Hypothyroidism/thyroid problems

beyondthesmile · 02-19-2008, 02:45 PM

Does anyone have hypothyroidism? Did you gain weight/struggle with your weight as a result? After you treated it, were you able to lose the weight with exercise/healthy diet?

I'm 21 (almost 22) and I saw my doctor today to discuss some issues i've been having, including fatigue, weight gain (a good chunk of which came on very suddenly) and difficulty losing weight despite eating healthily and exercising. My doctor said that my thyroid felt a bit bulky/enlarged and said that it may be a sign of an underactive thyroid. I had bloodwork done to check my thyroid levels (I just did it today so the results aren't in yet) and I'm going for a thyroid ultrasound and a pelvic ultrasound this week (the pelvic one is to check my ovaries, I mentioned that although my period is pretty regular but I skipped a period in the fall and then had some unusual and pretty bad backache during a few of my periods over the past few months so I am checking that just in case). I have another appointment in 2 weeks to go over the results of my bloodwork/ultrasounds so I will know for sure then what the issues, if any, are. I've read that it can be difficult finding the correct medication dosage after being diagnosed (and that you can be on the lower end of the normal range and still have symptoms that should be treated).

I have gained a significant amount of weight. A good chunk of it came on very suddenly and I have difficulty losing it. I'm really worried that if I do have an underactive thyroid and begin treatment I still won't be able to lose the weight even with healthy diet/exercise.

If anyone's had any experience with this stuff, I would appreciate any input and thoughts.

Thank you in advance.

Dangerousd37 · 02-19-2008, 03:54 PM

I have hypo. For me once I got on the meds and started logging my foods and eating clean the weight started coming off. It did stall when they lowered my med dosage. They recently upped it again. Look at when the weight came on. Was it a time of stress? What were your meals/ exercise like? The meds alone will not be the magic fairy dust that will poof make all the weight disappear. Its an equation of the meds, clean eating and exercise. Log your foods on fitday or nutridiary to see how your nutrition is. Make sure you are getting resistance training and cardio.

jolyn421 · 02-19-2008, 04:13 PM

I just had a thyroid ultrasound yesterday and my so called (by the first endo) goiter(enlarged thyroid) ended up not being a goiter at all. My antibodies are negative and my TSH is within range, the only thing they found was a nodule on the right side that will have to be checked yearly. The first endo said I had an enlarged thyroid and that my levels were low so he put me on meds for 3 months all I did was swell up like a balloon, gained 7lbs from them damn pills. I went off the meds and got a 2nd opinion partially because the 1st guy's office let me sit in the waiting room for an hour and half and forgot about me. So I think it is a good idea that they are doing the ultra sound so that they can see for sure if it is enlarged. I would exhaust all other options first to make sure that is what you truly have. Make sure your diet is in check and that you are not over training or something which can contribute to fatigue and other things. The 2nd endo told me I am simply just eating too much and too much processed food. I am not expert on any of this but those meds are wicked and they put you on them for the rest of your life and if you don't really need them that is not a good thing.

drmeganOD · 02-19-2008, 04:32 PM

I am hypothyroid. Honestly, it has been one of the worst things that has happened to me because i used to have a wonderful metabolism. I was diagnosed with celiac disease and hypothyroidism 4 years ago and life has been drastically different since. It is incredibly hard for me to lose weight. I feel hungry all of the time, but if i eat when i am hungry, i gain tons of weight, so in order to lose weight i have to take my mind off of it. I have never been as fat as i am now. i am going to get my TSH and free T4 drawn tomorrow so i will see if i will possibly get my meds upped.

I feel like when i am on the medication that my body is almost static. what i mean is that if i try really hard to lose weight, i stay the same, but if i over eat, i gain weight immediately. I am sorry for the long post, but i do have a bit of a chip on my shoulder about the whole thing. No one works harder or eats healthier than i do, but you wouldn't be able to tell from looking at me. My goal was to one day get my bodyfat down enough to possibly enter a contest, but i am not sure if that is possible at all.

I have just recently been doing tons of research to find out what foods work well for thyroid function and which work against thyroid function... man you can drown in information if you want to. I am pretty much willing to do anything to get cut, so we will see what occurs the next few months. I am going to start doing cardio every morning for 30 minutes, and then have a second session on my non-lifting days.

