Hypothyroidism!!!

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So, I'm hypothyroid and I need to up my dosage from 25mcg to 50mcg per day. I'm finding it really hard to actually lose weight because of the hypothyroidism and just did a search on diets for people with thyroid disease.. apparantly I shouldn't be eating brocolli, cauliflower, pears, brussell sprouts, etc.. I eat these things on most days! So that's kinda upsetting.

Is there anyone else out there, who's also hypothyroid, who has been told what to eat and not to eat (by a specialist who knows what they're talking about), to support thyroid function?

Thanks! :)

Replies

  • coderchris
    coderchris Posts: 79 Member
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    My husband had his thyroid removed almost 4 years ago due to Thyroid Cancer. He was already overweight when he had the surgery and the stress from the cancer and having to be hypothyroid for a couple of months did not help. He decided this year enough was enough. He started eating small meals and exercising. He does not eat anything in particular even though he does eat a fairly well balanced diet. He has lost 80 lbs. He now needs to get to the doctor and get his meds reduced. I am pretty sure he is slightly hyperthyroid at this point. You might want to talk to an Endocrinologist and see if they offer any suggestions. Those vegetables do not sound like bad things to eat but I am sure after awhile you would get tired of it. My husband was a whopping 300 lbs when he started his journey. I understand it can be discouraging, stay the course and get some medical help in this area.
  • sziemba1
    sziemba1 Posts: 34
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    I am hypothyroid and have been since 1980. I don't have a thyroid gland at all. Don't get yourself locked into the belief that you can't lose weight because of it. That's bull. I know -- last year I went on a diet and lost 60 lbs in 16 weeks. What did I do? For 16 weeks I (1) didn't eat anything made from flour, sugar, rice, or potatoes, (2) drank 8 cups of water daily (very important to flush that fat out of your body and it speeds up your metabolism), (3) kept calories around 1700 daily and carb counts at 125 daily. It was not easy at first but the pounds were falling off at 3-4 pounds a week. I'm slim and trim now and I use the MFP website now to track nutrition values so I do not put the weight back on. Good luck.
  • beckbop
    beckbop Posts: 75
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    i have an underactive thyroid and im currently on 125 mcg. i had seen the same information on diets as you on the internet but when i went to ask my doctor she didnt think that it really mattered what type of food i ate just aslong as it was the right amount.

    im still waiting to get the right dose for my thyroid at the minute, and since it got diagnosed last year i have put on over 20 pounds! :(
    but for me i find that exercise helps me lose weight more than just eating healthy.
  • Lindy222
    Lindy222 Posts: 9
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    Hi whatever -

    I guess you just been diagnosed - as 25 mcg is a very small starter dose.

    I have been hypo for ages - presently taking 150/175 Thyroxine per day and am very well. Most people start on a small dose like you with further blood tests after 6 weeks or so - and - according to those results - it is likely your dose will be increased.

    It is accepted that hypos gain weight easily - and have great difficulty it losing weight. The foods you have identified are believed to hinder the absorption of the thyroxine in your body.

    I think the best thing I could do for you is to suggest you spend a while hunting out the information you need on Thyroid-Disease.org.uk. It is a brilliant site and you will find all you need in one place. They are a very friendly group too and if you have only just been diagnosed and have any questions, it is the best place to be.

    Hope that helps - Lindy
  • whateverdamnit
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    Thanks for all your answers!

    I spoke to an endocrinologist a couple weeks ago, but never thought to ask about recommended foods. I guess I just need to wait until my next appointment.

    I did just read that the veges I mentioned that are "goitrogenic" are OK to eat in moderation, if cooked. So I'm going to carry on eating them, but will have to cut down. I eat that stuff every night, so now I need to start thinking of new dinner ideas. :)

    I'm about to up my dosage of thyroxine in a few days and I hope it all helps!
  • whateverdamnit
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    Hi whatever -

    I guess you just been diagnosed - as 25 mcg is a very small starter dose.

    I have been hypo for ages - presently taking 150/175 Thyroxine per day and am very well. Most people start on a small dose like you with further blood tests after 6 weeks or so - and - according to those results - it is likely your dose will be increased.

