Hypothyroidism and Weight Loss

labpro
labpro Posts: 2
in Introduce Yourself
Greetings all. New to MFP. Have been tracking for about a week now. Looking for support and motivation from fellow women and men diagnosed with HYPOTHYROIDISM.

Difficult diagnosis for sooooo many women and men because the disease is all about the chemical and physical "messing" of your metabolism. So girls like me, have to work 3 times as hard to get off that 5 pounds and keep it off.

Add symptoms of the crave of salty, sweet not-good-for-you goodies, bone numbing fatigue and lethargy, is the aboslute perfect recipe for weight gain and lack of motivation.

So looking for those fellow hypothyroidians struggling against the current to offer and receive support.
«13

Replies

  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    Hi, there. I've been on MFP for about two months now. Lost a couple pounds only to gain it back. I have been on WW several times as long as other calorie counting websites. I have extreme fatigue, insomnia, depressions, thinning hair, etc. Classic symptoms of a thyroid problem. I've had it tested twice. I just got my latest results in the mail and all levels are extremely low. Yet, my new doctor won't put me on meds. She wants me to have my metabolic rate tested now. It's so frustrating. I'm tired all the dang time. I don't know how much more of this I can handle. I'm interested in talking to some other people who have the same issues.
  • Sackit
    Sackit Posts: 45 Member
    I have had hypothyoidism for 4 years. Once the endocrinologist got my meds regulated all those symptoms you ladies are talking about are gone. I feel great the weight loss has come fairly easy with lots of excercise and for the first time in my life watching what I eat. I say go to an endocrinologist who specializes in this sort of thing, it is nothing to mess around with.
  • swat1948
    swat1948 Posts: 302 Member
    I've had hypothyroidism for at least 15 years. My weight has escalated over those 15 years. Yes, you have to work twice as hard to get that weight off and keep it off and I have thrown in the towel many times and vowed not to even care but there comes a point when you know you are just kidding yourself and something has to be done. So I began this program and this is my third week and I have lost 5 pounds so far but this is my ninth week of trying to diet and altogether I have lost 15 pounds. I use an exercise bike that shows calories burned and crank up the tension, do stretches and use 1 pound weights afterwards. I have had both knees replaced so high impact exercises or floor exercises are out. I am open to any suggestions about how to speed up my metabolism and lose those pounds.
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    Hypothyroid groups on MFP:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/search?phrase=thyroid&order=0
  • cjm109
    cjm109 Posts: 264 Member
    I agree with sackit...go to a reputable endocrinologist. There is a reason they are specialists. I have been living without 1/2 my thyroid for over 20 years and take my meds regularly and also get my levels checked every 6 months now. I re-began my journey Dec 5th and have lost 35 lbs to date. It can be done....sometimes it's harder, but not so much if you are regulated.

    You have to want to be healthy and if you are serious and tired of being tired get to the Dr's...time is ticking by. I'm proof that it can be done and I turn 50 this year so add that to the mix of slow metobolism.

    Good Luck.
  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    I've been to two specialists and neither one will treat me for hypothyroidism. I'm sitting here right now, looking at my lab results, and they don't look right to me. They are extremely low. I'm so tired of all this "do this, try that, eat less, workout more" blah blah blah. I have done all the things they told me to do and nothing helped. Nothing. I've thrown in the towels many times and I'm about to throw it in again.
  • harley_rose
    harley_rose Posts: 236
    Go to Groups and search on this
    hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

    you will get support there too
  • fordguy74
    fordguy74 Posts: 108 Member
    Hi i have hypothyroidism as well. Feel free to add me.
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    When looking at lab results make sure you know the good ranges. For some of the thyroid tests, low is good, when it goes above 5 is when they are getting bad.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    MrsEb79. My numbers are low but it took me years to find a doctor who would treat me. He relented only when I described to him a typical day in my life. 10 hours of sleep. Work. FALLING ASLEEP AT WORK. Hour long nap in the afternoon. Two hour nap after work followed by another 10 hours of sleep. And through it all I was so exhausted and lethargic that I could barely function.

    Finally I found a doctor who said yes, you have hypothyroidism and we're going to treat it.

    Unfortunately he moved away but because he diagnosed and started treating me other doctors since have been willing to continue my medication.

    I no longer sleep like a sloth. I can now get by on 7 hours sleep, no naps during the day at all. :) It's such a relief.

