Hypothyroid Club

Hi!

  I'm new here and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's a year ago.   I know it makes it harder to lose weight, but that it's not impossible.    I also know there's a lot of debate (even among physicians) as to how much extra weight can be attributed to a hypothyroid.

  Just want to see if anyone else has faced this challenge and has some tips, encouragement, articles, etc for us.

 Thanks!

Sierra

afs150,

  I think most of us battle with not being able to lose weight.   The link I left above for Connie is really good - except if you click on it probably won't send you to the right page.   If you cut and paste it into your browser it should, hopefully.

  Anyway, it explains more why people with hypothyroid have such a hard time losing weight.   We also have to be careful not to eat too few calories.    Today my doc said that at my age (55) if I don't excercise also, I will actually gain weight with fewer calories due to the starvation mode thing.   Add hypothyroid to that and it makes it even harder.

 But it IS possible.   We just need to learn the right tricks.  Hope the weblink will help you.

Good luck!

Sierra

I'm in! My doctor discovered my underactive thyroid in June 2006, so I'm a newbie.

So far, so good. I have a very sedentary job, so even just starting to walk a bit in the evenings has helped out a bit. I'm having trouble eating my entire calorie allotment... it's just so much food.

Anyhow... taking it a little bit at a time! I could potentially reach my goal at the end of this year, so we'll see what happens. :)

Hey Y'all,

After many years of struggling with just simply "feeling off", I found a specialist willing to hear my struggle.  Not only did she hear it, she seemed to know quite a bit more than my previous but beloved G.P.

I highly recommend talking to a specialist and trying a thyroid replacement with both T3 and T4.  I'm starting to feel good and believe my energy levels are resembling a "normal" person.  It's a good feeling and quite unique for me, I've spent my entire life feeling sluggish and with kind of a mental tiredness.

My weight loss seems less of a struggle now also.  This is an enormous relief.  Don't get me wrong, I still need to do the work.  When I do, my body seems to be responding like the rest of the typical population.

Trust yourself.  You know your body. 

Hello everyone,

I'm new here (just joined on Tuesday).  I'd like to know how to join this group.  I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about 4 years ago and my medication still isn't right.  I've been working out since October and have lost 25 pounds, but its really slow going--which I think is because of my hypothyroid.  I eat really healthy and work out three times a week, but I've seemed to have hit this plateau and I haven't lost anything since January.  Its really frustrating because I love food, but I've been really good at keeping my portions under control and not overeating...and I still haven't lost weight.  I really do think it has something to do with my thyroid, but my doctor says my medication is correct (my blood tests show that it is okay).  I still feel very tired and I have symptoms of forgetfulness, low concentration, and I'm cold all the time.  What can I do if my doctor doesn't think my medication needs adjusting?  Do I just live like this for the rest of my life like I have for the past four or five years?  So frustrating!!

Any suggestions on how to boost my metabolism and how to get my doctor to listen to me?

Also, can you tell me how I would join this group?  Thanks!

Hmilne,

I had the same problem when I was first diagnosed.  I couldn't get my first, and second doctor to listen to me.  I did research on the endocrinologists in my area and went to one that had a good reputation.  He was the one that told me that what are "normal" levels for one person may not be "normal" for another.  My TSH numbers were in the normal range (after my initial medication), but I still felt, tired, cold, couldn't lose weight.  He determined (based on my symptons) that my dosage needed to be increased and actually my TSH levels are a little below normal, but that works for me.  It's kind of like a person's body temperature.  Normal is considered 98.6, but that's not "normal" for everybody.  My normal body temp is about 97.7 and if I have a temp of 98.6, that's a little bit of a temperature for me.  I think the thyroid is the same way.  You've got to try to figure out what's "normal" for you.  In my opinion, finding a doctor that will really "listen" to you is the only solution. 

Now that my medication is correct I don't feel lethargic anymore.  I do believe it's still hard to lose weight when you have hypothyroidism, but I think we have to exercise even more to triumph over those plateaus. 

By the way, you're already a part of the club just by posting.  Adding you to my friends list......:)

Connie

Hi this is so cool.Finally I can talk with people who don't think i'm crazy! I was diagnosed after my son was born in Oct.of   03 and had it under control (I even lost 50 lbs last year) In july I had to have my gallbladder taken out and since then I have gained it all back and then some. My thyroid levels went crazy and they have increased my synthroid like 6 times since then. My quetion is do any of you have any problems with depression? I'm not only tired but have been so down and I'm usually the life of the party.Glad to know you are all out there!

Hi Robyn,

    No, you're not crazy.  And YES, depression can be a part of hypothyroidism.    Anxiety and panic attacks can also be (even though some docs think anxiety is only attributed to hyperthyroidism).

   Is Hashimoto's the cause of your hypo?  It's the leading cause but not with everyone.    Hashi's is an autoimmune disease and it can "flare" just like other autoimmune diseases: ie; lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.      Stress can bring on such a flare and it's possible that your gallbladder surgery did just that.    It should settle down again.    

    Experts say that the autoimmune process keeps silently doing it's thing even when we don't necessarily have symptoms.    That's why we have our blood checked regularly.

