Weight problem

[meandyou]

Hi I have been on 125mg of Levothyroxine for a few years now and my weight is getting to be a joke, i hate being this big, i keep hearing about T3 could some explain this please and does it help with the weight, i am at the hospital on Monday and would like to be able to see what my options are

[Steni]

I don't have an answer but am dying to hear the replies because I too am fed up of being fat. 😊

[Iphoenix]

I can't wait to see the responses, I have taken my first T3 tablet today and only just made my first yawn at 9 pm! Don't think I lost any weight so far though! LOL

[mourneadventurer]

Hello meandyou,

I had spent 28 years on T4 monotheraphy was tested bi-annually and I was always within range. Everything seemed ok other than unexplained weight gain and feeling awful. My GP said exercise more and eat less - I hardly could climb the 13 steps to bed! I had ataxia and was holding onto furniture to keep my balance and forgetful with a very fuzzy brain with badly swollen hands and feet. Then I discovered I had challenging bradycardia...

I was also on 125mcg of T4 and after identifying a DIO2 polymorphism I was referred to an endocrinologist who thankfully prescribed 25mcg of T3 last August 2015. Prior to that from the end of January 2015 to August 2015 I researched and had managed to lose 20lbs by personally supplementing with key minerals and vitamins to reboot my metabolism. I realised I had become acutely hypothyroid whilst appearing to be within the normal range to my GP.

In February 2016 I decided to work with a Functional Nutritionist to fine tune supplements after specific baseline tests. I had only lost 2lbs in weight on T4/T3 alone in the interim.

However, I went on to a Paleo Auto Immune elimination diet suggested by the functional nutritionist and I haven't looked back after fine-tuning supplements, detoxing and eliminating pathogens. As of today I have lost a further 27 lbs and am now officially within the weight range for my height. Hurrah!

Gradually I am reintroducing potentially inflammatory food. It took me 61 years to have this auto-immune disease/hypothyroidism sneak up on me so I'm going very gently and paying attention slowly reversing the auto-immune response and reducing the CRP inflammatory marker as verified by recent blood tests.

A total of 49lbs since January 2015 and my Moon face etc has gone!

I reckon dependant on the length of time you might've been "hypothyroid peripherally" and what other factors you picked up along the way will dictate whether the T3 will work instantaneous miracles for you. For me when I managed to remove all of the impediments of the T3 getting into the actual cells then I started to make progress.

Working with the Functional Nutritionist has been the best investment I have made for our future retirement. Have a good read of the ThyroidUK and Stop the Thyroid Madness websites before your appointment if you can manage it.

Best Wishes in your journey back to good health Meandyou

Mourneadventurer

[meandyou in reply to mourneadventurer]

I had my appointment today and recieved the eye roll when I mentioned my weight and T3, she didnt want to know. Can you tell me what you did in idiot terms sorry but i am really struggling with a lot of it, thank you x

[mourneadventurer in reply to meandyou]

Hello meandyou,

I emphasise totally and probably everyone else does as well!

The thyroid is like a canary in a coal mine - an indicator that something is badly out of sync even though we may be totally unaware of it for years.

Leptin resistance occurs first (weight gain) then Insulin resistance and eventually adrenal resistance.

There are two key tests that I've found useful:

The conventional GP's C Reactive Protein (CRP) and Vitamin D levels.

ThyroidUK has listed others and a wonderful resource website to educate yourself.

Try to find out what is causing your stress and inflammation and eliminate it? That's the challenging bit...

Let the forum have your written results when you get your copy from the GP and perhaps take a moment to fill in your profile to give us a background?

I try to keep my profile up to date as I am only a little further along the road back to full health than you!

Best Wishes

Mourneadventurer

[meandyou in reply to mourneadventurer]

Thank you

[Singoutloud]

I've been on t4/T3 combo for 5 months and not lost pound, in fact, the weight has started creeping back on recently. I have had a few days where I've been reminded what normal feels like though.

[fortunata]

I've been on T3 only for three years. I never lost weight in it and now my weight is actually creeping up.

[greygoose]

Meandyou, a healthy thyroid gland produces, basically, two hormones - T4 and T3.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone. T4 has to be converted into T3 in the tissues. Levo is T4 and has to be converted.

But not everyone is good at converting, so some people need to take T3 as well or instead of T4.

Symptoms, like weight-gain, are caused by low T3 - nothing to do with the TSH, as your doctor might think!

So, the first step to finding out why you are putting on weight, is to get hold of your blood tests and find out what exactly was tested, and what the results are.

125 mcg Levo is not much more than a starting dose. So, it occurs to me that your doctor may not be up to scratch on thyroid. Well, let's be honest, the majority of doctors know nothing about thyroid and keep their patients sick. It's not just the fact of taking Levo that makes you well, you have to be on the right dose. But most doctors are terrrified of giving their patients enough to make them well. Same goes, only more so, for T3.

Also, in order to lose weight, you need to have optional nutrients. Has your doctor tested vit D, vit B12, Folate and ferritin? If not, you need to get them tested.

Most hypos are deficiant in some nutrients because they have problems absorbing them. Most hypos have low stomach acid, so Don't digest very well. But you need optimal nutrients for you body to be able to use the hormone you are giving it. But, nutrition is another thing that doctors know nothing about.

It is time for you to take your health into your own hands! And, what you can do immediately is make sure you are eating enough! Low calorie diets have a negative effect on thyroid. You need good levels of calories to be able to convert. So, no dieting!

* Eat plenty of protein, and plenty of good fat - butter, lard, olive oïl, nuts, avocados, etc. The body needs fat!

* Plenty of fresh fruit and veg,

* Don't cut out too many carbs because thyroid needs carbs.

* Not too much fibre because that stops absorption of your Levo.

