Hi everyone! I am 32, mother of 2. I stay at home and homeschool my oldest. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 4 years ago. I switched my medicine from synthroid to Armour last year and have had a much improved symptom set. I have gained weight after each of my children, and need to lose it. In January, I asked my dr for a diet plan that would help me get rid of the extra 50+/- pounds I had. I started that diet Jan 12, and lost 20 pounds in 7 1/2 weeks. I am stoked!! I also recently had a deficiency in potassium that sent me to the ER with heart palpitations. I need all the help I can get to have a nutrient-rich diet that will not mess up my thyroid and still help me lose weight. I average a 10 pound weight loss each month. I would like to at least maintain that if not increase it. I still have about 40 pounds to lose.

Hi all. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 2002, which became hypothyroidism after being treated for nodules with radioactive iodine. I spent years and years trying to find that balance in meds. Then I heard about "Stop the Thyroid Madness" and Armor thyroid. I've been taking that for a few years and doing better. In 2012, I lost 50 pounds, but over the last couple of years, I've been gaining it back. I'm up about 30 pounds. I don't even want to know the exact number anymore. I stay off the scale. I've been trying to find the motivation to get back into healthy eating and exercise. My son recently started tracking his diet and exercise here, so I thought, maybe it could work for me again. I lost it once, so I should be able to do this again!

Hi! I am not technically new but haven't been here in a while. After reading a few posts I realize I need to come out here more often. I learned so much new info in just a few minutes. I now have lots more to read. Thanks for all of you who contribute such helpful info here!

Hi all. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 16 yrs ago. After several years of infertility meds, Synthroid, & other stuff my Dr finally did the antibody test. He made it very clear at the time that he was just patronizing me, but he did it. I had got to the point where I could either do laundry or make supper in a day, not both. With 2 children & a very worried husband life was a complete trial. I still get blood work done every 3 mos and usually change doses then too. (Now on Synthroid 125). This past year I turned 50 & holy hell what a roller coaster it's been. I'm up & down constantly, the Hashimoto's cycles have been horrific. I was also just diagnosed with ulcerative colitis which the Dr figures is connected to the Hashimoto's . My regular Dr just keeps telling me how heavy I would be without the synthroid, really? She just doesn't hear me when I try to explain that I need to lose weight not be glad I'm not even heavier. Last week I started LCHF and am using MFP to track cals, carbs, fat, & protein. I haven't figured it all out yet, but sure am determined to give this a try.

Hi everyone!

I have used MFP off and on for about 2 years. I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism 8 years ago, when I was 16, after I rapidly gained 30 pounds despite not changing my eating habits and being very active. I lived 7 years on what I now know were way too low doses of hormone and just kept gaining weight, albeit more slowly. Finally, last year I changed doctors and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. Honestly, the diagnosis was almost as much of a relief as finally getting on the right dose! I currently take 150 mcg levothyroxine and it has made such an improvement. Tiny doses of Armour were not doing much for me. Through a combo of logging here and my new meds I have lost 17 pounds over the last 6 months (my numbers on the site are off because I only re-joined once I lost a bit of weight with the medicine). My starting weight was ~240 and I'm right at 223 now. My goal weight is between 140-180, which is a lot, but I was never a "skinny" girl, even before the 30 lb weight gain. Not only to I want to be healthy for me and my future children, but I am also a fashion fiend and want to just buy what I want, when I want!

I went from 7 years of daily (sometimes twice a day) naps and barely able to walk long distances to enjoying physical activity again and no naps! I also did this without cutting out any food groups like wheat or brassicas. I now know it's not all doom and gloom with hypo, and you can have a happy, energetic life again (and eat kale sammiches, yum)!

If you want to be friends, let's do it! I am not a super active poster, but I do (try to) log every day. Also, if anyone knows any Hashi's-specific groups, please point me that way!

Hello, I am glad I found this sub. I just found out yesterday that I have hypothyroidism from my doctor and started low dose levothyroxine. I hope it will kick in soon because the constant tiredness I have struggled with for 8 years is horrible, I am working on losing about 35 lbs I have gained from not drinking, not smoking and eating horribly.

