Thyroid problems anyone?

Does anyone else here have thyroid problems? I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 1999 and now have underactive thyroid because of my thyroid being destroyed with the radioactive iodine. This has made it very difficult to lose weight to say the least! My dr has a very difficult time keeping my tsh where it should be and my medication is constantly changing, therefore I'm always tired and sluggish. Does anyone else battle with this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for listening!

Hi Isabelle.  I don't have any advice for you, but I know I've seen a lot of posts in tha past on your issues.  I bet if you type in "thyroid" in the search at the top of the page and search the forums you will come up with a lot of useful info from previous posters and perhaps a few people you could talk to from the posts.  Hope that helps :-)

I have hypothyroidism, it is so difficult to lose weight! I call it a win because I eat healthy and exercise and have not gained weight this year : ) Last year I gained 30 lbs. I have lost 20 of those this year, it is a major slow process! I just try to look at the health benefits more than the scale, that way I don't get frustrated when I go months without losing. I think more that the weight, it is the fogginess,fatigue, memory loss, hair loss and depression that gets to me the most. My synthroid has helped with this, but it takes sometimes years to level out the thyroid, hand in there : )

Hi,
I've had hypothyroidism for about 8 years now. I gained a lot of weight and had little energy. The synthroid has helped, however, I have found yoga to be my best help.
The mindfulness of what I am doing makes all the difference. Since June I have been able to go from a size 12 to a 6.
Calorie counting and the stretching has really done it for me.  Yes, it took a long time for me to level out my meds.
The endorphins I get from the exercise really helps with my mood.

I also have thyroid problems...have been on Synthroid for 10 years...I quit taking it a couple of years ago for a while due to money and gained over 40 pounds in less than 2 years...now it was not easier to lose weight on the medication...I was just happy when I was not gaining.  I also gained weight due to birth control, and I have been struggling.  I want to lose it...but it is no fun to rarely see a change on the scale no matter how hard you try...and I have no willpower, so I fail and then give up for the rest of the week...

the yoga thought is a good idea...I have also done Pilates and might try it again while it is winter and I can't get out and walk all the time...I am on my medication daily now and don't plan to stop again...the doctor was not happy nor was my body...I also have Epstein Barr and Fibromyalgia so sometimes I ache and I am so tired I can hardly function let alone exercise...it is tough...I understand...I sympathize...I feel sorry for myself...

I guess we just have to keep trying...keep going...keep working on it...and success has to be the ultimate outcome!!

I am hypothyroid as well.  I gained almost 20lbs last year.  I'm having a really hard time finding a medication that works for me.  I'm really sensitve to the medications and the side effects have been unbearable for the most part.  I recently switched to Armour and I seem to be at a dosage that is working, so I'm hoping to turn things around now.

I'm sorry I don't have any advise for you at this time.  For me, I'm just glad that the unexplained weight gain can now be explained and has leveled off.

hi my name is watergirl and im hypothyroid.

counting calories works!

I think more that the weight, it is the fogginess,fatigue, memory loss, hair loss and depression that gets to me the most. My synthroid has helped with this, but it takes sometimes years to level out the thyroid

jeunene: yes, years! thanks for saying that!

I have found yoga to be my best help.
The mindfulness of what I am doing makes all the difference.

mary: again, yes. the mindfulness. yoga. i need to squeeze more yoga in. yoga makes me cry sometimes. endorphins endorphins endorphins! regular exercise makes all the difference to me. helps combat the depression and fatigue.

i have lost 25 lbs since march. i have 5 to go. finally, something that works!

Do any of you experience thyroid related hypoglycemia?

This is the main thing I'm trying to work through with my Doctor.  Since I've been on the thyroid meds, I've developed hypoglycemia even tho my thyroid levels are within a reasonable range.  This is part of why it has been so hard for me to lose weight.  I can't excersize much because my blood suger drops too low, and I have to eat more cals that I'd like to keep the blood sugar up too.

It has been really depressing for me.  18 months ago I was running 5 miles a day in the best shape of my life, and now sometimes I can't even walk a mile without getting lightheaded.