* And Don't skimp on the salt! The adrenals need salt and lots of vit C (so start taking it), and your body needs the cortisol made by your adrenals to absorb/convert your levo.

* Avoid processed foods and - above all - avoid all forms of unfermented soy. No soy milk, soy protein, soy flour, etc.

And, no exercise! Strenuous exercise is not going to make you lose weight, but could make you put more on. Any form of exercise - and remember, even breathing is exercise - any form of exercise will use up your T3, which you cannot easily replace, which will make you more hypo and put on more weight. Just gentle walking or swimming, to stop you rusting up, but nothing strenuous.

So, when you get the copies of your blood test reports - if you haven't already got them - post them on here and let us have a look. And that will give us a better idea of what is going on, and why you can't lose weight. OK?

[janine58 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Grey Goose

If one finds low T3, how does one supplement.

Also - the no soy - does that include soy sauce in sushi?

kind regards

Janine

[greygoose in reply to janine58]

Well, if you can convert T4 to T3 correctly, then an increase in Levo might be all you need. But, if you can't convert enough, then you have to take either synthetic T3 (Cynomel, Tiromel, T3 from Greece, etc) or NDT (Armour, Thyroid S, Thiroyd, etc). The problem is that doctors are very, very unwilling to prescribe those, so most people have to buy their own, on-line.

Soy sauce is a difficult one. It's supposed to be fermented, but isn't always. The cheaper ones aren't. You'd have to ask the waiter or the chef every time you go to eat sushi. If they even know, that is. But, if you Don't do it very often, I suppose a little drop of soy sauce won't do that much harm - although even a tny drop makes me very ill. Have you noticed any discomfort after eating sushi with soy sauce?

[janine58 in reply to greygoose]

Hi, it's my 14 year old daughter - she's only recently been diagnosed with Hashi's - we are on 0.25 mg Euthyrox - which is a low dose; we are trying very hard not to gain weight, and so are going gluten free. We do love our Sushi though, from time to time - but haven't had any for some time - I'll let you know if it affects her.

Kind Regards

Janine

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to janine58]

Just so you know...

In the UK we use micrograms for levothyroxine.

0.25 mg (milligrams) is equivalent to 250 micrograms. That is a large dose.

However, I suspect you meant 0.025 milligrams - or 25 micrograms. Is that right?

[janine58 in reply to helvella]

Yes, sorry its 25 micrograms. x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to janine58]

My view is that it is probably best simply to avoid soy sauce.

There are quite a number of people who claim that soy sauce that has been prepared in the traditional way and properly fermented is OK. However, many people miss the fact that at least some soy sauce contains wheat - so if trying to avoid wheat, you'd likely have to avoid soy sauce for that reason anyway!

However, I do occasionally consume some myself. Less than I would have chosen, and very much less frequently.

[meandyou in reply to greygoose]

I had my tests today so soon as there back i will post, thank you for this and being clear for once I understans, feeling happy x

[greygoose in reply to meandyou]

You're welcome.

[meandyou in reply to greygoose]

just called Gp told result come back no futher action, I asked for results T4 level 13.8, Serum TSH level O.41

[greygoose in reply to meandyou]

Did you not ask for the ranges? That FT4 looks very low, but impossible to tell without the range.

[meandyou in reply to greygoose]

I have just rung them again and they said thats all it said on the results

[meandyou in reply to meandyou]

and its normal

[greygoose in reply to meandyou]

Normal is just thier opinion, there's no scientific facts to back it up. What they mean is 'in range'. But 'in range' is not the same as 'optimal'. If it's right at the bottom of the range, then it is not normal.

You've got to remember that doctors - and certainly doctors' receptionists - know nothing about thyroid. For them, all you have to do is test the TSH and the FT4. If both are in range, then job done! Nothing to add. If the TSH is over 10, prescribe Levo and increase until TSH is in range, job done! Nothing to add. If only it were that simple!

They do not understand that the ranges are rediculously broad, and they cannot be normal from one end to the other, it just isn't possible. Some of the people from whose blood they took the ranges, had to be either hypo or hyper. They certainly weren't all 'normal'.

Plus, they do not do the most important test - the FT3. If you have both TSH and FT4 'in range', and still have symptoms, then you need to see the FT3. It could very well be that you are one of those people that Don't convert very well, so your FT3 is low.

However, given that doctors know absolutely nothing about that, you'll be on your own with that one. Like so many of us on here. We get our own tests done, and buy our own T3 on-line. And, I would strongly suggest that you get your full throid panel done privately, too.

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPOab

TgAB

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

Then you will have a better idea what's going on.

I'm not surprised that you got the raised eyebrows when you mentioned T3 and weight gain. They just Don't know enough about it to be able to help you with that. Another thing they've learnt in med school is that T3 is 'dangerous'. Load of rot, of course, but that's what they believe. And, that the FT3 test is 'unnecessary'. They really are very ignorant, I'm afraid.

So, next step to wellness : get your own labs done privately! Détails on the main page of TUK.

[meandyou in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose at least i know one person whe knows their stuff

[greygoose in reply to meandyou]

lol Well, there are quite a lot on here that know their stuff! It's not that difficult if you remove the blinkers.

[janine58]

Hi - I'm really quite new and ignorant. My daughter, 14, diagnosed with hashi's, has been started on a very low dose - 0.25 mg - and I can see that she has is putting on weight - so I am interested in this. What do you mean by "on T3"? What tablets are you referring to? 9Just so I can enquire when we have our 4 weeks bloods)

Thank you

[janine58]

Thanks.

[greygoose in reply to janine58]

Janine, I wasn't aware that there was soy sauce in sushi. Sounds strange to me. But, I've only eaten it once, and that was when a Japanese friend invited me to dinner. We all prepared our own sushi but there was no soy sauce involved...