Thyroid meds GP won’t increase shall I up myself ?

[NellieShoe]

I have Hypothyroid and I am treated on 75 mcg Levothyroxine.
3 years ago I was gaining weight. The dose of meds was then 100 mcg and I managed to lose 19 pound doing WW quite easily.
As my weight decreased GP amended my meds as I was slightly out of range and leaning to hyperthyroid. Anyway 3 months after GP stopped my contraceptive pill due to my age and I now take HRT. Since then I have gone up 2 Dress sizes and gained several stone in weight. This is despite exercise and WW intermittent fasting and sticking to 1400 Kl. I don’t even drink alcohol. I am exhausted constipated retaining water in upper arms and legs yet because my TSH and T4 are within range they won’t increase meds. My point is if I am significantly heavier than before my dose isn’t high enough and I am sure the reason I cannot lose weight ! How can I get them to listen to me. ?
I am symptomatic of under treatment.

I’m sorry to hear you are struggling. Unfortunately I have no advice but can totally understand how it feels.

The thyroid affects so much in our bodies, yet I feel like the care for it is appalling.

Can you ask to see a different dr? I had a dr who insisted I stayed at the upper end of the normal range. She was wonderful and had read data on it being better for under active thyroid people. She retired unfortunately.
I’d seek a different gp if possible.

I think your thyroid yest results are needed for sensible comme ts to be made. Even then, none of us are endocrinologists and neither is your GP.

My meds are perfectly titrated. At 112.5mcg 5 days a week and 125mcg 2 days a week. I saw a fabulous endocrinologist with an interest in women's health privately. I started with Graves, 35 years ago, and former Graves patients often feel best when the TSH is less than 1.

I've lived with thyroid issues for decades. When I put on weight, it's always because I'm overeating. The older I get, the fewer calories I need. 1400 would not take weight off for me. Log the food rigorously. Weigh evening and morning.

Thanks it really is affecting my mental health which is already awful.

Unfortunately it’s a case of you get who you are given when you fill out the online form. Plus I’ve already asked advice of a couple.

What is your TSH?

My TSH is 2.9 and T4 is 10.8
I am very tall just over 6ft so 1400 kals is very little.

What is your TSH? Are you taking anything at the same time at the thyroxine which might be stopping absorption?

TSH is 2.9 and T4 is 10.8

@Gloschick Not taking anything at the same time no. I usually take my tablet as soon as I wake and then don’t have a cuppa or food for at least 45 mins.

T4 on the lower end so you have wiggle room. I wouldn't change your dose without agreement as you will just run out of meds, and it is generally not a wise thing to do. I would fill in another form asking to try the 100 for 6 weeks then recheck bloods. They will hopefully end up getting sufficiently bored of you and agree!

It’s Not only the weight gain it’s the exhaustion and impact on my mental health. Yes I will another request but I will get so upset if they refuse.

Reference TSH range is 0.27 to 4.20 so yours is perfectly normal. (I struggle with hypothyroidism and would love to have a TSH reading of 2.9)
Sorry, but I think that you'll have to look for other reasons for your weight gain because it's very unlikely to be thyroid related. Good luck.

How are you taking your levo OP?
Do you ever miss any?

Do you have any tummy issues?

I have looked at other causes for the weight gain which is why I have tried all of those diets. I am very disciplined and anyone that knows me says that. I exercise and I do not drink alcohol.

Have you looked into other reasons for your symptoms? I was convinced my thyroid meds needed to be increased but it turned out that my Vitamin D was low, causing tiredness, and eating to compensate. When that was sorted everything else improved.

@NellieShoe , I recommend Health Unlocked.

I take the tablet first thing in the morning with water. I don’t take any other meds until couple hours later. I have history of IBS and get lots of bloating.
when they switched me to HRT to try and help with the weight issue and joint pains I had to switch to the gel as I wasn’t absorbing the patch.

Yes Vit D is within lower end of the range but still normal. I don’t tend to snack.

Don’t uptitrate yourself - you are well within range. Is it not possible the weight gain is due to menopause? I put on 2 stone in a couple of years post menopause.

I'm prescribed 150 mg levothyroxine daily and I've struggled with hypothyroidism for a long time! If your tsh levels are fine then the weight gain and the subsequent issues with weight gain, water retention ect apparently are a seperate issue. I find even on my high dosage of medication I gain weight a lot faster then most people, the only option is to significantly decrease calories. It's shit. It's really shit. But if you want to be thin, you really have to sacrifice the calories. I'm a bit shorter than you but if I consumed 1400 calories, a day I wouldn't lose any weight

Do you have your last test results?

Personally think that just being in range doesn't mean anything, my last 3 tests were in range, but showed my tsh increasing and my t4 dropping, I spoke to my GP and agreed to try a higher dose (not without arguing my case I may add) the extra dose was too much initially, so now take the extra every other day.

I have hashimoto hypothyroidism, I have to keep my tsh on the lower side to feel good, which it should be, being that your taking synthetic hormones.

I also suffer with IBS, and this can change how it's absorbed, I have cut wheat, dairy and eggs from my diet as they were making me puff up.

Have you had your iron checked recently?

Sounds like it might be related to your hrt rather than your thyroid. Plenty of women gaining weight during peri and meno without thyroid issues.

Too much levothyroxine can set off arrhythmias - DH sometimes has to reduce his dosage a bit, DM had a similar issue. I’d be pretty wary of self medicating upwards.

Hi OP
I could have written your post. My GP told me that only 14% of people with Hypothyroidism can lose weight with any method. I have tried them all, including very low calorie diet and lost absolutely nothing. The impact on my mental health due to my obesity stopping me doing my hobbies (ironically all sports) finally made me break and seek an alternative.

I’m now one week into taking Mounjaro (a weight loss injection) and I’m losing weight, my depression is lifting and my hypothyroidism and Perimenopause symptoms are lifting. There’s plenty others like me on the WLI threads, come and have a read. Good luck