Underactive thyroid - energy and weight.....

[gemma4d]

I've had an under-active thyroid since I was 12 - which is, errrr, rather a lot of years ago. My mum knew there was a problem when I went from being very skinny to rather dumpy in a few months and I just wouldn't stop eating.

I've had this for so long now. I am still overweight, and really struggle to lose weight (ha! doesn't make me unique I know!) and there are times when I think I should have more energy - but I don't know if its down to my thyroid, being overweight, or if I am just dreaming of some full-of-energy-utopia. I do find I need to be kept on High-T3 / Low TSH (almost bordering over-active) or else I am a cold, tired, hungry wreck.

To others with under-active thyroids but stable on meds - how much energy do you have and do you find it impacts you? Does it affect your weight / ability to loose weight?

Hi gemma I have had an underactive thyroid for 14 years, diagnosed just after ds1 was born. I have been able to lose weight in the past but I am really struggling this time. I go to the gym 4-5 times a week, and have a ds (2.6) at home with me and manage that quite well during the day but in the evening and first thing in the morning I struggle quite bad with tiredness. I have a TSH of 3.6 and have managed to convince my Dr to give me more levothyroxine as I want a TSH of between 1-2, I will have another test in 4 weeks to see how that is going. I am not sure there is a magic utopia of get up and go, but reducing my TSH is my best shot at it (my Dr is not convinced that upping my Levothyroxine will have any benefit to me but has agreed to try it)

HTH

I'm impressed that you know your TSH level! Might ask Dr for mine and see whether Google has an opinion!

It is worth knowing, also keep in mind that most Drs think that a TSH between 1-5 is normal, so a reading anywhere in that range and a Dr might be reluctant to change medication.

Ask to have your B12 levels checked - a lot of people with hypothyroidism have a deficiency in this, and it's an easy thing to treat.

Ooh, I have not heard that before tapir, I will ask about that!

Hi OP. How old are you now if you don't mind me asking? Also, are you rigorous about taking your levo at the same time every day, on an empty stomach etc?

I had a partial thyroidectomy last week and am waiting to see what happens to my thyroid levels. There is a chance I will go hypo so I am fascinated by other people's thyroid experience. My mum is a long time dead now but she was hypo and I recall that once they got her levo dose right her weight came down and her energy levels improved. I think she had been undiagnosed for only a couple of years though and it seems, from what I read that the longer you go untreated the longer it takes to get balanced. I am not sure how this would apply to you though if you have been treated since you were 12.

I have also been reading that non-compliance ie not taking your meds properly is the most common reason for feeling hypo when you are taking levo which is why I asked the question at the top.

i would echo getting your vit b12 tested im deficient in vit b12 and have a underactive thyroid and a lot of the time when i feel less energetic its the b12 thats causing it rather than the thyroid

31 yrs old.

I changed about a month ago to taking Levo just before bed. I know traditionally its always been suggested in the morning but I am a cereal-with-milk addict (it clashes with dairy for anyone who doesn't know, especially milk), and there was a recent-ish study that found better absorption at night probably because your gut moves slower. I do seem to have improved a little - just hope that doesn't mean the dr will try and lower my dose! Must admit I don't manage exactly the same time of day, but I think within about 1 or 1.5hrs difference.

Will see about getting my B12 tested. I am possible-hashimotos. I nearly died having my tonsils removed and that botched operation somehow caused the thyroid issue, but they have several theories how it may have happened.

Now must find enough energy to tackle the ironing pile...

I have never heard of the milk thing! Is this right? Must Google!

I have been taking levothyroxin for a couple of years now. My energy levels have definitely improved since taking it and my weight is dropping gradually.

There was a definite improvement when I became a lot more strict about taking my tablets first thing on getting up and then no having any dairy for at least an hour.

Calamity - absorption of levothyroxine is definitely affected by calcium - so all dairy and also many antacids (rennie etc), but for some reason milk is cited as being worse than other dairy products. No idea why. I seem to remember you should leave at least 1 hour either side, but some websites said as much as 3 or 4 hours between levothyroxine and milk - thats a looooong wait for breakfast :(

ok, I will do something about this!

