I have a nonfunctioning pituitary and hence thyroid. So I'm on hydrocortisone and levothyroxine. Both worked well for me until my insurance would cover generic. Fortunately my endocrinologist connected recent weight gain of 40 labs in 6 mos with the generic brands not working for me. I also had other symptoms, extreme tired and so on. Now that my brands are right for me, I stuck with trying to get off this weight. Like others on this forum, weight went to my stomach which is really abnormal for me. I know I can loose the weight but I'd really appreciate support during this tough journey back. I'm concerned this journey back is going to be rough because I'm now in my modn50s.. I live in Minneapolis area. Thanks

Hi all! I think it is so awesome we are all working at being healthy. Especially with such chronic hurdle to overcome. I haven't read through all the posts so if I am repeating someone else's story my apologies.

I am almost 43 5'2" and 125 lbs and have in the last 3 years kinda figured out what has helped me drop and keep my weight off (15-20lbs). I know it sounds small but looked big on me and also those last buggers are the hardest to lose.

Anyways quick history: Hypothyroid diagnosis = levothyroxine but very marginal improvement in symptoms. 6 months later I asked and was test for celiac disease. Results positive. In case you don't know there is strong connection between the two diseases - they are also both autoimmune.

Long story short, I went on a gluten free diet THEN I went on a paleo type diet. I am not as strict as those nuts , but I primarily eat lots of vegetables, healthy fat and meat protein. I avoid starches sugars etc as much as possible. I use them as a treat. IE I never eat potatoes/rice/corn(flour) foods with my meals. Occasionally I will have potato chips or rice crackers. Furthermore I feel way better too. There are lots of books out there for this kind of diet.

Finally I am pretty active and was struggling for years with exercise intolerance and with a last kick at the can I asked my endo if I could PUH-LEASE try dessicated thyroid and if it failed I would embrace my chronic fatigue like symptoms. I would say that I am 75% better. The reason I came on here actually was to see if ANY active people have had full recovery of normal energy etc with pharmaceutical treatment. Anyways hope this helps.

Good luck!!

Hi, I am back on the wagon! I have done MFP before. I am really excited because I started on August 5th and have been on track, I have a note I keep on my PC so every time I open it I see it and it's the first thing I do!!! I have see sawed on my weight loss all month. I have discovered my ideal calories for the day. I have lost 8lbs. I have hypo/hyper thyroid every 3-6 months my dr. has to change my dosage!!! It's either up or down it just won't stay stable. I refuse to see an endocrinologist, the one time I went she diagnosed diabetes 2 and wanted me to check blood sugars a few times a day. well I was making myself crazy, my mom and sister are diabetic, neuropathy, blindness, amputation of a toe, my brother was also diagnosed and they wanted to put him on insulin, through diet and exercise he reversed it. I am going to do the same. I am on a med that increased blood sugar so I take metformin for it. my A1C is 5.5 yeah. I want my thyroid stable. is anyone really going to read all this?

thanks bametels, I have a hard copy of my weight and calorie charts, I lost 8lbs in August and I will keep it off thanks to MFP. any ideas of why my thyroid levels change so often?

Hi kacahill, I agree with Bametels, this group is rather on the tired side yet its pages hold so very much good information.

Hashimoto's initially presents with periods of hyper and hypothyroid periods these are caused by increases and decreases in antibody levels. Its my opinion the international medical professions are all to keen to slot each and everyone of us into their predefined boxes and if we dare to have a body which fails to comply its us and not the system which is wrong. Levothyroxine does not suit everyone. I'm just someone else who has been through the mill before regaining my health.

If at all possible ask for an antibody test. This will tell you if you have Hashimoto' s which presents with fluctuating thyroid numbers as a result of antibodies. Graves is hyper which is also antibody driven. I've no experience of this. Also expect to have your tsh, t4, total t3 - reverse t3, taking the reverse from the total gives you the active portion for your body to use, there are also vitamin and mineral levels which could be tested and could be most helpful in regaining your health. You may find changing your doctor really helpful. There are a couple of sites which come to mind, Stop the Thyroid Madness, STTM, along with information relating to the cause of symptoms it also has a list of doctors who have helped people with thyroid issues in the past. There is also Hypothyroid mom, I think she too has a list of helpful doctors, some international ones. Most countries have thyroid support sites which have similar information on them, its well worth giving them a look.

I wish our information which give the date we first registered also gave the country we come from. I'm in the UK. I have needed to go outside of our health service in order to get my health back but its not without costs, from being untreated for so very long and now using a BANT Registered Nutritionist, UK only. They follow a more functional approach using the same blood tests as the medical profession have access to but defining why the body does what it is doing. The endocrine system is like a series of interlocking cogs and things, you could almost say it functions like a solar system - as long as each gland is working properly there are no issues, something then intervenes and things start to go wrong.

