Help with recent diagnosis of Hypothyroid
karen110567
Posts: 19 Member
Just found out that my lab work shows I have hypothyroid. I had a slight feeling it was possible, and it makes me feel like maybe that's a big reason why I gained so much weight in the last couple years AND why my weight loss feels like it's going MUCH SLOWER than it should.
On the other hand, I'm concerned about the treatment of it. I see my doctor on Tuesday and will likely get more answers, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear some advise from others in the same boat...
Do you think my weight loss will start to get easier if I'm prescribed medication for it? Any side effects? Any other feedback?
Thanks!
On the other hand, I'm concerned about the treatment of it. I see my doctor on Tuesday and will likely get more answers, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear some advise from others in the same boat...
Do you think my weight loss will start to get easier if I'm prescribed medication for it? Any side effects? Any other feedback?
Thanks!
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Replies
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I am hypothyroid. I do not know which country you are living but you first need to get your medication right and your thyroid functioning well.I suggest you search the the internet advice on how to look after yourself it is a complex condition. Also look for the foods which you should avoid when UAT Many people try to cut out sugar gluten and all processed foods This often takes a long time and you may need to take supplements such as Vit B12 iron etc When you get all your ducks in a row you will be able to lose weight effectively but until your thyroid is functioning well it will be difficult for you to lose.There is lots of advice out there good luck0
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Yes, getting properly medicated should make it easier to lose weight.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's about 18 months ago. It took about six weeks for the medication (levothyroxine) to kick in and for me to be able to start losing weight. I was then able to lose 25 pounds relatively easily and have been able to keep it off w/o much difficulty. I haven't found it necessary to cut anything completely out of my diet (gluten, etc.) or to take any supplements. There is a very small correlation between Hashimoto's (the most common cause of hypothyroidism) and celiac disease, but it is very small.
The main thing to do is take your medication at about the same time every day with water and wait thirty minutes to an hour before eating or drinking anything else. And don't take any supplements within a few hours of your medication.1 -
If this is something like Hashimoto's -- which I've been living with for nearly 10 years now -- and your thyroid simply won't recover, then the replacement hormone is all you need. It's one tiny little pill per day. A full replacement dose for an adult of my weight, which what I'm taking, is 137 mcg. That's micrograms, not milligrams.
@Pawsforme offers good guidance about eating after you take your dose. The replacement hormone is extremely delicate and can be destroyed by mixing with other substances. Supplements require a long wait time particularly if they contain calcium, which is highly reactive. (So careful with the Tums as well.)
I can't say anything from personal experience about weight loss since my hypothyroidism was entirely asymptomatic and I was actually in very good physical condition when it was diagnosed; getting heavier but by putting on lean mass. But I understand that, if trouble with weight loss is due to hypothyroidism, the replacement hormone will help.1 -
Living with hypothyroidism for 6.5 years, the chances are it will be the reason for your weight gain, I gained quite a bit before my diagnosis and whilst they were trying to get the dose right. Lost it all and then some now. Honestly don't be concerned about the treatment it isn't complicated and will easily slip into a routine quick enough.
Treatment for most is: levothyroxine or synthroid (depending which country you live in) it shouldn't give you any side effects as it is simply replacing what your body no longer makes itself unless you are taking too much but that is easily solved (and very unlikely). It will take a while to get to optimum dose with regular blood tests.
Once your medication is optimised it should be easier to lose weight than it is now, but no easier than a normal healthy individual (not giving you false hope it's just as much hard work as for a normal person, sometimes still a little harder, it's all individual).
To finish it off read the leaflet that comes with the thyroxine there are a lot of supplements and other prescription meds that can interfere with the uptake of thyroxine by the body as mentioned calcium is one but also iron, folic acid and many prescription meds. Be wary of fortified breakfast cereal too. If you do need to take supplements take them as far away from your thyroid meds as possible (at least 4 hours).
Educate yourself there are some good websites with great info regarding thyroid disease but be critical there are some really bad ones too. I can recommend the thyroid UK website it's very good.1 -
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 1991 and have been taking Synthroid in varying doses depending on the function of my thyroid (it's been steadily declining) since then.
Take your pill first thing in the morning, alone, and don't eat or drink anything else for an hour.
