At wits end

Nope, you need a doctor to fix a thyroid. A lot of people will sell you all kinds of things promising that they'll help, but they won't. Thyroid issues can't be solved with food or drinks or oils, dances, etc. You need a doctor.

I lived with an undiagnosed thyroid issue for decades. It is horrible. My whole life improved when I got fixed.

Beg, borrow or steal the money, but try to get to a doctor.

And, FYI, if someone is truly hypo, it's like their metabolism is shut down, so you CAN be gaining weight with only 1500 calories a day!---back to saying, only a doctor can properly diagnose.

Have you looked into getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act? No point in not getting healthcare when it may be an option.

How do you know how much you eat?

do you weigh ALL your solid food on a food scale...so not using cups, spoons or serving sizes
You only gain weight when you eat more than you burn

Also with thyroid issues.
You still can lose weight but you have to weigh all your food that's all. Don't get discouraged you can really do it

I also lost almost 100 pound now, just by weighing my food, counting and logging here on mFP

Don't say Eff it all! The fact that you are here and posing a question to us is indicative of your wanting to make changes to get healthier, and to remove some or all of what you had gained. Awesome! Get your profile set up, get MFP to help you figure out what you need calorie wise, make some friends on here for support/advice/inspiration, log your food and exercise daily, keep your diary set to "public', and continue to do what you need to do to make things happen. You can do it. You have done it!

If you have hypothyroidism, do what you can to find a way to pay for lab tests and medication asap. It won't make the weight come off, but this is for the bigger picture of your health. The nodules must be monitored. PCOS can encourage weight gain, but it is weight loss that will help pcos. Yeh.. I know, right? Beyond that, it will be about eating as healthy as you can, keeping in control of calories, and exercising regularly.

As someone with hypothyroidism from the time I was a kid, and have PCOS, it is certainly a bad, unforgiving combination. But it's really just a challenge that can be worked with, and some aspects of it can be overcome or at least managed. I work my tail off to take weight off. It's a challenge, but it can and will be done if you make an effort. This means moving more, eating less, and tracking everything that goes into the mouth. You have removed weight in the past, so you already know what to do? This time around, figure out what your stumbling blocks are (at home, at work, within yourself, economically, socially, etc). Learn about yourself, and consider it a life long process. One day at a time.

I have weighed as high at 308, and am currently about 268. I have put on and taken off large amounts of weight multiple times in my life. Take a look at my profile for more information.

2000-2300 calories may be a bit too much right now. What does MFP say? What is your goal? What do you have your pounds per week set at? What is your activity level now?

On April 18th 2015 I had entered "sedentary" as my lifestyle with MFP with the aim of losing 2lbs per week working towards 190 pounds. At 5'10, 308 lbs, I was allotted 1670 calories for the day. I found it imperative to not eat out (rarely ever do anyway), chose nutritious foods over processed/junk food (helped tone down wicked cravings), with plenty of protein and healthy fat, and to get up and moving as much as I can. I bought a Fitbit Charge to track my steps. I figured it would encourage me to move more a little here and there if I could see it tracking all the time. It has been wonderful. In that time Ive gotten used to moving more, and making a point to exercise. My appetite has decreased, and I feel in control on many levels. Little changes can yield big results.

Every ten pounds removed MFP asks if you want to reevaluate your calorie goal. I kept it as 'sedentary', as I still have sloth days, and some naturally very active days, and some days that I get moving but its challenge. Now I'm allotted 1460 calories, and have to be extra careful and/or make sure to be that much more active every day. I don't eat back my calories, but if I am hungry I will add as much as 50% back.

I'm still making progress, but that is because I am accountable for it, regardless of hypothyroidism and pcos.

I hope some of these response have helped you to define your goals, and to see a starting point in the near future, if not right now. Take care.

Friend requests welcome!

Your hormones are not going to be optimal simply because you are overweight and they will not be "correct" until you lose the weight.

Hypothyroidism and PCOS don't cause weight gain to this degree, it makes it more difficult and may cause slight gains due to increased cellular uptake.

Get to a free clinic - there is one in nearly every city. Get some blood work and request a full hormone panel and check your TSH, T4, T3, and RT3.

There are free clinics and communitiy hospitals in every major city accross the US that will see you without payment. If the homeless can go to the doctor so can you.

auttyrocks wrote: »

I can't afford the affordable health care. In my area it's too much a month with no coverage involved. I opted to take the fine because if I were to get sick it would be out of pocket cost until a 5k deductible was met.

I can go on it but right now finances are too tight to squeeze.

You are sick. CT is one of the states that expanded Medicare so if your income is really low, there's that. If not, I suggest you need to prioritize your finances.

wkwebby wrote: »

With PCOS, you should be cutting down on your carbs (it doesn't have to be cut out all together, just more balanced with everything else).

I use MFP's default protein & fiber goals as minimums, and ignore carbs & fats. It accomplishes the same thing (eating fewer carbs), but feels much less restrictive.

robertf57 wrote: »

There are free clinics almost everywhere. The local community health clinic here charges $10/visit if you are low income! CVS pharmacies have a nurse practitioner who can treat hypothyroidism, and in many places you can get a thyroid panel done without a doctor's order.

I am sorry to say that saying "I can't" is just an excuse. You undoubtedly are eating more calories than you think.

^^this. Well said.