Support for those with Thyroid Problems

After months and months of disputes between my doctors, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. So, I am starting medicine to help, but also desperate to loose the weight I have gained as a result of a severely underactive thyroid.

I am aiming to loose 80-100lbs before my cruise next February. With the help of medication and my hopefully re-started metabolism, I am looking for anyone to join me and report in weekly on the success.

I am starting with diet first (exercise will come later), cutting out some of the carbs (the bad ones) and adding more protein and more fruits and veggies. There are several dietary recommendations for a healthy thyroid diet, and I have been following them for quite some time now, so I am just working now to replace the bad with more of the good.

Anyone want to join me in this quest??

Well, Lots of views but no takers to join me?

Oh well... After one week on my medicine and my new diet, Plus a little motivation from a new fitness band.... I'm down 5.5 lbs!!!

Here is to hoping the trend continues.

Hello!

I'm hypothyroid as well, I've been taking thyroid hormone for a few years now after having a partial thyroidectomy.

I do weekly check ins on the other thread. Everyone there is pretty nice!

I know everyone is different, but my personal experience is, I've never been/felt the same after my thyroid surgery. I've struggled with my weight ever since and lose very very slowly. I also would like to lose about 80-100 pounds.

I've been doing weight watchers since January and have lost about 25 pounds.

What dosage are you on? I take 100mcg.

Isabel

Don't use your hypothyroid as an excuse. I've been on 50 mcg levothyroxine for 15 years and have learned over the years to rethink the way I eat and just get moving. You can't "diet to lose weight." You need to make your mind up to a permanent lifestyle change which includes healthy eating and increased daily activity. I alternate days with strength training at the gym and 4-mile brisk walks outdoors when the weather cooperates (or same distance on an incline treadmill plus rowing machine). You CAN do it if you make up your mind to do so. I KNOW.

Good Luck! I stopped my thyroid meds a few years ago. 1st doc said I had thyroid issues so was on meds. new doc says I don't. I really think I do..going to see an endo next week.

Don't use your hypothyroid as an excuse. I've been on 50 mcg levothyroxine for 15 years and have learned over the years to rethink the way I eat and just get moving. You can't "diet to lose weight." You need to make your mind up to a permanent lifestyle change which includes healthy eating and increased daily activity. I alternate days with strength training at the gym and 4-mile brisk walks outdoors when the weather cooperates (or same distance on an incline treadmill plus rowing machine). You CAN do it if you make up your mind to do so. I KNOW.

I have only been on Synthroid since January. I thought that alone would help but you're right...the pill didn't fix what was broken; my daily habits. I want to change but have yet to do so.

Good Luck! I stopped my thyroid meds a few years ago. 1st doc said I had thyroid issues so was on meds. new doc says I don't. I really think I do..going to see an endo next week.

Panda, I hope you get straightened out! Ask for your test results to see what they're seeing.

My experience is that T4-only-treatment often doesn´t help very good. Simply because you often need pills with T3 too, to get your metabolism to work again.

I have been on T4 only for 20 years and the last 10 years were just awful - always tired, always freezing, brain fog, joint-pain, short term memory loss, unable to concentrate and so on....

In US you have a slow realease T3 pill, i think the pharmacys make it upon requests. We dont have that in Sweden, our T3 is fast (and it leaves the body faster, with a kind of ups and down in energy during the day)

An other alternative is NDT, as in Erfa Thyroid, Armour Thyroid or Nature Thorid. Thats my medicin now and I fell much better. Don´t accept T4-only if you dont get well by using it.

When you are hypothyriod it´s often not just fat, you get this myxodema, which is not fat, but you can only get it if you are hypothyroid. My english is probally not good enough to decribe the difference, but it´s kind of harder, thicker, and it usually hurts more when you touch it.

Interesting thread here. Just found out I have cysts & nodules in my thyroid so waiting to get into the specialist to see what the treatment is. I have been on Synthroid for over 20 years. Not using my thyroid problems as an excuse for my weight problems, I did that damage on my own☹️.

I am concerned about our salt intake on our next cruise, not sure how to control that on a cruise. Well, other than the obvious by not using the salt shaker!

So have the above posters already been on your cruise? How did you do?

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Interesting thread here. Just found out I have cysts & nodules in my thyroid so waiting to get into the specialist to see what the treatment is. I have been on Synthroid for over 20 years. Not using my thyroid problems as an excuse for my weight problems, I did that damage on my own☹️.

 

I am concerned about our salt intake on our next cruise, not sure how to control that on a cruise. Well, other than the obvious by not using the salt shaker!

 

So have the above posters already been on your cruise? How did you do?

 

 

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Not an excuse for gaining weight ?... does not help :) I had a TT in 96 (thyroid cancer) been on meds since.

I do not care what the doctors say, it does contribute to your weight gain or lose.

BTW ...They think they know what dosage YOU should be on, BS I know when I feel like crap!

You know what they can do with their numbers :)

Best of health to you!