Other than that? Everything is simple. You should lose weight like anyone else. As stated above, there is a small link between Hashi's and celiac disease. I'm one of the people who has celiac. That's not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things either. Autoimmune issues do tend to travel in packs anyway. I also have psoriatic arthritis. I'm also menopausal. I've still lost weight just fine, surprising myself. I thought it would be hard, and it wasn't.3 -
For me it was nearly impossible to lose weight without medication for hypothyroid. After doing some research, I switched from Synthroid to Armour. I echo what others are saying about celiac disease. You don't have to have full-blown celiac to stop eating wheat but it is better for your thyroid. Also, according to several of my doctors, your thyroid and adrenal glands do not like a highly restrictive low-carb diet. Please google it. (This is the meat, egg, cheese only version).
You may or may not have a thyroid problem forever. At one point, I was scheduled to have my thyroid removed but the doctor cancelled my surgery for that day. It was the best thing that ever happened! A low-functioning thyroid is better than none. Anyway, took my medication and cleaned up my diet. My thyroid tests are normal now but my doctor still has me on a low dose of Armour because she says that I am better on it. My doctor says that these thyroid issues can be fleeting. Honestly, I contribute some of my problems to eating a very restrictive low-carb diet. I am a fan of eating low-carb just for me, 20 carbs a day isn't good.
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YES to everything @GottaBurnEmAll said!
I've lived with hypothyroid for 10 years, and once my dosage was sorted out (which I think took a couple of months) there's been no problems at all. Take your medication as directed and be on the look out for other issues that may be autoimmune related in the future. Through the years some of my endocrinologists suggest no calcium or no soy first thing after taking the pill, some say wait 30 mins or an hour before eating, but I haven't noticed a difference in obeying/ignoring any of those directives.1 -
I was diagnosed about 15 years ago after several years of telling doctors that the fact that I couldn't lose weight didn't make sense given the amount of exercise I was doing and the foods I was eating. You're over 40, I was told. Finally, one doctor asked, "Any family history of low thyroid?" Well yes, my mother was on meds for years. So I got tested, finally.
It may take a while to get the right dosage of your medication. Your doctor should have you return after a few months to retest to make sure the dose is correct. Timing is important, since some foods and minerals can affect it's efficacy. I take my pill at bed time because when I was working I wasn't able to wait an hour between taking the pill and eating breakfast.
In my case, I was able to start losing weight almost immediately after starting medication. I have never had any limits as to what I could or couldn't eat. No Celiac issues, no low carb issues. (I lost 45 lbs on Atkins several years ago.) For most people the medication has no side effects and is very inexpensive.
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Being hypo does not prevent you from losing weight. Weight gain from being hypo is mainly related to:
1. storing more water weight. Once the medication is spot on you'll lose that water weight again. If, at a certain time the medication isn't strong enough any more you might gain water weight again, and lose it with dosage adjustment.
2. being too tired and less active in combination with eating the same leads to weight gain
3. being hypo can make you more hungry
4. being frustrated with feeling not well, being hungry and gaining weight might lead to you eating more.
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5. and only at the end: yes, being hypo means your body needs a bit less energy. But this is about 40-100kcal (normal to overweight women) less per day. You will gain weight until you've reached the point that fits your maintenance calories combined with the slightly lower energy need. This does not seem to be reversible. But remember: it's only a fairly small amount of calories. You could, with some strength training counteract that in the end by building more muscles.
Thus: eating with a deficit will still lead to weight loss. Just finding the motivation for it, and the concentration is more difficult. I know, because I lost my weight while having untreated hashi.4 -
Being hypo does not prevent you from losing weight. Weight gain from being hypo is mainly related to:
1. storing more water weight. Once the medication is spot on you'll lose that water weight again. If, at a certain time the medication isn't strong enough any more you might gain water weight again, and lose it with dosage adjustment.
2. being too tired and less active in combination with eating the same leads to weight gain
3. being hypo can make you more hungry
4. being frustrated with feeling not well, being hungry and gaining weight might lead to you eating more.
---
5. and only at the end: yes, being hypo means your body needs a bit less energy. But this is about 40-100kcal (normal to overweight women) less per day. You will gain weight until you've reached the point that fits your maintenance calories combined with the slightly lower energy need. This does not seem to be reversible. But remember: it's only a fairly small amount of calories. You could, with some strength training counteract that in the end by building more muscles.
Thus: eating with a deficit will still lead to weight loss. Just finding the motivation for it, and the concentration is more difficult. I know, because I lost my weight while having untreated hashi.
