Thyroid issues and weight loss?

Has anyone here had issues with their thyroid, specifically hypothyroidism?  Did it affect your weight loss?

Thanks,
Holly

I dont have thyroid issues..  but I know that that particular member of the endocrine system is very influential on metabolism...  so if you have underactive thyroid.. (hypo) you can have a heck of a time losing weight..   it can be treated...  so..   see a doctor..  preferably a specialist..  and if you indeed have it...  and get it treated.. this diet thing may get a lot easier for you..

good luck

I have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and am a GP as well, so basically diagnosed myself years ago when I kept feeling tired all the time and had problems losing weight, I was not exactly obese but I just couldn't shift the 4 kilos I wanted off. Thyroid regulates your metabolism and many people with underactive thyroids do seem to lose some weight once their values are normalised BUT it is NOT a miracle cure!! You still need to watch what you eat...like with anyone else, if you put too much in even with a normal metablic rate, you will not lose!. I still find it hard to lose weight eventhough I am well controlled on medication.

doc-joe,

I am not sure if I understand about the thyroid -- how many hormones does the thyroid produce or regulate?  My doc tested me for tsh-4 (I think) and it was normal.  If that one is normal, does that mean that all of them are normal?

Well hello again doc...  just tipped the hat atcha in the previous medical type question....      nice to get a pro on board..

cheers

Generally speaking if the Free- T4 (i.e. the so called "active" hormone) is normal, even if the others are not 100% within the range, your thyroid function is then normal. I did the whole range on myself (T3, TSH, T4 and F-T4) and eventhough the others were normal to borderline normal, my F-T4 was below normal, so one of my colleagues (a Physician) confirmed that I was hypothyroid. I generally felt a lot better a few weeks after starting the meds, but the weight was still not so easy to shift.

Hi.. There is a T3 level and a T4 level. I took synthorid for years with no good results because it only treated the T3 leve. I am now taking "Thyroid" 2 grains. This treats both levels and feel some-what  better, although I have not lost any weight yet. YES IT IS VERY HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT WITH A  THYROID PROBLEM! I learned today that it's not a "Diet" it's "Getting Healthy" and taking your life back!!!! I hope I can remember this too as I venture to get healthy! Good luck! Us "HYPO's" need to stick together!

Thanks for everyone's response.  I've been having some serious hair loss, fatigue and a bunch more issues... and someone suggested that I might have hypothyroidism.  This might also explain part of my weight issue, too, I've heard.  So, I wanted to check in and see what other's have experienced, as well.  Mostly, my concern is all this hair loss I've experienced lately.  And, it feels like straw.

Thank you,
Holly

I Have had thyriod issues since i was 12 HAYY! im on the CORRECT dosage of Levothyroxine (mines 150mg) and i didn't find it hard to lose weight, get your dosage right and it will be just like someone with a normal thyriod trying to lose weight :)

i've got hypo too.. on synthroid (levothyroxine) .175 mg (he stared me at .05 mg and worked up gradually to .175). and doing well.. i get tested every 6 months now (too a whole year every 6 weeks getting tested to get the right doseage) and have lost weight.  my doctor said that weight loss with controlled hypo is still difficult.. but weight loss for most everyone is difficult.. my dr. is also trying to keep my dosage a bit high to aid the metabolism.  it seems to be working well!  :)

my symptoms before i was diagnosed was: i was tired, had no energy, gained weight very easily,  i was losing hair and my hair was coarse, i was actually losing my eyebrows (one obscure problem with hypos.. heh.. you lose them from the outside in.. i had 1/2 eyebrows before i got my hormones level.. they are finally growing back), depression, the list goes on and on..

if you think that you have those problems just get tested.. it is only 1 vial of blood.. :)  which is no big deal if they can find your vein (they can never find my veins so it is a big deal for me.. :( ) 

i am so glad that i was diagnosed and found out once and for all what was wrong with me. now that my levels have been normal for a year now (yay!) all of my symptoms are gone.. i finally, for the first time in years and years, that i feel normal.  it's amazing how much can go wrong when your thyroid doesn't work... and how a small dosage of replacement hormone can make such a difference.. :)

Wow, this is interesting.  I was just diagnosed with hypo over memorial day.  I never felt bad, just had female problems which lead to testing the thyroid.  I too, am a big girl (206..now 202 pounds), and it was just so nice to know that even though I've tried so many diets...it wasn't all my fault.  If you think you have it, get tested...it stinks, but it's nice to know what you aren't crazy (I had 3 years of a mystery female problem -- which ended up being the hypo)

I have just found out that I had hypo throid also.  Interesting so many of us have it.  Would make an interesting study.

Any way I just started my meds and will be working on getting on the right dose....according to what I read the right dose is different for everyone and is crucial to actually work.  Too much is toxic to little doesn't work

I do hope that I can have a better matabolism.

good question.   I found out about a month ago that i have hypothyroidism, and since then i have been on Synthroid.  ive lost 2 lbs while on the meds but that could just be from anything.  i hope it does aid in weighloss.  the meds are supposed to help the thyroid make the hormone its lacking, so i would imagine it would have to regulate the body and that would result in weightloss.  right?? hm.  i hope.

goodluck!

wow!  This whole thyroid thing seems a bit more common than I anticipated.  Would anyone mind if I friend you to keep up with your progress?

i don't mind.. :)  all my stuff to date is in my profile.. :)

dont mnid, im here to help! i love all this im no longer alone!! pump up the workouts, i think maybe admitly we do have to do a extra 10 mins on exercise with the thyriod being as it is.. but the brightside is. Even if thats not true - it still means 10 mins more hard work to speed up weightloss!

absolutely, i'd love to keep talking to you all about this issue -- especially since it seems like most of us are new to it too!  it is nice to know we're not alone in this.

This is my first post to this forum!  My t3 & t4 levels always came out in the low normal, but I constantly felt tired and suffered a lot of the symptoms of hypothryoidism.  When I finally found a doctor who cared to listen he did an ultrasound of my thyroid and I had nodules (goiter!) on it.  I'm now on synthroid and many of my symptoms are gone.  My weight isn't going down, but at least now I have the energy to exercise.

Since starting my exercise program 2 months ago I've gained 14 pounds but I've lost a LOT of inches!