How can I loose weight I seem to crave sugar and carbohydrates and my joints seem tried and achy what can I do? Ps I've had a thyroidectomy

[Adebee]

[Danifox6]

Have you tried an alternative to sugar such as agave syrup? or coconut sugar? Still sugars, but not refined sugars......also carbs, low GI carbs??

[PinkNinja]

Are you on any thyroid hormones such as levothyroxine? Have you had thyroid blood tests recently? If so, what were the results? If you haven't, you really need to get tested soon.

You sound very hypothyroid at the moment. If you are not on thyroxine or similar, it sounds like you need to be. If you are taking thyroid medication you may need a higher dose.

All your symptoms sound like not enough thyroid hormone. Hopefully, once you are on the correct dose of thyroid hormones, all your symptoms should disappear.

Carolyn x

[Adebee in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks just did a test and am awaiting the results

[Adebee]

Does this help? I use stevia some times but still crave sugary stuff

[Fruitandnutcase]

You have my sympathy,my body is screaming out for the Cadbury Fruit and Nut diet. Either that or my other craving which is sultanas not good either. I'm hopeful that what Carolyn says here about needing a bit more levo will apply to me too and my endo might give me an increase when I go to see her in ten days.

Hope you get sorted out soon,

Liz

[Southlondon]

I sooo understand this - and I gave myself a talking to and have decided I am bigger than my cravings and I don't want to keep gaining - so hello to The 5:2 diet !!

I prepared a MASSIVE fruit salad in the fridge - and the interesting thing is that after this Monday at 500 /600 cal when all I could think about was a cornetto, yesterday was not actually a pig out day - I felt good for avoiding the bread and butter and mayo.... my sugar craving this morning was sated by the fruit salad... This of course may not work for everyone and I may not loose the 1kg a week my friends have, but I know I will feel better!! And no melted Fruit and Nut to deal with

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Southlondon]

I'm exactly the same as you , I KNOW I am bigger than my cravings, I tell myself that every day but it is so hard. I also tell myself that the fruit and nuts are not part of my five a day.

Nothing beats licking melted fruit and nut off your fingers though

Liz

[shaws Administrator]

Hypothyroidism usually causes weight gain (a clinical symptom) as our metabolism is too low. Levothyroxine or an alternative has to be taken in an optimum dose (one which makes us feel well) and then our weight should reduce as well as cholesterol if it was higher.

I had gained weight but couldn't figure out why as I had been a weight watcher for ten years and weighed if about 4 times a year and hadn't increased, then for the life of me I couldn't lose 1 or 2 lbs. Eventually I was diagnosed with hypo, with optimum medication, my shoe size went down by 1, rings I couldn't wear before I could now wear and the extra few lbs came off that I weighed in at 1 lb less than my 'goal'.

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link to Dr Lowe's explanation of weight gain:-

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

[Hidden]

Hi

It's great to hear the link between weight gain and hypo but how can I persuade my GP to do the tests! She simply says a year ago TF was normal and continues with a string of other blood tests despite my telling her I have other symptoms of hypo - hair thinning, brittle nails, fibro and other joint problems, depression, etc. I'm thinking of going privately just to get a detailed TF bloods done.

[Totoro]

Yours is a normal response to low thyroid (likely after your operation). Your metabolism is down because of lack of thyroid hormones (which every part of your body and system needs) and you're craving "fuel". The quickest form of this is sweet things. Your body is telling you "feed me energy". Before I was diagnosed I was utterly exhausted and the only thing that would keep me going was high sugar kids sweets.

When you get your test results make a post with them (with their laboratory ranges, each lab has slightly different ones) and we can give advice. For good health patients need to be in the optimum part of the reference range (which is down to an individuals symptoms), not just somewhere in it (most GPs don't know this).

Best of Luck,

Totoro x