Weight loss and hypothyroidism

[Jc46]

Hi all, just wanted to update anyone feeling lost, I posted a 16 months ago when I was worried I had took 12 weeks off work and thought I'd never get better, I can say now after a long journey and 200mg Levo I almost feel normal. I've just lost a stone following a low GI diet and gluten free and would recommend it to anyone who wants there energy back. Just wanted to give some good news, the journey is long but there is light, good luck anyone having a hard time x

[shaws Administrator]

It great that you've improved and are now up to 200mcg of levo and have also been able to lose weight.

It will encourage those who are at the beginning of their journey.

[speckles70 in reply to shaws]

thank u both for this hope... Iev just recently been diagnosed but from symptoms that have been put down to numerous conditions , I suspect iev been hypo for years! My constant battle trying to lose weight is heartbreaking. So thanks for giving back my hope. XXX

[dotti in reply to speckles70]

Hi speckles70

Dont give up hope i struggled with weight gain for a long time when i was diagnosed Hypo, mainly all round my middle, this year i joined a local slimming club and lost just over half a stone my muffin top has basically gone.

Dotti x

[Elven]

Great news. Very happy for you! I, too, am now on 200mcg levo daily and since the end of June 2016 have lost 3st 2lb. Mostly by low carbing but I do have wee indulgences at times. I count calories too - keep them around 1400 daily (I am 5' 4" - a tall person would probably need at least 1600). My hope is to repair my metabolism as I lose weight. I do stall at times - I think we all do - but later I get a wee 'whoosh' of several more pounds gone. Eat for health and strength and take your supplements as advised all over this forum, and in the high doses suggested LOL.

Don't despair. Adjusting to levothyroxine can take time and this is true in my case. I feel much better than I did before treatment. Not 100% because it can take a year or longer to get the full benefit. I felt so terrible before, morbidly obese and utterly weary and depressed. No drive, no energy, no fizz. Permanent lethargy, constant aches and pains. Sound familiar? LOL.

Getting the dosage 'right' is the biggest hurdle in the early days xx

[Elven]

A further update!

I started levothyroxine treatment at the beginning of July, 2016. I weighed 18st 7lb and was miserable, ashamed, exhausted, in constant pain and unable to eat more than 500 calories per day without gaining weight. It was a struggle just to get through each day.

My GP has a lot of thyroid patients. He ordered a whole battery of blood tests for all kinds of possible conditions, and when the results came through he called at my home to tell me my thyroid function was seriously compromised and that I must start treatment immediately.

I started-out on 100mcg. Over time this was increased to 200mcg. I'm still tired and my sleep is all over the place but I feel much better than I did before. I have more stamina and my brain fog has lifted considerably. Not 100% recovered yet, but maybe 90% considering my age (62).

Best of all from my point of view I've now lost a total of five stones. Very good progress in a ten-month period. I'm so happy about this. Only 3.5 stones to go now to my 10st goal, where I maintained without regaining for seven years.

Please don't give up, people. When the right dose of levothyroxine has been determined, and when you find the right diet (for me it's HFLC, with a few occasional treats), miracles may well start to happen. I am vegetarian which makes low carb a bit trickier than it is for meat eaters but it's not that difficult. My advice is to quit sugar or keep intake to a minimum. It's no good for people with thyroid disease. Indeed it's not much good for people, without!

I will continue this controlled but not severely restricted way of eating indefinitely. I was huge and as overweight people will know it's horrible. When you're struggling to cope with a multitude of hypo symptoms at the same time you often end up in tears.

I am so grateful for my progrss so far. I'd been ill and undiagnosed for years - by no means unusual - and had put my symptoms down to my age, menopause, fading hormones, lack of exercise, blah blah. Now I have a diagnosis and a treatment. I feel lucky to do well on levo.

Don't give up at the first hurdle. Persevere!

[Elven]

An additional update:

I am now 12st 13lb. Sometimes I don't lose for weeks. At other times I lose half a stone over a few weeks then losses stop for a while. I eat mostly low-carb and always vegetarian but not very low calorie. I take all the vitamins recommended here and do my best to stay positive. My mood still goes up and down, I still get very tired some days and occasionally need a good cry! All normal, I'd say LOL.

Keep trying. Do your best to cut sugar and junk down or even out of your daily diet. I have treats now and then but not every day. So far, so good.

xx