Overweight causes hypothyroid symptoms or the other way round?

[tiredBFmum]

My GP sister thinks being overweight is causing my hypothyroidism symptoms

However it seems I have had borderline low free t4 for nearly ten years. My TSH has been climbing over last ten years and is now over 3.5

I have almost every hypo symptom. Even when I was a size ten I was excessively cold, dry skin, depressed, period problems, constipated, exhausted, brain fog, slow actions, thoughts and talking.

Has anyone lost weight and it's improved their symptoms?

And most importantly how do you lose weight when you feel like you are living in the blackest of treacles?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Low vitamins affect thyroid.

Important to test FT4 and FT3 as well as TSH

See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3

Private tests are available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Link about antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[marigold22]

You gain weight when you have low thyroid - Hypothyroid or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. The latter is Hypothyroid + thyroid antibodies attacking your thyroid gland. I have Hashi's and have never been more than a size 12 at my most ill. I am now a size 8 or 10 but am only 5ft zero tall. You need to get thyroid blood tests done as SlowDragon recommends.

[Clutter]

TiredBFmum,

TSH >2.0 usually indicates your throid is beginning to struggle and although symptoms may precede abnormal bloods by months/years NHS doesn't diagnose hypothyroidism until TSH is over range or FT4 below range.

Weight gain is usually due to slowed metabolism caused by low thyroid but obesity can elevate TSH.

[jgelliss in reply to Clutter]

Wow !!!! This is very interesting obesity can elevate TSH . It's like a vicious cycle . It's so amazing .

[Docbuster]

I'm told selenium copper & mg vit D copper needed for thyroid function if u go loads of veg no refined sugar your weight should come off and replace them minerals, I lost 4st,many people are vit D and mineral deficient especially if u do anything that makes u pee eg beer coffee

[Angel_of_the_North]

Generally being hypo causes you to gain weight (and starts a long time before the NHS will diagnose you). Not everyone gains weight, but most do. Since it's caused either by antibodies or some other failure of the thyroid gland, I can't see how being overweight could do that. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies (esp B12 and ferritin) and gluten or lactose intolerance can cause similar symptoms.

[silverfox7]

I would look on the Thyroid Uk site, they run this forum, and are recommended by NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction. Lots of useful info and your sister may find it good to read as well so she can recommend it to any of her patients.

[SilverAvocado]

Sounds like your sister might be as bad as any other GP