I am being tested for an overactive thyroid after just losing 1st 2lbs in a month. Will I carry on losing weight until my treatment kicks

[sarahclay]

in or is it more usual for weight loss to be intermittent? I also have stage four secondary breast cancer which has spread to my lungs and bones. Could this be signs of further spread?

[Hidden]

Hi Sarah

Sorry you have had no replies, I am responding to push this back onto latest activity - hopefully someone with relevant experience will see it and respond..

L

x

[sandywandy1]

When I had an overactive thyroid, if I ate normally, I would lose approx. one pound in weight each day. Having dieted to a weight I was happy with (before I got ill), I lost a further 2 stone and looked fairly gaunt. If I ate more than usual I did not lose weight. I felt much hungrier than usual, so on days I ate more I lost less or no weight. I found out later, once I had been diagnosed, that for overactive thyroid it would have been better to eat extra nuts, protein etc.(healthy things) to maintain weight rather than eat rubbish. Once I was treated I gained the weight back. I don't have experience with other causes of weight gain, but wish you well. Sandra

[Elh1965]

Hi Sarah

I was diagnosed overactive in June where I lost just over a stone. I am now taking 40mgs of carbimazole ready to start block and replace and my weight has started to go back up now. So you should see a difference once you are well into the treatment. It has taken 4 months so it won't be a quick fix. Hope you feel better soon x

[Fruitandnutcase]

I lost quite a bit too when I was diagnosed with Graves. The weight loss stopped with the Carbimazole then once the replace part of block and replace started I put on about nine pounds over the year I have been being treated but I am eating chocolate and the odd cake and scone. If I didn't do that I don't think I would be putting much on because when I stop Guzzling I lose a few pounds quite quickly. I was diagnosed last November on Carbimazole only took 20mcg for a month then was tested and got a letter to say to take 40 mcg which I did for another two months by which time I was well under active. As soon as the levo kicked in the weight loss stopped and due to my (very unadvisable) Cadburys Fruit and Nut diet it has crept up steadily.

I don't know about the other things you mention but you sure have got a lot on your plate. Hope you feel better soon.

Liz x

[sarahclay]

Thank you everyone for your replies and good wishes. After the initial 1st 2lb weight loss, I seem to just have stopped losing weight at all. I haven't lost a pound all week and i'm wondering if it is down to the beta blocker slowing down my heart rate. Don't get me wrong, I am over weight due to all my cancer meds, in particular the steroids that I was on during the last two summers and so the loss of weight is the least of my worries, but really I was trying to find out if it was normal to stop/start with the weight loss. My appetite is virtually zero, which I know contradicts normal symptoms of overactive thyroid, but again, this is probably down to the cancer meds. Truly speaking, it might be ironic and I definitely don't underestimate the seriousness of thyroid problems, but losing weight has been the first positive thing that has happened to me for the last couple of years and I was hoping that someone would tell me that it IS usual to stop/start and there is a possibility that I could lose more, at least until the doctors get my thyroid balanced. It would just be nice to feel a little more like myself. I suppose it's laughable that someone with my problems should worry about the way she looks but I'm sure anybody out there in my position would understand.

[greenginger]

Hi I actually put weight on when hyper and then put more on when on meds. Now in remission and slowly losing the puffiness and bloatedness and feeling tons better. Lost 1 and half stones very carefully and with diet and exercise etc since coming off carb in July. Still bit more to go but least I am not nuts about the subject anymore1