Weight gain

[Jumana]

Hi, my name is jumana .. I did a thyroidectomy 10yrs ago ... gained 25kg ..not able to lose weight at all .. I am gaining .. not active due to back and feet problem ... I am really depressed with the situation and looking at myself.. what diet should I use.. I am 55yrs old and I did hysterectomy too 11 yrs ago ... pls advise.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi Jumana and welcome to the forum.

Are you on any thyroid meds? If so what dose.

Do you have any current thryoid test results? If so please post them with reference ranges.

[Jumana in reply to SeasideSusie]

I am on Euthyrox 175 mcg

[Jumana in reply to SeasideSusie]

TSH 3.56 and T 4 19.5

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jumana]

Reference ranges please Jumana , as requested. Ranges vary from lab to lab so we need the ranges from your lab to interpret your results.

The only thing I can say is that your TSH looks quite high, but can't be sure without the range. You might be undermedicated.

You should post your results like this

(Example only)

TSH: 1.5 (0.2-4.20)

FT4: 15 (12.22)

FT3: 4.5 (3.1-6.8)

FT3 is very important alongside FT4, it tells us whether you are converting T4 to T3, and it tells us if you are overmedicated.

[Jumana in reply to SeasideSusie]

TSH 3.56 normal 0.37-4.4

Hypothyroid >4.7

Hyperthyroid<0.27

[Jumana in reply to Jumana]

FT4 19.50

12-22

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jumana]

Well, your results are very strange. You have a high TSH and generally a treated hypo patient feels best when TSH is 1 or below with free Ts in the upper part of their reference ranges. However, your FT4 is basically perfect, exactly where most hypo patients feel best.

You really need FT3 testing at the same time as FT3 and then we can see if you are converting T4 to T3. If FT3 is low, with your current FT4, then you are not converting and this would cause your problem, you wont be able to loose weight if FT3 is low. T3 is the active hormone which every cell in our bodies need, so it's important to know your FT3 level. If your doctor wont test then do it privately but make sure FT4 and FT3 are tested at the same time.

Take a look at thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... > Treatment Options

According to the BMA's booklet, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders", many people do not feel well unless their levels are at the bottom of the TSH range or below and at the top of the FT4 range or a little above.

The booklet is written by Dr Anthony Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. It's published by the British Medical Association for patients. Avalable on Amazon and from pharmacies for £4.95 and might be worth buying to highlight the appropriate part and show your doctor.

Also -

Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine, "The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

So it could be that you need an increase in your Levo to get your TSH down to 1 or below but it's most important to know your FT3 level.

[janveron1]

I also had a thyroid tomb in 2013 and a hysterectomy many years before. I have steadily lost weight since changing from Levo to Nature Throid (self medicated). I believe the T3 contained in NDT helped to balance my weight loss.

janveron1

[Jumana in reply to janveron1]

Hi dear, can you explain more pls?