I'm sorry but I just do not agree with points 2-5
I ate less when my thyroid decided to pack in as I just had no appetite so I wasn't eating the same but still gaining weight making your points 2-4 moot. And as to point 5 where does the 40-100 cal come from? There is just no way to ascertain this, peer reviewed scientific evidence of this point would be appreciated.
As a side note hashi's is slightly different as you can have euthyroid episodes especially at the start of its development so it may well be different in hashi vs full blown hypothyroid.1 -
Being hypo does not prevent you from losing weight. Weight gain from being hypo is mainly related to:
1. storing more water weight. Once the medication is spot on you'll lose that water weight again. If, at a certain time the medication isn't strong enough any more you might gain water weight again, and lose it with dosage adjustment.
2. being too tired and less active in combination with eating the same leads to weight gain
3. being hypo can make you more hungry
4. being frustrated with feeling not well, being hungry and gaining weight might lead to you eating more.
---
5. and only at the end: yes, being hypo means your body needs a bit less energy. But this is about 40-100kcal (normal to overweight women) less per day. You will gain weight until you've reached the point that fits your maintenance calories combined with the slightly lower energy need. This does not seem to be reversible. But remember: it's only a fairly small amount of calories. You could, with some strength training counteract that in the end by building more muscles.
Thus: eating with a deficit will still lead to weight loss. Just finding the motivation for it, and the concentration is more difficult. I know, because I lost my weight while having untreated hashi.
I'm sorry but I just do not agree with points 2-5
I ate less when my thyroid decided to pack in as I just had no appetite so I wasn't eating the same but still gaining weight making your points 2-4 moot. And as to point 5 where does the 40-100 cal come from? There is just no way to ascertain this, peer reviewed scientific evidence of this point would be appreciated.
As a side note hashi's is slightly different as you can have euthyroid episodes especially at the start of its development so it may well be different in hashi vs full blown hypothyroid.
Did you count calories, with a scale at that time or why are you certain that you did not eat at a surplus?
If your body was storing food as fat this same amount of energy would not have sustained you and you would have been hungry all the time, felt miserable, shortage of nutrients, etc. You cannot doubledip food. Either a unit of energy gets stored as fat or is used to sustain you. Makes me think: where would your body get the energy from then if not from the same fat reserves and muscles? If you say it's your metabolism shutting then then only one tiny part of your metabolism would have been shut down: the one that takes energy from fat or food to sustain you while the whole big rest of it would still have worked. And there is no evidence that this is possible, other than very rare, very severe and pretty deadly genetic disorders.
There are very few studies on this, however, a couple of medical dissertations deal with this topic (on long-term study passed on from researcher to researcher over the years) and came up with a reduction of about 4% of BMR, which is fairly in line with the reduction seen by starving experiments, btw. Are you able to read other languages than English? Then I might be able to find them again.
And yes, at that time my thyroid was pretty much dead already. The hyper or normal periods were long gone.1 -
Being hypo does not prevent you from losing weight. Weight gain from being hypo is mainly related to:
1. storing more water weight. Once the medication is spot on you'll lose that water weight again. If, at a certain time the medication isn't strong enough any more you might gain water weight again, and lose it with dosage adjustment.
2. being too tired and less active in combination with eating the same leads to weight gain
3. being hypo can make you more hungry
4. being frustrated with feeling not well, being hungry and gaining weight might lead to you eating more.
---
5. and only at the end: yes, being hypo means your body needs a bit less energy. But this is about 40-100kcal (normal to overweight women) less per day. You will gain weight until you've reached the point that fits your maintenance calories combined with the slightly lower energy need. This does not seem to be reversible. But remember: it's only a fairly small amount of calories. You could, with some strength training counteract that in the end by building more muscles.
Thus: eating with a deficit will still lead to weight loss. Just finding the motivation for it, and the concentration is more difficult. I know, because I lost my weight while having untreated hashi.
I'm sorry but I just do not agree with points 2-5
I ate less when my thyroid decided to pack in as I just had no appetite so I wasn't eating the same but still gaining weight making your points 2-4 moot. And as to point 5 where does the 40-100 cal come from? There is just no way to ascertain this, peer reviewed scientific evidence of this point would be appreciated.
As a side note hashi's is slightly different as you can have euthyroid episodes especially at the start of its development so it may well be different in hashi vs full blown hypothyroid.
Did you count calories, with a scale at that time or why are you certain that you did not eat at a surplus?
