Hypothyroidism

Well, I just got word from my doc that I have an underactive thyroid and I have to start taking drugs. This certainly explains the weight loss struggles!!!

Has anyone else been diagnosed with hypotyroidism and once on drugs, did your weight loss come a bit easier than pre-drugs?

Any input/advice is most appreciated. :)

My mom has an underactive thyroid and used to look really bloated and weighed 170 pounds.  And  the medication helped and the underactive thyroid transformed into an overactive thyroid which made her lose weight to 125 pounds.  Pretty good huh?

I'm 27 years young  ;) and have just recently be diagnosed with a hypo thyroid. I am on 50mg of Synthroid a day. I can't really tell if its made any difference b/c I am also on Prednisone- ( which causes weight gain). My Mom is also hypo and she says it does make a difference and helps you to be able to lose weight. Once I am off prednisone I will be able to tell if the synthroid is working! Good luck! And welcome to the hypo world! ( does make you feel a little relief that there is a reason doesn't it?? ) ..

well, here's my experience... I was very excited to find out that I was hypo, (not because I wanted to be, but because it explained so many things...tsh at 16!)  I had heard that I would drop weight easily.  A friend of mine warned me though, that I may feel hungry all of the time.  SHE WAS RIGHT!!  I am on 125 mg dose of synthroid, and I am always hungry!  Just like being pregnant... tummy is always growling, and I actually feel sick to my stomach if I don't keep food in it.  People react differently, and hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who doesn't have this problem.  The medication, I believe, helps you to raise your metabolism, but with that can come increased appetite.  Cross your fingers that you are a lucky one, but be prepared for the alternative.

I was diagnosed at 21 after I had my son with a tsh of 65, my doctor couldnt beleive I was still alive, but I can remember symptoms in high school. Anyway, I have been on levothroid which is, I guess, the generic for synthroid. I was always pretty thin pre children, now it has been almost impossible to loose weight 110 pre 161 post. Just lately though, everyone has been telling me that I have lost weight. Im not sure how. The only thing I can think of that I have been doing differently is drinking green tea with ginseng. Who knows what has done it, but Im almost worried that this is just temporary! Anyone else tried green tea or ginseng and lost weight?

I too have hypothyroidism.. or the marker for it  (Hashimoto's Disease).  I am now on 100 mg of Synthroid but being on the meds have not helped in my weight loss....If they are prescribed correctly it should't go over into hyper land but should help somewhat.

I eat out of boredom and bad habits more than hunger...need to learn to listen to hunger and exercise more!

I was diagnosed several years ago and I went on Synthroid as well. Back then I wasn't trying to lose weight so I didn't see any results. It's meant to regulate hormones not add a significant weight loss. I should probably still be on the medicine but I don't have health insurance ;x

This is from Wikpidia on Levothyroxine (Synthroid):

Synthetic levothyroxine may have adverse side effects like: palpitations, nervousness, headache, difficulty sleeping, insomnia, swelling of the legs and ankles, weight loss and/or increased appetite.

I do remember getting stomach pain and insomnia from taking it, lovely side effects~

Thank you for all of the input.

I took my first Levothyroxine this morning. I am a bit nervous about the side effects but am relieved to know there is a reason why I have been struggling to lose when I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing.

Good luck to everyone!

i have been hypo for about 15 yrs now or at least diagnosed for that long have been hypo longer. been on synthroid the whole time . i struggle to take the weight off takes along time and i must exercise or its all in vain. but it can be done. i just recently found out to avoid carbs too so now i am lower carbs and whole grains. the weight has been coming off normal now since switching 2lbs a week.

I have been hypo for quite awhile now.  I take 150 synthroid daily for the rest of my life.  When I first got regulated, which took about 6 months or so, I did lose weight and quite quickly and easily.  then I got relaxed, lazy...happy!  I love to cook so I would fix fabulous meals nearly every night (pastas, lots of ethnic foods).  Now, I have lost 62 pounds again and I swear to God and family, I will never gain it back.  In 7 more pounds, I will be quitting smoking, so that will be the real test of my allegiance. 

