Losing Weight

[Eemmpq]

Hi, I'm on thyroxine - just 75mcg and I would be very grateful if I could check something with you experts!

My last test came in at the very bottom end of the range - I'm happy, feel great but the GP was concerned I was going to low and to look out for signs such as weight loss.

I have lost about 3kg over the last couple of months, in my opinion I think this is dow to the fact that I'm moving more now I feel better and eating a bit better as I've got the energy to cook! I was also very slim before my first bout of raised thyroid levels and put on a fair big of weight over the years before finally being given thyroxine.

So my question is, am I right in my thinking or is this something I should be following up? I really am not keen on having the dose changed, I feel like thyroxine has changed my life for the better.

[greygoose]

It would be helpful if we knew which level is at the bottom of the range. The TSH? If so, it is somewhat meaningless on it's own. You cannot know if you are over-medicated without seeing the FT4 and the FT3, the actual thyroid hormones.

As for your weight-loss, that is what is supposed to happen when you are adequately replaced. Although it very often doesn't. I certainly don't think that 3 kilos in two months is anything excessive or to worry about. So, if you feel well, I can't see any reason why you should change your dose. It sounds like you're one of the lucky ones that has found their sweet spot! But, if your doctor insists - and, it has to be said, doctors understand little about thyroid - you should insist that he tests the FT4 and the FT3 first.

[Eemmpq in reply to greygoose]

It was the TSH. I did ask the others as I was so relieved that they weren't going to reduce the dose I left pretty sharpish!

I feel good, I still feels that things go a bit up and down but for me, the improvement is obvious. So much more energy to play with my son, I'm better in work as I can actually think and it's I feel much more optimistic for the future. I do feel lucky! I will definitely ask for the other results in the future!

I'm amazed that I've managed to lose weight without doing anything much. Of you'd seen the doets/exercise programs I've done in the past with absolutely no effect on the scale!

[greygoose in reply to Eemmpq]

No, they wouldn't have any effect, because it wasn't the wrong diet or lack of exercise that was causing you to put on weight.

I'm so glad for you that you've found you ideal dose.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Eemmpq]

Unexplained weight gain when hypothyroid is the commonest question. People are puzzled that their diet is the same yet weight piles on.

When we're on an optimum dose of thyroid hormones, then weight can gradually reduce so that's a good sign. Hypo means slow and before diagnosed, weight can increase and this distresses many members. Some doctors do not increase to an optimum dose and keep the TSH within a 'range' when it should be 1 or lower.

[Caroline888]

You have had a very similar experience to me. I have always been very slim but did put on a stone in the decade prior to my hypo diagnosis. I put this down to menopause and ageing. Then I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started on levothyroxine. I was surprised to lose that stone in weight without making any effort at all to do so. Since then my weight has stabilized.

My current dose of Levothyroxine is 67.85 mcg, so very similar to yours. I wonder if our slim builds have something to do with a small dose being sufficient to make us feel well. As greygoose has already said, since you are feeling well I would be reluctant to reduce your dose.

All the best

Caroline

[jgelliss in reply to Caroline888]

The amount of thyroid meds one may need depends on how the bodies metabolizes the thyroid meds . It's very individual .

[Caroline888 in reply to jgelliss]

I'm sure you are right. I do appreciate that various factors are involved in achieving the optimum dose of Levothyroxine and/or T3 for the individual and that conversion of T4 to T3 comes into it too. It's just that I have met or communicated with several people now who seem to be happy and feeling well on relatively small doses of levo and, coincidentally or not, they all seem to be on the slight side.

I do appreciate what you are saying though. We all have to find the particular treatment that works for us by trial and error. It's a long-winded process but hopefully we'll all get there in the end.

Best wishes

Caroline