Things what I've learned in the 18mths since I was diagnosed...

Don't take levothyroxine at the same time as:- food, coffee, milk, dairy; leave about an hour or so between them, and 12hrs between taking it and any supplement containing iron. Fluoride in toothpaste can also affect the absorption of thyroxine.

Hypothyroidism can affect the ability of the body to absorb b12 from your diet, and getting your level checked is a good idea; I bought a b12 supplement from Holland & Barrett, and the difference is amazing.

My energy levels are good at the moment, (with the supplement) but I have a physically demanding job, so tend to self medicate with caffeine/sugar for a boost when needed. Weight loss is very hard, and near impossible to lose any reasonable amount.

Just got my latest test results back and its the worst possible news.

I've been feeling great and have enough energy, even lost a few pounds. So of course I have too high levels and they want me to reduce my dose.

Last time they reduced my dose I had a massive slump in energy that lasted 2 months, it was hellish and I could barely get through the day. The housework piled up around me and by the time I got the kids in bed at 7 I was shattered and just wanted to sleep.

My levels are

T4 24.2 (should be 4-11)
TSH 0.03 (should be 0.3-3 under the newer figures)

I also have a B12 of 344 - Websites suggest it should be either 200 - 600, or "200 - 900 but may show symptoms below 500", so I really don't have a clue about this.

Wish me luck!

I realised some time ago that my energy levels peak about 12 hours after taking my levothyroxine (was finding it difficult to sleep at bedtime even though tired) so I now take it just before bed and the energy at the right time.

In France there is a significant current of opinion blaming Chernobyl fallout for the massive rise in thyroid problems. Practically every woman above 40 that I know is on thryoxine.

Mon Dieu duchesse, now that is interesting!

D

duchesse - has/is anyone looking into it? According to my (now retired) family doctor, where I live (Guernsey) has levels of underactive thyroid in slightly-older women which are massively higher than UK/USA. He had no idea why this was (we certainly don't lack iodine in the diet which can cause it), but I have never heard of Guernsey being affected by Chernobyl? I must admit I have no idea how large the fallout was, and Guernsey is just off the coast of France...

Beware fluoride in toothpaste ESP the stronger whitening kind, it stops the absorption of levothyroxine at just the time of the morning you take the tablets.
I was recommended BioRepair toothpaste that is fluoride free but does stop teeth sensitivity, available at Boots.

Also watch out for soya, Brussel sprouts, peanuts and broccoli.
I get my levo buzz about 4 hours after taking it.

Didn't know about the dairy link.

Re: Chernobyl effect.

I worked in the NHS, as a paed professional around those years. We definitely saw some children with unusual syndromes around that time that we had not seen before, and put it down to Chernobyl.

Completely unscientific, just our department's experience.

Here is a link to a paper about the Chernobyl effect on thyroid cancer in France.

Afair from an article I read years ago, the thyroid does not distinguish between iodine and certain isotopes in nuclear fallout, meaning that it picks them up as though they were iodine and tries to use them in the thyroid. There is still a very high rate of thyroid cancer around Chernobyl among children.

I wondered about chernobyl when I was diagnosed

Don't reduce drugs unless you feel hyper imo. Ask to get your t3 tested or do it privately. Your tsh is in range, t4 is high but maybe t3 is not

B12 can definitely go higher - supplements are cheap. Also ask to get vit d, folates and ferritin checked. These could also be low and causing problems.

There are also thyroid supplements you could try. Not used them personally but some people recommend them. Check if they are guaranteed 'hormone free' or not and be aware some research shows they do have hormone (prob why they help imo)

Oops misread your tsh - some people do feel better when tsh is suppressed - maybe you are one? Really - get t3 tested to see what's happening at a cellular level

Btw tapir, I've read iron is ok after 2 hours, or 4 to be on the safe side, where did you read 12? It is a right pain - cos I can't take the calcium near the iron either!

Oops misread your tsh - some people do feel better when tsh is suppressed - maybe you are one? Really - get t3 tested to see what's happening at a cellular level

Btw tapir, I've read iron is ok after 2 hours, or 4 to be on the safe side, where did you read 12? It is a right pain - cos I can't take the calcium near the iron either!