Hi, I'm currently on 100mcg thyroxine and 20mcg liothyronine and have been for the last 6 weeks. I have joined weight watches and cannot seem to lose weight. I have increased my exercise too. Does this mean I am bound to being overweight for the rest of my life.
Any suggestions/advice/guidance greatly received 😕
No, it means you should get proper labs done - including FT3. It's low T3 that causes symptoms like weight gain and difficulty losing it.
If you have low T3, you should not be exercising or dieting. Low-calorie diets negatively affect conversion of T4 to T3. And, exercising - which won't make you lose weight, anyway - uses up calories, but also your T3. So, before continuing on either, you need to know your T3 level.
Hypo weight gain is not about how many calories you eat, or how little you exercise, so decreasing one and increasing the other won't make you lose the weight. The chances are that it isn't even fat, so they definitely won't help. But, what will help is raising your T3 level.
Hi Greygoose my last results were
T3 2.6 (3.5-6.5)
T4 9 (9-23).
My endocrinologist suggested both diet and exercise once I was in t3 replacement. My bloods are due for another 2 months so I have been tested since taking liothyronine.
Yes, well, endos in general know little about thyroid, and even less about nutrition! Your T3 is below range! And your T4 is right at the bottom of the range. Can't expect to lose weight with those labs. It's not the taking of T3 that makes you lose weight, it's taking enough.
Having said that, you are on 20 mcg - were those labs taken before you started the T3 or taking 20 mcg? I do wonder how well you're absorbing it. Do you take your hormone on an empty stomach, leaving an hour before eating or drinking anything other than water? Two hours before other medication or supplements - are you taking any other medication or supplements?
I'm on omeprazole and the occasional pain killer, not taking any supplements. T3 results are before taking liothyronine.
How long have you been taking omeprazole ? Are you sure you have high acid ? When hypo it is usually low - similar symptoms.
The Omeprazole is blocking the uptake of your thyroid meds and should only be a short course. Do read up on the side effects. There are more natural things you can take.
How are your levels of B12 - FOLATE - FERRITIN - VITD ? These too are VERY important and will be affected by omeprazole ...
I've been taking omeprazole for at least 2 years. I don't take it at the same time as my liothyronine.
Serum vit B12 288 (211-911)
Serum total vit d 53 (>51)
Serum folate 6.6 (>3.4)
No Ferritin result. Have you read up on the side effects of PPI's ?
How are you treating the very low B12 - VitD ?
Just found your Ferritin in another thread ! Reading all your posts/threads I do feel the Omeprazole is causing lack of absorption of your thyroid hormones preventing weight loss.
Omeprazole is a very bad thing to take. Especially as you're hypo, and probably have low stomach acid, anyway. But, you can't come off it cold turkey, you have to gradually decrease it.
If you do manage to get off it, you could test yourself for low/high acid :
scdlifestyle.com/2012/06/hy...
Your nutrients are all too low. If I were you, I would start a new thread asking about how to supplement them, because they will be adding to your symptoms.
Do you take your omeprazole at least 2 hours away from your levo/T3? (You didn't say if you took them away from food.) But, in any case, it's doubtful you have enough stomach acid to break them down, and therefor your absorption will be very bad.
But, you were very hypo before you started the T3, you really did need it. But, I'm surprised your endo started you on 20 mcg! That's a very high dose to start on.
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