Anyone suffer from hypothyroidism?

bellina79
bellina79 Posts: 7 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there,

Looking to connect with any MFP users who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed about 6 months ago and have been taking Synthroid to stabilize my levels, but there is still so much I don't know or understand about this condition. In particular, I'm curious to know if there are any foods I should stay away from, how long it takes to really start feeling normal again, and how people have learned to lose weight/maintain weight loss when their metabolism is out of whack. Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • Kushy8
    Kushy8 Posts: 103 Member
    I too have hypothyroidism. I've been on Synthroid for a few years now, and struggle with weight and very low energy. I should note that other medical issues and medications may be adding to my weight and energy issues. just briefly researched this and saw one site recommending a low carb, low fat diet. I can't speak to its effectiveness, though.

    Feel free to add me!
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    Hi there!

    I have severe hypothyroidism so I know what you're going through right now. Presuming your levels are now stable you should be able to start losing weight. It can take a good number of months after beginning medication before the symptoms improve, unfortunately, but you are on your way!

    I have never followed a specific dietary restriction plan for my hypothyroidism. I am sure you will have some different responses from others, as we are all different, but I have never felt the need to. I have managed to lose weight effectively by sticking to my calorie count, although I expect it may take slightly longer to lose all the weight I have. In saying that, so far, so good!! :smile:

    Good luck on your journey! :flowerforyou:
  • semarsh12
    semarsh12 Posts: 77 Member
    With Synthroid, you might want to be cautious of grapefruit and soy. They can decrease the absportion of the med. Also, take your Synthroid on an empty stomach, about 30-60 minutes before you eat. I have mine with my tea first thing in the morning before breakfast. Take it separately from vitamin D (if you take it, or anything with vitamin D in it, such as milk) and iron because they can decrease Synthroid absorption. At least 4 hours time difference. I just take my multivitamin and vitamin D at night. Have you had your vitamin D levels checked? Know that your TSH and T4 levels will change and your Synthroid dose will have to be adjusted based on those levels. Nothing you can really do about that. I feel fine, no major issues with the med and I'm losing weight just fine.


    edited for spelling!
  • bellina79
    bellina79 Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks for the replies ladies! Really appreciate it.

    I only got diagnosed with hypothyroidism last December, so it's been about 6 months. I feel like I'm still in a trial phase in terms of how I adapt to this condition, and there's a lot that I still don't know or understand, so that's why I'm trying to connect with other people who have been through it already.

    I don't have severe hypothyroidism (not yet anyway), and my levels have normalized... I had literally everything tested, my B12, my iron levels, my blood sugar, and they all came back normal... it was just my thyroid that was out of whack. I feel like my doctor never really sat me down and explained the condition to me, and how to best cope with it, what to do, what not to do, etc... it all happened very quickly, and he basically just prescribed synthroid to me and sent me on my way. He upped the dosage slightly after I finished the initial course of meds, because I was still feeling totally exhausted all the time. I've experimented with taking it both in the morning and at night, to see if I feel any difference in my energy levels.. I still feel exhausted most days, I feel like it's getting a little better but I know it can be MUCH better.

    I asked to be referred to an endocrinologist to get some further testing done, but my doctor is hesitant to do so because my case isn't severe. So right now I'm just hoping that my body is still in a transition phase, where it's trying to adapt to the meds and my metabolism is revving up again to a normal level. I'm also exercising a lot to gain more muscle mass, which will help speed up my metabolism. I hate that I have this problem and that I'll have to take medication for the rest of my life... and it's so frustrating to think that the hypothyroidism likely played a BIG part in the weight gain I've experienced, especially since it took so long to get to my goal weight the first time. But I guess struggling with my weight is my cross to bear, as it is for so many other people.
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    Hashimotos here...been dealing with it since around 2000. Dx'd hypo in 2006 finally, Dx'd Hashi's in 2009. Started taking Synthroid in 2006, switched to levo...was off and on T4 for a few years since I never felt better I kept stopping it. Finally got smart and switched to Armour last year, and about 3 1/2 weeks ago changed to Westhroid-P.