   I lost 75 pounds ten years ago and gained it all + 10 more back while going through a stressful time in my life.    I had counted calories and fat grams and was so discouraged that I was afraid to try that approach again for fear of regaining what I lose.    None of the other approaches helped much, but when I found this website I knew I had returned to the only hope for me - keeping careful track of everything that goes into my mouth.   When I get to my goal I'm gonna need a lot of help in the maintenance area.

   This website is brought to us by About.com.   Their Thyroid site host, Mary Shomon, is an expert who has written many books on this topic.    There is extensive help for us on that site and forums there also.

   Sorry this is a novel!!!

Good luck!

Sierra

p.s.  I've added you to my friends list --:)

yay so many people.... So yea i dunno this sis such a sloooow process and can be discouraging.. i feel like day i have no caffeine I have absolutely no energy.. and its not caffeine withcdrawal because i dont havea lot often.. i feel like weh ni havea cup a coffee i havea normal persons energy. havent lost weight i nawhile and getting discouraged. but ill keep pressing on :) i need to excercise but im always so tired.. im sure being at school doesnt help that part too much either. :-/

New to the site as well - It's so nice to talk to other struggeling hypo's on weight loss. I has my third baby in Oct and have been working out hard and cant lose a pound.  I gained 18 while preg. and lost 33 after,  But now cant lose 10 more.  I am on 100 mcg of synthroid does that seem like alot?  Everyong else that I read about is only on 25.  What are you girls on?  and does your doc always say yahhhhhh your levels are fine?  that's whay I only gained 18 and lost 33 because the month before I found out I was preg. he uped my does from 88 to 100.

New to the site as well - It's so nice to talk to other struggeling hypo's on weight loss. I has my third baby in Oct and have been working out hard and cant lose a pound.  I gained 18 while preg. and lost 33 after,  But now cant lose 10 more.  I am on 100 mcg of synthroid does that seem like alot?  Everyong else that I read about is only on 25.  What are you girls on?  and does your doc always say yahhhhhh your levels are fine?  that's whay I only gained 18 and lost 33 because the month before I found out I was preg. he uped my does from 88 to 100.

I'm on 50 mcg of Synthroid.   100 isn't too much as long as you aren't showing signs of having too much. 

man im on 175 and they say my levels are fine....

I take 150.  They started me out on 50 and then up to 100.  My TSH levels were "normal" then, but I was struggling with being tired and having no energy (I just didn't feel right) all I wanted to do was sleep.  Finally, I found a doctor that really listened to me and agreed my dosage needed to be increased.  Since I've been taking 150, I feel "right" now. 

Do all of you take it per the directions with no food for a hour after?  Does it really make a difference?

I take mine around 5 am when I wake up to go to the bathroom.  Then go back to sleep....:O

Never take it close to taking calcium - it will absorb it.

I started at 25 mcg, then 50, then75, then 100, and once or twice after that.  Now I am on 0.15 MG. My doctor has never mentioned Hashimotos so I don't know if that is the cause.Last month she said my levels were very high and increased my dose again, but she has never told me what it is and what normal is so I guess I better start asking questions.

I take mine at night, at least 2.5 hours after I've eaten ANYTHING (which, actually, has served to eliminate night-time snacking!). I'm on 100mcg, and so far I've done pretty well with it. I'm not a morning person at all, so I'm most likely to forget in the mornings. It has become part of my evening get-ready-for-bed routine, so it's difficult to forget.

I've also heard tell that it's better to take it at night, since your stomach stays empty for a longer period of time while you're sleeping, and therefore the hormone has a much better time absorbing into your system.

If I have to take anything else (vitamins, calcium, etc) then I take those in the morning, which is difficult to remember.... but I'd rather remember my thyroid medication than vitamins.

can you loose weight if you try to?

Hello, I added you all to my friend list. I have been so frustrated lately because of my hypothyroid, I just want to give up. But I know I would feel worse. So I keep going, eating healthy is the key for our life time. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about 5 years ago. I think this has much to do with the hormone imbalance. I also have a complete hysterectomy. So...I battle most hormone problems. If I can do this everyone can! I would love to join this group! Keep exercising as much as we can tolerate because it does help. Good luck to all my hypo friends!

I have had hypothyroid for 15 years. I got a serious case of Mono in college that went undiagnosed. The clinic kept giving me strep tests and when they came up negative they told me I was just stressed. I was extremely tired and had a great struggle with my classes bc I couldn't retain anything!!! It was so frustrating. I became depressed and slept all the time. I just kept pushing myself. I went home after my first year of college, 20lbs heavier and started a summer job. The first day I was there I passed out. That is when they discovered the mono and the thyroid disorder. They think that the prolonged mono without rest triggered the disorder.

I have a very difficult time separating depression from a low thyroid. They both feel so similar. My blood test have been yo-yoing every couple of months. The month before last my level was 18 (very bad) they increased my dose just up to the next pill level and the next month it was too low! Extremely frustrating and I always feel down. I am now taking Welbutrin in addition to Synthroid in hopes that it will help.

I am also trying to lose weight from my sencond child. He is 15 months old and I haven't lost a pound! I just started counting calories this week using the zig zag method. I hope it works!