Hypothyroid

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Replies

  • lalonmeg000
    lalonmeg000 Posts: 276 Member

    1. NEVER take generic Synthroid. Always insist on the brand name drug.
    2. Listen to your body. Unfortunately, you won't always be using the same prescription. Your body will change, things like birth control (going on it or off it) pregnancy, getting older, etc. mess with your hormones and your prescription will need to be adjusted accordingly.
    3. In case you haven't gotten a theme with the first two - get an endocrinologist!
    4. You CAN lose weight.

    Couldn't have said it better!

    My endo doesn't even prescribe Synthroid, I take Armour for my hypothyroidizm. I was very fortunate to found a doctor that also tested the different sub categories if you will, of the thyroid , and realized my T3 wasn't normal so he prescribed me a special compound of just the T3 in conjunction with the armour. My mom took Synthroid for a while and it actually worsened her depression which made for a vicious cycle. Finally once I was diaganosed and put on Armour she had her doctor switch her to armour and all has been well.

    Keep in mind it takes a good 3 months minimum to level out your levels. Mine took an entire year before I could get the right combo of meds, however in the past 9 months I have been able to finally drop 30lbs that otherwise was not going to come off.

    Through all of this I also found out I was severly annemic and deficcient in B12 and D, you may ask your doctor to check those levels as well which can affect overall health, weight loss, and energy.

    best of luck, it does get better, promise!
  • FP4HSharon
    FP4HSharon Posts: 664 Member
    On the generic vs name brand Synthroid...I actually was started on the generic, & when a new doctor tried to switch me to the name brand...my body wasn't absorbing it as well...breakthrough symptoms...so I switched back to generic. Everyone's different, & if the cheaper generic works for you, then why not.
  • FP4HSharon
    FP4HSharon Posts: 664 Member
    Kim can you give me more information about the coconut oil. What does it actually do. How do you take it? Do you use it instead of olive oil in cooking and putting on salads. Does it really help with the weight loss?

    I couldn't stomach the coconut oil, but I started eating just one Archway Coconut Macaroon a day & was able to cut my Synthroid dose in half.

    ON THE MIGRAINES...I notice that when I'm getting too much Synthroid, I have migraines. For me, a lot of migraines is usually a sign I need to have my levels checked & not take as much Synthroid.
  • avatrx
    avatrx Posts: 52
    I am one of those self -employed small business owners who had to give up health insurance several years ago and is eagerly awaiting some health care plan my hubby and I can afford. We've always been healthy, but when we went over 50 - even though we rarely had any claims and really ever visited a doctor - our insurance skyrocketed from about $450mo to almost $1500 with a 10K deductible and other really crappy things.

    I started taking Iodoral - an iodine supplement which did seem to help. Here in the rustbelt we get very little iodine in anything. I've wondered whether or not I had a thyroid issue but probably won't find out until I'm 65 and on Medicare of sooner if I move to France or they do something about the for-profit health care in THIS country.

    I do try very hard at logging calories, and I do move as much as possible. average step per day of 5K - but try to do more whenever possible. do workouts of 30+ minutes at least 4 times per week. I used to be able to lose weight easily. Not so much anymore despite my efforts. I refuse to give up. I'm losing girth by a little, but pounds are pretty much staying the same.

    sure can get discouraging....................wish I could blame it on a thyroid, but I guess I'll never know.............

    I have learned that the tests to indicate thyroid issues don't always show a problem even if there is one - because their standards are off. learned that from a friend who studies that stuff.
  • FP4HSharon
    FP4HSharon Posts: 664 Member
    I have learned that the tests to indicate thyroid issues don't always show a problem even if there is one - because their standards are off. learned that from a friend who studies that stuff.

    A lot of doctors/labs are using out of date standards, based on American Board of Endocrinologists recommendations. Also, some people are subclinical, where they are having symptoms, but test in the ok range, indicating their bodies may just need more.
  • crosbymo
    crosbymo Posts: 15
    I recently started actually using My Fitness Pal and am happy I found this board!

    I am 24 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 years ago. In these 2 years I have gained between 15-20 pounds and have found it basically impossible to lose this weight. I exercise regularly, but now I've come to the realization that I need to be very strict with my diet and exercise, so I'm hoping this calorie counting will help!

