I had thyroid cancer and a total thyroidectomy back in 1991. I was 27 years old and had my surgery 6 mos before my wedding. I had always struggled with my weight but when I applied myself I could lose it. Right before the surgery I was a healthy 127, then after the surgery and not being on any hormone for two months before my total body scan I gained and was 142. Thank goodness my wedding dress still fit! Since then, I have gained 30lbs and now that I am in my late 40's I cannot get past 170 for anything. It's like the synthroid has set a weight within my body and it's in control!

For a long time I had fibromyalgia symptoms, at one time I thought maybe I had m.s. but now I know it was the fact that a major organ was removed from my body and a synthetic replica of the hormone it is supposed to control is running many facets of my body. I also realized, too late, that I am allergic to aspertame and therefore cannot drink the tons of diet coke I used to drink when I thought I had m.s.

So many factors play into how our bodies work and how this thyroid cancer has affected us. I was pretty much infertile for the first 10 years of my marriage and only by the grace of God was I able to get pregnant. once, and only once. My beautiful miracle child!

I believe my body is salt sensitive, carb sensitive and needs a lot of hard cardio to lose weight. Unfortunately, I never have enough energy to get through a hard cardio session and feel light headed and weak a quarter of the way through every time.

I have started to lift weights to maintain some muscle since I am getting older now but it hasn't helped with the fat loss. In addition, I feel that the synthroid triggers something in my body to keep that "hunger" light on all the time. Unless I stuff myself regularly, i go to bed hungry and wake up hungry. I have tried low caloires, eating more to weigh less, cardio, walking, weights, nothing seems to stick. Sometimes I like to blame it on the synthroid/thyroid cancer and the lack of energy I probably could.

I'd love to say one day I'll wake up and figure it all out and it will be as easy as it was before the thyroid surgery but I'm just fooling myself. The older I get the harder it will be.

So 22 years this year, I try to be thankful that I am a survivor and live my life with lots of laughs even it that includes some cheese cake.....and I am learning to relax, let go and let God. Not an easy task.

God Bless.

Diana

Hello all!

I had a goiter and had it for many years. In 2011, I switched doctors and they did a needle biopsy and recommended that I have the left side removed. The results showed a "gray" area. Well, after that surgery, the results came back from what was sent away for testing and showed that I had, in fact, had thyroid cancer. They had to remove the rest of my thyroid - total thyroidectomy.

Prior to that, I had weight issues from not enough exercise and eating the wrong things. I had re-focused my life and was able to reach a really healthy state and I was able to burn fat, build muscle and my metabolism was in full force. Since the surgery, I've reached 170 pounds (was 144 prior). I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life.

I had another surgery in the fall (not related to thyroid) and was cleared to resume full workouts in January. I can't believe how much of a difference in how my body responds to my workouts. I'm just as strong and have endurance, but can't seem to get the scale to move backwards at all! I am on synthroid as well and cancer free.

I have been a balanced eater since 2004. I am grateful that I can physically do the things I want to do. I'm just determined to put an end to this mystery that is going on within my body.

HI, My name is Sandie. My journey has just began with this new normal. I had been having problems with my thyroid for two years. I was 250 lbs and lost down to 188 and then all of a sudden started gaining back weight. The dr sent me for an ultrasound and they found the nodules. The dr took out the half with the bigger nodules and tested it and said he didn't think it was cancer (9/13/2012) On 9/16/12 I found out i was in the 5% and I had cancer. The right was removed on10/11/12 and Rai in Dec. During this time I was not on any medication. I gained back up to 200 lbs and then slowley since Jan I have put weight back on. I had a hysterectomy 6 weeks ago which hendered weight loss as well. I am finally back on track and trying to loose weight as I am back up to 230 lbs at 5'5. I have lost and gained the same 5 lbs for two months. SO fustrating. I currently take Vit, D cytomel and Levoxyl. I am ready to fit back into my clothes.

I hope that we can do this together and find out a system or method that works.

Thank you for the group.

Hi, my name is Lorisa and I am happy to find a group on MFP that addresses thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed in 2007 and had a full thyroidectomy on Xmas eve and I am cancer free. I immediately began loosing weight in 2008 and I lost 70 lbs total with exercise and a healthy diet. However my body is acting out and although I continue to work out 3x a week and watch my calories I've put back on 30lbs over the last 2 years. I know I can be better, and I am starting the INSANITY challenge 9/1. I am frustrated though, I watch my friends make progress with less effort and I know that it's my thyroid or lack there of but my doctor says my levels are fine. I'm trying to find a good endocrinologist since mine left the country (wasn't really sad to see him go). Anyway that is my story, and I'm happy to read more about all of you.

Hello! Welcome to the group! I wish you the best in your recovery. Keep in touch and let the group know how it is going. It has been 16 months since my thyroid cancer and treatment and I have heard that it takes a good 18 months to physically recover. I feel fine and am holding steady with my weight (that is, I haven't gained any). Losing is the hard part. Lots of fruits, veggies, and protein are key. Good luck!

Being on MFP has really helped me stay on the course as far as monitoring my weight and a healthy food intake. It is slow but really helpful so I wish you luck in your thyroid journey. Keep in touch!