If your body was storing food as fat this same amount of energy would not have sustained you and you would have been hungry all the time, felt miserable, shortage of nutrients, etc. You cannot doubledip food. Either a unit of energy gets stored as fat or is used to sustain you. Makes me think: where would your body get the energy from then if not from the same fat reserves and muscles? If you say it's your metabolism shutting then then only one tiny part of your metabolism would have been shut down: the one that takes energy from fat or food to sustain you while the whole big rest of it would still have worked. And there is no evidence that this is possible, other than very rare, very severe and pretty deadly genetic disorders.
There are very few studies on this, however, a couple of medical dissertations deal with this topic (on long-term study passed on from researcher to researcher over the years) and came up with a reduction of about 4% of BMR, which is fairly in line with the reduction seen by starving experiments, btw. Are you able to read other languages than English? Then I might be able to find them again.
And yes, at that time my thyroid was pretty much dead already. The hyper or normal periods were long gone.
No I wasn't counting calories at the time but do remember my husband being extremely concerned about my lack of eating. I also was working as a teacher at the time and the 2 years previous the weight was dropping off me during term time where all of a sudden it was coming on. How much of that was water weight? I don't know. I'm well aware there was a lot of oedema in my legs and feet at then.
I can read in Dutch and English but as most research from the Netherlands is published in English that will probably not be much use. I know there must be very few studies on this because I can't find them and I have access to a very large host of scientific journals.0 -
I did count calories before I was diagnosed. I was gaining weight on 1100 calories a day. Yes, some of it was fluid (ascites were definitely an issue) but some of it was fat. After I was on medication for about six weeks or so I was able to start losing about a pound a week on average on 1200 calories a day. (I'm very short and was 51 at time of diagnosis, so that intake for weight loss isn't unusual.)
So I too disagree with many of your points @yirara.
While it IS possible to lose weight with unmedicated hypothyroidism, I think the low daily calorie intake required to do so would be nearly impossible for many people to maintain over the long run. In theory I could have cut my calories down low enough to lose. Maybe 800 a day would have allowed for a very slow loss, especially if I'd felt like adding in even a little bit of exercise (which I had zero energy to do). In reality that low of a calorie intake would be extremely difficult to maintain for more than a few days, especially when you're so lacking in energy you need every little bit of "oomph" you can get. And that's my main beef when people say "oh, you can still lose weight while hypothyroid because . . . calorie deficit." Sure strictly speaking it's possible. Anyone can lose if they cut their intake low enough. But it's not always realistic.1 -
@yirara I found this paper http://press.endocrine.org/action/doSearch?text1=Al-Adsani,+Hana&field1=Contrib
Which actually states that REE in an overt hypothyroid patients reduces by 20-25% which is in fact based on a 2000kcal daily requirement that is a reduction of 400-500kcal a day. When medicated it states that a change in TSH between 0.1-10um/L can affect REE by 10-15% they state a reduction of 75-150 kcal a day. That is quite a difference still when medicated and in that sense it means you have to be on the ball when trying to actively lose weight. So actually a lot different what you said in your original post. This paper has its limitations (very small test group) but this would ne about as accurate as it's going to get to work out energy expenditure in people. And this paper is only measuring resting expenditure that's not including activity levels.2 -
I did count calories before I was diagnosed. I was gaining weight on 1100 calories a day. Yes, some of it was fluid (ascites were definitely an issue) but some of it was fat. After I was on medication for about six weeks or so I was able to start losing about a pound a week on average on 1200 calories a day. (I'm very short and was 51 at time of diagnosis, so that intake for weight loss isn't unusual.)
So I too disagree with many of your points @yirara.
While it IS possible to lose weight with unmedicated hypothyroidism, I think the low daily calorie intake required to do so would be nearly impossible for many people to maintain over the long run. In theory I could have cut my calories down low enough to lose. Maybe 800 a day would have allowed for a very slow loss, especially if I'd felt like adding in even a little bit of exercise (which I had zero energy to do). In reality that low of a calorie intake would be extremely difficult to maintain for more than a few days, especially when you're so lacking in energy you need every little bit of "oomph" you can get. And that's my main beef when people say "oh, you can still lose weight while hypothyroid because . . . calorie deficit." Sure strictly speaking it's possible. Anyone can lose if they cut their intake low enough. But it's not always realistic.
That all makes sense.... my only point to add is, when people say they are hypothyroid and "can I still lose weight" most responses are based on the initial premise that the OP has taken the steps needed to get on the right dose of synthroid to level themselves out.