    Taking T4 alone doesn't work for everyone. And an Endo isn't necessarily going to know any better to treat hypothyroidism unfortunately. Be sure to research and find an endo that specializes in thyroid disorders so you don't waste your time and money going to see an endo that only cares about diabetes which many are like that.

    ETA: even when on levo or synthroid and my TSH was "normal" I still had crippling hypo symptoms and gained weight and would swing back and forth between hyper/hypo symptoms. A normal TSH doesn't mean jack squat if you have symptoms still. I need to have my TSH almost completely suppressed to the almost hyper level to feel good. You want to look at your free T3 levels to see where those are because when you have enough T3 circulating that's where you will have better energy and focus and more symptoms resolve.

    I follow a gluten free and dairy free diet since march and I've had huge improvements in my health and symptom resolution. Being that I have the AI version...I also have AI intolerance to gluten and casein. People with thyroid conditions often have some sort of reaction to gluten which makes the thyroid issue worse. not everyone, but many do.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    The only thing I've ever done about my hypothyroid condition is to take my medication, and have a TSH test every year.
  • RTheHutt
    RTheHutt Posts: 46 Member
    My TSH is always high, usually above 7, indicating hypothyroid. Other than having a crazy difficult time losing weight, I don't notice much else in the way of symptoms.

    I took Synth for about a year and didn't notice any difference so stopped after discussing with my doc.

    I actually just had a blood test today for my physical next week, so I'll find out soon what the latest numbers look like. I don't really expect a change though.
  • TOPSmarca
    TOPSmarca Posts: 187 Member
    My thyroid crashed and I felt like I was in a coma!!! After I got on meds I felt better within days and was making my exercise buddies long for pre-med days because I was working them to death!!! Sometimes when your levels seem good but you are symptomatic you could use some T3 (cytomel). My ENT stated that most women with thyroid disorder need at least a tiny dose of T3. I started on just 5 mcg. at first. Then this year, I was feeling like crap again and my T3 levels were way low and my TSH was up. I have found that GPs use a different range of normal levels for TSH than endos or ENTs.... I would push for a specialist. When I kept having problems with thyroid symptoms my GP referred me to an ENT because "If I can't answer your questions effectively, I need to send you to someone who can." My ENT keeps me feeling great and since seeing her and med changes, even the nodules on my thyroid are shrinking!!!
  • JoyHelfrich
    JoyHelfrich Posts: 4
    I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's today. My doctor mentioned something about gluten free diet. Is anyone GF and hypo?
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's today. My doctor mentioned something about gluten free diet. Is anyone GF and hypo?

    I am. Both thyroid medication and staying away from gluten help me feel a lot better. I've read that people with gluten intolerance are more likely to be hypothyroid, but that doesn't mean that everyone who is hypothyroid needs to avoid gluten. It's worth checking though.
  • JoyHelfrich
    JoyHelfrich Posts: 4
    Is it relieving symptoms?
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Is it relieving symptoms?

    That's hard to say, because gluten intolerance and hypothyroidism have some overlapping symptoms, like fatigue, but that doesn't mean that they're necessarily related for everyone, or even for me. I've been hypothyroid for about 30 years, and medication helped a lot. Before I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I thought that my thyroid meds were off, because I was exhausted. I had ALL the thyroid tests, and they were all pretty normal, so my doctor started looking at other possibilities.
  • VastBreak
    VastBreak Posts: 322 Member
    I was recommended to go gluten and dairy free!

    Two odd points that were mentioned was to avoid banana and to refuse fluoride treatments at the dentist!
  • JoyHelfrich
    JoyHelfrich Posts: 4

    That's hard to say, because gluten intolerance and hypothyroidism have some overlapping symptoms, like fatigue, but that doesn't mean that they're necessarily related for everyone, or even for me.

