Have you lost weight, stayed the same or put on since taking thyroid medication.

[sip1]

Just curious really

[PinkNinja]

When I was initially diagnosed, I lost the weight I had gained when I started t3. I gained 5st when I was switched to t4. I am now back on t3 and really struggling to lose weight this time. I am considerably older now though

Carolyn x

[Clutter]

Sip, 2 years ago I lost 4kg after starting T4 and am so weedy a butterfly could knock me down. After 6 months on T4+T3 and caramel eggs I've gained 0.9kg.

[Hidden]

Hi sip1, Yes I have reduced weight since being on levo for the last year.never overweight but heavier than My ideal weight,since medicated I have lost the stone and am back to my comfortable weight for me,with no effort really on my part!

[Tweetypie28]

I gained 11/2 stone before being diagnosed, started T4 a little over a year ago, no weight loss. Started a bit of T3 a foes months ago, still no weight loss despite making the effort. In fact I am gaining weight again. I hate it, this condition is cruel x

[Ansteynomad]

My weight was creeping up gradually. When I started T3 only I lost a stone in three months without any effort whatsoever, but then it came back, followed by another and another. At the end of two years on T3 I had gained three stone.

The endos I was seeing could not explain this and referred me to a dietitian who couldn't explain it either. She confirmed that my diet was fine and suggested that my metabolism was simply not running fast enough for me to lose any weight!

Fast forward and I managed to get a start on levo. Since then (1 year) I have lost 21lbs, but can't lose any more, so still have another 21lbs to go to get back to my proper weight.

This time last year I was a size 16. I am still a 16 top, but now I am a 12 bottom. All the excess weight I have shed so far has been from my stomach.

[Hennerton]

I just cannot keep weight on, whichever meds I take. Currently on NDT. I have to eat and eat all day long, or I lose. You may all think this is wonderful but believe me I am tired of doctors commenting and one made the suggestion I am anorexic. I think this is now on my records as every time I see any doctor, they make a remark about how thin I am. Something is wrong somewhere but nobody can be bothered to check anything.

[Clutter in reply to Hennerton]

Hennerton, did you lose weight after your TT or when you started thyroid replacement?

[Hennerton in reply to Clutter]

I lost weight originally after a hysterectomy in 1997. Stayed stable until Graves came along in 2005 and then lost more weight. Then had TT and gained a tiny bit and stayed the same until two years ago, when I started on the route to trying to find out why I felt so ill. Was on Levo then but was given T3 to add to Levo and after that tried all combos of meds. The best is now. I recently started again on NDT and my iron levels are good, thanks to this site, so I can tolerate it and feel reasonably well. Weight loss would carry on though, unless I eat steadily throughout the day. Trouble is I eat good food, not rubbish, so it is naturally low in calories. My son says I need a good steak but I am not a great meat eater! I think for me the real catalyst is the T3 in NDT or with T4/3 combo but it is the one that helps most with aches and pains. Other people take it and find it makes no difference to weight. It is all a mystery

[Clutter in reply to Hennerton]

I suspect that getting meds right so that I feel well is enabling me to gain. Just hope it continues.

[suzannai in reply to Hennerton]

Have you seen a GI specialist or had any assessment to see if there is a problem with malabsorption? The gut can be affected with thyroid problems and even affect your absorption of NDT

[Hennerton in reply to suzannai]

Thanks but I do not think I have GI problems. No evidence of that at all and Dr Skinner ruled it out. NDT is definitely being absorbed as my temps are much better thorughout the day, apart from the odd blip, which I think is adrenal. I just seem to have a metabolism on overdrive.q

[Sue777]

I gained 3 stone over a few years before I was diagnosed. In the last 6 months since starting Levo I have lost 2 stone. I haven't dieted or exercised. I think it's my metabolism improving.

[DaizeeFoo]

I was heavy about 10 years ago and found it difficult but not impossible to lose weight. However suddenly I ballooned by about 8-9 stones and have stayed like that ever since. Nothing apart from 9 months on Reductil before it was banned, worked. I had a weigh in before Christmas with the Endo and was the same weight I have been for years. A weigh in after Christmas and much stuffing as I sort of let my hair down, resulted in 2.5kg increase. Weigh in last week back to exactly the same weight and I have been eating more healthily and exercising more. I am not on T3. I truly wish this weight would start to fall off!

[sazzyb]

Hi sip, I have never been overweight in my life until... (cue scary music) I reached 46, had finished an early menopause, and became hypo and put on T4. I am now 4 stones heavier. I'll be over-generous and put half of it down to my old age, but the rest has to be water retention, I have oedema, feet like trotters and legs like tree trunks. I've just asked GP if I can try T3 so had to have bloods done yesterday. I live in hope!

[Agapanthus]

I have been hypothyroid nearly 20 yrs. Originally on T4 I lost half a stone very quickly. After that the weight slowly crept on (apart from a spell at Rosemary Conley where I lost a lot). I gained around 1.5 stone in 6 mths when I was menopausal and it stayed and grew until it was more like 2.5 stone.

I lost a stone on the Paleo diet 2 years ago, while I was still on T4. Since I have been on T3 only (a year now) I have lost another 1.5 stone, and am the least I have been for years..... a healthy 10 stone and it's still dropping, though v slowly now.

[EmBlazes]

I gained slowly over a number of years before being diagnosed as hypothyroid. I actually was really trying to lose weight as well. It was incredibly frustrating. After starting on 50mcg Thyroxine, I'm now steadily but SLOWLY losing weight which is a relief, as we want to conceive and being overweight can make it difficult for you to get pregnant. The biggest thing I noticed is that I don't feel crappy after exercising now. For years, I was exhausted and had swollen ankles after working out. Now I just feel good and the weight is slowly coming off.

[Whiterose]

Yes, since being on Levo Thyroxine I have put so much weight on it is so unfair particularly when I have tried all avenues. I have the same problem. Just find it difficult to lose the weight but for me it is compounded by having Charcot, Marie Tooth Disease. I tried slimming world and weight watches and found I was putting on more. They both told me I was not eating enough!!

[KWRYAN]

I had slowly put on 4 stone before being diagnosed back in August this year, I have started with 50mcg and am now on 75mcg and have stayed the same weight. The last time I went for blood tests the doctor told me I was still below the normal range so hopefully (I would assume) I will be given a bigger dose and might start to lose weight. I dont feel as tired as I used to but still ache like hell if I try to exercise or don't move for a while so I can only really go for short walks etc but its nice to see I am not alone in all this.

Oh and I was always pretty fit and active before all this so its a real pain being like I am.

[Astridnova]

Despite strict low carb diet I had put on 3kg in last two months before going on dessicated pig thyroid. In the first month of that treatment I lost the 3kg. As well as showing on the scales, it was obvious in my face - lost double chin, thick neck, puffiness in face and eyes, and on feet and lower legs, thank heavens.

[Lrhsal]

I put three stone on a year ago just after Christmas, it felt like virtually overnight. But I did sleep throughout that year. Am now on 125 Levo and have had b12 injections. Bloods due now. I am a bit more active but remain tired. Weight has not altered and is very depressing.