We use the term hypothyroid to describe our condition, not our current state. I am hypo..... I have no thyroid, but my synthroid has me at some semblance of normality even if it's causing me some bad side effects.
With almost 0 activity I was able to lose 162 lbs in 6 months using MFP to track cico.
The truth is that losing weight is painful, especially in the beginning, and we have to get used to the sensation of feeling hungry and using it as motivation to keep going.
That ravenous feeling we get is amplified when hypo, finding the strength to ignore your body was the biggest first step for me.
PS I'm currently cracking back down on my calories again after maintaining for a couple months and I want to eat a horse covered in a bigger horse wrapped in bacon and stuffed with sausage n egg mcgriddles!!
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About 12 years post-hypothyroid diagnosis. Lost all the weight fine once my levels were steady and in the normal range.
That being said, there's a normal "range" and not a single, ideal number. Everyone finds their ideal spot within that range. If your TSH is "normal" and you're still experiencing symptoms, talk with your doctor.
Other than TSH, ask your doctor to do Free T3 and Free T4. Most doctor's begin by prescribing a synthetic T4. That's enough for some people. It takes 6-8 weeks for the T4 to fully integrate into your system. You should be retested after 8 weeks to see where your levels are.
Your body should convert T4 into T3. My body does a crappy job of this. So even with a "normal" TSH, I still didn't feel "well." So, I'm on a T3. Unlike the T4, the T3 is in and out with 24 hours. Armour thyroid, which is not a synthetic, but a natural thyroid med, has both in it. It didn't work for me, but does for some people. It's all about finding what works for you. There are articles in JAMA/New England Journal of Med, the talks about T3 not really impacting TSH, but greatly impacting quality of patient quality of life.
Be sure and take the meds on an empty stomach and avoid food for at least an hour, preferably two-four. Avoid antiacids for at least six hours and calcium for 4. I take them when I wake up for my 4am pee break. My docs said I can take the T4 before bed, but I need to take the T3 in the morning. I usually eat late, so I take both in the morning.
Anecdotally, I also eat one Brazil Nut a day. My doc had seen a couple preliminary studies on selenium intake and thyroid levels. One Brazil nut a day gives the full RDA. My TSH levels dropped a little more and leveled out at the low end of the normal range, which is optimal for me.
Hope this helps! I lost over 100 pounds, so you can be at a healthy weight once your levels are where your body needs them.3 -
What are you concerned about regarding the treatment? Echoing the above, for many, it is just a matter of taking thyroid hormone pills; you just need to decide whether you prefer synthetic or natural, so look into both. You will probably have to have your blood tested more often to make sure that you are taking the right dosage. If you have Hashimoto's, you might have to adjust your diet.
I have been taking natural thyroid for over 10 years now. I am over 50, postmenopausal, and successfully lost weight (1 pound per week) by using the calorie goal set for me by MFP. Weigh and track all of your food honestly and rigorously, stay within your calorie goal consistently, take up some form of regular exercise, and you will have success. Best to you!
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About 12 years post-hypothyroid diagnosis. Lost all the weight fine once my levels were steady and in the normal range.
That being said, there's a normal "range" and not a single, ideal number. Everyone finds their ideal spot within that range. If your TSH is "normal" and you're still experiencing symptoms, talk with your doctor.
Other than TSH, ask your doctor to do Free T3 and Free T4. Most doctor's begin by prescribing a synthetic T4. That's enough for some people. It takes 6-8 weeks for the T4 to fully integrate into your system. You should be retested after 8 weeks to see where your levels are.
Your body should convert T4 into T3. My body does a crappy job of this. So even with a "normal" TSH, I still didn't feel "well." So, I'm on a T3. Unlike the T4, the T3 is in and out with 24 hours. Armour thyroid, which is not a synthetic, but a natural thyroid med, has both in it. It didn't work for me, but does for some people. It's all about finding what works for you. There are articles in JAMA/New England Journal of Med, the talks about T3 not really impacting TSH, but greatly impacting quality of patient quality of life.
Be sure and take the meds on an empty stomach and avoid food for at least an hour, preferably two-four. Avoid antiacids for at least six hours and calcium for 4. I take them when I wake up for my 4am pee break. My docs said I can take the T4 before bed, but I need to take the T3 in the morning. I usually eat late, so I take both in the morning.