Hi. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos 3 months ago. In retrospect I had every single symptom but kept finding excuses (working shifts, young kids, getting old, feeling cold because I am South American....). I noticed the difference within a month of starting levothyroxine (even the facial swelling, bags and ankle swelling). Dr said not to expect weight loss. I decided for various reasons after 6 weeks of treatment to go on the autoimmune protocol. The bonus, apart from feeling better, was weight loss. I am not sure about the evidence but I have re taught myself to eat more healthily and have successfully re introduced many foods.
Even though my labs are normal now I still get bouts of tiredness, achy joints.
I still haven't started excercising but finally feel that after a year of doing nothing I could as no longer feel breathless going up a flight of stairs or have that 'air hunger'.
Now just need that motivation to start excercising....

Hi, everyone! I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease in 2010 by a physician at work. He took one look at me and said I had a goiter. I was exhausted all the time and had to force myself to just get through the day sometimes. He referred me to an endo doctor. I had nodules on my thyroid, but not cancerous. She did not recommend removing the thyroid. I see her annually. Last year, she really became forceful to lose weight. Suggested I try a 1500 cal. diet & exercise. I tried the diet without the exercise - no go. I was determined to lose some pounds before my next appointment. I tried MFP to help me - followed the 1500 cal diet and added exercise. Slowly, the weight started to come off. I was 17 lbs down at my last appointment. Doctor was pleased & said to keep going. I feel better and have more energy. I still have a long journey ahead, but am determined to keep going.
Hypothyroidism runs in my mother's family. It's good to know there are other people struggling with the same issues.

Hello everyone,

I just started using MFP to register my food intake, as I have auto-immune hypothyroidism and my weight bounces up and down between 63 and 71kg. I originally came from 47kg when I was still hypERthyroid, but my build (stocky, barrel) and mid-60s go very well together.

I'm what they call "hard to stabilise", this round we've been going for about 3 years to try to get me stable on a dose of levothyroxine that will keep my blood levels good for me.

I'm registering everything to see if there is any correlation between weight, food and blood levels, so I'm not on a mission to lose weight, but on a mission to see if there is anything in the food department that I can do to facilitate getting on a stable dose and level.

Setting a goal in MFP did make it more intuitive for me to use the app, but as far as I'm concerned I'm not too bothered at what weight I settle, as long as it's stable. I'm currently a little under 70 and going down again, but it can just as easily go up again.

After 3 weeks I'm slightly annoyed that the app keeps shouting at me that I'm not eating enough on some days, as I eat as much as I want. Unfortunately that isn't very much because I'm not stable yet and everything is still slow.

I'm going to register for 6 months, when I'll see my endo again and we'll go through the results together to see what, if anything, we can do with it.

Hello I'm new here. Been using this app about a week tracking my diet and exercise. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism way back in 1988. I was 20. Had to have radioactive iodine and afterwards the Dr said he was scared that they zapped too much. I'm 5'2" and was 110 at the time. The Dr was right. About killed all of my thyroid. Been hypo ever since. Currently taking 137 Mcg of levo and weigh 240. The weight has just gradually come on over the years. I cannot lose weight for anything. Came here to get help and support. Tired of being fat.

Hi All,

I'm 34 and live in the Dallas, TX, area. I was just recently diagnosed and started treatment for Hashimoto's with Armour Thyroid (currently at 60mg dose). Had a difficult time getting the diagnosis even with a very strong family history of Hashi's and awful fatigue and brain fog symptoms. My lab numbers were "normal," which I know now isn't the best indicator for Hashi's.

Also, this January, I had a major lumbar spine surgery (fusion and disc replacement) and the Hashi's symptoms were keeping me from improving as I thought I should after the surgery. Now, about 3 months into thyroid treatment, I can feel my back getting better. Two weeks ago I had a minor hip surgery (arthroscopic repair of labrum). The restricted activity level and summer fun (eating/drinking too many yummy things), and maybe my thyroid getting itself sorted out had me gain 10 lbs in a few weeks. Got to get that gone, plus another 15-18 lbs to get to what I think is the right weight for me.

