If Levo puts weight on, what other options are there.

[Kathy21]

I have been on Eltroxin for 27 yrs and in spite of healthy lifestyle I put on a stone every decade, just very slowly. Have dieted for most of these yrs. before I became hypo I was 9 st I think I had for 9 yrs before being diagnosed and had put on a stone. Now 27yrs later I am 12 1/2 stone and I hate it because I try so hard. Kathy

[Hidden]

I've managed to get my weight stable for almost a year now. I started walking 3 miles a day and upped it to 2 lots 3. I set a target of a 3 mile circular route and although at first wanted to turn back after 1, kept on, would usually have a sleep went I got home. Drank over 2 litres of water a day and changed my diet too.

I thought my diet was healthy, semi vegetarian, until I cut all white processed stuff: salt, flour, rice, sugar. Must read labels as if eating packaged food usually loaded with this stuff. I found my body just couldn't process it anymore and slowed my metabolism and me down. I don't follow any diet, just keep my diet clean of processed, additives, preservatives, E's, microwaved food and my body seems to be healing, thank goodness.

[Kathy21]

Thanks Shellbee, we have never really eat processed foods, cook all fresh food, make veg soup etc. I have Rye bread from local bakery so know there no additives in it. I don't walk as far as you bot I go to the gym now 3days a week and don't really stop much during the day. Thinking of getting some T3 on line just to see if it will get my metabolism up a bit as my pulse is between 47-54 that why I joined the gym so I can get my pulse rate up. Keep going with what you are doing, it's working for you. Best wishes Kathy.

[Chippysue]

Kathy, first of all are you fully medicated? you haven't mentioned any other symptoms. I wouldn't say that levothyroxine causes weight gain, it is a replacement hormone. If your thyroid hormones are not fully replaced then it will be difficult to lose weight.

I know of someone who actually gained more weight when taking T3. Self medicating would not be the answer.

So, share your latest blood test results with us, what were your tsh, free t4? and the lab range for free t4 is important. You probably know that you are entitled to your results, just ask your dr receptionist for a printout. Have you had your B12, ferritin, folate, vitamin d tested? Have you been through the menopause (sorry I don't know your age) and have you had your sex hormones tested?

Do you take any supplements at all?

Sue

thyroiduk.org

[Kathy21 in reply to Chippysue]

Hi Sue, I am 66 and started with symptoms (but didn't realise) when I was about 30 and realise I had just about all of them. Kept going to GP with different symptoms for 9 yrs. have had Eltroxin for 26 yrs. also became type 1 diabetic at 47 yrs. Then came the menopause at 53 ish. I have blamed weight gain on diabetes but think a lot of it was Thyroid related. I have problems with sleeping, cold hand and feet, sometimes tingling in fingers, have had depression meds a few times over the years(although not at the moment.) but easy get down. Have always in the main eat healthy self cooked food and when eating out choose healthy options.

Had T3 andT4 tested for 1st time lat week.

Free T4. =. 21. (9.0 -25.0). Free T3 = 4.2 (3.5- 6.5). TSH 0.68 (0.3-6.5)

Problem is I had my meds about 3hrs before so will have to get retested.

[Kathy21 in reply to Chippysue]

Sorry forgot to say I have been taking 1000 vit D, for about 3yrs. Also cod liver oil capsules. Statins, Lansosoprol.

[susymac]

Totally agree with Suze' post above, I put on weight on armour, and I lose it when hypo. It may not be the Levo itself but whether you are on enough or whether you body is utilising it well enough

[Chippysue]

Kathy, with those results I would say there is room for an increase.

First of all our TSH is at it's highest around 3am so the earlier that you get tested the better. I get a blood form from my GP and then when I can get out of bed early I go to my local hospital as they open at 8am. It is best not to take your meds beforehand, have them ready to take after blood is taken.

So, if you are able to have them tested again then your tsh would probably be higher because of you taking meds just before.

High cholesterol is a symptom of hypothyroidism, what was your last cholesterol result. Personally, and this is just my opinion (I am not medically qualified) I would never touch statins. I know it is a controversial subject but have a look here:- amazon.co.uk/TATIN-NATION-G... and put it this way since watching this dvd we eat as many eggs as we like and have gone back to eating real butter. Feeling low is one of the side effects.