Anecdotally, I also eat one Brazil Nut a day. My doc had seen a couple preliminary studies on selenium intake and thyroid levels. One Brazil nut a day gives the full RDA. My TSH levels dropped a little more and leveled out at the low end of the normal range, which is optimal for me.
Hope this helps! I lost over 100 pounds, so you can be at a healthy weight once your levels are where your body needs them.
I have a list going for Trader Joe's. Adding Brazil nuts to it now. I love them!0 -
It depends more on whether you must take a generic for insurance reasons. Levothyroxine is the generic; Synthroid is the brand name. However, this is one of those medications where which you take can make a difference. My endocrinologist prefers that I take Synthroid rather than the generic, so I do, even though it's a bit more expensive out of pocket.Treatment for most is: levothyroxine or synthroid (depending which country you live in)0 -
It depends more on whether you must take a generic for insurance reasons. Levothyroxine is the generic; Synthroid is the brand name. However, this is one of those medications where which you take can make a difference. My endocrinologist prefers that I take Synthroid rather than the generic, so I do, even though it's a bit more expensive out of pocket.Treatment for most is: levothyroxine or synthroid (depending which country you live in)
I stand corrected. In the UK the brand name product is eltroxin, I have never seen synthroid here but as it gets banded around a lot on some of the forums I figured that that was the prescribed thyroxine replacement in the US.
I can't say I have ever noticed a difference between branded and generics and I have had them all given to me over the years.0 -
It depends more on whether you must take a generic for insurance reasons. Levothyroxine is the generic; Synthroid is the brand name. However, this is one of those medications where which you take can make a difference. My endocrinologist prefers that I take Synthroid rather than the generic, so I do, even though it's a bit more expensive out of pocket.Treatment for most is: levothyroxine or synthroid (depending which country you live in)
however, they have found if that thyroid meds are one where there are enough slight differences between the generic and the name that switching isn't recommended - I started out on levo when I had my thyroid removed and then was switched to synthroid by the military when I took temporary orders and had nothing but issues - i'm now back on levo full-time and starting to feel more normal again0 -
It depends more on whether you must take a generic for insurance reasons. Levothyroxine is the generic; Synthroid is the brand name. However, this is one of those medications where which you take can make a difference. My endocrinologist prefers that I take Synthroid rather than the generic, so I do, even though it's a bit more expensive out of pocket.Treatment for most is: levothyroxine or synthroid (depending which country you live in)
My docs have said consistency is key. And there are literally hundreds of generics. The meds are the same, but the binders, fillers, colorings and coatings differ, which can impact some people.
Many pharmacies are inconsistent with the generics they stock. Therefore, your meds can differ a little each month. That's one of the reasons some docs prescribe the name brand.
But some insurance companies won't pay for name brand. Talk with your doc, you may need a note from them to get the name brand covered by your insurance. Or you may be fine with the generic.2 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »About 12 years post-hypothyroid diagnosis. Lost all the weight fine once my levels were steady and in the normal range.
That being said, there's a normal "range" and not a single, ideal number. Everyone finds their ideal spot within that range. If your TSH is "normal" and you're still experiencing symptoms, talk with your doctor.
Other than TSH, ask your doctor to do Free T3 and Free T4. Most doctor's begin by prescribing a synthetic T4. That's enough for some people. It takes 6-8 weeks for the T4 to fully integrate into your system. You should be retested after 8 weeks to see where your levels are.
Your body should convert T4 into T3. My body does a crappy job of this. So even with a "normal" TSH, I still didn't feel "well." So, I'm on a T3. Unlike the T4, the T3 is in and out with 24 hours. Armour thyroid, which is not a synthetic, but a natural thyroid med, has both in it. It didn't work for me, but does for some people. It's all about finding what works for you. There are articles in JAMA/New England Journal of Med, the talks about T3 not really impacting TSH, but greatly impacting quality of patient quality of life.
Be sure and take the meds on an empty stomach and avoid food for at least an hour, preferably two-four. Avoid antiacids for at least six hours and calcium for 4. I take them when I wake up for my 4am pee break. My docs said I can take the T4 before bed, but I need to take the T3 in the morning. I usually eat late, so I take both in the morning.
Anecdotally, I also eat one Brazil Nut a day. My doc had seen a couple preliminary studies on selenium intake and thyroid levels. One Brazil nut a day gives the full RDA. My TSH levels dropped a little more and leveled out at the low end of the normal range, which is optimal for me.