Hi Everyone! i started this group at the beginning of the year and cancelled my MFP for a long time thinking I could "do it on my own." I managed to find an extra 10 lbs so I got my butt back here! However a year after total thyroidectomy I had a clean 1 year followup, whole body scan and blood work. Meds are where they need to be and I found out (I didn't know) that the Synthroid is based on weight so as the weight comes over be sure and have your labs checked to make sure your meds are where they need to be. Biotin is helping to keep my hair from thinning out and keeping my skin from being like the Sahara like it was after surgery. I went to my Endocrinologist in March and my PCP in April to find out the best weight loss plan for me and both of these ladies told me "you will just gain weight now, most people do and I've never seen anyone lose any." Well let's CHANGE that myth and get on it and support it each other!! im sorry I've been gone, but I'm back now and let's make this our year to get a handle on this nasty thyroid business!

Being on MFP has really helped me stay on the course as far as monitoring my weight and a healthy food intake. It is slow but really helpful so I wish you luck in your thyroid journey. Keep in touch!

I'm glad to hear that! I know I stay on track when I actually have to keep track of what I put in my mouth

Hi and welcome!! I ended up on MFP (and this group) for a similar reason. Feel free to send an FR if you'd like.

Hi I am Cheri. I just had a total thyroidectomy on April 4 and I just finished my RAI on July 2. My weight stayed very stable till about the fourth week of off my thyroid pills and while on the LID. I finally gained ten pounds. I realized it was out of my control and if that is the worst that happened to me than GOD bless. In the last year, I survived kidney cancer and I was going to survive this too. Weight can always come off. it may be hard but it can. It is lucky that the leader here had enough foresight to gather everyone for support. I am just four weeks past my RAI and I had chemotherapy yesterday. While my TSH has come back to normal, I decided it was time for me to at least try to get this ten pounds off. So today, I did start a pretty strict diet and feel with that and exercise I will be at my goal in two or three months. Look forward to getting to know everyone and congrats to handling one tough situation where it is up and down with emotions and life for awhile till it gets normal again. cheri

hello I was just diagnosed with thyroid nodules. my doc says it is normal, and it is because I am fat. so nothing will be done to help me. I have seen a naturalpath who has me on a bunch of stuff. my neck is swelling up, hard to breathe and I choke on food all the time. my hair is falling out, and I am completly exhausted. I have the cysts that could be cancerous, but being that I am "normal" they won't biopsy them. my blood work is normal so far as I can tell. I am interested in ANYTHING that you would have to help get me through the day.
I am so glad to have this group here. we are not alone, as long as we do this walk together

Hi! I would say find a new doctor. You need to find an endocrinologist who will listen to you. I recently had a thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer. This cancer DOES NOT show up in blood tests. Only in ultrasound guided needle biopsies. Find a doctor who wants to help you, who listens to you, who cares about you. Be your own advocate!

seebehindmyeyes wrote: »

Hi! My name is Kristin, I am a 30 year old 5th grade teacher. I've got a husband, a home, and a persian kitty. I have known about my Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism since December of 2006. I had a fairly large nodule since then, probably 4 cm around the time we found it. I had 2 biopsies of that nodule with inconclusive results. After a few bad doctors, a move to a different state, I decided to change doctors again in April when I turned 30. My newest doctor is great. She listened to me, kept me on the liothyronine (T3) and put me on levothyroxine (T4). I asked her to do an ultrasound since I hadn't had one for many years. The ultrasound showed my nodule had grown to closer to 5cm and a new 1.4 cm nodule. After a biospy, I found out I have papillary thyroid cancer. A short 3 weeks later, I had a thyroidectomy on July 16, 2014. 4 lymph nodes were removed as well as my entire thyroid. No lymph node involvement. I had radioactive iodine treatment after 4 weeks off my thyroid meds, which was 4 weeks after surgery. My TSH level was 64.2! I was so hypothyroid, it was awful but necessary to be over TSH 30. Now I am back on my meds and struggling to regain my normal. My weight is slowly, slowly going back down. Slowly. Did I say slowly? I am trying to hop back in to MFP to get some motivation and hopefully my meds do their job and help me along the way to a healthier me. I know it will be a long journey, but I'm up for the challenge. I'll know if I'm cancer free when I go back for another scan in about 6 months. Here's hoping! Nice to meet everyone!

Hi Kristin! I seem to have taken a leave of absence from MFP, but am working at getting back to it! Welcome to the group!!!

Hi Steph! Welcome to the group. And welcome to post-thyroidectomy, post-RAI life. The really hard part's over. Now they just have to get your meds adjusted properly, and for me that took about a year. FR sent if you're interested.

Hi everybody — another newb here!

Diagnosed Jan. 5/15, just had my TT on Jan 21 and started meds a couple days ago as we're taking the "wait and see" approach with regards to RAI.

I'd long suspected thyroid issues, as it's been difficult for me to lose or maintain weight for a long while, but TSH was always within range. Since having my daughter in April 2013 I had felt run down and continued gaining more and more weight, no matter how cleanly I ate or diligently I exercised. So now, after the papillary thyroid cancer diagnosis and a TT, I really just want to get ahead of this so that I don't gain any more than I already have.

I've begun the autoimmune protocol, so lots of veggies, fish and meats. I'll see how this goes!

Anything that's worked for anyone else here?