Weight loss with hormonal disorders
SCoil123
Posts: 2,110 Member
I know there have to be other women here who have hormonal issues and have been successful so I'm hoping some can share experience and advice.
I have Hoshimoto, an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid and causes hypothyroidism, and endometreosis. When I lost weight the first time it took me a year of bouncing around to finally lose the last 20lb and maintain. I know it can be done. Now I'm trying to lose that last 20lb again. I entered perimenopause early about a year ago making it even more challenging this time around.
I'm feeling pretty discouraged with my weight bouncing in the same 5lb range. I try to be patient because I remember doing this before but its hard. What did you do to break through and stay motivated?
I should add my dad flies in today and he has teased me all my life for my weight struggles. He has no understanding of my health issues or how it affects me.
I have Hoshimoto, an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid and causes hypothyroidism, and endometreosis. When I lost weight the first time it took me a year of bouncing around to finally lose the last 20lb and maintain. I know it can be done. Now I'm trying to lose that last 20lb again. I entered perimenopause early about a year ago making it even more challenging this time around.
I'm feeling pretty discouraged with my weight bouncing in the same 5lb range. I try to be patient because I remember doing this before but its hard. What did you do to break through and stay motivated?
I should add my dad flies in today and he has teased me all my life for my weight struggles. He has no understanding of my health issues or how it affects me.
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Replies
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I have a hard time with weightloss too. Hypothroid hashimotos, pmdd the way it makes me feel mentally. It's very hard. The struggle is real.
Debate on what to eat how when etc. It sucks. We need support.
I have a hard time with eating and exercising together staying on track.2 -
I also could use advice as well. Please and thankyou1
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Make sure your medication is spot on. Has your fT3 been tested lately? Generally you should try to get it towards the upper half of the reference range as if this is lowish (often still within range) you are tired. One other thing: some people tend to have problems converting the standard T4 tablets to T3 (that's the stuff you mainly need). Might be necessary to get prescription for a combined T4/T3 medication then. Thus get the proper tests and ask your doctor that you want to be treated so that you feel good, and not such that he thinks should work.
Another thing: many people with hashis are also deficient in iron (ferritin should be checked, not serum iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and a few other things. A deficiency in those also makes you tired. If you get any tests make sure you're not taking any vitamin supplements for a couple of weeks before the test as they can falsify B12 D3 and such tests.
As such, the slowing of your metabolism isn't quite as bad as many people think. One potential problem with being hypo/hashi is that you store a bit more water than others. But generally you should be able to lose weight just fine. Hey, I lost the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and had completely untreated hashis at that time. All it takes is a food scale, weighing everything, and choosing the right data base entries. But most importantly: make sure you're treated properly!3 -
Its frustrating. At my last labs my free T4 had dropped but was at the lowest end of the normal range. My T3 and TSH looked good. The doctor doesn't want to make any changes and just wants my labs repeated in a few month for closer monitiring. I go back in next month. I feel heavy and tired.
Last time increased activity helped a lot when I was losing. The first 50 came off easy and then I had to work for it (lost around 80lb total) but loved working out. I'm hoping as my knee heels and I get more active things get better.
The iron was a great suggestion. Mine has been low in the past and I don't think we checked it at my last labs.0 -
Lowest end of normal is often far too low for most people. Generally not testing fT3 seems to be common, but it's so important. Both fT4 and fT3 should ideally be within the same percentage of the reference range. But more importantly, both values and TSH change pretty much every 30 minutes, thus those blood values are not the most precise anyway. It's much more important to go with how the patient feels.
Ferritin is also one of those things that often have a far too low reference range. Many women already get problems way above the lower range and way before they develop an anaemia. I might be an extreme case but I get really bad symptoms with a ferritin of around 28.1 -
Lowest end of normal is often far too low for most people. Generally not testing fT3 seems to be common, but it's so important. Both fT4 and fT3 should ideally be within the same percentage of the reference range. But more importantly, both values and TSH change pretty much every 30 minutes, thus those blood values are not the most precise anyway. It's much more important to go with how the patient feels.
