Weight loss not possible when taking carbimazole

[Tatty10]

I am taking carbimazole, does this prevent you from losing weight, i have been on a low fat low carb diet for 6 weeks and not lost any weight at all this is making me feel even more depressed also got numb fingers and toes aches and pains in arms and legs is this also down to the carbimazole

[marram]

Hello Tatty10, you don't say how much carbimazole you are taking, is it possible that your dose might need to be reduced?

While it is true that many people do put on weight initially with carbimazole they usually go back to a normal weight as it is withdrawn. I was given it as a teenager and I put on almost four stones, but I had been seriously underweight at 6 stone 4 pounds. I then lost it over the year after the carbimazole was stopped, and ended up at 7stone 10 pounds.

The aches and pains could be either because you are still hyper or because you are now hypo, due to the carbimazole. The only way to know this is by a blood test which includes the levels of T4 and T3. The TSH will not tell you enough, especially when you are on carbimazole. That ought to be your next step. Then please post those results here (including ranges) and you will get some help and advice.

Hope this helps - Marie XX

[Tatty10 in reply to marram]

Thank you so much i am taking 10mg carbimazole, will i stop taking this after thyroidectomy due to have my blood test in 2 weeks will post results when i get them, will i need to take any medication after the surgery

[marbez10]

I put on weight while taking Carbimazole... If you are due a thyroidectomy (like I had), then you will have been prescribed Carbimazole in a dose to make your thyroid under-active prior to the surgery. I remember being told this years ago.... and then spent months trying to cope while being overweight, tired and so on. It's not the Carbimazole that puts the weight on; it's your slow thyroid that's doing it.

The good news is that once the op. is over, you will come off Carbimazole and be given Levothyroxine in a suitable dose for someone with no thyroid. Be aware though, that Levo is often not the wonder hormone pill it's claimed to be.... and you may need to have your meds adjusted as time goes on..... but one thing at a time.

Good luck with the op.... hope you don't have to wait too long.

[Tatty10 in reply to marbez10]

Thank you, am now begining to understand a little bit of this minefield that i am wondering aimlessly in, this whole thyroid thing is so complicated and i feel very alone and helpless when i dont understand what or why something is happening to me i am hoping to find out in 2 weeks when my surgery will be, will i feel better or will i be thrown into a different minefield?

[marbez10]

You should hopefully start to feel better after the op.. Taking hormones (Levothyroxine, etc) is thought to be better than taking a drug (Carbimazole) long term..... and once the thyroid is removed, you will need to take thyroxine for the rest of your life.

I had my thyroidectomy approx. 10 years and still believe it was one of my better decisions... but thyroid levels are difficult whether you have one or whether you don't and you will gradually begin to recognise your own symptoms when your levels are not quite right.

[Tatty10 in reply to marbez10]

Thank you its a great help to have someone explain things in laymans terms and i hope the surgery is good for me i get frightened when i dont understand my symptoms or whats happening to my body

[greenginger]

Hi many people who are hyper put on weight when on carbimazole. It is not a good time to diet as your body is already stressed and it will not react well. Just eat well and leave the dieting for now. Stress can make your problems worse. Get well then worry about the weight.

[Tatty10 in reply to greenginger]

Thank you to all who have responded to my queries its a great help to know that i am not alone

[Classychic73]

I'm the same and just wondering if the weight will ever come off when I stop taking carbminazole?

[Tatty10 in reply to Classychic73]

Hi i am no longer taking carbimazole, have had a tt and now taking levo, and still cannot lose any weight its so depressing,