Posts by sierra73

Hi there irishmum,

   I see your post is over a month old - welcome!   Yes, I've really abandoned this thread because my diet has been in the toilet!    I was dx'd about 2 1/2 yrs ago and still haven't gotten my meds up to par.  

  Your TSH is high - What symptoms do you have?      I wish I had good news for you about being able to just melt the weight off after our thyroid meds are adjusted.    Unfortunately, that is not the case with most of us, although it does happen with some.

    That's not to say that it is impossible though.    You've probably figured out by now that the 4 wks to weight loss is not a diet, but rather a series of informative sessions that can help us to understand how people with hypothyroidism can be successful with weight loss.     For us, it's harder to lose and to maintain weight loss than it is for healthy people.    There are a number of reasons for that, which About.com's Thryoid site explains.   That is a very active site and the articles and forums on there are excellent.

  I've gained and lost weight so many times over the years I can't even count them.   It's been hard to be consistent because of lack of energy, mood fluctuations, and a lifestyle that is always in flux (self employed and traveling frequently for long periods).    I will lose 10-30 lbs and then gain it all back when my thyroid symptoms flare.     I once lost 72 lbs, and then I found it.

  But we will keep pressing on until we reach the goal!

Good luck!

Sierra

Hi Gibbit -

   Welcome - I've been very flakey about keeping up with this thread because I keep falling off the wagon with my diet.   My weight goes up and down and currently is up.     It's really difficult to be consistent with my diet when my energy and mood are continually fluctuating.    I was dx'd about 2/12 yrs ago and still haven't gotten my medications optimized yet.   

  Hormones definitely effect thyroid medications.   I started on an estrogen patch - post menopause - and had to increase the Synthroid.   I added some Cytomel to the Synthroid recently and it's helped.   

 Have you been on About.com's Thyroid site yet?   It's really the best on the web - tons of info and a very active forum. 

Sierra

Welcome Maylynn,

    I'm sorry to hear about the dx.   Fortunately, though they did find it and will treat it -  many of us were hypo for many years before being treated.

     Learn all you can about thyroid disease.    The About.com Thyroid website is really the best overall  on the web I think.   There is lots of information and support to be found there.   The moderator, Mary Shoman is an expert and a patient herself who has written many excellent books on the subject.

We can get a lot of helpful tips for weight loss with hypothyroidism through that site.   Mary Shoman offers a "4 weeks To Weight Loss For Thyroid Patients"  (E-Course) ;- A free course that will be emailed to you each week. You can sign up for this newsletter at  http://thyroid.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm

     Treating thyroid disease is a lifelong process requiring much patience.   When I was dx'd I thought for sure I'd just start dropping those pounds - but it takes time and effort.

  The good news is it IS possible, and you will begin to feel better both  physically and mentally once your meds are optimized.   You may need to re-educate yourself about "how" you diet.   The rules change a bit with thyroid disease.   Calorie Count is a fantastic tool for keeping track- so be sure to stick with that part of it.     You also will want to lean more towards a lower carb and low fat  (not too radical though) approach.    Steering away from sugary foods and opting for whole grains, etc will go a long way to help your metabolism function better.     

   If I eat 1600 calories a day but it is comprised of a lot of simple sugars, white flour, etc, not only will I not lose anything, but it causes me to crave sweets and carbs even more.

  Good luck,  and keep us posted!  Hope to see you on About's Thyroid site too!

Sierra

Carrie - Thanks so much for the encouragment.   I'm at an all time high with weight and a real low with the mood - so I'm feeling ready to start at it again.

 I should mention that I never had a weight problem until I was 39 and had a hysterectomy.   

   Then  10 years ago I got agressive and  lost 75 lbs.     At the time I was recovering from a 10 year bout with CFIDS, had  yet to be dx'd thyroiditis, and was in menopause.     I totally agree about the 80/20 - diet/exercise.    I lost the first half of it with no exercise at all - and the rest with just 20 minutes a day,  so I truly believe I can do it again.    I felt good for the first time in years.

Unfortunately,  about 2 years later I had a autonomic nervous system meltdown (due to thyroid), developed an anxiety disorder, and gained every stinkin pound back plus 10 more.

Like you say, it's that black hole -  got some family issues dragging me down currently so I end up on the diet see-saw  to the point of just giving up.  

Thanks again - your story gives me incentive.

Hi JZ-

  I just found your post to me!   I've really gotten goofed up with logging into CC ever since they changed the format.  Plus, I've not had an ounce of success losing this weight battle.

  Wow, so glad to hear that you lost 45 lbs!    Sounds like you finally found a great doc.   (BTW, after 30 + years I finally found a doc who not only dx'd the Hashi's, but is very willing to listen and try pretty much anything I want to - and guess what?  He's a dude! :)

  Sounds like your whole family has been affected by autoimmune disorders too.  My brother has Raynaud's and probably other things too.    I also have a history of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - which most researchers think is also autoimmune too.

  As far as the weight loss goes,  I've gained back what little I lost and now weigh as much as my all time high again.   I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I've gained close to 20 lbs since last summer when I added a bio-identical hormone patch.   On the one hand it's been terrific - no more hot flashes;  I'm dreaming again and finally have some emotions (maybe too many!) 

   I still have very little energy though and feel lousy  because I'm still trying to get my thyroid meds figured out.   Just added T3 a few weeks ago - I suspect I will have to bump that up again at my next dr visit.

  I just can't seem to stay on track with the dieting.   I will get motivated and do really well for a short time.   Then, I'll get depressed and will give up.    It's not like I eat everything in sight when I "give up"- it's just that I stop paying attention to every tiny morsel that goes in my mouth.   Plus I will have dessert or add butter to something I don't usually.    

  It doesn't help that I can't exercise due to feeling so fatigued and also having a nasty bout with plantar faciitis (can hardly walk).   

  I'm hoping that getting all the meds straightened out will help my mood and energy so that I will be able to stick with the right eating habits.

Good luck!

Sierra

Soxgalco - You have a lot on your plate goin on.    I wish you well with your new health challenges.

I had the same problem with when to take the Synthroid since I also take a boatload of other pills.  I keep mine on my nightstand with  water and when I wake up in the night to go to the bathroom I take it then.    I've only missed it a couple of times.

Just a thought.

Hi Desperate,

   Correcting an underactive thyroid is a long, tedious process requiring lots of patience.    You should have your TSH and Free T3 and Free T4 levels checked about every 8-12 weeks until you are stablized.  Make sure your doc and lab are using the new TSH  standard ranges of .3 - 3.00.

  Also, another thing that is terribly overlooked is a check of your estrogen levels.   You had a baby and estrogen and thyroid levels can really impact each other.  Sadly, few doctors think about this.   You might want to pick up Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet's book "Screaming to Be Heard - Hormone Connections Women Suspect..And Doctos Still Ignore".  She also wrote "Women, Weight, and Hormones."  These books have a wealth of sound information that every woman should be aware of.   And especially those of us who have other endocrine embalances such as thyroid problems.

  Good luck.

Sierra