    Anyway. Hang in there. If you're a little overweight they're going to assume your problem is just your weight. I would suggest doing your best to lose as much as you can and keep pestering your doctor. Go to him as often as you can. Tell him how tired you are. Make sure he understands how badly this is affecting your life and eventually you'll find someone who will treat the patient instead of the papers.

    PS: When I say low, I mean that I tested as having a hypoactive thyroid. In all honesty I don't even know what the numbers are SUPPOSED to be. I just know I've been told my numbers show that my thyroid is slow but the doctors kept telling me it wasn't slow enough to need treatment. PFT. Whatever.
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    @MrsEb79 I have been treated for hypothyroidism for years. Last year I had female troubles (just email me if you want details. Most people reading this really don't...) and the gyno suggested I get another blood test. Long story short, my doctor didn't want to up my medication because it was "only a little out of range". (That didn't stop him from wanting me to take cholesterol medication for a borderline reading...). Anyway, he wanted me to go for more tests for my female trouble. I stubbornly told him not until my thyroid was dealt with. Well, he upped the medication dose, and the female trouble went away. I feel much better in general now, too. I've lost 36 pounds since September. I don't credit the because I had to work for it. It didn't "melt off", but I know that the medication regulated my thyroid and that my thyroid regulation made is possible for me to do that. Really, it was an answer to prayer.

    My advice is to argue with your doctor. Ask him or her what he or she IS willing to do about your low numbers. Point out that there IS a problem shown by your tests, and you need them to find a solution. If thyroid medicine isn't the solution, what is? Diet and exercise? Print out your diary and SHOW them that that advice hasn't helped and that you need an actual solution. Find another doctor if necessary. Another after that if necessary. No, I'm not suggesting that you find a doctor who agrees with you and writes a prescription. I'm suggesting that you find a doctor that takes your problem seriously and works to find a solution, and not just place blame on you and sends you off.
  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    @MrsEb79 I have been treated for hypothyroidism for years. Last year I had female troubles (just email me if you want details. Most people reading this really don't...) and the gyno suggested I get another blood test. Long story short, my doctor didn't want to up my medication because it was "only a little out of range". (That didn't stop him from wanting me to take cholesterol medication for a borderline reading...). Anyway, he wanted me to go for more tests for my female trouble. I stubbornly told him not until my thyroid was dealt with. Well, he upped the medication dose, and the female trouble went away. I feel much better in general now, too. I've lost 36 pounds since September. I don't credit the because I had to work for it. It didn't "melt off", but I know that the medication regulated my thyroid and that my thyroid regulation made is possible for me to do that. Really, it was an answer to prayer.

    My advice is to argue with your doctor. Ask him or her what he or she IS willing to do about your low numbers. Point out that there IS a problem shown by your tests, and you need them to find a solution. If thyroid medicine isn't the solution, what is? Diet and exercise? Print out your diary and SHOW them that that advice hasn't helped and that you need an actual solution. Find another doctor if necessary. Another after that if necessary. No, I'm not suggesting that you find a doctor who agrees with you and writes a prescription. I'm suggesting that you find a doctor that takes your problem seriously and works to find a solution, and not just place blame on you and sends you off.

    Thanks so much for your reply! I've left a message for the doctor and am waiting a reply. I know that no matter what, it's gonna be hard work. I feel like the 18 months of hard work that I've put in have gotten me absolutely no where. I haven't lost weight, I've gained weight.

    Do I eat more than I should some days? Yes. Do I eat things that I shouldn't eat on occasion? Yes. But, if you look at my tracking and my exercising, there is no excuse for the weight I've gained.

    It's so terribly frustrating.
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    @MrsEb79 I have been treated for hypothyroidism for years. Last year I had female troubles (just email me if you want details. Most people reading this really don't...) and the gyno suggested I get another blood test. Long story short, my doctor didn't want to up my medication because it was "only a little out of range". (That didn't stop him from wanting me to take cholesterol medication for a borderline reading...). Anyway, he wanted me to go for more tests for my female trouble. I stubbornly told him not until my thyroid was dealt with. Well, he upped the medication dose, and the female trouble went away. I feel much better in general now, too. I've lost 36 pounds since September. I don't credit the because I had to work for it. It didn't "melt off", but I know that the medication regulated my thyroid and that my thyroid regulation made is possible for me to do that. Really, it was an answer to prayer.

