So I have congenital hypothyroidism born without any thyroid gland in 82. I'm 34 and have found out a whole range of information that I'm flabbergasted I don't already know I.e high intensity workouts and low calorie diets and their effects of thyroid replacement hormones. So anyway I found this out last week after feeling pretty shoddy for sometime and finding it impossible to lose weight! I exercised hard and ate very well but the scales didn't budge.
Last week omg I've pigged out -
Depression and frustration being the cause! I'm now self medicating on T3 along with T4 and wondering how I go about shifting weight to finally be happy? How do I exercise? How do I eat? Constipation and depression I'm sure will calm down when I finally regulate right? I've never been so confused and lost ...
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juliarees82
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As with all things thyroid it's not quick. I gained a lot of weight before diagnosis (around 4.5 stones) which I'm slowly losing. There is no magic bullet but for me what helps is:
1. Being on right meds (I take ndt)
2. I eat oats and oat bran daily (works wonders on the bowel)
3. I supplement with various b vits plus tumeric (my liver is dodgy)
4. I have lymphatic drainage massages (which seem to really help)
5. I try to eat high protein low carb although not perfect Atkins becausE of rhe oats. I stopped all the low fat foods and it's really helped. I do not calorie count just watch what I eat
6. Because I'm insulin resistant i''ve been taking metformin since Feb
7. I don't take probiotics but do have full fat raw milk plus yoghurts
I've made different changes in the three years since diagnosis: I lost half a stone in the first year on levo, I changed to ndt after this and lost about a stone in a year but then hit a plateau for around 6 months neither gaining nor losing, I then started the oats and metformin and have lost about half a stone since Feb.
I think we're all a bit different and sometimes it's other factors that come into play, I've been on a gut healing kick this year and as I started it about the same time as the metformin I don't know what is making me lose the weight.
Just eat clean. Plenty of protein and good fats - butter, animal fat, olive oil, nut oils, avocado - but not seed oils. Cut out processed foods and go easy on the sugar. Plenty of fresh fruit and veg; some carbs because you need them for conversion; not too much roughage because it reduces absorption of your levo/T3. And don't skimp on the salt, because adrenals need salt. But, never, ever consume any form of unfermented soy.
Just gentle walking/swimming/yoga until your T3 is optimised. No strenuous work-outs! They won't make you lose weight, and might make you put it on.
Make sure all your nutrients are optimal. Get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. These need to be optimal for your body to be able to use the hormone you're giving it. And it doesn't matter how well you eat, you will still probably have absorption problems.
Things you can start without testing are vit C, zinc, magnesium and selenium. These are things that most people are deficient in, and can cause terrible symptoms. But, never start more than one supplement at a time. Leave at least two weeks between starting each supplement.
Grey Goose, what would you recommend a starting dose for magnesium, vitamin c? I've heard magnesium can cause loose stools, but could help with sleep. I got a call from my Dr that Vitamin D, Ferratin,B12 came back in the "normal" range but am waiting on results to be mailed to me so I can post up and get feed back. I've noticed tingling and numbness on left side of face and left leg that comessed in goes. I hoped B12 would show I lacked it but apparently nurse told me it came back fine. I don't know if it's still ok to supplement if there isn't anything lacking in my results. I've never taken supplements and I think it's important being that I have congenital hypothyroidism. I'd appreciate your feedback back.
Nancy, what doctors and nurses consider to be 'fine' for their patients, they would rarely find 'fine' if it were their results! They just mean 'in range', they don't know any more than that. But just being 'in range', is not the same as 'optimal'. You need to know what your exact level is, before you buy any supplements, so that you get the right amount. No point in taking either too much, or too little.
Both magnesium and can cause loose bowels, it's true. But that can be a blessing if you suffer from hypo-induced constipation! Start with 1000 mg vit C and see how you go. You can increase to bowel tolerance.
But not all forms of magnesium cause loose bowels. You should choose your type of magnesium for what you want it to do. All is explained here!
Thank you Grey Goose for the information, I new nothing about magnesium being used for many different areas. I was told to try for sleeping, so I'm hoping it will do the job.
Your story might be similar to a good friend of mine. He has congenital hypothyroidism, and it now 31. During his child hood and teenage years he was never really aware of having any problems. He was pretty active in his 20s, although had a reputation for clumsiness and was terrible at every sport he played.
Sometime around his mid/late 20s a doctor messed with his dose. He spent a year or two realising he was getting ill, gaining weight, not coping at work. Got passed between tons of doctors who took him on various wild goose chases, but none who can properly read thyroid blood tests.
He's really struggled to realise that he has an illness, and learning about it and managing it is an important responsibility. I think he was raised to believe it was nothing at all. But also he's able to look back on his whole life and see he's been hypo at various times and never noticed before.
I get the impression it's common for levo to stop working so well as you age.
There's interesting! I too was useless at sport in school and was known as a daydreamer and extremely clumsy! Be good to get in touch with your friend to swap notes x
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