I love to talk about thyroid problems and issues, so feel free to post and ask questions. I am currently in optometry school, so i know a lot about A & P. All of us hypos have to stick together. we have to put in more work than anyone...

dbroncofan · 02-19-2008, 05:37 PM

I am hypo as well and have been on meds for a few years now. It took a while to find the right dosage to get my levels in the norm.

I still really stuggle trying to lose weight and even eating very clean, can gain weight if I don't watch my calories and macros very carefully.

Since starting meds my skin has and hair have improved, they used to be very dry and my fatigue level is decreasing as well.

Hope you find some answers soon.

ErinB1218 · 02-19-2008, 09:57 PM

I have hypo as well.

It sucks, but once you get your medication at the right level, you will see immediate improvements. I began to lose weight after beginning my Synthroid medicine, and to date, have lost close to 50 lbs.

Don't give up; just make sure to always stay on top of the issue.

drmeganOD · 02-20-2008, 06:08 PM

i usually start to lose weight and then plateau.. so this hasn't happened to anyone else. i feel like the medication gets me to a certain point and then no matter what, i cannot get past that weight.

cindys76 · 02-21-2008, 12:34 PM

I'm currently hypo also. I was originally diagnosed as hyper and had the radioactive iodine treatment done, which made me hypo. I can tell you if your meds are off even a little bit, it makes a big difference. Once you are on the correct dosage it's a lot easier to lose weight/not gain. It's important to note that your dosage may need to be adjusted as you gain or lose muscle mass. When I lost weight last year (about 60 pounds), my meds had to be adjusted several times.

Also, the fatigue you get with a low thyroid isn't like normal fatigue. It's a continual I don't want to move for absolutely ANY reason fatigue. Not the I don't feel like moving, but will if I need to fatigue you can get from overtraining or an unbalanced diet that will go away eventually. I've had fatigue for all 3 reasons and noticed the difference.

Tanner-Hyde · 02-21-2008, 09:34 PM

I am 42, have been on meds ( off & on ) since I was 9. My meds dose is considered high by most doctor's I have seen. I take 300 mc ( micrograms) of Thyroxine or Synthroid. Iv even been up as high as 600mc, when a doc made a mistake and told me to double what I was taking... honestly, it really made no noticable difference in my health. The only time I feel any different, is when I have stopped taking meds for more than a year, I will get super tired, sleepy, no energy. I have stopped meds in the past, becouse I was told that sometimes, your gland needs a break from meds, and will repair itself. As far as I can tell........ it makes little difference. As far as weight loss goes..... I wish it would help. Iv always been overweight, but lifting weights is the only thing that works for me to tone. I dont really lose weight.. it just changes. There are natural things you can eat that may help. Look into it. Iv also had ultrasounds, and things are basically the same as they have always been. Good luck to you.

TurbulentFluid · 02-22-2008, 12:50 PM

I'm hypo, and have nothing to add to the above, all the same...

I keep struggling with the weight and all, and I can gain or lose weight in amazingly short periods of time (3-4 kg/month)... Sucks.

May0819 · 02-22-2008, 01:53 PM

i heard that if you have a HyperThyroid problem that you may even be able to check it or notice it yourself by looking @ your throat in the mirror while swallowing?! > is this true?

drmeganOD · 02-22-2008, 04:26 PM

as far as hyperthyroid goes... yes, if it is overworking it will become larger (cells hypertrophy increasing gland size as a whole) . a friend of mine has a huge neck now all of the way around to her ears and it is protruding. the gland should not be that noticeable. the thing is, hypothyroid people can show goiters and also iodine deficient people. so a goiter does not equal hyperthyroid.

drmeganOD · 02-22-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanner-Hyde

I am 42, have been on meds ( off & on ) since I was 9. My meds dose is considered high by most doctor's I have seen. I take 300 mc ( micrograms) of Thyroxine or Synthroid. Iv even been up as high as 600mc, when a doc made a mistake and told me to double what I was taking... honestly, it really made no noticable difference in my health. The only time I feel any different, is when I have stopped taking meds for more than a year, I will get super tired, sleepy, no energy. I have stopped meds in the past, becouse I was told that sometimes, your gland needs a break from meds, and will repair itself. As far as I can tell........ it makes little difference. As far as weight loss goes..... I wish it would help. Iv always been overweight, but lifting weights is the only thing that works for me to tone. I dont really lose weight.. it just changes. There are natural things you can eat that may help. Look into it. Iv also had ultrasounds, and things are basically the same as they have always been. Good luck to you.

i totally agree. i feel like no matter what my body is "stagnant" and won't get any better than a certain form. it doesn't change. period. no one works harder than me, but man you can't tell.

but 600 micrograms is a lot. this did not cause your heart to beat faster/harder? very interesting. being in the medical profession, this completely interests me. truthfully, all i can tell is that everyone is different. a friend of mine is hypothyroid, but doctors didn't know it b/c she was losing weight. truthfully i don't know that i believe her, but still crazy nonetheless.

