Success with hypothyroidism?

Hi all!

If I am posting this in the wrong section, I apologize. I am wondering if anyone has had success losing weight with hypothyroidism, and if you can share your story. What did you do that worked?

I'm 31, and put on about 30 lbs. in 6 months. Yes, I did eat more and exercised yes, but definitely not to THAT extent. Got tested for hypothyroidism, and will be getting the results soon. I also have been very tired.

Thanks!

I went from being hyper to hypo and gained a lot of weight. I have had success in taking off about half of the weight and I am working on the other half. It is hard work but it can be done. Feel free to add me as a friend for support. I have other friends that are hypothyroid as well.

I think the best advice that I have is to make an appt with an endocrinologist, not just your FMD. Someone who specializes in the disease can give the best advice. I have been hypothyroid for 25 + years, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease. Since then, have been on synthroid with blood levels checked at least annually and meds adjusted as needed based on values. My doctor told me once-+it's not the disease that causes you to gain, it's inactivity". I resented it and realized it was true. I was never really overweight, based on height. I'm 6 foot and currently 150.
Since the initial diagnosis of hypothyroidism, I've been diagnosed with 2 other autoimmune diseases-cutaneous lupus (only skin form of disease, thank goodness) and raynaud's disease (disease of small blood vessels in hands) and 1 "so called autoimmune, according to research".--breast cancer. Cancer problem is solved-gone, but then a med post surgery that caused weight gain, hence MFP and lots of work and dedication to moderation and desire to live longer.
Am I telling you this to compete with your statement/question or for sympathy? No, just to tell you that if you have hypo, then get to an endocrinologist and be committed to the treatment. But, endocrine diseases go hand in hand with other diseases, that can snow ball for you without supervision by an MD. You own your health and health status, be your own advocate! Best wishes! PS-do I sound like a big blowhard? I'm a retired ER nurse, nursing professor, who has given mega advice, but in NO way claim to be a diagnostitian!!!

Getting your thyroid levels in check does not guarentee you will lose weight. Since thyroid is one of the metabolism hormones, it may effect other hormone levels as well. There are some people who may actually gain weight when there TSH becomes normal, this is generally caused by increased hunger stimulation.
As for the monitoring of your levels, would recommend antibody testing only with the initial diagnosis of the disease as this will help determine the type of thyroid disease. Once you have started thyroid replacement, it provides no benefit.
90% of all thyroid medication adjustment is based on TSH levels. This is because the T4 thyroid hormone has a half life of 7-8 days and the T3 thyroid hormone has a half live of 6-8 hours. This means that it takes at least 6-8 weeks before the thyroid replacement you take today will have its full effect. The TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is a measurement of the pituitary gland's (master hormone gland) response to the amount of thyroid hormone you have in the system. TSH is less erratic and has the most consistent assay of thyroid lab test.
You can have the TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 checked to assess levels, but TSH should be the level the thyroid medication is adjusted by. (make sure they are testing the Free T4 and Free T3 and not just T4 and T3 as these are protein bound hormones and this can effect levels as well)
as for the types of replacement most medications are T4 replacments (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothryoxine and Tirosent) as T4 is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid and it gets converted to T3 by the muscles. Armour thyroid/Nature Thryoid/compounded thyroid are obtained from desicated pig thyroid and provide T4 and T3.
Normal levels for the TSH generally range between 0.3-3.0 which is a very wide range. Most people do well with levels <2, but it varies as to were you feel the best. Make sure you keep an open line of communication with your provider as to your symptoms (fatigue, hair loss, sleep disorders, memory issues, swelling to feet, tremors, numbness and tingling to the hands and feet, issues with concentration, consitpation/diarrhea, increased irritabiltiy).
Have your levels checked about every 3 months while you are working on losing weight as the lean muscle mass may effect your hormone levels.
Hope this helps

I have been on meds for over 50 years and just this last few years I have lost 30k. I put on weight easy so have to watch all the time what I eat or up I go. Like this Christmas Season up 6k but lost 3k already most of it was fluid but you have to catch it right away or before you know it you will be well over again.
Not easy but can be done.
Delia

You can have the TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 checked to assess levels, but TSH should be the level the thyroid medication is adjusted by.

I absolutely disagree with this. All levels should be taken into account, in particular the free T3 level.

Many people who are taking thyroid meds are on synthetic T4-only, and the body's TSH levels react differently to this. It's very common for TSH to be quite suppressed in those taking any thyroid meds; suppressed enough to be called "hyper" by uneducated doctors. If only the TSH is managed this missed a HUGE piece of the puzzle.

As well, many people with thyroid issues have difficulties converting T4 into T3; especially people who have had RAI or a thyroidectomy. Testing and dosing on TSH alone would be completely negligent. As an example, after my thyroidectomy my TSH was at 2.3....so "normal", right? My free T3 was below the bottom of the range, and I was competely symptomatic.

Dosing based on TSH alone also doesn't let people know whether they should be on a different med (synthetic T4 only, adding synthetic T3, or taking a natural/dessicated med).


Yes, TSH is a senstitive test. But that doesn't make it the RIGHT test to base dosage on.

As for the monitoring of your levels, would recommend antibody testing only with the initial diagnosis of the disease as this will help determine the type of thyroid disease. Once you have started thyroid replacement, it provides no benefit.

I disagree with this also. Antibody levels can be an indicator of whether your autoimmune issues are in check or not. It's also incredibly useful information for women in their childbearing years.

(make sure they are testing the Free T4 and Free T3 and not just T4 and T3 as these are protein bound hormones and this can effect levels as well)
as for the types of replacement most medications are T4 replacments (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothryoxine and Tirosent) as T4 is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid and it gets converted to T3 by the muscles. Armour thyroid/Nature Thryoid/compounded thyroid are obtained from desicated pig thyroid and provide T4 and T3.

Now this part I agree with - always make sure they're testing your free T's, as this is the amount not bound to carrier proteins and is available for your body to use.

Synthetic T4 only replacements like the ones listed above can be more difficult for the body to convert into usable T3, as they aren't bioidentical to your body's natural T4. As well, many people with hypothyroid (especially if due to RAI or thyroidectomy) have issues with this conversion process. These people generally do much better on the natural/dessicated thyroid meds, and somewhat better when synthetic T3 (like cytomel) is added.

Dessicated meds also contain T2 and T1, and the impact of these is just starting to be researched. The T4 is also identical to your natural T4 hormone and is more easily converted into T3.

Make sure you keep an open line of communication with your provider as to your symptoms (fatigue, hair loss, sleep disorders, memory issues, swelling to feet, tremors, numbness and tingling to the hands and feet, issues with concentration, consitpation/diarrhea, increased irritabiltiy).
Have your levels checked about every 3 months while you are working on losing weight as the lean muscle mass may effect your hormone levels.

Agree with this as well, that symptoms are an important part of the diagnostic process and in monitoring your own levels.

Would also encourage people to get their Vit D, iron, ferritin, and selenium levels checked as these are either part of the process in converting T4->T3, or are part of T3 expression at the cellular level. Vit D in particular is generally low in North America, and research has shown success with Vit D levels in the high-normal range (60-100).