Ferritin is also one of those things that often have a far too low reference range. Many women already get problems way above the lower range and way before they develop an anaemia. I might be an extreme case but I get really bad symptoms with a ferritin of around 28.
I need to talk to my doctor again. I feel bloated and tired plus my skin is getting break outs again and one of my eyebrows is thinning ( they look ridiculously uneven before I pencil). Hopefully she will pay attention and treat me instead of my blood levels. Thank you0 -
I don't know a lot about Hashimoto's but I do have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and the weight loss is also hard. The gains are easy, especially when it comes to carb consumption. I am on day 1275 here, am down 108 lbs, so it's possible, you just have to keep going because it's really worth it.9
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Yes simple carbs are my enemy. Thank GOD I'd rather have salad and steak anyways0
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Make sure your medication is spot on. Has your fT3 been tested lately? Generally you should try to get it towards the upper half of the reference range as if this is lowish (often still within range) you are tired. One other thing: some people tend to have problems converting the standard T4 tablets to T3 (that's the stuff you mainly need). Might be necessary to get prescription for a combined T4/T3 medication then. Thus get the proper tests and ask your doctor that you want to be treated so that you feel good, and not such that he thinks should work.
Another thing: many people with hashis are also deficient in iron (ferritin should be checked, not serum iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and a few other things. A deficiency in those also makes you tired. If you get any tests make sure you're not taking any vitamin supplements for a couple of weeks before the test as they can falsify B12 D3 and such tests.
As such, the slowing of your metabolism isn't quite as bad as many people think. One potential problem with being hypo/hashi is that you store a bit more water than others. But generally you should be able to lose weight just fine. Hey, I lost the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and had completely untreated hashis at that time. All it takes is a food scale, weighing everything, and choosing the right data base entries. But most importantly: make sure you're treated properly!
All of this and so much more! I have found a combined T3/T4 is so much better! Armour and naturethroid should both be options you can discuss with your doctor. If you are not converting T4 to T3 efficiently selenium and vit. C are both factors in conversion. Even with taking armour I don't convert well and have to supplement with 400mcg of selenium and tons of vit. C. My conversion is better with those.
The iron is another biggie. I have NEVER been anemic in my entire life (I'm 46 and have had 3 kids). I am perimenopausal big time and all of a sudden I am severely anemic which also affects thyroid (and thus metabolism). Floradix liquid or iron tabs is the BEST source you can use for iron (besides food obviously!). It is not only the most absorbable, but it will not cause bowel issues like straight ferrous gluconate does (most people only absorb 10% of gluconate).
Low progesterone will also make it hard to lose. It would be worth getting that tested as well.
It sounds like your doctor isn't real willing to explore changing your meds based on your symptoms (this is so aggravating!). Perhaps it's time to find a doctor that will do a full hormone panel and really look at all of these things together to come up with a plan for you that works for your body. You might look for a functional medicine doctor. They tend to look at the whole person and not just numbers (being on the low end of "normal" for thyroid, iron and progesterone usually makes people feel like crap).
And after all of that - CICO. ;-)1 -
I'm in the same boat. Was near goal and all hell broke loose. I refuse to be disappointed by that but chalk it up as a blip. The last blip was a pregnancy lol. I am at the mercy of hormones and I have PSA. Like you I was loving my renewed fitness, my health and felt um, invincible. When it started happening, it was the fatigue that made it difficult..but at the time I didn't realise the impact it had on me. My ferritin was 9 prior to Christmas. Last test two weeks ago, it was 20. I've used supplements because dietary wise I'm not lacking but I needed help getting the stores up.
I've improved but not 100%. Joints limit movement some days. This is difficult because I've leant on exercise for adherence. When I do it I feel good and it tides over to every other choice. With the fatigue..I just didn't care anymore. Couldn't think straight. Make the simplest of decisions. That was going on for about a year before I stopped putting it down to kids etc.