Normjaso · 06-03-2009, 10:22 PM

I was put on 150mcg of Synthroid a couple of years ago and then I lost 10 pounds, then I gained 20. I have been working out now for 5 months, and have not lost any weight. It just fluxs. My dosage was just increased to 175mcg. After researching Synthroid, I was a little happy to here that it can help me lose weight, but I am a little disturbed to learn that bodybuilders who do not have hypothyroidism are now abusing Synthroid to lose body fat.

freebirdmac · 06-04-2009, 03:47 AM

I'm hypo, Hashimoto's, and gained weight very easily until I got on meds. After that, I've had no problem losing weight when my diet was on point.

swindled · 06-04-2009, 10:34 AM

I also have hypo, as soon as I got on meds I started losing weight. I always have had a fairly balanced diet, but now I see better gains than I did before meds. I keep a much more balanced diet as well now, and I track what I am eating now as well, which I think really helps.

want2bsxy · 06-04-2009, 01:17 PM

I am hypo, Graves disease. I was diagnosed close to 13 years ago. It is rougher now for me to lose weight. I used to have an amazingly high metabolism. I am very sensitive to any changes in my body and quickly go in for blood work if something feels different. As long as I eat clean and exercise I am ok.

punxnotdead309 · 06-04-2009, 05:35 PM

Yep! Well, not me in particular. But my aunts (both twins) have Haushimodos (I think I spelled that wrong) disease where the thyroid slowly dies over time. It doesn't relase enough thyroxin, so they find their hair is falling out by the handful. They've gained some weight, but they do go to the gym consistently. However, they find themselves very fatigued and the only thing they do to help them is to push through it.

There are several medications you can try, but sometimes it can fluctuate, so you have to be careful not to over/under dose.

TheBlasterMan · 06-04-2009, 08:26 PM

my mom is hypo, she takes synthroid. helps wonders.....

i have signs of an overactive thyroid. More blood work for me.

mjtraver · 06-05-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

I'm hypo, Hashimoto's, and gained weight very easily until I got on meds. After that, I've had no problem losing weight when my diet was on point.

I am in the exact same boat here... When I was diagnosed with Hashi's it was 9 yrs ago and I was hyper. Since I had no symptoms I COMPLETELY forgot I was even diagnosed with the disease! I became so fatigued for quite a while and couldn't understand why I was gaining because I was eating better than I ever had in my life! I did a symptom checker on WebMD and it was like a light bulb went off... "Oh yeah, I have that!" So I was immediately off to the doctor.

Weight gain from being Hypo is what got me started on this site. I've had my meds adjusted once so far since April and about to have another test next week. Right now though I feel really good. I have been eating clean and if you look at my profile you will see that I am losing. Thank god!

ThaddeusMaximus · 11-16-2009, 05:57 PM

It took me weight lifting 5-7 day a week for about an hour after I ran on the average 30 miles a week on the weekdays and a long run of 12+ miles on the weekend to get down to about 9% bodyfat. (The good part was all the running did not effect my muscle mass, possibly a benifit of Hypo?) Also I only ate about 100 carbs or less every day, high protien 100+ grams a day.

That is how I forced my body to loose weight. As my training carries on I have cut back on the running due to a stress fracture in 2003. Not running was a big problem, I gained about 30 lbs but its on the way down. If I can't do all three factors, 1 weights, 2 cardio & 3 clean diet, I will gain no matter how much of the other two I do.

In my times I also found out I was alergic to many of my clean diet foods, Beef, Eggs, Cheese, Wheat, Malt to name a few. I took an blood antibodies allergy test to find this out which makes things that more complicated.

If anyone has any similar stories I would like to hear them and how you have managed to keep your workout and diet in check. Thanks for reading.. ThaddeusMaximus.