will taking iodine help me to lose weight ,as I am doing more exercise,but weight is coming down very slowly.

[MARSRED]

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Iodine is NOT a weight loss medicine.

If you need to supplement with iodine, fine.

But in my book, it is very difficult to know where you are in terms of iodine without a proper test - and that test is very rarely performed. It is most definitely a bad idea to take too much iodine and it is all too easy to do so. Do you know you need more iodine?

You have not given us any information about yourself beyond feeling you have a weight issue. Quite a bit more would help to provide more helpful answers.

Rod

[PinkNinja]

I'm afraid we will need a little more information in order to help.

Do you have a thyroid condition? If yes, what do you take for it and what are your latest blood test results? Are you taking any other medication? Do you know if you have an iodine deficiency? Have you checked your iron, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels?

Iodine can be helpful if you have a deficiency however, in some people, it can actually make things worse and can occasionally be dangerous if you have certain thyroid conditions.

If you can answer some of the above questions I'm sure someone will be able to help

Carolyn x

[MARSRED in reply to PinkNinja]

I have an underactive thyroid,which I have had for about 15yrs or so. Had my bloods tested in January just after my birthday.. Doc reduced my Levothyroxine from 125mg to 100mg.. I also take Amlodipine 10mg and 20 mg Simvastin...

Am trying so hard to lose weight,lost 4st in just over 2 yrs,weight is in my stomach area..I walk,do zumba,and 2 excercise classes per week and go to weight watchers,but I feel disheartened,as I feel shattered all the time,as I don't sleep very well. All I get from the doctors is Keep going and get my weight off.

Have'nt a clue if I have an iodine deficiency etc . Should I ask for these tests?

[PinkNinja in reply to MARSRED]

You could ask for this test. If you don't have much milk or eat fish, you could be deficient. If you do decide to supplement, don't take too much or it could have the opposite effect.

You really need to get the numbers and reference ranges of your actual thyroid test results. It may be that you are not quite on a high enough dose and that might be why you are not feeling good.

The simvastatin and Amlodipine may be making it more difficult for you to lose weight.

Vitamin D, iron and vitamin B12 are important factors. If you are deficient in any of these, you will find it hard to lose weight. Again, with these results please get the actual numbers and post here so we can help you decide whether you need to supplement. Deficiencies in these could also explain how you are feeling.

Carolyn x

[MARSRED in reply to PinkNinja]

Thank You very much for your help.Am going to try and see doctor next wk and get some answers to my questions. Will post when I get results.

[greygoose in reply to MARSRED]

Tell your doctor that high cholesterol is a sign that you're not on enough thyroid hormone replacement and that rather than giving you dangerous statins he should be giving you the correct dose of thyroxine. When you are on the correct dose, your cholesterol will come down along with your weight.

Hugs, Grey

[shaws Administrator in reply to greygoose]

Grey is right - properly medicated should lower cholesterol.

[MARSRED in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your advice. Was beginning to think it was an age thing as I'm 60 now,

Cheers

[shaws Administrator]

This is advice from Dr Lowe (RIP) and if you cursor to the question dated November 25, 2002 you may get some information. There are also other topics at the top of the page. Before the TSH blood test became the way to diagnose thyroid gland problems, people were diagnosed according to clinical symptoms and medicated - the usual doses then were between 200mcg and 400mcg but nowadays they may keep us to a very small dose that doesn't alleviate all our symptoms.

You need a co-operative doctor or Endo in order to recover your health. They are very good at prescribing for other things that they don't have a blood test for but ignore that fact that keeping the thyroid patient 'within normal range' instead of 1 or below can cause even more symptoms or even other diseases.

[louiselavender]

Weightloss can be slow, but persevere. If it comes off slowly, hopefully, you'll keep it off.

[MARSRED]

Went to see doctor about Thyroid & was told my levels were alright.and that my dose of 100 mg was enough. Then I asked about cholesterol and if I was on the right dose that would come down as well. He said that was 4.5 and that it was very healthy for me...But, I told him I feel shattered all the time..do plenty of exercise and eat very healthly..but don't sleep very well..up sometimes 4-5 times a night to the toilet... All I get from him is keep going,but I feel absolutely drained..So now I don't know if it's food I'm eating thats making me feel this way or what.