Im starting to feel like it's calming down. Taken months and medical intervention on a few things to help me along though.0 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »Make sure your medication is spot on. Has your fT3 been tested lately? Generally you should try to get it towards the upper half of the reference range as if this is lowish (often still within range) you are tired. One other thing: some people tend to have problems converting the standard T4 tablets to T3 (that's the stuff you mainly need). Might be necessary to get prescription for a combined T4/T3 medication then. Thus get the proper tests and ask your doctor that you want to be treated so that you feel good, and not such that he thinks should work.
Another thing: many people with hashis are also deficient in iron (ferritin should be checked, not serum iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and a few other things. A deficiency in those also makes you tired. If you get any tests make sure you're not taking any vitamin supplements for a couple of weeks before the test as they can falsify B12 D3 and such tests.
As such, the slowing of your metabolism isn't quite as bad as many people think. One potential problem with being hypo/hashi is that you store a bit more water than others. But generally you should be able to lose weight just fine. Hey, I lost the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and had completely untreated hashis at that time. All it takes is a food scale, weighing everything, and choosing the right data base entries. But most importantly: make sure you're treated properly!
All of this and so much more! I have found a combined T3/T4 is so much better! Armour and naturethroid should both be options you can discuss with your doctor. If you are not converting T4 to T3 efficiently selenium and vit. C are both factors in conversion. Even with taking armour I don't convert well and have to supplement with 400mcg of selenium and tons of vit. C. My conversion is better with those.
The iron is another biggie. I have NEVER been anemic in my entire life (I'm 46 and have had 3 kids). I am perimenopausal big time and all of a sudden I am severely anemic which also affects thyroid (and thus metabolism). Floradix liquid or iron tabs is the BEST source you can use for iron (besides food obviously!). It is not only the most absorbable, but it will not cause bowel issues like straight ferrous gluconate does (most people only absorb 10% of gluconate).
Low progesterone will also make it hard to lose. It would be worth getting that tested as well.
It sounds like your doctor isn't real willing to explore changing your meds based on your symptoms (this is so aggravating!). Perhaps it's time to find a doctor that will do a full hormone panel and really look at all of these things together to come up with a plan for you that works for your body. You might look for a functional medicine doctor. They tend to look at the whole person and not just numbers (being on the low end of "normal" for thyroid, iron and progesterone usually makes people feel like crap).
And after all of that - CICO. ;-)
Thanks a lot. Great post.
With regards to iron: Some people get symptoms before they are anaemic. Use a car as an analogue that starts making funny noises somewhere before the drive shaft breaks. In my case (yes, I'm a wussy) it feels like someone stole some oxygen from the air when I'm just moving lightly, like walking back from groceries shopping or walking up the stairs to my flat. Really, as if I'm on a high mountain. Plus I feel so tired. And that's at a ferritin of 26. Yes, it's low, but many people feel fine at much lower values. I heard some claims that hypothyrid people often have 'less blood' and as such the relative amounts of ferritin and a few other things appear higher as they are - more blood, more dilution of those substances and less is in the blood test tube. Not sure about that though. Thus please take that with a grain of salt.0 -
interesting posts, I have been wondering if my problem is hormonal because all of a sudden I started gaining weight in the last year or sofor no reason. I am post menapausal and have benine thyroid nodules. Ive had my thyroid tested doesen times and the numbers are always normal. im not on any meds. I started on MFP on a 2000+ calorie diet and figured I was just over eating and have whittled it back now to only 1200 calories over the last 50 days... and I'm still gaining!! Im so frustrated and discouraged! doctors have been no help, Ive been to a nutritionist. I dont know whats wrong or what to do about it.0
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I have Hashimoto's. My TSH is currently BELOW the normal range, and my doc still upped my dose of armour thyroid based on my free t3 being in the lower half of the normal range and based on my symptoms. When I was on synthroid, my dose was doubled to try to make a difference in my labs and symptoms. Nada. Apparently my conversion from t4-t3 is virtually nonexistent.
