Hypothyroid

So, I just got some blood test results and found out I have an underactive thyroid.

Reading about it, poor diet and over exercising can exacerbate things, but it's generally considered to be an autoimmune condition.  

So, has anyone else out there experienced an underactive or hypothyroid?  How did you feel?  What treatment did you undergo? And how long before you were on the mend?

I know a lot of folk refer to a thyroid complaint in relation to slow weight loss, but would it make sense that I've seen little change to my weight?  Man, what would have happened if I hadn't run every day! Jeez, dread to think.

I had hypothyroid problems as well.  I had a hard time losing weight when I did diet and exercise.  And when I didn't diet and exercise i gained more weight.  I also had anxiety attacks, insomnia, and fatigue.   I had bloodwork done but it was normal. It wasn't until the unltrasound that they found a nodule.  I had blood work done every 3 months to monitor my levels, my endocrin thought I had Thyroiditis. 

At first I was put on Zoloft for the anxiety and trazodone for the insomnia.  I took myself off those meds though, there must be something better for me then relying on those meds to only help the symptons and not cure them.  I was never given suppressive therapy,which I have been given. I wasn't happy with my first endocrin, I felt he wasn't doing his job so  I saw a second endocrin for a second opion and I was right.  I should have been given suppressive thrapy right away to make the nodule smaller.   My nodule grew much bigger and I had to have my nodule removed.  I only have the right lobe of my thyroid now.  I'm on 50micro grams of synthroid now. 

Make sure you find a good endocrin and get a second opion.  My surgery could have been avoided if my 1st endocrin did his job right. 

Are they giving you meds?  Have you had an ultra sound to make sure you have no nodules? 

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about 4 years ago.  I take 100 mil of levothyroxine every day to keep in under control.  I discovered that I had hypothyroid after I had no reflex response in my right leg during a routine checkup with my doctor.  She took some blood and I have been monitoring it ever since.

I still have difficulty losing weight even with watching my calories.  If I don't exercise but count calories I will not lose an ounce. But if I add in exercise I will lose anywhere 3-4 pounds per month.  It's slow progress and requires a lot of patience (which some days I do not have!).

I also had the feeling of fatigue and some pain in my knee joints but I attributed that to getting older and being overweight until I was diagnosed.    The biggest problem I have from my underactive thyroid is the "foggy brain" feeling.  I was unable to focus on things and it felt like I was thinking in slow motion. Concentrating on things was a struggle some days.  This was the biggest issue for me especially at work.  Some days I just couldn't get it together.  

The good news is the medication works.  I do not feel exhausted or tired all the time and the concentration issue is gone.

Good Luck!

I've literally just been diagnosed, so I have to return to my surgery to see my GP.

We dont automatically get referred to specialists in the UK, but I've heard from others that seeing an Endocrinologist would be good so I will ask if that would be possible (no doubt I will have to wait a while for that).

I have ALWAYS felt the cold, and experienced hypothermia twice, which in retrospect now makes sense.  

I actually went because I thought I might have anaemia as I've been feeling so drained and exhausted but it might also explain the lack of concentration at work and feeling a bit ugh in general.

I suspect my condition has been related to the contraceptive pill and I have most likely exacerbated it through restricting my diet and over exercising.

I always hated being on The Pill.  Now I am a bit annoyed that taking medication may well have now led to me needing to go on more medication, and I really hope does not lead to further conditions or complications.

I stopped The Pill about 6 months ago I noticed weight piled on (some girls notice a weight loss after coming off) and it just hasnt been shifting as quick as I'd hoped, despite running 3-5 miles a day plus circuits and reduced cal intake. 

See here for a better breakdown of my diet over the last 3 months.

Now, please I hope no one finds this frivolous, but I am really aware that I dont want to become one of those people who uses such a condition as an excuse, but I think there is definitely something to it.

However I am going to see what the medical advice says and go from there.  

Angelaimes - did you research anything dietary that you could include to help with the condition?  Are there any food types which can help?  

Thanks for your reply :)

Hi Laura,

Did you have any side effects from the meds?  I really dont want to end up in a cycle of further conditions from medication.

The lack of concentration has been a REAL issue, but I'm not sure I can attribute that to my condition, yet, I need more research, I think I just hate my job ha ha.

Thanks for replying and good luck with the weight loss.