    In response to a couple of points people have raised:

    -I have taken generic (levothyroxine) and synthroid. I've never noticed a difference between the two.
    -I have noticed a difference after going to an ENDOCRINOLOGIST. She did extensive testing and ultimately upped my dosage. I will always go to an endocrinologist from now on.

    I will definitely check out coconut oil--didn't know that could help.
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    yes, you can lose weight once your synthroid is optimized. I have lost 44 pounds so far.
  • weinbagel
    weinbagel Posts: 337 Member
    I have hashimoto's, which is similar to hypo. I am on a natural thyroid medication, and up until recently, I was not able to lose much weight. I was similar to you, in that I ate a lot of fruit, but everything else I ate was really clean. I cut out fruit almost entirely, I am back on track now. Good luck! Add if you want!
  • arizonastamplover
    arizonastamplover Posts: 1 Member
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroid after several years of trying to get a diagnosis. I am still adjusting with the medication, and go back for a recheck with my doctor in a week. I've been on Armour for three months, and I am able to lose weight on it, but it is a struggle. My eating needs to be spot on, and my carb intake needs to be very minimal in the late afternoon/evening, otherwise the weight won't budge. I also need the exercise to get the weight off - adjusting my calorie intake alone doesn't do it for me. With hypothyroidism, a large part of it is finding what works for your particular body.

    My recommendation for all those that think they have hypothyroidism or hashimotos, or have been diagnosed with it, is that you are your own advocate for your health. Someone else said that on here, and it couldn't be further from the truth. I'm actually seeing an internist for the management of my thyroid because two endocrinologists turned me away. Find someone that is right for you and will listen to you. My doctors philosophy is that hormones are the root of many of the body's problems, and I tend to agree :)
  • nooshi82
    nooshi82 Posts: 1 Member
    If you're really hypothyroid, then restoring your missing thyroid hormone should help you lose weight. It's a delicate balance between too much and too little thyroid hormone so sometimes you need close follow up to adjust your dose in the beginning. My thyroid levels have always been normal but I have all the symptoms of hypothyroid so my doctor tried me on a teeny dose and I've been losing. I was eating 1400 calories a day, exercising daily, and GAINING weight before going on the Synthroid (20 mcg btw). Since I started 2 weeks ago on the meds, I've lost 7 pounds. I have been trying for years to lose, and even have a personal trainer so I was very frustrated and at my wits end. Some people are subclinical hypothyroid. I really believe that.
  • Princess4Run
    Princess4Run Posts: 135 Member
    I know what your doctor told you is disheartening. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated about thyroid disease, specifically Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a form of hypothyrodism. It sounds like that is what you have. This disease will be with you for the rest of your life, there will be plenty of ups and downs and you need to become your own advocate.

    Thyroid disease is complex and many primary doctors don't know how to properly handle it; they go by old treatment guidelines and lab values. Many are not familiar with other treatment options other than Synthroid or it's generic form. Many will treat you ONLY by your lab values and fail to see that you still have debilitating symptoms. Many will try to convince you it's all in your head and maybe you need a Prozac instead. Doctors that practice integrative medicine or alternative medicine might be more helpful than conventional physicians. Read over this website, http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/, there is a list of thyroid doctors. Also facebook page ThyroidSexy has another list that might be helpful. Endocrinologists may not be your best bet either, look for thyroid specialists.

    You need to get a copy of your lab values from your physician and find a new one. Your doctor may be using thyroid levels laboratory ranges that our outdated. It was considered normal a decade ago, not so anymore.
  • groovyreba
    groovyreba Posts: 72 Member
    I have hashimoto's, which is similar to hypo. I am on a natural thyroid medication, and up until recently, I was not able to lose much weight. I was similar to you, in that I ate a lot of fruit, but everything else I ate was really clean. I cut out fruit almost entirely, I am back on track now. Good luck! Add if you want!


    How do you tell the difference between hypothyroid and hashimotos? I'm very concerned about what's been going on the last few years with mine.
  • SueFromRI
    SueFromRI Posts: 206 Member
    I have severe hypothyroidism. I lost 30 pounds in 9 months, then hit a plateau and haven't lost in 5 months. After about a month you should be better able to judge what your body needs.

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