I too have to supplement quite a bit. I take 10,000 IUs of vitamin D, selenium, and iodine, plus a prescription methylated form of folate and B vitamins. I don't handle simple carbs well (desserts mostly) and tend to drink around a gallon of water a day. If I don't, I feel bloated. I've also looked and felt better since starting a version of intermittent fasting, but that may be unrelated to me being hypothyroid.
I get so frustrated with our medical system when people say they talked to their doctors but their tsh is normal so they didn't get any help. Tsh is a horrible indicator of thyroid function.0 -
@Noelani1503 You might want to discuss the iodine supplementation with your GP. Research seems to be inconclusive with regards to the expected outcome, but iodine seems to increase hypo in some patients (while reduces symptons in others)1
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@Noelani1503 You might want to discuss the iodine supplementation with your GP. Research seems to be inconclusive with regards to the expected outcome, but iodine seems to increase hypo in some patients (while reduces symptons in others)
Thanks! All my supplements are prescribed by my doc and most (including iodine) are based on my lab values. We're going slowly until my numbers come up a bit or my symptoms resolve.0 -
Wow. Never knew so many others shared my problem. Makes me feel better but not great. There should be something we could all do to help ourselves. I have recently started eating a lot fewer carbs which seems to have helped. Also a lot less sodium in my diet. But these only contribute to water weight loss I think. What to do about the other 30 lbs??!!
Good to know you are all out there - in a good way!!<|:))0 -
Just for your information my sister-in-law has said she has been able to control her hypothyroid with her diet. I do not know what her diet might be as she lives in California and I live in Ohio in the US. I know that she has been thin all her life and I cannot imagine her gaining weight.
The other side of this coin is that there are other complications that come from untreated thyroid. One of them being developing gum disease very rapidly.
You have to be so careful with these hormonal things.0 -
Thank you for this post
I am also in the same boat with Hashimoto's and when I started menopause I started gaining weight and am at the highest weight I have ever been in my life. It is extremely hard to lose weight. I have recently been reading the benefits of Paleo; I am allergic to dairy and sensitive to gluten, so this might be a good match for me. I also agree with everyone about simple carbs and their connection with glucose and inflammation and Hashimoto's, so another reason to try Paleo. Good luck everyone!! Please feel free to friend me or send me a message to cheer each other on
Jeannemarie0 -
@Noelani1503 You might want to discuss the iodine supplementation with your GP. Research seems to be inconclusive with regards to the expected outcome, but iodine seems to increase hypo in some patients (while reduces symptons in others)
One of the things the nutritionist I worked with in the past suggested was taking a low dose of sea kelp for this very reason. It helped a lot and I am going back on it this week. I did notice though that when I went off of it I was more bloated than ever before so in my experience if you start taking it be prepared to keep taking it.1 -
@Noelani1503 You might want to discuss the iodine supplementation with your GP. Research seems to be inconclusive with regards to the expected outcome, but iodine seems to increase hypo in some patients (while reduces symptons in others)
One of the things the nutritionist I worked with in the past suggested was taking a low dose of sea kelp for this very reason. It helped a lot and I am going back on it this week. I did notice though that when I went off of it I was more bloated than ever before so in my experience if you start taking it be prepared to keep taking it.
Thanks for the heads up!0 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »Make sure your medication is spot on. Has your fT3 been tested lately? Generally you should try to get it towards the upper half of the reference range as if this is lowish (often still within range) you are tired. One other thing: some people tend to have problems converting the standard T4 tablets to T3 (that's the stuff you mainly need). Might be necessary to get prescription for a combined T4/T3 medication then. Thus get the proper tests and ask your doctor that you want to be treated so that you feel good, and not such that he thinks should work.