    My advice is to argue with your doctor. Ask him or her what he or she IS willing to do about your low numbers. Point out that there IS a problem shown by your tests, and you need them to find a solution. If thyroid medicine isn't the solution, what is? Diet and exercise? Print out your diary and SHOW them that that advice hasn't helped and that you need an actual solution. Find another doctor if necessary. Another after that if necessary. No, I'm not suggesting that you find a doctor who agrees with you and writes a prescription. I'm suggesting that you find a doctor that takes your problem seriously and works to find a solution, and not just place blame on you and sends you off.

    Thanks so much for your reply! I've left a message for the doctor and am waiting a reply. I know that no matter what, it's gonna be hard work. I feel like the 18 months of hard work that I've put in have gotten me absolutely no where. I haven't lost weight, I've gained weight.

    Do I eat more than I should some days? Yes. Do I eat things that I shouldn't eat on occasion? Yes. But, if you look at my tracking and my exercising, there is no excuse for the weight I've gained.

    It's so terribly frustrating.

    Yes. It IS frustrating. Print out your diary. If you think your doctor is a jerk and will say "I don't have time to look at that...", then look at reports and print out reports for net calories for the last 90 days (well, sixty some days) as well so he or she can just look at a bar graph and get the idea at a glance. DARE your doctor to claim you aren't trying. CHALLENGE your doctor to do more than just blame you. YOU are your number one advocate. If it were your husband, child, or parent, you would do all those things. YOU are worth the effort for you to do it for you.
    (Thanks for accepting my friend request, Mrs.Eb. I'm not always so preachy. :bigsmile: Doctors who don't listen are a "hot button" issue for me.)
  • mel3id
    mel3id Posts: 1
    I have had the "official" hypothyroidism diagnosis for four years. Still adjusting medicine to reach optimum levels. I reach one level where the medicine works for a while, then the levels go "off" again and it's time to increase the medicine. The hypo med was increased this past January. Now that energy is slowly returning, my doctor wants me to start losing weight next. Have tried to lose weight before only to have it all come back with a few added pounds to add insult to indignity. BUT I have been able to lose weight even with hypothyroidism. The trick is keeping it off. The cravings take over, and the weight comes back. Keep trying! My MD recommended this tracker site. The structure here is a good starting point. I'm all for a guiding hand and a few friendly remarks to keep me motivated! :wink:
  • lscott62
    lscott62 Posts: 24 Member
    Go to a new doctor. You need meds. A natural med called armour has been helping me. Most doctors DONT know enough
    about thyroids. You have all the symptoms. Good luck.
  • country_bug
    country_bug Posts: 12 Member
    I am also new to MFP and have hypothyroidism since the 5th grade.
    Everyone feel free to add me
  • lscott62
    lscott62 Posts: 24 Member
    I can so relate to your situation. It took me a year to lose 10 lbs on weight watchers!! That was three years ago. slowly 7 of it has come back. I eat really really good, but do have sugar cravings!!! I work out really hard too (6 days a week!). Thanks for confirming my thoughts on having to work at this extra hard just to lose a few lbs. Jeez is it frustrating!! My husband always says, "as hard as you work out and eat well, you would think you would be smaller" (not that he doesn't like how I look, but you get what I mean)
    Dont give up!!! I have been on armour and just upped my dosage so I am hoping to see some better results. Its only been 6months. My doctor seems totally clueless about thyroid.... thinks my constipation is just what happens to some people!!! Jeez....
  • lscott62
    lscott62 Posts: 24 Member
    Welcome and hang in there!! Dosages seem to be all over the place for a lot people and Im glad to read what you wrote, because
    I feel the same way. The symptoms come back or increase etc. My sister has hashimotos and has been all over the country with doctors and meds. Its apparent that many doctors do not understand or know much about thyroids. Frustrating is more the word.
  • jaredsgirl1
    jaredsgirl1 Posts: 2
    Time to get a new Dr! Ridiculous that they have lab proof that your thyroid is not functioning and they are not doing anything for you. You may also want to have your Vitamin D and Iron levels checked. Good luck with your wt loss! :)
  • LavaDoll
    LavaDoll Posts: 595 Member
    add me - i take the synthroid, 10 yrs now, and can relate.

    had 4 biopsies in early january - i now have solid nodes (18mm!) as well as many fluid cysts - thyroid removal surgery pending for later this year.

    :sigh:

    *not* looking forward to the throat slit scar.

