyroid removed and it was a good thing I did, because it was cancerous.

    I did need to adjust during my pregnancy and while breastfeeding. I am no longer BF'ing so we are working on getting my levels right. Please add me if you want - the thyroid is a tricky thing to control!
  • dingodango
    dingodango Posts: 2 Member
    I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis about 20 years ago. As much as I would like to blame my thyroid for my weight issues, I cannot. If you can get your thyroid levels corrected through medication, and then you are honest with yourself and follow a healthy diet and make exercise part of your daily routine...just like brushing your teeth, you will see a change.
  • KCtoCapeCod
    KCtoCapeCod Posts: 17
    I have hypo and it wasn't until this past year that I was finally able to get all my levels to get within normal range. Since then I've lost 40 pounds. It took YEARS to figure out the correct dose for my body. Now I feel better than ever!
  • dholloway115
    dholloway115 Posts: 3
    I'm glad a lot of other women have more problems with their thyroid after babies. Does it get worse and worse after each baby? I want to have another after I reach my goal weight. :D
  • dramstad
    dramstad Posts: 3 Member
    MFPs,

    Thank you so much for sharing. I learned one new thing and was reminded of one important thing. Someone mentioned the impact of coffee on thyroid med absorbtion which was a new learning. I was able to read about on Mary Shomon's about page (thyroid.about.com) which is what needed to be reminded to do. :smile:

    In reading about coffee and synthyroid, I learned that it wasn't tested to determine if decaf made a difference. Because I have strong circadian rhythms, I haven't needed morning caffine for years so I wait until lunch for my caffinated 2 cups--afternoon sluggishness is a real problem for me--and sip decaf for pleasure in the morning while I do the writing part of my job. I will be switching to water in that first hour and saving my first cup of the day to go with my oatmeal. Maybe I will even figure out how to sip water instead of coffee as I write!

    There was also quite a bit of discussion about switching to bed time meds, but I couldn't find anything about how long after eating dinner or an evening snack/dessert one should wait before taking night time meds. Therefore, I am going to wait on that until after my next labs and see if switching out how I enjoy my coffee doesn't help the food tracking and exercize result in that 1-2 pounds per week.

    BTW, morning routines that I learned about from the FlyLady (www.flylady.net) help that hour between meds and eating go pretty quickly since I use that time to dress, make the bed, do my laundry, and walk the dog. None of that requires being at all alert. I use the timer on my cell phone to track when it is done.

    Finally, did you hear that Mary Shomon is offering a free four week course on diet and hypothyroid at her about page? I signed up, don't know how it will go, but it is worth a try.
  • jbriscoe9480
    jbriscoe9480 Posts: 17 Member
    Ooohh!!! ME ME ME!!! I had this crazy reverse Graves disease that caused me to gain 60lbs!! I hated it!! But now im under control and trying to lose weight. I have zero motivation to exercise though. :yawn:
  • jbriscoe9480
    jbriscoe9480 Posts: 17 Member
    How do you stay motivated?
  • wtlos4me
    wtlos4me Posts: 39 Member
    I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's recently and have been on thyroid meds for about 7 years. The doctor's don't really tell you what to expect, or how your body gets messed up with an imbalanced thyroid. So I agree with some of the other comments, read everthing you can and become your own advocate.

    I will say that weight loss is possible if you do the work, staying with your goals on calorie intake and exercise. Also, eliminating sugar's and increasing proteins, and low carb veggies with additional exercise has been my magic bullet for getting past the slumps in weight loss.

    Feel free to add me as a friend, and good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • kaotik26
    kaotik26 Posts: 590 Member
    No tricks, no excuses. Take your meds and do what the doc told you to do. Otherwise the weight loss is all the same.
  • runzalot81
    runzalot81 Posts: 782 Member
    Can we take the meds at night? I have always been told to take it first thing in the morning and not to eat until an hour after. That seems to throw off all my meals though b/c I'm not having breakfast till 10 or 11. A friend and I were today were talking about taking it at night but I just wasn't sure if it would still work. Has anyone had a doctor say it was ok? I know they say morning b/c it keeps some people up but it doesn't cause me any sleep problems. I have also considered setting an alarm at 6am taking it and going back to bed. Any ideas?

    My doctor ok'd it years ago. I had been taking it in the morning for years and my levels were fluctuating all the time.She asked me a bunch of questions like when I ate in the morning... did I drink coffee & when. She told me I needed to take the meds on an empty stomach and no caffeine for at least an hour. I asked if I could take them at bedtime and she said it may interfere with my sleep, but it didn't and my levels began to level out.

    It helped a lot!
    I take mine at night.
  • keeponkickin
    keeponkickin Posts: 1,520 Member
    I have hypothyroid and take synthroid. Been too many years to remember now. I lost 113 in one year with diet and exercise using MFP. I eat healthy carbs, lean proten, fruits and veggies. Nothing special and it's worked for me. Anyone is welcome to add me if they'd like.
  • mom2dms
    mom2dms Posts: 152 Member
    Anyone with thyroid disease that is trying to lose weight? I would love to be friends and hear about any tips that you have. I am new to the site and I have been struggling with my weight ever since my thyroid shut down.