Another thing: many people with hashis are also deficient in iron (ferritin should be checked, not serum iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and a few other things. A deficiency in those also makes you tired. If you get any tests make sure you're not taking any vitamin supplements for a couple of weeks before the test as they can falsify B12 D3 and such tests.
As such, the slowing of your metabolism isn't quite as bad as many people think. One potential problem with being hypo/hashi is that you store a bit more water than others. But generally you should be able to lose weight just fine. Hey, I lost the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and had completely untreated hashis at that time. All it takes is a food scale, weighing everything, and choosing the right data base entries. But most importantly: make sure you're treated properly!
All of this and so much more! I have found a combined T3/T4 is so much better! Armour and naturethroid should both be options you can discuss with your doctor. If you are not converting T4 to T3 efficiently selenium and vit. C are both factors in conversion. Even with taking armour I don't convert well and have to supplement with 400mcg of selenium and tons of vit. C. My conversion is better with those.
The iron is another biggie. I have NEVER been anemic in my entire life (I'm 46 and have had 3 kids). I am perimenopausal big time and all of a sudden I am severely anemic which also affects thyroid (and thus metabolism). Floradix liquid or iron tabs is the BEST source you can use for iron (besides food obviously!). It is not only the most absorbable, but it will not cause bowel issues like straight ferrous gluconate does (most people only absorb 10% of gluconate).
Low progesterone will also make it hard to lose. It would be worth getting that tested as well.
It sounds like your doctor isn't real willing to explore changing your meds based on your symptoms (this is so aggravating!). Perhaps it's time to find a doctor that will do a full hormone panel and really look at all of these things together to come up with a plan for you that works for your body. You might look for a functional medicine doctor. They tend to look at the whole person and not just numbers (being on the low end of "normal" for thyroid, iron and progesterone usually makes people feel like crap).
And after all of that - CICO. ;-)
I take armour but I have had much better results with adding progesterone to my regimen. It is common for women to have low progesterone and become estrogen dominant as they get older, which makes weight gain very easy and weight loss incredibly difficult. I would definitely get that tested as well!3 -
interesting posts, I have been wondering if my problem is hormonal because all of a sudden I started gaining weight in the last year or sofor no reason. I am post menapausal and have benine thyroid nodules. Ive had my thyroid tested doesen times and the numbers are always normal. im not on any meds. I started on MFP on a 2000+ calorie diet and figured I was just over eating and have whittled it back now to only 1200 calories over the last 50 days... and I'm still gaining!! Im so frustrated and discouraged! doctors have been no help, Ive been to a nutritionist. I dont know whats wrong or what to do about it.
I took a peek at your food diary and it looks like you are measuring your food with cups rather than weighing it. Lots of times when people are stuck with weight loss it is because they are eating more than they think they are due to this. If you start your own thread about this issue, you will get lots of feedback.1 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »Make sure your medication is spot on. Has your fT3 been tested lately? Generally you should try to get it towards the upper half of the reference range as if this is lowish (often still within range) you are tired. One other thing: some people tend to have problems converting the standard T4 tablets to T3 (that's the stuff you mainly need). Might be necessary to get prescription for a combined T4/T3 medication then. Thus get the proper tests and ask your doctor that you want to be treated so that you feel good, and not such that he thinks should work.
Another thing: many people with hashis are also deficient in iron (ferritin should be checked, not serum iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and a few other things. A deficiency in those also makes you tired. If you get any tests make sure you're not taking any vitamin supplements for a couple of weeks before the test as they can falsify B12 D3 and such tests.
As such, the slowing of your metabolism isn't quite as bad as many people think. One potential problem with being hypo/hashi is that you store a bit more water than others. But generally you should be able to lose weight just fine. Hey, I lost the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and had completely untreated hashis at that time. All it takes is a food scale, weighing everything, and choosing the right data base entries. But most importantly: make sure you're treated properly!
