I have a full panel my Dr gave me, she says I'm in 'normal' range and should with the usual effort be able to shift weight. This isn't happening. I'm tired most of the time. The other symptoms seem to have gone ( part fom being constipated )
Here are my results, can some clever cookie on here understand them and interpret for me ? Many thanks in advance.
Value. Normal range
TSH 1.1. 0.2-4.5
T4 13pmol. 9 - 21
T3 1.4 mmol. 0.9 - 2.4
Vitamin B12 448ng. 180 - 2000
Folate 5.0 ug. 2.8 - 20
I'd just like to loose at least a stone. I don't want the world. !pffft ! X
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Not everyone, by a long way, puts on weight with hypothyroidism. But for those of us who do it is very hard to shift.It doesn't seem to make any difference if one's thyroid meds are in balance or not. I don't think your doctor is right, or fair, to say to you that dieting 'with the usual effort' will hack it. Don't get depressed if you diet rigorously and lose nothing. It's not you. It's your thyroid. And, of course, feeling tired will be exacerbated if you're overweight. I soooo know where you're coming from here. I've got at least 2 stone I'd like to see the back of. :o) Good luck!
That is a funny T3 figure, it looks like Total T3 rather than free T3 which is the usable part. You really need to know what your free T3 is because it could be very low, and would explain why you are still tired and unable to lose weight.
Telling you your total T3 is like giving you a closed tank of water but no cup to drink it with - and then being surprised if you are still thirsty!
I would not say that 'not everyone, by a long way' puts on weight with hypothyroidism', I agree that some lose their appetite and so lose weight but I think they are in the minority, the majority find that one of the most difficult symptoms to overcome, becuase of the policy in this country of 'replacing' rather than 'optimising' thyroid hormones. If they treat people until they feel well, then weight loss is a possibility. But if they insist ontreating a laboratory test, it will not help the person to lose weight.
Thanks for posting this thread and for Marram's reply,they made me think.
I have been on a T4/T3 combo for six moths now.(when T3 is available.) I haven't lost any weight,which would have been more than nice. I looked back at the endo bloods from April. TSH 39.1 FT4 7.3 FT3 3.1 Last bloods at GP were in June TSH 0.023 and T4 12.7 (range 11-24) I am feeling a bit more like my old self and my temps are up from 35.to36.
Next bloods due October 7 and hopeful appointment with endo soon.
Thanks for your reply. It's a minefield isn't it ? I just want to be a little lighter. I'm going to Venice soon with a pal who is skinny, we used to swap clothes, now I'm her fat friend ! Lol. Could be worse though, chin up, I tell myself. X
Aww poor sister, lol bet you want to slap her! ( in a nice loving , fun sisterly way, wish I was an eight ) you wouldn't see me moaning. I'd be running in and out of shops with armfuls of stuff, like you would no dought. X x
I have been on thyroid medication for around 18 yrs - most of that time on T4. I put on 1.5 stone alone in 6 mths at the start of the menopause, and then about another stone 4 yrs ago. I also gathered a diagnosis of ME/CFS along the way.....
In the past 2 yrs I have changed my diet drastically to cope with my increasing digestive/migraine issues to that of the Paleo/Stone age diet. I was still on T4 when I started and managed to shift around a stone very very slowly over 18 mths or so. Then I changed onto T3 only this Spring, and over the summer still on same diet, I have lost another stone with not a lot of exercise either.
I am pretty amazed and delighted as it's the lightest I have been in 10 yrs, and am now almost back to when it all went pear shaped. I am still not quite there symptoms wise, but my body temp is more normal, and the stomach/migraines also much better on T3.
Incidentally I tried the T3/T4 combo too, first with small amount of T3, and then with large amount of T3. I felt lousy on both and so have concluded that T3 only for me is right.
sounds just like me. I was n a university research diet - stuck to it and put on weight. went back to an on line slimming club - lost 1/2 lb per week then after 4 weeks put it all back on without changing anything. I have no energy and can not get out of bed in the mornings - I would describe it as " i couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding" Its depressing.
I feel for you. I don't like to moan, it sounds like I'm self obsessed I'm not. I don't really talk about it to. anyone. You guys here understand, I feel isolated sometimes. But I will keep chipping away at my GP who is lovely but reluctant to up my dose. She doesn't want to over medicate me.
anyone tried intermittent fasting? not the 5:2 diet, but where you eat within an 8 hour window then fast for 16. Im trying to stick to it at the moment, 5:2 just isnt possible with 2 kids to run around after!! but ive done a lot of research on it and it seems particularly good for hypothyroidism, especially as we are prone to insulin resistance.
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