Thyroid Cancer, levels say hyperthyroid but weigh gain
sega59
Posts: 2
Hi anyone out there experiencing weight gain even though the doctor says levels show hyperthyroid? Thyroid removed for papillary thyroid cancer almost a year ago, but have put 23 plus pounds on since surgery even though on synthroid supplementation for hypothyroid (since thyroid is gone). Very frustrated. On a 1200 calorie diet now and still not losing very much! Ughhh!!!! Doctor keeps TSH real low to keep cancer from returning. Exhausted all the time, muscle aches and pains, depression coming back . . . . don't know if that's from the frustration of gaining the weight (since I managed to lose 40 pounds back in 09 with weight watchers and have kept it off all this time right up to the surgery in August 2012). Not am putting weight back on and still basically eating the same weight watcher menu.
Anyone out there have any experience with this?
Anyone out there have any experience with this?
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Replies
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Wow, sorry to hear! I can't offer any help, the thyroid is such a blasted hassle!0
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I am in the same boat as you. My thyroid removed in 2003, since I've had 2 kids and gain an excess of 25 pounds that I cannot lose. My doctor has also kept me with a low tsh to ensure the cancer does not return, however I have gained weight consistently. All he could tell me was to keep a 1600 calorie diet. I've kept between 1200-1500 and have not lost a pound. I have also been exercising more. I am now going to try the lower carb diet.0
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How are your Free T3 levels, and how are you feeling besides the weight gain? You may not be converting FT4 to FT3. If your FT3 is low, regardless of what your TSH says, you're not really hyper.
Also - what thyroid replacement are you on? Synthroid will boost your T4, while suppressing your TSH, but if you're a poor converter of T4 to T3, this means absolutely nothing. Natural Desiccated Thyroid contains all the same thyroid hormones a normal person's thyroid produces unlike Synthroid which only gives you 1 hormone. NDT will also naturally suppress your TSH as it contains the actual active hormone (T3).0 -
Hey! I also gained about 25 lbs post TT for papillary thyroid cancer. I lost 12 last summer after extensive exercise, and use MFP (which I'm able to do during the summer because I'm a teacher). I quickly put the weight back on. I'm still always fatigued and have a difficult time losing the weight. I'm in the proccess of experimenting with medications. The poster above discussing T4 and T3 issues is ABSOLUTLEY correct. I'm a part of 3 online Thyca support groups, and so many have said that a combined T3 and T4 treatment helps tremendously. I just switched to Armour, since it was just a couple weeks ago, not sure if there's a difference yet. Been okay with energy levels, so time will tell. Remember, it's NOT always about the numbers, but how you feel. So, ask your doctor to experiment with T3 or desicated (natural) thyroid medications.
GOOD LUCK!0 -
I'm in the same boat as having my thyroid removed 3 years ago. The only way that I was able to even maintain a little weight loss was running 3-5 miles 3-4 times a week. At that time, I worked part time and was able to keep my running schedule. Now I'm back to work full time and can't run that much as I have a husband and 2 boys. In the past 3 months, I have gained about 15 lbs back. After working so hard to get the weight off, it is so frustrating that the weight can come back on so dang quickly. I'm scheduled to see my dr at Mayo Clinic in Sept so I'm planning on asking her for help! I can be on a 1200-1500 calorie diet and exercise and still only lose 1 lb a month.0
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Run to a naturopath/endo specializing in adrenal glands. I had this issue two years ago (it's the reason I ended up joining MFP, actually). My cortisol levels were skyhigh from running so hyper (for the same reason as you had been--to keep thyroid tissue minimized, and I had the compounded issue of "being young, so your body seems to do well this low TSH"... until it didn't and I went into thyroidtoxicosis).
Look into the T3/T4 compounds, but also get your cortisol checked (not just bloodwork--salivary tests and urine tests are the best measures of cortisol function). My bet is the tax on your body, hormonally or otherwise, has taxed the "last" support system our bodies have: adrenal glands. Weight gain and a host of other symptoms (including the ones you mentioned) can definitely be attributed to adrenal fatigue and/or failure.0 -
How are your Free T3 levels, and how are you feeling besides the weight gain? You may not be converting FT4 to FT3. If your FT3 is low, regardless of what your TSH says, you're not really hyper.
Also - what thyroid replacement are you on? Synthroid will boost your T4, while suppressing your TSH, but if you're a poor converter of T4 to T3, this means absolutely nothing. Natural Desiccated Thyroid contains all the same thyroid hormones a normal person's thyroid produces unlike Synthroid which only gives you 1 hormone. NDT will also naturally suppress your TSH as it contains the actual active hormone (T3).
God I wish I could like this. Too many Dr. in America rely on TSH alone..0 -
i know!! im sooo frustrated with my doc- i am about to be my own (I have hashimotos and TSH goes from hyper to hypo) i gain weight very easily and have a big sweet tooth and depression- im done making excuses and sabatoging my good days . Im ready to look to natural meds and essiental oils (oregano, theives, ocotea) ocotea helps lower blood sugar and helped me with cravings and bloating while i was on it! I honestly cant read much in this group as it can be depressing ...i didnt lose any weight when my TSH was "hyper" ...just sweated like a maniac!0
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I am hyperthyroid (Grave's desiese, thyroid not removed), but I was gaining weight (approx. 10 lb last year). I read that despite the general treit that most of the people loosing their weight with this condition, sometimes you can gain. I remember eating non-stop last year, as I always felt hungry. Even my family noticed it before I was diagnosed, I was loading myself with food. Since coming to MFP, I have not lost much weight (approx. 4 lb since april), BUT: the fact that I stopped gaining is a real big achivement! I am still loggin in every day just to learn my eating habbits and to see where to cut. I dont' think you want to go on strict diet with thyroid problems, you can really mess up your hormons if you will be eating under your calorie goal. Just be patient, and tell yourself that the ultimate goal is to stay healthy, to stop weight gain (and you already there!). When you get a good grisp on this, then you can start reducing your calories a little bit (even loosing 0.5 lb in two weeks would be great). Just convincing myself that it is going to be slow process helped a lot. Stop looking at the posts when people lost 100 lb or more. Set up small goal, like to loose 10 lb or so. And most of all, dont' get depressed!0