Hope this helps! I lost over 100 pounds, so you can be at a healthy weight once your levels are where your body needs them.
I have a list going for Trader Joe's. Adding Brazil nuts to it now. I love them!
That's where I get mine--raw, unsalted.
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karen110567 wrote: »Just found out that my lab work shows I have hypothyroid. I had a slight feeling it was possible, and it makes me feel like maybe that's a big reason why I gained so much weight in the last couple years AND why my weight loss feels like it's going MUCH SLOWER than it should.
On the other hand, I'm concerned about the treatment of it. I see my doctor on Tuesday and will likely get more answers, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear some advise from others in the same boat...
Do you think my weight loss will start to get easier if I'm prescribed medication for it? Any side effects? Any other feedback?
Thanks!
First - congrats on the proper diagnosis. Hypothyroidism is very treatable and sounds like you are on a good pathway to success.
Know your full thyroid panel - TSH, fT3, fT4, rT3 - and ensure your TSH is between 0.2-2.0.
There are many reported side effects from levothyroxine, but few actually have a causal relationship.
You should "feel" better once properly medicated and this will enable you to focus and succeed in your fitness goals. Hypothyroidism itself has a very limited impact on metabolism. Me going from 175/200 mcg to zero equated to a loss of 5% REE over 60 days and I'm 45, 6'4" and 230 lbs. Your metabolism is largely driven by your muscle mass, so this is going to play a bigger part which is why I strongly recommend progressive resistance training for anyone diagnosed with a thyroid disorder.
Hydration is key as well, so drink to thirst and ensure your urine is clear to light straw colored.
Otherwise there is nothing special about this - just log your intake and output and check results. If this is not working look back to your intake accuracy and ensure you are compensating for the 20% margin of error in calorie estimation. Avoid any Thyroid Diets or other such woo - there are several disreputable sites and people marketing this.2 -
I haven't read it all so I may be duplicating information but if you're still having symptoms taking Levothyroxine (T4 only) and not losing weight, make sure you free T3 and total T3 are tested. Not everyone can convert T4 to T3 properly and you may need to go on Liothyronine (T3) in addition to the T4 to normalize your metabolism.
I gained 75 pounds over 3 months with my first thyroid storm. It has been extremely difficult for me to lose weight. In fact, I gained weight working out 3 hours a day eating 1,500 calories for 3 months straight (and yes I gained muscle but I also should have lost fat). There was no reason I should have gained 5 pounds. That's when I finally pushed my doctor to help me with my symptoms - not just treating my TSH (which is not the full story). When put on T3 and T4, I started to lose weight and the puffiness in my face is down a lot.
Weight loss with Hashimoto's for some may be easy but if you are having issues with it, know you're not alone. I've suffered from Hashimoto's for 8 years and I am still 45 pounds heavier than when I started. I'm also 8 years older so I expect I won't get back to my starting weight, but it's been a very long and difficult road. I'm also vegan (for 6 years), avoid processed food, avoid gluten, and workout a minimum of 1 hour 5 times a week with weights and cardio. I also have 2 little kids and am pretty dang active. Thyroid issues are not cookie cutter and when you have it, neither is weight loss.
Get your hormones balanced (all of them, not just focusing on TSH levels). Focus on healthy clean eating and moderate exercise including weights and cardio. If anything you'll feel better physically and emotionally. Don't do any crazy thyroid experiments that could mess it up even more. Also, getting off inflammatory foods with an autoimmune disease (especially gluten) will help heal your body. Educate yourself on your condition and shop around for a good endocrinologist.0 -
Thank you all for the comments. Update: I was prescribed Naturethroid; 48.75mg. He felt this product does a better job converting T4 to T3 and I'm "extra low" in T3. I just started taking it yesterday. No side effects so far (I have a slight arrhythmia problem so I was nervous about a racing heart). I've been doing "ok" losing weight over the last two months prior to this medication - I'm just hoping that this will give me a bit of a boost. It's been frustrating to see just a couple pounds lost each month, when mathematically speaking I should be losing about 5-6 per month.
We shall see.... Thanks again!1 -
Great news! It will take at least a week for you to feel the effects and about 6 weeks to fully adjust to the new medication and dosage.
Keep close observation of your arrhythmia. This is a known side effect of hyperthyroidism.
How much weight are you planning on losing? 5-6/month is very aggressive and unless you have a lot to lose this is not realistic.0
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