Hello.

I have hypothyroidism. Im only fourteen years old. Im really not happy about my weights. Im 164 right now and im only 5'1. The body mass index shows me that im obesity at the moment. Its very fustrating. My mom has been yelling at me about my weights. She always think I eat too much foods.  Ive been telling her that im not eating too much foods.  My mom decided to talk with my pediatrics doctor about my weights and stuff. They decided to do a blood work and found I had a hypothyrodisim. Im currently taking levothyroxine with .75 mg. I went today to the doctor for the physical check up, they highly recommended me to see a specialist doctor which is called endocrinologist or however you spell that. Ive been gaining alot of weights lately. I tried to exercise everyday it never works.

Hi Isabelle and all you other thyroid sufferers/survivors.  I too inexplicably gained weight.  Lots of weight !! My family complained or made fun of me.  But as the headaches, memory loss, fatigue, hair loss, swelling, sensitivity to light I consulted them all - eye doc, CAT scan doc, ultrasound doc, gynaecologist, nuerologist.  Finally after months and batteries of tests one bright doc finally suggests checking the thyroid.  The relief of finally knowing what was wrong was enormous.  Struggling with weight loss is a pain (why can't these docs spot thyroid problems BEFORE we gain so much weight ??)  but it beats feeling like death and imagining you have some other dreadful complaint like Alzhiemers.  I think as folks living with thyroid problems we need to go a bit easy on ourselves on the weight front - but stick at it - accept that for us it is not going to be like the miracle-like weight drops of Biggest Losers !! No for us with this complaint we have a longer battle with more hurdles in the race to the finish line.  Hang in there folks. 

I hope too Isabelle you can get beyond the sluggish feeling - for me just gradually increasing my daily movement has helped.  I try to push myself to walk a bit faster around the neighborhood.  Go faster up the stairs. Bustle around the house a bit faster.  It makes me feel as if I am doing better even if I can't manage a run or a gym.  Also for me I go with my daughter for an occassional swim in the pool and push myself to add a length each time. That way I can tell if I am doing a little better.  Good luck

I have hypothyroidsm too and once I was put on synthroid everything changed...I lost 86lbs since January 2008, but from what I learned I think I am an exception to the rule.  I have all the other symptoms except wt gain which I obviously gained before I was put on synthroid.  I asked my doctor about it and she said I still need to take the medication...it also runs in my family....I exerscise nearly everyday a couple hours which has been a huge help for me

hi i have HYPERTHYROIDISM, i found out after 3 years, i was alarmed when my left eye is swallowen...then the doctors found out that i have a hyperthyroid and graves disease (related to thyroid)...the usual is both eyes must be swallowed but im only my left eye is affected, i was advised by my doctor thru my blood test T3,T4(IRMA) every quarterly or twice a year i am having a blood check up if its not normal i take NEO MERCAZOLE depending on the result of the blood sometimes 5mg or 10mg....

if i sleep late my eyes is getting bigger...my doctor said i have to stop and quit my job...since im a single parent of my son...i did not listen to my doctor. My doctor asked me if i have a deeper problem because having a thyroid the main cause is STRESS, i was shy to tell my doc  YES! I DO HAVE A PROBLEM! and its my HUBBY! my husband is a womanizer and i kept on saving our marriage and it did not work out! then the doctor advised me the following:

1. do not SMOKE

2. do not drink ALCOHOL

3. do not STRESS yourself with PROBLEMS

4. do not sleep LATE.

5. do not carry HEAVY things.

all of the above are what i am doing...i am having a hard time for stopping no. 1 and 2 but now i started to quit no. 1 and its only for days :) i just hope this will continue forever...

I REALIZE its ME who will suffer in everything we do! i started smoking since 13  then i sleep late, i abuse myself of the alcohol and cigs. i was really thinking a lot of my problems in life...in the end, we have to take care of ourself because problems are everywhere....i focus now to myself and to my son ...

 

i just hope we all enjoy life to the right track and appreciate even the smallest thing that we have...i thank the Lord for my son and i am happy atleast i only have thyroid ...God bless us all!