One site, I can't remember which gives a list of 300 possible symptoms related to thyroid issues. There is a relationship between the thyroid and insulin issues - its all in how the glands are working together. I'm sceptical that each and every endocrinologist really understands their subject. One I had the misfortune to meet considered he knew more than a Professor in Immunology, specialising in autoimmunity, at the Regional Centre! At this point I was dinghied the opportunity to go back to Region, so had to save my life, go private. I was fortunate to have had the Professors input laying all my health issues as being cumulative from Hashimoto's. Discovering what was driving my antibodies and eliminating them from my diet helped, being able to access alternative preparations has given me my life back.

I wish you the very best of fortune, that you can get on top of this with the best treatment out there because there is a world of difference between being hypo because your diet is deficient in vitamins and minerals and having an autoimmune condition. It is possible to have more than one autoimmune condition co existing, if you can find the drivers of the antibodies and rectify that, its more complicated and has individual representations, it can be done with the right help.

Good morning, I need to check in.
I am still at 7 lbs lost, hopefully I can hold onto that, I'll be very happy. If i gain 1 or 2 lbs i become so upset, it ruins my day!! I put so much into my calorie count. I seem to tetter between lbs. I lose then gain it's very frustrating. I have this mind set that if I eat within my allotted calories one day then I can sneak in a few extra the next day. I know I can't do that but ..... old habits are so hard to stop.

No. Starvation mode is a myth.

I was really hoping for some chit chat, anybody out there?

Fuzzipeg wrote: »

Hi kacahill, I agree with Bametels, this group is rather on the tired side yet its pages hold so very much good information.

Hashimoto's initially presents with periods of hyper and hypothyroid periods these are caused by increases and decreases in antibody levels. Its my opinion the international medical professions are all to keen to slot each and everyone of us into their predefined boxes and if we dare to have a body which fails to comply its us and not the system which is wrong. Levothyroxine does not suit everyone. I'm just someone else who has been through the mill before regaining my health.

If at all possible ask for an antibody test. This will tell you if you have Hashimoto' s which presents with fluctuating thyroid numbers as a result of antibodies. Graves is hyper which is also antibody driven. I've no experience of this. Also expect to have your tsh, t4, total t3 - reverse t3, taking the reverse from the total gives you the active portion for your body to use, there are also vitamin and mineral levels which could be tested and could be most helpful in regaining your health. You may find changing your doctor really helpful. There are a couple of sites which come to mind, Stop the Thyroid Madness, STTM, along with information relating to the cause of symptoms it also has a list of doctors who have helped people with thyroid issues in the past. There is also Hypothyroid mom, I think she too has a list of helpful doctors, some international ones. Most countries have thyroid support sites which have similar information on them, its well worth giving them a look.

I wish our information which give the date we first registered also gave the country we come from. I'm in the UK. I have needed to go outside of our health service in order to get my health back but its not without costs, from being untreated for so very long and now using a BANT Registered Nutritionist, UK only. They follow a more functional approach using the same blood tests as the medical profession have access to but defining why the body does what it is doing. The endocrine system is like a series of interlocking cogs and things, you could almost say it functions like a solar system - as long as each gland is working properly there are no issues, something then intervenes and things start to go wrong.

One site, I can't remember which gives a list of 300 possible symptoms related to thyroid issues. There is a relationship between the thyroid and insulin issues - its all in how the glands are working together. I'm sceptical that each and every endocrinologist really understands their subject. One I had the misfortune to meet considered he knew more than a Professor in Immunology, specialising in autoimmunity, at the Regional Centre! At this point I was dinghied the opportunity to go back to Region, so had to save my life, go private. I was fortunate to have had the Professors input laying all my health issues as being cumulative from Hashimoto's. Discovering what was driving my antibodies and eliminating them from my diet helped, being able to access alternative preparations has given me my life back.

I wish you the very best of fortune, that you can get on top of this with the best treatment out there because there is a world of difference between being hypo because your diet is deficient in vitamins and minerals and having an autoimmune condition. It is possible to have more than one autoimmune condition co existing, if you can find the drivers of the antibodies and rectify that, its more complicated and has individual representations, it can be done with the right help.

I’ve been hypothyroid since 2011 following my third pregnancy or so they thought at the time. I’m recently diagnosed with Hashimotos since September 2018 when tested by my endocrinologist for the anti bodies, what I’m wondering is how will I know if I found what triggers my immune response? Lowered antibodies? I was told to go gluten free by my endo in Jan and she did say it was lowering and to continue gluten free. She also tested my sugars, cortisol and adrenals. She recommended I eat less carbs and intermittent fast. Which is the most dietary infor I’ve ever gotten from a medical professional. I understand I have an auto immune condition and I don’t want to get another. I’ve recently cut out all sugars and grains completely and I feel good but I’m not due for another lab test until Jan. I’m wondering what are some ways I can tell I’ve removed the auto immune trigger??? Maybe I’m not thinking of this correctly... any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hello! i had my thyroid removed 3 years ago and immediately gained 40 pounds. I am post menopausal and I am totally fed up with all the belly fat. I was extremely thin all my life and this is a new reality for me. I am on two meds; synthroid and cytomel. I just started using the app and I'm hoping that walking, light weight lifting and a gluten reduced diet can help. This is a whole new world. If anyone has information or guidance or experience all is so welcomed.