    Ahh Ok. Thanks. Just trying to gather as much info as possible.
  • JoyHelfrich
    JoyHelfrich Posts: 4
    I was recommended to go gluten and dairy free!

    Two odd points that were mentioned was to avoid banana and to refuse fluoride treatments at the dentist!

    That's interesting because I have issues with gluten, dairy and bananas. Fluoride? Wonder why?
  • Crystalagain22
    Crystalagain22 Posts: 63 Member
    There is some great information on this thread! I too have suffered with Hypothyroidism for the past 11 years now. I was Synthroid for a very long time, but even though my levels were "supposedly great" I still had many symptoms. I finally persuaded my Endo to put me back On Armour Thyroid and I feel great again :) There is no one size fits all, we are all different and feel good on different things. I have reseached this condition so much over the years, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask/ and or add me! I'd be happy to help where I can! xxCrystal
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Rather than just going gluten and dairy free, I would get tested, or at least do an elimination diet to make sure that you're going to benefit from giving up foods that you enjoy, and going through the nuisance of avoiding ingredients that are in a lot of foods.
  • Mrstracey76
    Mrstracey76 Posts: 3
    Hi to all of you! I have my thyroid levels checked every year because my mom died from her thyroid. She was only 56 years old and I wasn't ready to lose her (as if anyone ever is). From her death, the one thing I've learned is that doctors are a dime a dozen, so to say. The reason my mom stopped taking her synthroid was because she didn't like her doctor, didn't trust him, and didn't believe him. (I also thought he was a jerk, but I just switched doctors til I found one I liked). It took 15 years, but her under active thyroid affected EVERY SINGLE system in her body, until it got so bad that she was not in her right mind. I called 911 and they took her to the hospital, where they found her thyroid way out of whack. They pumped massive amounts of synthroid in her, and she was getting better, after a setback of her heart stopping once and being intubated b/c her body was so swollen she couldn't breathe. She ended up dying due to nurse error, but my point is that she wouldn't have been in the situation if she had just taken the medication.

    I just wanted to share b/c people don't think the thyroid is a serious problem, but it so is! Please please take your medication so you don't cheat your family out of many years with you. Good luck on the weight loss, but if you are healthy and exercising, that's way more important than being the thinnest babe on the beach!
  • lvaughn58
    lvaughn58 Posts: 1
    yes, i suffer from hypothyroidism. It is very hard to deal with. Take large doses of B complex, try to stay away from peanuts, walnuts, kelp, sugar, and colas, I can't remember most of the foods to stay away from, but I did find the ones I listed on line. You will be ok. Always inform your doctor if you suffer any changes with mood swings, hot flashes, and dry skin.
  • Hoodie16
    Hoodie16 Posts: 13 Member
    I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune disease) that caused my hypothyroidism. You will find a lot of doctors who just go by your lab results. You have a TSH in the normal range so you must be okay. Wrong. Some people will feel better on the lower end of the range and others will feel better on the upper end of the range. If your doctor is not listening to you regarding how you are feeling then get another doctor. They should be adjusting your dose based on your symptoms and how you are feeling. That is my number one tip for you - find a doctor who listens to you.

    It is good that you got tested for a bunch of other things. I was anemic for a while and that improved once I was on Levothyroxine. I am also vitamin D deficient. I was tested for gluten sensitivity/celiac disease but I do not have it.

    Some people choose to avoid goitrogens (foods that suppress the function of the thyroid) but I do not since I figured my hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disease.

    Best wishes to you :)
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member


    Some people choose to avoid goitrogens (foods that suppress the function of the thyroid) but I do not since I figured my hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disease.

    Best wishes to you :)

    I have Hashimoto's, haven't avoided those foods either, and my thyroid problem has only gotten slightly worse in the approximately 20 years I've been taking it, i.e. my medication dosage has only been increased slightly.

    One thing that can be an issue is iron supplements, which interfere with the absorption of thyroid medication, for hours. If you need an iron supplement, you might want to take it as close to 12 hours from your medication as possible.

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