Hypothyroidism and weight control

[WelshMoth]

I was diagnosed as Hypo last October, coupled with anaemia. I'm tested every 8 weeks or so and am now up to 50 mcg. My weight has increased by 2 stone over the last year.

I've been following a popular meal replacement diet for the last 2 weeks. Third week starts tomorrow morning. I have followed it to the last letter. I'm consuming 600 cals a day, drinking about 3 litres of water a day. nothing else. Nothing.

I have lost just 6 lbs . I know I shouldn't compare, but others that I know on this diet have lost at least double that on more calories.

I'm very, very disheartened. I'm also worried about what this means when i start consuming solids again.

Can someone with more experience of Hypothyroidism tell me how to control this please. I'm very low.

Bore da Welsh

50mcg is still a very small dose of thyroxine. I'm guessing you're on thyroxine.

Most doctors now would start you on 100mcg if you weren't elderly or having heart problems, so you have a way to go with the dosage and it could be a while yet before you hit the right level.

Not everyone with hypo takes thyroxine - there is another drug available through the NHS.

If your iron levels are still low and your B12, folate and Vitamin D are less than optimal, your thyroxine dose will be less effective in any event, so you need to make sure all those are in the right place as well.

I can empathise with you - I too have put on 2st in the last year, but the thing I have noticed is that what I weigh bears no relation to what I eat - it's all down to my meds.

Do you know what your results were last time you were tested?

D

If you are going to get well and regain control of your weight it's very unlikely to happen on a dose lower than 100 mcg thyroxine.Keep on at your gp,ask for your blood results (and reference ranges) and come back and tell us.
The difference between normal and optimal results could be the secret to being able to lose the weight,it was for me.
Do a little research,it should pay off.
It's such a soul-destroyer but don't give up.

RockinD and l4k thanks so much for your warm replies. You've given me hope

Results back this week with any luck, and this time, I'm taking a pen and paper to write them down. Unusual for me, but I've not really read into this condition (don't think I've really 'believed' I had it ) but now I know that I've got to work with what I've got.

Thanks again.

I phoned the results line this afternoon. Now I'm really confused.

Ferritin 70
TSH 1.8
T4 14.8

Receptionist then said "all normal".

Me: "OK. What does that mean? Do I need to see the doc to stop thyroxine? So I carry on as I am? "
Receptionist "Yes, carry on as you are".

Having actually checked my levels, it appears that there's nowt wrong with them, so why why why am I on 50mcg of thyroxine? Why am I so symptomatic without the thyroxine?

Still not shifting the weight either. I've stuck to everything so rigidly, and I've dropped just another half pound.

V disheartened and confused.

bump for attention

Hi I can't help you with the ferritin because I have no idea or the reference range for that.
At the risk of confusing you further,it seems your tsh is normal but the T4 is quite low.You haven't given the ranges,but where I am the bottom of the normal range is 14 point something.
I know about this because it happened to me.Very rarely, you can develop a problem with your pituitary gland and it can cause secondary hypothyroidism.So your thyroid gland CAN work,but doesn't because the pituitary is not telling it what to do.Onset of this problem can be connected to pregnancy or childbirth,that's when mine started.

I'm trying not to boggle your brain,but you really need to find out the reference range for the T4 test.

This is complicated,isn't it? How are you actually feeling? do you have symptoms of being hypo?

Any one know about the ferritin?

the medication is bringing your results into the 'normal' range so you wouldn't expect to stop taking them, that would make you feel worse and the bloods would head out of range. so don't just stop taking them! (although you could read up about other meds instead)
do you still feel symptomatic apart from the weight gain?
still room to manoevre on the tsh - you might need it down below 1 before you feel well - your gp should be able to aim to get it to the bottom of the reference range (eg 0.4) although he might be wary of suppressing tsh altogether (this is sometimes necessary though)

can i just question the wisdom of a 600cal diet though while your body is still healing and needs lots of extra nutrients and optimum vitamins and minerals? (sorry). do you take a lot of supplements? do you know if anyone ever tested your b12 or vit d?

ferritin doesn't look too bad I don't think (no expert) - lowest acceptable is around 30 but it's better to try to get it higher, maybe around 90, so you could still take iron as well (4 hours after meds at least)

Can I just add I'm not saying you definatly have a pituitary problem. I'm just saying its not as simple as "normal" results.

Thank you both for replying. I really am quite confused by the whole thing.

I have no idea about ranges, but I will ask for it to be explained to me when I see my GP next week.

I feel ok at the minute. A lot better than when I wasn't taking thyroxine. I still have a little fuzziness at times, skin still dry, hair has become dry again lately and my weight won't shift even though I've maintained a strict 600cals a day for 3 weeks. I'm still needing lots of sleep (more than normal) but I don't feel that bone-tired lethargy that I used to.

I'm not sure how wise I am to be honest, trying this diet. . I could see me weight ballooning slowly and felt panicked into trying to do something about it. I'm doing Exante, so I think that their shakes are packed with essential vitamins (again, I just think - shows how desperate I am to sort out my weight - I've not really checked things out properly).

I feel like such a mess to be honest. I have a dark history of eating disorders and abusing diet drugs so I feel partly to blame for my thyroid being the way it is. I'm stuck in a vicious circle - the weight gain puts me in a vulnerable position and I don't want to return to those dark old days. .

Should I ask the GP to get my B vits etc tested? I'll do anything to get this sorted. Also, I've looked up some literature with regards to managing hypothyroidism. Would you know if they are any good?

Again, thanks for your help.

Have you been to 'stopthethyroidmadness' yet? Think she has a link to a diet with hypo book on there. Be kind to your body - hypo is really tough on every part of it - but once you are stabilised and feeling better, your body should be running as normal. Atm it thinks it is starving, hanging on to every caloriE it can, raising cholesterol etc
It's an autoimmune disease - bet there's others in your family - we've got tons of asthma for example. Don't blame yourself!

Have you been to 'stopthethyroidmadness' yet? Think she has a link to a diet with hypo book on there. Be kind to your body - hypo is really tough on every part of it - but once you are stabilised and feeling better, your body should be running as normal. Atm it thinks it is starving, hanging on to every caloriE it can, raising cholesterol etc
It's an autoimmune disease - bet there's others in your family - we've got tons of asthma for example. Don't blame yourself!

WelshMoth Once diagnoised with an underactive thyroid you will take thyroxine for the rest of your life. The important thing is to get the level right, I too started off on 50mg and over the years this has been increased, I am now on 200mg. I promise your weight will stabalise with balanced diet it just takes time. You now know the feeling if you are not taking enough but as I say it takes time and in my experience they like to take things slowly. I remember I put on a load of weight and felt that horrible sluggish feeling and the GP just would not beleive ther was anything wrong and was secretly stuffing my face I had to insist on a blood test. Oh and btw 600 is just not healty. Please be kind to yourself it will sort itself out.