I wanna give up! But I'm not gonna!

[Soxes]

I have been on thyroxine for 7 yrs, I've put weight on. I still feel really tired, I now experience pains in my arms and legs. I feel like I'm going crazy sometimes. And when I go to the doctors I'm made to feel like a complete idiot. And when I complain they say to me lose some weight. What!? Like I'm not trying?

[Hidden]

Go to reception at your doctors and ask for your last three blood test results, then post the info back on here.

In my experience which is only a few years, doctors are treating the number not the person so we need to learn as much as we can to help ourselves.

I am late for work so I have to dash out the door. You will get some great advice from others on here. You are in the right place for help.

XXX

[galathea]

No, you are not an idiot and the weight wont come off if your thyroid isn't optimally treated.

How much thyroxine are you taking? When did you last have a blood test and what were the results? You need ti know your free t3, free t4, tsh and whilst we're at it do you have antibodies... Also, what levels of b12' iron, ferritin and vitamin d do you have?

You are entitled to test results from your doctor ( i think its the 1989 data protection act)... You might need to write him a letter requesting all test resukts for the things i have mentioned over the past 7 years.

If the doctor cant or wont test, you can get tests done privately.... You deal direct with the lab yourself and you get change from £100 for a full profile test. Have a look under testing on the home page. thyroiduk.org.uk

Maybe time to look after your own health and start to question what the doctor is doing to you.

Xx g

[Hidden in reply to galathea]

I could never lose more than a pound (if I adhered to a strict diet) on thyroxine only. For ten years, I was told that my TSH was normal, so I should be able to lose weight if only I would eat sensibly and exercise...

For me, two things were needed in order to lose weight: additional T3 (I take NDT, Erfa to be precise, but there are also synthetic T3 medication), and getting my blood sugar and insulin levels under control. My doctor diagnosed me with insulin resistance, and wanted me on Metformin. I decided to try natural products first. I have been taking them for six months, before each main meal, and I have lost 15 kilograms effortlessly. And, believe me, a few years ago, I would have said that it was impossible to lose more than a kilo or so.

When I first went on NDT, I lost a lot of fluid; about 3 kilograms disappeared that way in the first week. When you are hypothyroid (including when you are suboptimally treated with T4 drugs only), you tend to retain fluid. In my case, it led to a puffy face, and bags under my eyes. It made me look tired all the time; like I had been partying all night and not getting enough sleep...

Have you had blood sugar and insulin levels checked? Insulin is a fat storing hormone, and having elevated insulin levels can sabotage any weight loss efforts.

My own experience (I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease 15 years ago, and with adrenal fatigue four years ago), is that one endocrine disease can wreak havoc on your whole endocrine system.

Don't give up; there is always a solution, but you might not be able to count on the help and support of your doctor to find it...!

[Brubru in reply to Hidden]

Hi what have you been taking before each meal?

[Hidden in reply to Brubru]

I have been taking two products called Hyponidd and Diabecon. I think it is OK to post here as they are sold as supplements.

[shaws Administrator]

I'm sorry you've been taking levo for 7 years and not feeling much better.

It's the doctor who is an idiot because none of them appear to know that hypothyroidism causes weight gain and unless the patient is on an optimum dose of levothyroxine they wont be able to. If they get some T3 added to levo they then might find their metabolism raises quicker and then, if necessary, they can diet but dieting before being on an optimum of hormones is a waste of time and energy.

First request a new blood test. Make the earliest appointment and fast (you can drink water). Leave 24 hours approx from levo and the test and take levo afterwards. Ask for a Free T3 test to be done as well because if our T3 is low we cannot function properly. If you've not had a recent vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these too and get a copy from the surgery and post on a new question for comments.

[Hidden]

Tell me about it...! I had a doctor once who told me most of the T4 is converted to T3, but that T3 (converted from T4) won't show up in blood tests, which is why he saw no reason to test FT3 levels...!