Good luck with getting your thyroid regulated, you will be a different person, I promise.  I am.

I have hypothyroidism, diagnosed after my 2nd baby was born.  I was tired all the time, not losing weight and after I went on levoxyl I didn't have an easy time losing weight but I was able to get to my prepregnancy weight. 

I do feel that the medication really helps but its still not EASY to lose weight, it just makes you like a person who has a normal thyroid.

I have had two children. My little one is 14 months old. When I got pregnant with my first son, I was 179. I gained 40 lbs. I was able with phentermine to get down to 162 after he was born. When I got pregnant with my second child, I was 175. Today, I am 179...so back to pre-pregnancy BUT before I weighed 179 I weighed 140 on a bad day. I was ALWAYS thin (size 6 or 8). But, in 2001, I took Paxil and it totally messed me up. Ever since then, I have had a VERY hard time losing weight. Since January, I have been eating clean (no flour, sugar, wheat, little to no dairy) and when I started the diet I was 196. So, I am happy with 179, but I am still so much bigger than I should be. My blood test just came back and said that I am lightly hypo. I started 50 mgs of Synthroid about two weeks ago. I don't feel any different (which I think it good). I am just trying to figure out if this is going to help (I also spin 2-3 days a week) and take pilates. Or, if I am just going to be a size 10-12 for the rest of my life. It's really frustrating. HELP!!!! Does anyone know about Paxil messing you up and then later in life having thyroid issues.....It's nice to hear these stories because nobody that I know has really had these same struggles

i think you guys mean mcg (micrograms) of synthroid, not mg - i'm hypo (hashimoto's), wasn't dx'd until i was 16 - strangely enough, they tested me b/c they though i was HYPER (underweight at the time, hyperactive [ADHD], the only major symptom of hypo i had was depression, and major-time depression, oh, and hot all the time.  i have noticed, though that it does regulate my appetite and energy levels and moods - i am much less depressed than i used to be.  i am on 300 mcg a day. 

be careful with soy products.  i'm a vegetarian, ate a ton of them for protein + they can mess up your thyroid levels.  it's ok - you just have to tell your endocrinologist + they'll adjust dosage (i no longer eat them for other reasons).

I found out I have the same thing, but I'm pregnant...so I'm not much help right now about the weight.  I'll be unpregnant in about 3 more weeks...I hope its the cause of why I gained about 40 lbs or so in 6 months before I got pregnant!  Best of luck!!  Amber Ivey

Yes...mcg. you are right! Thanks.

My TSH was 491.  That's not a typo, though my doctor ordered a re-test because she thought it was.  She stared at me, telling me that people in comas had lower numbers. 

Six weeks later, my TSH is at 4.  A B-I-G difference!!  My thyroid was actually killing my kidneys!  But I'm better now. 

Anyway... just wanted to say, you MUST take your drugs!!

I don't think I am on a high ebnough dose of the drug. My TSH was 27.740 and I am only on 25mcg of Levothyroid. That just seems super low to me. I guess I will just have to wait and see what the next bloodtest says.

I feel like total ass today. I have a HORRIBLE headache and wonder if it could be the meds or the hypothyroidism.

Cecilia

Hello,

I took Paxil and everything went down hill after only 2 months on it and 4 trying to come off (It was hell) I now weight 20 pounds more then post paxil and i exercise 4-5 times a week and eat very clean, I just went for a thyroid ultrasound and then a biopsy thank God not cancerous but my doctor will call me back to let me know what the avenues are since i have a nodule 2' in size and may need to be removed or drained out.................or I may need hypo medicines since i have been feeling most of the side effects mentioned for a slow thyroid!

I can not loose weight as i used too at all so depressing since none of my clothe

6-8 fit me i am into 10-12's now and its just not what i am comfortable with :-(