I've had 50+ weight fluctuations my whole life. The first time I lost 50 lbs, I was in middle school. I unde-rate and overexercised and got to a low (unhealthy for me) weight FAST. Guess what, by my HS graduation, I had put back on 70 lbs. I gradually lost 40 of that in college. Meanwhile, my back fell apart (also had four spine surgeries while in college). Maintained my sanity and weight with swimming.

Once I entered the professional world, guess what - the weight started to creep back. Did the WeightWatchers thing, returned to the pool, and got to a healthy weight and maintained for about a year. Economic downturn hit, I was overworked and underpaid (happy to have a job, though), depressed, medicated, self-medicated.... then boom! Another big weight gain.

It has only been within the last three years that I've began to develop a better understanding of what's really going on in my body. I have been diagnosed with a handful of autoimmune disorders (endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and now Hashi's). They usually like to bring their friends along for the ride. Until recent months, I had been doing a mostly Paleo diet and was feeling less gas, bloating, etc. and dropped a good bit of weight.

I haven't been making good decisions with food in the past several months (probably out of boredom and frustration with surgeries/slow healing), although I have a much better idea of what I need to be doing to get/keep the weight off than before. Now it's time to hold myself accountable! Looking forward to connecting with others on similar paths here.

Hello there. I'm about a week new to MFP and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a month ago. I've gained quite a bit of weight over the last year. I'm hoping to start losing the weight and pick up tips for eating more balanced and motivation to make sure I get off my butt and exercise. Looking forward to all of our successes!

Happy to have found this group on MFP! Off and on have used mfp in the past, trying now to start back using it and helping me get back on track. I have been diagnosed with hypo since 2011 and it always seems like a rollercoaster ride. Just last week even I went back to Dr. and even diligently taking meds every day my TSH has skyrocketed and T3 and T4 way down. And of course all the Dr. asks is "are you taking your meds everyday?" Yes sure I love feeling like total crap and feeling like my soul has been drained out of me.......idiot. I keep a bottle of water on my nightstand for the soul purpose of taking that medication as soon as I get up and taking on empty stomach for maximum absorption. It's so frustrating when your Drs don't trust you are doing what you are supposed to be doing or listen to anything we as a patient have to say about our own bodies.

joemanda wrote: »

Happy to have found this group on MFP! Off and on have used mfp in the past, trying now to start back using it and helping me get back on track. I have been diagnosed with hypo since 2011 and it always seems like a rollercoaster ride. Just last week even I went back to Dr. and even diligently taking meds every day my TSH has skyrocketed and T3 and T4 way down. And of course all the Dr. asks is "are you taking your meds everyday?" Yes sure I love feeling like total crap and feeling like my soul has been drained out of me.......idiot. I keep a bottle of water on my nightstand for the soul purpose of taking that medication as soon as I get up and taking on empty stomach for maximum absorption. It's so frustrating when your Drs don't trust you are doing what you are supposed to be doing or listen to anything we as a patient have to say about our own bodies.

Welcome joemanda!

Can you share what your TSH, T3, T4 and levothyroxine dosage is?

Doctors are highly suspicious because many patients do not take their medications as prescribed. Keep a journal and hit your doc with data. Log the time into MFP and show him this. Also chart out your low/high days.

Do you still have a thyroid? Once diagnosed with hypothyroidism your thyroid will continue to fail, so you should be having full thyroid panels completed every 6 months minimum. If your T3/T4 and TSH up you definitely need a review and reassessment. If your current endocrinologist isn't working with you are you able to find a different one?

Hi everyone. My name is David Heath and have had Graves' disease for about 5 years now. I was in a remission for the last 2 years, but have just recently relapsed. Gaining weight has been a battle for me whether I'm in remission or not. Glad I just found this group! I've actually now gained 2 pounds in 3 weeks by consuming 5 to 6k calories a day.