All of this and so much more! I have found a combined T3/T4 is so much better! Armour and naturethroid should both be options you can discuss with your doctor. If you are not converting T4 to T3 efficiently selenium and vit. C are both factors in conversion. Even with taking armour I don't convert well and have to supplement with 400mcg of selenium and tons of vit. C. My conversion is better with those.
The iron is another biggie. I have NEVER been anemic in my entire life (I'm 46 and have had 3 kids). I am perimenopausal big time and all of a sudden I am severely anemic which also affects thyroid (and thus metabolism). Floradix liquid or iron tabs is the BEST source you can use for iron (besides food obviously!). It is not only the most absorbable, but it will not cause bowel issues like straight ferrous gluconate does (most people only absorb 10% of gluconate).
Low progesterone will also make it hard to lose. It would be worth getting that tested as well.
It sounds like your doctor isn't real willing to explore changing your meds based on your symptoms (this is so aggravating!). Perhaps it's time to find a doctor that will do a full hormone panel and really look at all of these things together to come up with a plan for you that works for your body. You might look for a functional medicine doctor. They tend to look at the whole person and not just numbers (being on the low end of "normal" for thyroid, iron and progesterone usually makes people feel like crap).
And after all of that - CICO. ;-)
Thanks a lot. Great post.
With regards to iron: Some people get symptoms before they are anaemic. Use a car as an analogue that starts making funny noises somewhere before the drive shaft breaks. In my case (yes, I'm a wussy) it feels like someone stole some oxygen from the air when I'm just moving lightly, like walking back from groceries shopping or walking up the stairs to my flat. Really, as if I'm on a high mountain. Plus I feel so tired. And that's at a ferritin of 26. Yes, it's low, but many people feel fine at much lower values. I heard some claims that hypothyrid people often have 'less blood' and as such the relative amounts of ferritin and a few other things appear higher as they are - more blood, more dilution of those substances and less is in the blood test tube. Not sure about that though. Thus please take that with a grain of salt.
Interesting. I don't have thyroid issues and feel fine with ferritin of 13. I have to supplement aggressively to get that "high." I did feel like you described when my anemia was untreated.0 -
Hello ladies! Always good to know you're not alone with all this hormonal guff.
To lay it out there: hashimoto's, PCOS, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia - to name the main problems! (and only aged 29 too, such is life)
I've lost and gained weight so many times over the years, it seems like as soon as one thing is diagnosed and sorted, so the weight can be managed more easily, another thing crops up! However, I'm not here to moan - it really is possible to lose weight even with the cards stacked against you. I dropped a load of weight at the start of this year, then took 8 weeks off for an RA flare, injury, change in job etc, and it all came back. All of it.
However, knowing I CAN lose it is motivation enough. Over the years, I've managed to lose - and keep off - 10st give or take a few pounds, so it is possible. Even with restricted movement, days you feel you literally can't get out of bed, and knowing that diet is as important as exercise (when your body is just telling you CARBS! GIVE ME CARBS!), you CAN and WILL lose the weight.
It's just got to be a slower process. Don't lose patience with it! Accept that it'll take twice, maybe three times as long as healthy people, and you'll not get as frustrated with slow weight loss.
I've personally found a low carb (not no carb) diet works best for me, so lots of veggies etc but potatoes only a couple of times a week and pasta maybe once a month if I'm feeling particularly lassiez-faire. Personally I also avoid soya products where I can, because it has been linked to worsening thyroid problems (if you already have them) as well as interrupting hormonal balance. Before anyone jumps on that, feel free to please research that yourselves as some scientists call woo and others produce convincing reports. I've found avoiding soya is helpful for my own needs, but it may be different for others.