    Take your medication and make sure to keep your calories in check. Exercise, exercise, exercise. As I was losing weight, I realized (through blood work) that my Thyroid got worse. My dr said it couldn't keep up with the rate of weight loss and just sort of shut down.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    I've been on synthroid for more than 12 years and only knew from this post you can't take it with food haha!
    I have breakfast within 30 mins most days, and my levels have been ok.

    I do know you shouldn't take it with iron/multivitamin
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    i also do. it's pretty common.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member

    As I was losing weight, I realized (through blood work) that my Thyroid got worse. My dr said it couldn't keep up with the rate of weight loss and just sort of shut down.

    This is interesting. I saw my GP recently becuase I have started to spot all over the place with my womenly cycle (I am on continuous birth control pills, but have never had alot of issues before). So he said before we swap brands he wanted to check my TSH levels due to my weight loss. I kinda thought with weight loss it would IMPROVE not get WORSE, so your comments are interesting. Eager now to find out my results becuase apparently out of whack levels can mess with your TOM.
  • kimimila86
    kimimila86 Posts: 399 Member
    I'm trying to wrestly my thyroid and other hormones into submission through proper diet (low carb) and more exercise. There are groups here on MFP that are supportive of those with hyper/hypothyroidism. You should check them out. The support is awesome :bigsmile:

    There are more, and some groups are more active than others.
  • daniran
    daniran Posts: 233 Member
    Hi kimmyt93,
    thanks for bringing up this subject. Ive been reading the responses. I didn't realize so many people suffer with hypothyroidism as I do. I've been so frustrated on my weightloss journey. I feel tired all the time, and feel like I'm dragging around an anchor when going up stairs. Everything I eat goes straight to fat. Ugh! Well, here I go again! (been away from MFP). I'm getting back up and going back at it again. I've got too! I'm not happy in my skin and being overweight at my age I'm a possible magnet for multiple illnesses.

    To Kimmyt93 and everyone else - I wish you all the best on this journey! I'd love to be friends!
  • RozayJones
    RozayJones Posts: 409 Member
    I was hypo, then had hashimoto's then lost my thyroid to cancer. Feel free to add me, losing weight while fighting your thyroid is not easy. There is also a hypo/hyper thyroid group on here!
  • glamouritz64
    glamouritz64 Posts: 85 Member
    I have hypothyroidism, and I take Levothyroxine daily.

    I find that as long as I stay consistent with a healthy, low-calorie/low-fat meal plan AND exercise regularly, I lose weight. I've also noticed that if I don't eat after a certain hour, I'm more successful with my weight loss. I try to cut off eating/snacking at around 9:00 p.m. If I MUST have something after that, I try to eat sugar-free jello.

    You can lose weight, despite the thyroid disease, if you're taking medication for it. For me--it's the "staying consistent" part that screws me up! LOL
  • gonnadoit2010
    gonnadoit2010 Posts: 53 Member
    Hi Kimmy,

    I had my thyroid removed due to Graves disease & thyroid cancer in 2009. I'm taking thryoid hormone replacement everyday. It's important that they get your level at a good spot inorder for your body to function correctly. I tried in 2010 to loose weight with MFP but I didn't have much success(they were still trying to adjust the levels). Then in March of this year I decided to try again. So far I'm happy with my success. Talk to your Doctor about your thyroid levels and see if it can be adjusted so your not so tired. It's tuff, I know. Good luck and if you like put me down as a friend. I'd be happy to help in anyway. Best Wishes
  • epiphany29
    epiphany29 Posts: 122 Member
    I didn't read through all the posts, but I will share my own story and I am sorry if this has been covered before. I was diagnosed with Graves (hyperthyroidism) and had radioactive idiodine treatment for that leaving me hypothyroid. I struggled with my weight, but also fatigue, hair loss, poor quality fingernails, etc that are part of the whole arena of hypothyroidism in spite of having "normal thyroid levels". About 5 years ago I switched from the synthetic thyroid medication (levothyroxine/synthroid) to the armour thyroid which is natural and derived from pig thyroid. Since then I have had more energy, and the other signs have resolved. I still struggle with my weight, but that is way more what I eat than hormonal issues. The armour thyroid does have a funny odor to it that some can't handle, and I have had times when manufacturing has had issues and I have had to call around to pharmacies to find out who has it. I honestly would NOT go back to the synthetic if you put a gun to my head. If you can't tolerate the armour thyroid because of the smell which my sister has the issue with there is a synthetic T3 supplement, and a combination product. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor to help you switch especially if you have other signs consistent with hypothyroidism. For me it changed things markedly. I didn't get serious about weight loss until about 3 years after my switch of medications, so again, some of it really comes down to paying attention to what goes in.

    pip
  • jennmodugno
    jennmodugno Posts: 363 Member
    :) Please feel free to add me - I've got Hypothyroidism and am on 250mcg >_< I'm supposed to be seeing an endo, but my insurance is being a pain about the referral.

