Thyroid Disease

The whole reason I am working to lose weight is as a result of a diagnosis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis-an autoimmune condition that CAN occur to women going through menopause.

When I turned 50, I, (who was size 1 until I was 30, then married, had kids, and then was size 6) started menopause. I gained 15-20 pounds each year despite a very aggressive exercise routine, a hold over from a 25 year Navy career. I kept being told that "women gain weight when they start menopause." That can be true, but how much weight? It wasn't until year 5, when my joints ached so badly that I felt like a 90 year old instead of 55 that my provider did blood tests and looked at past tests to determine that I'd gone from hyperthyroidism to hypo in that time, and that my thyroid was dying. That took another 2 years to accomplish as I opted to do the "natural" method vice surgery or radiation.

Once on medication, I was assured that my weight would come off in the same manner it went on. The first 18 months resulted in a 10 lb weight loss...and no further. I had a new provider and asked if my medication level was accurate. She said I was in "the normal range." Well, my background is in healthcare, so normal is as normal does. I asked for another blood test and 2 days later got the call to DOUBLE my medication. YOU are the best judge of how your body is.....so be your own advocate. I also asked for a consult with a nutritionist and when I met with her she turned me on to MFP, setting my intake at 1520 calories. In 79 days I've lost 17 lbs, not had to be too rigorous with the exercise and eat the same types of foods as I'm used to, just make better choices to promote the weight loss. And....it is working.

My advice is much the same as others before me have listed above:
1. Consult your Dr. and ask for a blood test or a referral to an endocrinologist (Internal Medicine Dr. specializing in gland diseases/conditions)
2. Ask for a referral to a nutritionist...and find a good one!
3. Continue with MFP. It has helped me be accountable for my "input!"

Best of Luck to You!

mjcolbertson,
yes I take my medicine 100%, every morning with when I wake up and don't eat for a min of 1 hour.. I've had a recent full physical and everything came back normal.. but I don't know if that was specific enough testing. I guess I'll just have to dedicate a day a week or so to get to the doctor, that's usually what happens when I feel like we need to try something different~~ & I drink lots of water, maybe more so because im ALWAYS thirsty, but I do drink lots :drinker:

Are you careful to avoid taking a calcium supplement (if you take one) within four hours of your Synthroid? Also, magnesium is VERY important to proper metabolic processes. Since most Americans (about 85%) are magnesium deficient, that could be something to explore.

No.. I never knew that, I do take calcium, for about a year, but never paid attention to how soon after Synthroid. and I think one of my vitamins has magnesium in it, but I have to double check the amounts and amounts recommended... Can't I just trade in for a new body?? :grumble:

What's great about magnesium is that you can absorb it right through your skin, if you are deficient. You can either take Epsom salts baths (Epsom salts are pure magnesium sulphate)-- I take two15-minute baths per week (follow Epsom salts package for amount). I generally put two cups of Epsom salts per bathtub full of water as hot as I can stand it. It is VERY soothing of all aches and pains, and relaxing--I take my baths in the evening so I can go right to bed. But don't do it too often as it is possible to overdo it. The other way is through using magnesium "oil" on your skin. Much harder to overdo on magnesium oil. It isn't really oil--it is purified concentrated sea water (magnesium chloride is the main ingredient). It is about $20 for an 8 oz. bottle but it goes a long way because you will dilute it before using it (follow package directions for proper dilution). One bottle will last you at least 6 months.

Oral magnesium supplements are not an especially great idea (however, if you take calcium supplements, you should always take them in a combined cal/mag tablet, as the magnesium helps to keep the calcium from forming stones in the kidneys). Many people tend to get gastric problems when they take oral magnesium supplements (the main one being diarrhea, and that doesn't help much, as it tends to not be absorbed too well under those circumstances). Food sources are vegetables, in particular spinach, nuts, and some fruits like apples. Grain contains a fair bit of magnesium but it also contains a lot of phytic acid which binds up the minerals into phytates--not very well absorbed in the human gut. Don't know why more docs don't know about the importance of magnesium. It is important for EVERY process in the body. It is involved with energy transport to the mitochondria, and the utilization of thyroid at a cellular level (adequate blood serum levels of magnesium are essential for the conversion of T-4--thyroxine---to T-3, the active form that your body utilizes). .

It is thought that the main reason why most people are magnesium deficient is because 1) We eat too much sugar (metabolizing sugar "uses up" magnesium) and grain and not enough fruits and vegetables. and 2) Our high-stress lifestyles "use up" a lot of magnesium (we dump a lot during stressful times). We also get a lot of calcium through our diets (some people put cheese on virtually everything) and not so much magnesium. Athletes have a particular problem in taking in enough magnesium to offset their losses through muscular action and sweat.

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis & PCOS (originally diagnosed in 2000). I switched endocrinologists b/c the first one I went to refused to increase my levoxyl b/c I was "within normal range". The second endo gladly increased it & over time, I came to know my body's symptoms for increasing or decreasing. My doctor doesn't even question me anymore, he just adjusts the dose when I ask him b/c the lab results have proved over the years what I had been saying every time. My TSH has to be below 1.0, preferably closer to .75, otherwise I will have the symptoms you described. That's extreme though. Not many people can be at this low range. And the doctors get nervous b/c the hypothyroidism could very quickly switch to hyperthyroidism with Grave's Disease, which is much worse. I've also found that the nurse practitioners are awesome. They listen very intensely & really think things through. I'm a big fan of nurse practitioners.

I noticed your daily calorie goal is 1200. I'm pretty sure that has a lot to do with the problem. Especially if you're doing a minimum of 600 calorie burns. There's a lot of information out there about the types of foods you should eat if you have a thyroid disease. Just do a google search. I personally don't follow any of it b/c frankly, I can't be bothered. I'm eating very healthy & it's working for me so I'm not going to complicate things. But you may pick up a few tips & find it helpful.

If you haven't had your vitamin D level checked, I would recommend that as well.

I was diagnosed a year ago. They wanted to put me on some pills but I don't take medicine unless my life depends on it. Plus, the doc said that it was a lifetime commitment. I don't want to be on any pill for the rest of my life.

I've been losing weight continuously for about three months (since I put my mind to it). All I do is eat under 1200 calories a day and get burn about 1000 calories in exercise. Some days I don't burn anything at all. I lose an average of about 3.6 lbs a week.

It's all about willpower and mind over matter.