    <edit> - they also just put me on the prescription strength vitamin d - 50,000 IU once a week, and have me taking iron supplements. i notice i have not been quite as tired since then.
  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    Time to get a new Dr! Ridiculous that they have lab proof that your thyroid is not functioning and they are not doing anything for you. You may also want to have your Vitamin D and Iron levels checked. Good luck with your wt loss! :)

    Thanks for the reply. I had my iron level checked and it's low. So, now I'm dealing with that, too.
  • ccbing
    ccbing Posts: 162 Member
    Add me :) I started off on Synthroid 50 about 6 years ago, then went to 77, then 8?, now I have been on 100mg for about 2 years. I seem to lose weight pretty easliy the first 2 months, but then it get a lot tougher. I know it's possible to lose it and keep it off we may just have to work a little harder. I also have been taking medication for a small tumor on my pituitary gland for about 10 years. So...it's a tricky thing to get all my levels where they should be. But I just stay the course and keep chugging along :happy:
  • ezBrizy
    ezBrizy Posts: 131 Member
    Hello! I have hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's Disease which has also led to PCOS so I understand the struggle. Hang in there!
  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    I agree with sackit...go to a reputable endocrinologist. There is a reason they are specialists. I have been living without 1/2 my thyroid for over 20 years and take my meds regularly and also get my levels checked every 6 months now. I re-began my journey Dec 5th and have lost 35 lbs to date. It can be done....sometimes it's harder, but not so much if you are regulated.

    You have to want to be healthy and if you are serious and tired of being tired get to the Dr's...time is ticking by. I'm proof that it can be done and I turn 50 this year so add that to the mix of slow metobolism.

    Good Luck.

    cjm,
    I've been to two specialists. Both insist that my results are normal. I don't understand how this could be. How do I explain all of the symptoms? Am I just meant to have to work especially hard to lose one pound and feel like crud all the time? I'm not buying it. I will go to a hundred doctors if I have to. I might get down about it sometimes, but I will never give up. And all of these symptoms have started within the last three years or so...which is when my second daughter was born. I think that the pregnancy seriously messed up my hormones. I was think all my life, up until about age 25. That's when I started to gain. In the past 7 years, I have gained about 70 pounds. I just don't think that's normal.
  • cjm109
    cjm109 Posts: 264 Member
    add me - i take the synthroid, 10 yrs now, and can relate.

    had 4 biopsies in early january - i now have solid nodes (18mm!) as well as many fluid cysts - thyroid removal surgery pending for later this year.

    :sigh:

    *not* looking forward to the throat slit scar.

    <edit> - they also just put me on the prescription strength vitamin d - 50,000 IU once a week, and have me taking iron supplements. i notice i have not been quite as tired since then.


    It's not so bad...the cut looks gross at first but they put it in the crease of your neckline so it eventually fades. Most people don't even see mine unless I point it out. Recovery was fairly easy too.
  • cjm109
    cjm109 Posts: 264 Member
    I agree with sackit...go to a reputable endocrinologist. There is a reason they are specialists. I have been living without 1/2 my thyroid for over 20 years and take my meds regularly and also get my levels checked every 6 months now. I re-began my journey Dec 5th and have lost 35 lbs to date. It can be done....sometimes it's harder, but not so much if you are regulated.

    You have to want to be healthy and if you are serious and tired of being tired get to the Dr's...time is ticking by. I'm proof that it can be done and I turn 50 this year so add that to the mix of slow metobolism.

    Good Luck.

    cjm,
    I've been to two specialists. Both insist that my results are normal. I don't understand how this could be. How do I explain all of the symptoms? Am I just meant to have to work especially hard to lose one pound and feel like crud all the time? I'm not buying it. I will go to a hundred doctors if I have to. I might get down about it sometimes, but I will never give up. And all of these symptoms have started within the last three years or so...which is when my second daughter was born. I think that the pregnancy seriously messed up my hormones. I was think all my life, up until about age 25. That's when I started to gain. In the past 7 years, I have gained about 70 pounds. I just don't think that's normal.


    It's not normal if you eat right and work out to gain appx 10 lbs a year. I agree with the others that you have to be insistant on finding a solution.

    After gaining the weight do you snore?? Apnea could be the culprit for the tiredness too. Not getting enough quality sleep messes with your body terribly.

