PP Thyroiditis/ BF/ Weight Loss

[CaringMum28]

Hello

I think Ive had PP Thryoiditis since Jan 2012, been on Levothyroxine since 26 March (1month). Jan-Mar I put on 2st.

I am EBF and find I have to take 100mg to maintain supply. I also take fenugreek. Does anyone know if this interferes wiith absorption of Levo? GP didnt know and different examples on internet.

My main dilemma is I am 4st heavier than pre-pg and I go back to work 9 July. So have 10weeks left. Im size 16-18 and work in male dominated industry and cant face being so much bigger than before (10st6 large size 10).

Since being on 100mg of Levo my weight has stabilised at 14st2. Does anyone know if the weight will come down, generally or when BF also? Baby born 30 Nov and advised to wean early due to supply issues :(

GP said wieght loss can take up to 3m- being 26 June but I felt like he doesnt know very much about the condition and was fobbing me off. Feel horrible saying this, but my mum thinks I should stop bf baby at 6months old (end of May) and do cambridge diet. Would this work to get weight off or would thyroid stop it?

Feel desperate and sad, bf my 2.6yr old for 2yrs and never thought I'd be in this position with my happy baby. Please help!!!

Anyone?

Beware of any diet that slows down your metabolism or you can end up feeling worse, so I would avoid the Cambridge diet or any sudden calorie drop.
Try and up your metabolism instead, vit b, vit d, eat breakfast but avoid milk and youghurt within a few hours of taking levothyroxine as it stops the absorption.
Biggest tip is swap your toothpaste to a fluoride free paste like BioRepair for sensitive teeth. Fluoride blocks levothyroxine so avoid it and then with the extra Ooomph you get, more boosting metabolism and burning off calories.

Also give yourself a break, new baby is exhausting enough plus thyroid problems it must feel like wading through treacle.

You'll have to diet and exercise - it doesn't just magically drop off, sadly I bloody wish that were the case! I had good luck with Weight Watchers, which is more akin to calorie-counting, but Slimming World - which lets you eat as much as you want, if it's from certain food groups - never worked for me with my sluggish metabolism.

If you find fenugreek helpful, take it at night and take your thyroxine in the morning - so the maximum space (i.e. 12hrs) between each medication. Agree with Zanzibar re the milk, but don't forget that soy and soy milk also interferes with absorbtion, and take any vitamins that have with iron in as far apart from your thyroxine as you can, too.

PS - I would think the extra calories you burn by breastfeeding would outweigh the benefit of the cambridge diet. I'd stick with the BFing and join WeightWatchers or SlimmingWorld, both of which cater for BFers.

Based on the people I know I am unconvinced by the bf = losing weight argument. Hormones change your metabolism and bf'ing makes some people hungry. It depends on the person I think.

Thanks for all responses, already take vitamins b&d but will look into the others.

Surprised a very low cal diet can cause metabolism to slow even further? Also that levothyroxine doesn't cause weight loss as doctor was adamant it would. 1s2lb is attributable to it.

I'm eating 1800cal per day at present alongside bf&weaning 5mo and 1hr walking wih double buggy per day. Would weight watchers give me less calories?

My mum thinks stopping bf is the only way to lose weight as 1st time round I kept all fat until 7m then came off as I weaned- its just this time I've added another 1st2 to the total and at 5'5 I look terrible.

Wish there was a golden answer!!
Either carry on and thyroxine will cause weight loss - doc; or
Stop bf at 6m, do Cambridge diet and thyroid problem won't be exacerbated and will lose weight.

sick of it all. ESP after horrendous pregnancy Pre eclampsia with liver failure

[[http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/eatingenough.htmhere and here
www.british-thyroid-association.org/hypothyroidism-diet]]

Not great articles but the theme is if you go too low calorie you could slow your metabolism so that your body goes into hoard mode and with a slower metabolism your medication isn't working as well and then you end up putting on weight.
The nasty catch22 of hypothyroidism.

Thanks for all of the advice.
I've got a new toothpaste

The articles ar quite depressing. I can't see at all how I will lose weight unless I am lucky and it is a temporary condition and it goes at 9-12m.

Otherwise are most people overweight for good? Or maybe it is the bf withholding fat stores and at some point levothyroxine will work ?

It takes time I'm afraid, no quick fixes, no quick diets. Don't punish yourself, look after yourself.

Thanks zanz1bar, have you got it and how are you getting on?

Yup, hypothyroid and I weigh more now than I did at nine months pregnant 6 yrs ago dam it.
Also only on 75 mg levothyroxine (thanks GP) so willing to try any way possible to eak out the last bit of Oooomph I can. But at least now the fog has lifted and I no longer feel like I am losing my mind, that was scary.