Hypothyroid??? Weight gain??

[sahs1969]

Hi,
Just wandering whether anyone here has sufferred with underactive thyroid? I had bloods taken a month ago and it was borderline-GP asked to see me and I am going back again today-to see how I've been-she wouldn't start treatment then-but the extreme tiredness is still the same, and the weight gain is happening by the day even though I am really watching what I eat-would this be the case.....I have gained 6lbs in 3 weeks and the weight is really getting me down.

Thanks,
S
x

What's 'normal' in terms of thyroid is notoriously difficult to pin down. There are other causes of constant fatigue and weight-gain, of course.

To eliminate the possibility of these common causes I would suggest that you start keeping a food and symptom diary.... recording accurately everything you eat and drink, weighing portions, counting calories and making sure, in particular, that you're getting plenty of iron-rich and vitamin c-rich foods (since low iron stores are a common cause of fatigue). Take a daily multivitamin with iron as a safety net

Keep your sugar intake below 50g per day and reduce refined starches (white flour, white pasta, white rice) in favour of small amounts of wholegrains and other wholefoods (wholemeal bread, wholewheat pasta, brown rice etc). The spikes and dips in blood-sugars and insulin production caused by eating too much sugar/starchy foods are another cause of fatigue and also quite a common reason for weight-gain

Record any changes in your energy levels & other symptoms in the same diary. When you go back to your GP the next time you can show them your diary and this could help them reach the correct diagnosis.

Good luck