    It is accepted that hypos gain weight easily - and have great difficulty it losing weight. The foods you have identified are believed to hinder the absorption of the thyroxine in your body.

    I think the best thing I could do for you is to suggest you spend a while hunting out the information you need on Thyroid-Disease.org.uk. It is a brilliant site and you will find all you need in one place. They are a very friendly group too and if you have only just been diagnosed and have any questions, it is the best place to be.

    Hope that helps - Lindy

    Thanks, Lindy!

    I was actually diagnosed about a year ago and have had regular blood tests. My GP insisted that I was on the right dose, regardless of me still having all the symptoms of someone with Hypothyroidism, so I insisted he refers me to an endocrinologist. She says I'm under, which I thought I was, anyway. Sometimes, unfortunately, GP's are really crap!
  • Lindy222
    Lindy222 Posts: 9
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    I so agree - is very hit and miss with GP's - and many of us hypos have been diagnosed with all kinds of other ailments - including depression - when we have a thyroid not producing enough thyroxine ! I know - been there done that !

    The main problem is - when blood tests are done - the acceptable, (to a GP) result has a very wide range. When uninformed GPs find a TSH within that range - the patient is told her/his results are "normal". But (and its a very big but), many many people can feel really awful and most unwell within that range of results. The most common measurement is called "TSH" - short for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and the range for that can be up to "10", before a patient is considered hypothyroid. However, personally I became increasingly ill with a TSH of 4 - I had two years of awfulness - getting increasingly worse - with all kinds of physical and mental problems. Saw another GP in the Practice - he upped my thyroxine and I got soooo much better - took a while - but am good now.

    I tell you that because my experience has been there are GPs who have limited knowledge of thyroid problems - and because any test appears to be in the "normal" range - they do not consider the thyroid to be the problem.

    I would like to ask your health story so far - are you well - was this diagnosed because you were unwell. I would also like to redirect you to Thyroid UK too - because by collecting some factual information about hypo - you are far better placed to understand your illness - and - most importantly - fight your corner if you need to !

    Lindy
  • whateverdamnit
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    I was feeling low and reaaaaaally tired.. had all the symptoms.. so got tested and my thyroid was borderline underactive.
  • athaliah
    athaliah Posts: 24 Member
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    Another Hypo here. Started at 25 dose with the endo who just couldn't even remember my name or that I didn't want kids. She didn't want to see me more than once every 6 months, and I was wondering why I was just barely get out of bed most days.

    She told me that by the numbers I didn't qualify because my numbers were just over the normal reasons. She didn't even want to listen to the symptoms that I have. When I told her that my mother and my aunt both are being treated for it she changed her tune and said she'd try it. Started on it and kept me at the lowest dose for 6 months and it gave slight relief. I could tell it was the right direction however, so after her doing nothing for so long and her not wanting to raise it. I fired her.

    Started with a brand new GP that knows what he's doing as he's had several hypo patients in the past, is up to date with what is going on, treating the symptoms first, and believes in educating his patients. So, after 3 months with him and upping the dose three times because the blood work showed each time that my body was desperate for more each test. I am now at a 100 dose and finally functioning as myself once again.

    The best thing that you can do is to educate yourself,. Read the books, pay out a few dollars and buy yourself a few thyroid directed diet books. It will help you untangle the mess of what is going on and how to make things work. And if it still isn't working, maybe its time to talk to a nutritionist who can help you with creating or tweaking a diet plan with you that will work for you.
  • escadachic
    escadachic Posts: 395 Member
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    I've got an under-active thyroid too. Got diagnosed about 9 months ago. Hard getting the meds correct at the start I've found. And I think they are out of wack again. As I was doing low g.i eating and losing weight ok, but then seems my thyroid function took a dive again and I put on the weight I lost.

    So frustrating!

    Half the time, I don't know whether I have depression or whether it's my stupid thyroid again! And sometimes I can't work out, if I am tired, or it's the thyroid issue.

    Totally sux haven't an under-active thyroid I reckon.

    Think I need to get it re-checked.

    Not sure how many mgs I'm on. I just go between 1 tablet and then 2 the next day and keep following that pattern.