If I dont exercise and eat the same, my weight can go up! Like it did a few months ago.  I have always noticed I have a freakishly sloooooow metabolism, just thought it was genetics! 

I have had no negative side effects to the meds at all.  Some side effects include

• headache
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• nervous or irritable feeling
• fever, hot flashes, sweating
• changes in your menstrual periods
• appetite changes, weight changes
• less serious side effects may include mild hair loss

Again, I haven't noticed any problems since I started taking it and hope to not have any.

Funny about the concentration thing -- I thought it was because I hated my job too!  LOL    I also thought I was just getting old because I noticed a slower metabolism, getting tired easy, lack of energy, joint pain...but I was only 30 when it started! Besides, I'm not old

I do recommend seeing an endocrin.  They are more knowledgeable bout your thyroid than your GP.

As far as meds go, Synthroid has been great for me.  No side effects or anything.  I take it in the morning 30 mins - 1 hour before I eat.

I have found that birth control can cause more problems with the thyroid too.  I had been on BC for about 10 years.  After my surgery I developed a condition called angeoedema.  It's an autoimmune.  I ran out of my BC and didn't take them for a month.  In that time I started taking synthroid as well.  My outbreaks were almost completely gone.  the next month I started my BC again and my outbreaks worsened.  I have since stopped my BC.

If you were sitting on your couch all day eating chocolate then I'd have to say you were using your condition as an excuse.  You aren't.  You are trying to change it.  You know your body and you know how you feel, it's no excuse the condition does play a big part in it.  I always felt so frustrated because I knew something was wrong and people didn't believe me or blew it off. (including my first endocrin)

I have not researched anything dietary but after my surgery my endocrin told me to go on a low carb diet. No more than 90 grams of carbs a day.  I did that for about 2 months and lost about 15 lbs.  I wasn't even exercising at the time.

I hope some of this is helpful.

I'm already doing no carbs in evening meals and found it might be helping with other things like PMT cramps.

Angela - you look amazing! well done!

Laura - I am 30, but I've thought my metabolism was slower than most since about 21. About 2 years ago I lost a heck of a lot of weight through healthy eating and running (2-3 times a week), but this time around I've been exercising like mad now and seeing little change, whereas before I've lost through healthy eating alone...so there was definitely something up there.

hopefully my enthusiasm for work will pick up if I start treatment, I had been dreading applying for new jobs (my contract ends in a month) with really low motivation and lethargy, but now I hope if I can start treatment, that might pick up and be back to my normal self!

Thanks again ladies :)

Thank you very much.  It has taken me 1 yr 7 months to get to where I'm at now.  Post surgery 182 lbs currently 145 lbs.  the first 20 lbs or so were lost through diet alone.  the rest have been from diet and exercise. 

You know maybe some of it does have to do with us turning 30 and our metabolism slows down a little. I don't know.  I'm sure once you get put on meds you will start to feel better.  Although my endocrin did say that it can take up to 6 months to get the full effect. 

You look great in your pics too.  And yeah my belly is there too. LOL  what can I say, we aren't 21 anymore. LOL

Oh check out www.webmd.com  it has some helpful info on everything.

I have Hashimoto's Thyroditis (the autoimmune form of hypothyroidism) and it's been a rough journey.  My endo has increased and decreased my dose many times based on my blood test results (tsh, free t3 and free t4 -- you'll probably get to know all about those!) but after 10 years I still don't feel that I have this condition under control.  Some people with hypothyroidism have a hard time feeling well when their dosage is 'correct' according to the blood tests.  There's a lot of information out there regarding this and it's something you might want to look into if you turn out to be one of those people.  Definitely give it at least 6 mos or even a year though -- it can take a lot of time to start feeling better.  I'm actually in the process of switching to a gp to manage my thyroid because I feel my endo isn't willing to look past the blood tests and consider how I feel when she determines what dosage I need.  I will say though, that the medication (I'm on 225 mcg of Levoxyl) has really improved my quality of life. 

I started taking the Levothyroxine today and I know I probably shouldnt (but as a google hyponcondriac I cant help) I looked for feedback sites on side effects and didnt find too much bad feedback, so I'll see how it goes.

Were any of you guys trying to lose weight while you were on treatment?  I know it's vain but I am curious as to how soon I might be able to notice a positive progress in weight loss.

Cheers for your messages