Thyroid cancer then weight gain..(lots)

I had a thyroidectomy due to cancer almost 2 years ago. I had already started my weight loss journey, and I did gain some weight for a bit. I would say don't do yourself the disservice of resigning yourself to a life of hypothyroidism- I have been hyper and hypo at different points along the way, and have finally achieved a balance, and am back to losing weight. It is at a slower pace than it was pre-surgery, but it was truly the wake up call I needed to get on track and stay there. I lose more slowly now, but I gain more easily, so I can't afford to not eat well and exercise often. I was very, very diligent in 2013 and still only lost 30 pounds. I gained and lost the same 15 pounds a few times while my hormone levels swung wildly.
Also, it's not uncommon to swing into hyperthyroidism while you are trying to find the right level of thyroid hormone, and I actually welcomed it because I thought it would mean more energy and weight loss, but it was terrible. I think I'd rather be hypo than hyper.
Thyroid cancer was no fun, and there have been some very unpleasant things to adapt to along the way. But I am truly thankful, because it has caused me to value my health more, and I am now closer to my goal weight than I had been in the previous ten years. Weight loss is not impossible without a thyroid!! I have done things I never would have thought to do before, because I am on a mission to reclaim my health. I've run several half-marathons and am training for my first full marathon in March. I started rock climbing. When I was looking online for support after the surgery, all I could find was people saying nothing was the same, the weight gain would not stop and life was just awful. I really don't think it has to be that way. If ever you want more specifics about the way I eat or exercise, I'd be happy to share.

I had thyroid cancer more than a dozen years ago, had my thyroid removed and radioactive iodine and have been on thyroid replacement meds ever since. The first thing I want to say is congratulations on being one year cancer free.

I also want to ask if you're absolutely sure your meds are at the right level. It took a year or two of tinkering before mine were adjusted to my and my endocrinologist's satisfaction. They affect your metabolism but they also affect your state of mind. Too high and I was anxious and short of breath. Too low and I was depressed and lethargic. I hated that period because I felt out of control of what was happening with my body. Weight gain and loss were out of my hands and dependent on the dosage of the pill I took every morning. I was much happier once those highs and lows were smoothed out and my weight gain could once again be attributed to something I actually did.

I haven't found weight loss to be much different post surgery except it takes longer to take the weight off. There is a lot of discouraging stuff on the internet about thyroid problems and weight loss. Ignore it. Reading it makes you feel bad and most of it isn't true anyway. As long as your meds are correctly adjusted, counting calories and exercise will work for you. It'll take some time but you'll get there if you keep slogging away at it.