Oh and to add to the fun, I'm dairy free too (eczema) - so if anyone has any high protein, low carb, dairy and soy free recipes they want to share... ;-)
Good luck ladies - you can and will succeed. I believe in you!2 -
BigAnnie, such a positive comment. Thanks a lot.1
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I've struggled with this in the past as well. While I don't have Hashi's I am hypothyroid and struggled horribly with losing while tracking calories. I found that I was deficient in B12 and Vitamin D so my doc put my on supplements for those. Also, my weight didn't start to budge until I had my meds adjusted and I actually had to stop taking my Armour Thyroid and switch to a compound. Apparently there were fillers in the Armour that didn't agree with me at all even though my lab numbers were "in range."
I haven't cut out anything except surprisingly corn....some thyroid patients have sensitivities to gluten and while I have a slight problem with it, corn is a major problem for my body. Hang in there..it's tough to find that sweet spot but I'm sure you will. Some people claim it's all CICO, but that's definitely not the case when you have hormonal issues going on as well.1 -
ChristinaOrr65 wrote: »ronjsteele1 wrote: »Make sure your medication is spot on. Has your fT3 been tested lately? Generally you should try to get it towards the upper half of the reference range as if this is lowish (often still within range) you are tired. One other thing: some people tend to have problems converting the standard T4 tablets to T3 (that's the stuff you mainly need). Might be necessary to get prescription for a combined T4/T3 medication then. Thus get the proper tests and ask your doctor that you want to be treated so that you feel good, and not such that he thinks should work.
Another thing: many people with hashis are also deficient in iron (ferritin should be checked, not serum iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and a few other things. A deficiency in those also makes you tired. If you get any tests make sure you're not taking any vitamin supplements for a couple of weeks before the test as they can falsify B12 D3 and such tests.
As such, the slowing of your metabolism isn't quite as bad as many people think. One potential problem with being hypo/hashi is that you store a bit more water than others. But generally you should be able to lose weight just fine. Hey, I lost the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and had completely untreated hashis at that time. All it takes is a food scale, weighing everything, and choosing the right data base entries. But most importantly: make sure you're treated properly!
All of this and so much more! I have found a combined T3/T4 is so much better! Armour and naturethroid should both be options you can discuss with your doctor. If you are not converting T4 to T3 efficiently selenium and vit. C are both factors in conversion. Even with taking armour I don't convert well and have to supplement with 400mcg of selenium and tons of vit. C. My conversion is better with those.
The iron is another biggie. I have NEVER been anemic in my entire life (I'm 46 and have had 3 kids). I am perimenopausal big time and all of a sudden I am severely anemic which also affects thyroid (and thus metabolism). Floradix liquid or iron tabs is the BEST source you can use for iron (besides food obviously!). It is not only the most absorbable, but it will not cause bowel issues like straight ferrous gluconate does (most people only absorb 10% of gluconate).
Low progesterone will also make it hard to lose. It would be worth getting that tested as well.
It sounds like your doctor isn't real willing to explore changing your meds based on your symptoms (this is so aggravating!). Perhaps it's time to find a doctor that will do a full hormone panel and really look at all of these things together to come up with a plan for you that works for your body. You might look for a functional medicine doctor. They tend to look at the whole person and not just numbers (being on the low end of "normal" for thyroid, iron and progesterone usually makes people feel like crap).
And after all of that - CICO. ;-)
I take armour but I have had much better results with adding progesterone to my regimen. It is common for women to have low progesterone and become estrogen dominant as they get older, which makes weight gain very easy and weight loss incredibly difficult. I would definitely get that tested as well!
Yes! Progesterone is HUGE for me. Just had mine retested and it's tanked again. Which probably explains why it's taken me more then 5 months to lose 10#'s. I used a compounded bio-identical progesterone cream for quite awhile before I didn't need it anymore for a few years. May got back to it short term while I sort out the menopause stuff.1 -
Have any of you heard of taking b vitamins to help with thyroid? I had my nutritionist ask me if I was eating certain foods because people with my condition often don't get enough b vitamins. I eat some of the foods (fish) but never liver and I avoid potatoes. I decided to add a b supplement to my routine. I'll report back if it helps but curious about feedback in the meanwhile.0
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