My niece has graves disease/overactive thyroid,but she has piled weight on,her endocrinologist cant explain this,any ideas?

[kathleen66]

[Hidden]

This is very common in Graves disease but almost never listed as a symptom. I also put on weight before my diagnosis, and we've discussed this before on the forum and lots of other people were the same. I don't have any answers as to why. I wonder if some of us were swinging between hypo and hyper before we finally settled on hyper? I wonder if sometimes it's because we're eating so much - I was starving all the time - but too tired or incapable of exercising so the weight piles on.

If you mean she's piled on weight since treatment started, that definitely happens because the treatment slows your metabolism back down again but your appetite doesn't immediately change because you're used to eating loads. Also some Endo's are a bit overenthusiastic (shall we politely say) with treatment, and they keep going too far such that we become overmedicated and hypo.

[mumcat2]

I agree,hampster1. I walloped three stones on with Graves' and didn't lose it until I'd been (over)treated,went hypo and eventually wangled T3 out of a reluctant locum when my endo was away! Graves' is great when you have so much energy but the stress it puts on your system is long-term horrendous,so I hope your niece has hers successfully sorted out soon.

[rubyred]

Hi I also put 3stone on all went on very fast took about 3 months. The endo told me I must've lost alit of weight. However he took no notice when I told him I left school a size 12 and never changed always steady. I was diagnosed with graves at 48. I don't think they know why some put on the weight. I can only think as the condition progresses you have less energy so don't do as much. X

[Silver_Fairy]

I lost 3 stone with Graves and only started putting it back on when I was (over) treated with Carbimazole, so that I went hypo.

[Hidden]

Her Endocrinologist is being economical with the truth. They know that this sort of problem puts weight on - in SHEDLOADS. They load the patient with all the responsibility for shifting that thyroid weight gain - and then guilt patients for not succeeding. It is VERY difficult to shift thyroid weight. For me, this problem is one of the most contentious areas of thyroid treatment in Britain. Grrrrr. I growl on your behalf. Sympathies.

[dryeye]

I have overactive graves no appetite and put on 2 stone in 1 month

[lolajone]

I put on loads of weight while hyperthyroid, I wasn't eating any more and was doing loads of exercise. Once diagnosed I was treated with carbimazole. Weight gain was listed as a side effect for carbimazole but I lost all the weight I had put on whilst hyper. I have read -somewhere- that 5% of hyperthyroids will put on weight.

[dryeye in reply to lolajone]

only been on caarbimazole 5 days havent put weight on durring this time thank god

[Hidden]

I gained weight whilst overactive with Graves, most of it due to edema.Get fed up of comments like"well why arnt you thin then" or"you must have got it wrong you must be underactive!"Actually lost some weight on carbimazole.