    Which reminds me - what does an Endo DO? Anyone mind enlightening me as to what they do besides dole out my meds? Cause this insurance thing seems like a lot of work if she's going to do exactly what my doctor does. -_-

    ANYWAY! If you'd like a little history, I've had hypothyroidism since I was 15, though I wasn't officially diagnosed until I was 18, due to a lost blood test. >_> (The doctor and I realized when we did that blood work again that hypothyroidism exactly explained my previous problems.)

    It took almost five years for my doctors to find the right dose for me. My levels were erratic, and I'd go up and down on meds while they tried to find a balance. When I got pregnant is when everything stabilized, oddly enough.

    The funny thing is, while I'm Hypo, I was always very slim until after my daughter was born. Suddenly my body acted like a normal Hypothyroisism person and I've been struggling to lose the baby weight ever since. Hoping with some food tracking and more exercise I can get back to being a slim person. ;)
  • kgates121
    kgates121 Posts: 21 Member
    @nanc1109.

    Thanks for the tip on when to take levothyroxine. I had been doing well with it for a year, dropped form 4.7 to .7. Feeling more energy, but needed to lose weight. I started back to work and after a year went to docs and my thyroid was back up to 5.5. I had taken my dose each morning, but completely forgot you cannot take it with vitamins. I have very low D, so was taking 4000 D plus regular daily vitamin with a high B12.

    I thought taking at night would be okay, but not sleeping well. Went back to morning, and wait the hour or so to eat anything. I take my vitamins at night. Seems to be working, but will know when go back for blood work in a month.
  • foss44
    foss44 Posts: 119 Member
    Bump
  • balloongirlagain
    balloongirlagain Posts: 7
    I've got underactive thyroid and been on thyroxine for 20 years. But I'm really bad at taking it. Never take it 30 mins before breakfast and I often forget. I'm doing ok but I bet that if I was doing it right I'd be able to function a lot better. Feel free to add me as friends, those of you.
  • tardisenterprise
    tardisenterprise Posts: 1 Member
    I'm borderline. Which is probably the most annoying since that means you have thyroid 'issues' but not enough to be treated for it.

    I do have chronic joint pain so I don't work out… I should probably try but if you're in pain all day that doesn't sound appealing. And the meds I am on make me tired.

    I downloaded this app and figured I'd try it. Surprisingly, I have lost 12 pounds in the last month by just counting my calories.

    27400535.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • nursedb
    nursedb Posts: 297 Member
    bumping for later look see! I have hypo also...ugh!
  • spiritgurl
    spiritgurl Posts: 160 Member
    I had Grave's disease (brought on by pregnancy) at the age of 21. Eventually had to have my thyroid shut down and now it's a pill a day for the rest of my life. It definitely adds extra effort to my weight maintenance. Aside from that I also have issues with headaches, muscle cramps and severe cold in my fingers and feet due to my thyroid. It's so important to keep up with the meds and make sure you are taking it at the right time, not with food and not mixing it with other pills or vitamins.
  • kellygirl324
    kellygirl324 Posts: 74 Member
    Have had hypothyroidism for approx. 11 years. You can lose weight, although it may come off just a bit slower. Be patient, exercise, and eat well! Sending a friend request!
  • caribigler40
    caribigler40 Posts: 1
    I have the same experience!~ My thyroid disease started when I was thirteen. (Around the time I hit puberty) It was awful. I knew there was something wrong with me, but I didn't know what it was. I had Hashimoto's, Hypothyroidism, and a multi-nodular goiter (three nodules on each side). I was tired all the time, depressed, irritable and a lot of times the headaches and body aches were awful. Being so young, I didn't know how to deal with the issues I was facing and I didn't take the medication like it's intended until I was in my late twenties. No one in my family has this disease, so I had no one to talk to about it. And I didn't take the doctors seriously when they told me of the ramifications of NOT taking the meds everyday. I almost died. After having my second child I started to become very ill. I had grey skin, lost my hair and my thyroid looked like a baseball in my neck. It all happened in about a month's time. I would pass out and lose time. It was scary. When I went to a doctor in my home town to have my blood levels checked, I was told that they were in "Normal" range! I was taken to a hospital three hours away that had a top notch team of specialists and they were able to help me get back on track. Now I have other health issues and I've been told that they are directly related to the fact that my thyroid disease was left untreated for so long. When I finally had my thyroid removed it was the size of an apple.

    I know I am going on and on, but this is the first time I've ever talked to someone about my disease. (Someone who has the same issues and knows exactly how I feel!)

    I just joined this group today and I am hoping to get my life back on track, eat well, exercise and lose some weight. I need to lose sixty pounds. It seems like an impossible feat with the issues that I have been facing. I can't seem to get my thyroid regulated, even after all of these years. I've been taking my medication regularly for 15 years.

    I need to join a support group. If you have any links that you can point me to, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am sorry it's such a long message! Like I said, I'm just excited to see other people on here with the same issues. This makes me feel like I am not alone.

    Cari - age 42

Categories