Sorry to hear that you struggled for far too long being diagnosed, this was down to the dreaded TSH blood test as it is all that doctors go by. Hopefully you can persuade your GP to agree to increase your meds as there is room for improvement. I would tell him/her that you still have symptoms and that the body needs a higher dose i the winter months. I wouldn't mention the weight issue as you know what doctors (some) are like, they tell you to just east less and move more.

When you have your next blood test if you haven't already had your B12 and vitamin D tested then I would ask for them to be tested.

Sellenium helps to convert our t4 into t3 stopthethyroidmadness.com/s... all of the many thyroid experts and nutritionists in all of the books advise taking a large dose of vitamin c. Have a look here:-thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Anti-acids interfere with thyroid medication. Also iron and calcium. Make sure that you take these at least four hours apart. Also just in case you didn't know, ideally levothyroxine is taken with water on an empty stomach and to wait at least half an hour before having anything else to drink or eat, otherwise it can interfere with absorption of levothyroxine.

Hope this helps

Sue

thyroiduk.org

[Kathy21 in reply to Chippysue]

Hi Sue, Thank you so much for that it is very helpful. Since joining this forum I have been taking my levo about 2hrs before anything else and always with water. I will now have a rethink about my other meds and take some at tea time. I forgot to put my B12 down it was 434ng (220.0- 700.0) at time of blood test I wasn't taking B12 but have ordered some on line B12 1000 should get them tomorrow. Today I have started taking 125 levo every day instead of alternate 100/125. Thank you again. I have learnt so much about my condition after all these years. Best wishes, Kthy

[Kathy21 in reply to Chippysue]

Hi Sue, went on the 2sites you suggested, thought they were really interesting. Have got some 1000mcg B12 and some h & b Selenium plus Zinc. So will see how I go for 2/3 weeks before I go back to my GP. Thank you. Kathy21

[Duchy82]

Unfortunately you have your thyroid and diabetes against you once you are on tablets for the diabetes it becomes very difficult to lose weight as they stimulate sugar uptake and storage by the body there are some great food plans for diabetes designed for weightloss that are definitely worth looking into.

[Kathy21 in reply to Duchy82]

Hi Thanks for reply. I'm type 1 Diabetic so I have an insulin pump which is attached to me 24/7. No tablets for that but I take Eltroxin, Statins, acid calming and a couple of others plus Vit D cod liver oil. Thanks Kathy x

[Duchy82 in reply to Kathy21]

Oops read it wrong, make sure you take antacids and your statins well away from your thyroxine they inhibit uptake. It can be done losing weight but its finding out what kind of eating plan works for you i have managed to lose nearly 3 stone in about 2 years it is very slow progress and i religiously have to monitor what i eat but at least it is coming off. Hope you find what works for you mine is old fashioned calorie counting and exercise.

[Kathy21 in reply to Duchy82]

Hi thanks for that, it is difficult to know what to eat. Don't like to eat wheat. Bit stuck with breakfast at moment, normally have porridge oats made with water with raspberries to sultanas. (Only a small bowl.) sometimes just have fruit. But the weight just won't go down. Lol

[Duchy82 in reply to Kathy21]

Sounds a lot like my breakfast, yogurt with a banana for me today and i do like porridge with sultanas.

It is difficult full stop and it may be that your thyroxine still needs to be optimised there certainly have been times before where I have tried to lose weight and whatever I tried it just doesn't come off and more infuriating the husband losing weight allthough only his evening meal has changed!!

Good luck and I hope you find a way to lose that pesky hypo weight.

[Kathy21]

Hi, Me again. Went on 2 good sites last night made a lot of sense, stpthetyroidmadness.com and look at Selenium. Also Thyroid uk. Better Thyroid Health ( the role of vitamins in thyroid deficiency. Very, very good. I am supplementing now with Sellenium with Zinc and B12 also have been on Vit D for about a which give a big energy boost. Good luck. Kathy x