If you are/were perimenopausal with thyroid issues and feeling fat and exhausted. What’s the best thing you bought/did/do to make yourself feel better?

[BigCheeseWheel]

I’m 48, feel like I am just at the beginning of peri - periods starting to go a bit odd after always being a 28 day cycle type. No other real symptoms as yet, just tired and sometimes a bit of weird vertigo.

I also have hashimotos and trying to get my thyroide levels in check with levothyroxine and apparently we are nearly there with them.

I have put on weight (I started a new very full on busy job last January that’s fully office based after working from home for a few years perviously) so my diet and exercise regime probably needs overhauled and I need to start making time to prioritise that.

I’ve just had a bit of a bonus from work and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can buy that might help, supplements, miracle cures, anything that genuinely made a difference to you. Along side the hard work that I also know I need to put in!

Oh my god.

Ive said this before on thyroid threads but I take my thyroxine properly every single day. I also walk my dog absolutely loads - probably only missing 2 days a week - and doing 5 to 6 miles a day. Both things are free!

Ive lost 2 stone and seem to be a bit stuck but I do love a beer and feel an awful lot better.

Gym membership and PT to show you how to lift weights. That’s been the single best thing for me. There is a wealth of reputable evidence of the benefits much more than for any supplement

The other thing has been Hello Fresh/ Gousto deliveries. This has made it easier to eat freshly cooked food every night instead of heating up something UPF. I always did enjoy cooking from scratch but sometimes didn’t have the mental or physical energy after a day at work. You can select low calorie/ healthy options (or not) and the portions are all weighed out and calorie counts so it’s easier to keep track. I don’t think it’s significantly more expensive than what we were spending on food before and less is wasted.

I also gave up alcohol which was much easier than I thought. I just can’t handle it at all now. It gives me hot flushes and a hangover. I substituted it with drinking more water which I am not a huge fan of but can make myself have it by adding ice and lemon/ lime/ maybe even mint or some kind of natural flavour.

and I walk the dog every day including long walks at weekends which I find stress reducing as well as good physically. I would find it harder to be motivated without the dog so maybe get a dog?!

I started indoor bouldering (climbing to around 3m without ropes). It's been amazing for my balance, flexibility, strength, sense of achievement and general self-confidence. I can now complete climbs that I had thought I would never get anywhere near. I bought some decent climbing shoes (expensive) which are far better than the hire shoes available so if I had a bit of a windfall I would spend it on climbing gear and a membership to a climbing gym/climbing centre

Wow I can’t believe there’s been so many comments on this thread. Thanks so much. It’s reassuring, although also a bit of a shame to know that so many of us are in the same position. But lots of positive stories too, so thank you. I was feeling a bit down this morning but this has given me hope!

I will sit down later and properly look through everything suggested. I don’t think HTR or weight loss injections are something I want to try for now, but I am a never say never type! I think a gym membership is definitely a start and I will look at everything else later tonight. Thanks all so so much! 😊

I started T3 medication (liothyronine) instead of T4 medication (levothyroxine) for my thyroid. I also have Hashimoto's with an underactive thyroid. Levothyroxine made me feel like death, T3 medication allows me to function.

Last year I went on Mounjaro, and have lost 5 and a half stone.

I still feel unwell (think it's related to my Hashimoto's, but I had a rheumatology appointment a couple of weeks ago and they're checking a few things out to make sure it isn't something else), but I do feel a lot better than I did back when I was on thyroxine. I could barely get out of bed, and was pretty much like a zombie.

Mounjaro was life changing for me in the same position.
Had an underactive thyroid for years and it's the only thing thats ever helped me lose weight (and keep it off). I don't think people are given enough credit for battling against a shitty thyroid.

Just relax and, if you've money to spend then try a holiday 😎

Mounjaro!

I'm early 40s, at risk for early menopause due to surgery, also have under active thyroid. I started mounjaro in march weighing 14-7 which was a BMI of 40, now I'm 10-9 with a BMI of 29.5. would like to lose another 2 stone but the weight loss is slowing down now 10 months in but I think I'll be on MJ for life as I've had so many positive benefits

What’s the COQ10 for?

To everyone saying Mounjaro: that's all well if you are obese. It shouldn't be taken if you are just a bit overweight.

mitochondrial…..thingies

I can’t remember all the sciencey stuff.

It does have an energy lifting effect after a week or so. Unfortunately I can’t get it at a lower dose, and the high dose makes me feel a bit too energetic, almost wired. So I take it every other day.

Just coming back to say thanks again for this!
I have bought a load of vitamins and supplements, an exercise bike and have joined the gym! So this gave me the kick up the bum I needed I think.

I also know I need to overhaul my diet and generally just up my game a bit.

I used to go for regular massages and sound baths and I’ve let all that go too, so I’ll also try to incorporate more wellbeing type things as well as some good walks! January has been such a long dark month, but you can definitely now see it getting a little lighter.

Thanks again everyone, you made me feel so much better and feel like I can now head a bit in the right direction!