Reader

My experience is that T4-only-treatment often doesn´t help very good. Simply because you often need pills with T3 too, to get your metabolism to work again.

I have been on T4 only for 20 years and the last 10 years were just awful - always tired, always freezing, brain fog, joint-pain, short term memory loss, unable to concentrate and so on....

 

In US you have a slow realease T3 pill, i think the pharmacys make it upon requests. We dont have that in Sweden, our T3 is fast (and it leaves the body faster, with a kind of ups and down in energy during the day)

 

An other alternative is NDT, as in Erfa Thyroid, Armour Thyroid or Nature Thorid. Thats my medicin now and I fell much better. Don´t accept T4-only if you dont get well by using it.

 

When you are hypothyriod it´s often not just fat, you get this myxodema, which is not fat, but you can only get it if you are hypothyroid. My english is probally not good enough to decribe the difference, but it´s kind of harder, thicker, and it usually hurts more when you touch it.

Your English is great! :)

Wishing you good health!

Reader

I have had thyroid symptoms for 10 years since the birth f my daughter. I was misdiagnosed for years until a new doctor finally figured out I was severely Hypo about 3 years ago. I am currently seeing an endocrinologist to determine whether my thyroid issues may be Hashimoto's.

Let me just say, a severely underactive thyroid absolutely does cause weight gain. I was eating 12-1400 calories a day and still gaining 4-5 lbs each month until I was at 350 lbs. (btw, I am 5'11", not a small woman, so that is a very low calorie count). Worse than the weight gain is the constant, severe fatigue, achy muscles, thinning hair, and the absolutely awful brain fog.

I have recently been prescribed Armour Thyroid as levothyroxine did nothing for me. Even with my dose maxed out, my TSH levels were at 11-13 each time. I am finally starting to feel some progress, but not by medicine alone.

The first 2 months on the new med, my levels were still way off, so I did some research and started a Paleo diet. I started out with the whole 30 which is an ultra strict version and I lost 17 lbs in one month. all total, in just under 3 months, I have lost nearly 30 lbs. many others suffering from thyroid conditions have seen results as well, so it may be worth a try for you.

Please don't let anyone tell you that this is an excuse, and an invalid one at that. Hypothyroidism is a serious medical condition known to have life changing symptoms. A treatment which works for one person, may hve zero effect for someone else, and while positive thinking is nice, this disease is not just in your head, and therefore a sunny disposition and daily walks will not cure you of what is ailing you! Much love and well wishes, I hope you find what works for you!

I was told today I have Hashimoto's. The sonogram showed 3 cysts & 7 nodules but all are small so the doctor will just monitor. They are making some other changes so I am hoping to feel better soon.

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I have had thyroid symptoms for 10 years since the birth f my daughter. I was misdiagnosed for years until a new doctor finally figured out I was severely Hypo about 3 years ago. I am currently seeing an endocrinologist to determine whether my thyroid issues may be Hashimoto's.

 

Let me just say, a severely underactive thyroid absolutely does cause weight gain. I was eating 12-1400 calories a day and still gaining 4-5 lbs each month until I was at 350 lbs. (btw, I am 5'11", not a small woman, so that is a very low calorie count). Worse than the weight gain is the constant, severe fatigue, achy muscles, thinning hair, and the absolutely awful brain fog.

 

I have recently been prescribed Armour Thyroid as levothyroxine did nothing for me. Even with my dose maxed out, my TSH levels were at 11-13 each time. I am finally starting to feel some progress, but not by medicine alone.

 

The first 2 months on the new med, my levels were still way off, so I did some research and started a Paleo diet. I started out with the whole 30 which is an ultra strict version and I lost 17 lbs in one month. all total, in just under 3 months, I have lost nearly 30 lbs. many others suffering from thyroid conditions have seen results as well, so it may be worth a try for you.

 

Please don't let anyone tell you that this is an excuse, and an invalid one at that. Hypothyroidism is a serious medical condition known to have life changing symptoms. A treatment which works for one person, may hve zero effect for someone else, and while positive thinking is nice, this disease is not just in your head, and therefore a sunny disposition and daily walks will not cure you of what is ailing you! Much love and well wishes, I hope you find what works for you!

Thank you for sharing, you have given good info. I'm glad to hear the Paleo diet works for you, I will look into it. I suffer from a completely non-functioning thyroid and need to get better control of my weight. A couple of decades ago my ob/gyn caught the problem when he felt a mass...referred me to a really good Endocrinologist. While waiting in his office, I read a list of Hypo symptoms - I had all but one! I attributed each new symptom as "getting old" instead of the red flag they were. For me, if I walk a lot, take stairs, I can lose weight, and I need to step it up, but looking into the Paleo diet could be an added benefit. I do take Synthroid, the generics are not stable enough for me and cause too much flux, requiring additional blood tesing...not worth the monetary savings (or DR. visits)! Good luck to you, because without our health, what have we really got?