    And I like your attitude...don't let this make you ever stop trying.
  • MIMITIME
    MIMITIME Posts: 405 Member
    I went undiagnosed for years with Hypothyroidism and a lot of damage was done to me. Like everyone else, I gained a lot of weight and had completely given up on any weight loss. I even considered the lap band surgery. Anyway, someone told me about MFP and it has been a life saver for me. I follow the MFP guidelines and I go the slow and steady route of weight loss. I have other medical issues so I can't work out much but I am still losing by counting calories. I take meds every day which helps. I have lost 18 pounds since September 1 which doesn't sound like much to a lot of people but to me it is amazing. I have about 50 to go but I know over time it will happen. Before being diagnosed all I could do was gain weight. It takes patience. Good Luck
  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    I agree with sackit...go to a reputable endocrinologist. There is a reason they are specialists. I have been living without 1/2 my thyroid for over 20 years and take my meds regularly and also get my levels checked every 6 months now. I re-began my journey Dec 5th and have lost 35 lbs to date. It can be done....sometimes it's harder, but not so much if you are regulated.

    You have to want to be healthy and if you are serious and tired of being tired get to the Dr's...time is ticking by. I'm proof that it can be done and I turn 50 this year so add that to the mix of slow metobolism.

    Good Luck.

    cjm,
    I've been to two specialists. Both insist that my results are normal. I don't understand how this could be. How do I explain all of the symptoms? Am I just meant to have to work especially hard to lose one pound and feel like crud all the time? I'm not buying it. I will go to a hundred doctors if I have to. I might get down about it sometimes, but I will never give up. And all of these symptoms have started within the last three years or so...which is when my second daughter was born. I think that the pregnancy seriously messed up my hormones. I was think all my life, up until about age 25. That's when I started to gain. In the past 7 years, I have gained about 70 pounds. I just don't think that's normal.


    It's not normal if you eat right and work out to gain appx 10 lbs a year. I agree with the others that you have to be insistant on finding a solution.

    After gaining the weight do you snore?? Apnea could be the culprit for the tiredness too. Not getting enough quality sleep messes with your body terribly.

    And I like your attitude...don't let this make you ever stop trying.

    Thanks, cjm! I have done a sleep study and I don't have sleep apnea. I do snore on occasion, quite loudly according to my husband, but this is new as well. My sleep study was inconclusive. I have a lot of awakenings for no reason and terrible insomnia. So, this is another problem I'm dealing with. I've also been tested for iron deficiency, and I do have that. So, now I have that to deal with as well. lol The punches just keep on coming!
  • MrsEb79
    MrsEb79 Posts: 42 Member
    I went undiagnosed for years with Hypothyroidism and a lot of damage was done to me. Like everyone else, I gained a lot of weight and had completely given up on any weight loss. I even considered the lap band surgery. Anyway, someone told me about MFP and it has been a life saver for me. I follow the MFP guidelines and I go the slow and steady route of weight loss. I have other medical issues so I can't work out much but I am still losing by counting calories. I take meds every day which helps. I have lost 18 pounds since September 1 which doesn't sound like much to a lot of people but to me it is amazing. I have about 50 to go but I know over time it will happen. Before being diagnosed all I could do was gain weight. It takes patience. Good Luck

    Don't kid yourself!!! 18 pounds is amazing and you should be proud of yourself! I'd cut off my arm to lose 18 pounds! J/K, but you know what I mean. I'm glad that you are getting the help you need and losing weight slowly, which is better in my opinion.

    I am currently going through the stages of bariatric surgery as I'm dealing with all of this other stuff. If need me, and all other avenues have been exhausted, I will have the surgery. This extra weight is sure to kill me.
  • NicolioRussell
    NicolioRussell Posts: 273
    They actually cut them out now? I had mine disintegrated at the age of 10 by radioactive iodine. I felt like a superhero in the 5th grade, haha.

    I still struggle with this; I stopped seeing my specialist after my levels were "stable" for a couple years.....until my thyroid levels completely tanked and I gained 20 pounds and my doctor had to up my dosage TWICE before supposedly being stable (which is where I am supposedly now) in 2010......however, I feel like the fight is always long and hard. Because of a lack of the thyroid, my body just sucks up vitamins and nutrition that I need for my body, and tis that much harder to lose weight, no matter how vigilantly I track calories or how hard I bust my butt at the gym.

    It's a slow process....but if you are patient, you can certainly work through it.

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