Total Throidectomy and Weight Gain/Loss????

mrssparkle
mrssparkle Posts: 47
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Is there anyone out there who has had a total thriodectomy and finds losing weight easy/difficult? I have just had an op and after trawling the internet have reached the conclusion that you 1. put weight on 2. find it difficult to budge. Also everyone keeps going on about TSH/TF levels and what tablets they are on. When what I want to know is how to lose weight while taking thyroxine for the rest of my life. I cannot afford to put anymore weight on -I weigh 228lb need to shift a load as it is. Although my thyroid was overactive before I never lost any weight.

Would be grateful to find out how others have coped with this problem.

Replies

  • simplyshannal
    simplyshannal Posts: 188 Member
    I didn't have a total Thyroidectomy but I have had a partial and it takes at least 6 months for your medicine to regulate and allow you to start feeling better. Your thyroid is linked to just about everything in your body, including your metabolism and while you may exercise like crazy, it is your metabolism that is going to allow you to lose the weight. Your T3 and TSH must be in optimal range for your metabolism to be raised and allow you to start really losing.

    Your first battle at this point is really to work at getting your medicine regulated and allow your body time to accept the changes you have made to it. I didn't have a hard time losing once my ranges were optimal but before that, I gained and never lost. Just try and be patient and you will get there. Remember that nothing comes instantly and our bodies take their own sweet time when healing. You can look online for a list of foods that inhibit your medicines ability to be absored by your body. Make sure to avoid those, if possible.

    If you want support or just have any questions, feel free to add me as a friend or send me a message. Good luck with your never lifestyle.
  • LindaNorman
    LindaNorman Posts: 3
    I had a partial thyroidectomy in 1981 and have been on thyroxine for about 20 years. What can I say it's really difficult shifting weight and I feel that I have to work much harder. Things that I do to try to improve my chances of weight loss include:-

    Exercise..... lots of it at various times of day and trying different things. I do Body Combat, Body Pump, Spin and general walking....
    Healthy food - I try to concentrate on protein, fruit and veg with limited carbs - though don't exclude them.
    Record food and something trigger weight gain for me so I avoid bread and pasta replacing them with other things instead
    Avoid alcohol as this again seems to slow my metabolism

    It's hard work, but I managed to lose 6 stone (84lbs) about 3 years ago and since then I've managed to maintain (just).....

    Hope this helps, but good luck.
    Linda
  • NavyMommy
    NavyMommy Posts: 102 Member
    I had a total thyroidectomy in July of 2007 due to severe Grave's disease. I haven't found it hard to lose weight, or maintain the weight loss. I've had two babies since then and lost 50 lbs after the first (almost to goal weight) before I discovered I was expecting a second and am now on the journey to lose the baby weight again. I'm having a little more trouble this time around, but I think it has to do with the breastfeeding (I don't want to cut my calories to much) then the thyroid.

    I get my levels checked every 6 months or more often if I'm feeling off just to make sure I'm where I need to be. Also, something I didn't know until about a year after my surgery is that you should not take your multi-vitamin at the same time as your Synthroid (or whatever hormone replacement you're on). It's either the calcium or iron (can't remember which) in the multi that prohibits the thyroid medication from being properly absorbed. I take my vitamins with lunch and my Synthroid first thing. If you're meds aren't being absorbed correctly that could lead to your levels being off which could lead to not being able to lose weight.
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