Weight loss on Levothyroxine

[ABro]

Has anyone actually lost weight on Levothyroxine? I have been hypo for almost 3 years and never on more than my current dose which is alternating 50mcg and 75mcg. My tsh is below 1 but still within range, y4 near top of range (20 out of 23) and t3 just above mid range so seems to be working well medically, however I have lost a stone and a half over the 3 years without trying. Although I’ve had a period of stress over the last 6 months , I think this is unusual when hypo and I feel like I’m a bit too skinny now (for a 64 yr old lady!) but the gp doesnt seem concerned. Would like to gain half a stine back. Anyone else?

[LunaMa]

What a shame there is no procedure to donate weight - I’d gladly give you some of mine 😉

Although I don’t think they are necessarily accurate, how does your weight compare to what is considered ‘normal’?

[ABro in reply to LunaMa]

Thanks for replying LunaMa. My husband offers to donate his excess weight on a daily basis lol! Regarding “normal” I am at the lowest end of healthy BMI. I was a bit over flabby and uncomfortable at 9 stone (sorry I don’t think in metric) without being able to shed for several years, but I did have a desk job. I felt most like me at around 8-8.5 stone really. My retiring coincided with the hypo diagnosis so I have also been more active and as I said, stress with weddings, house sales, birth of granddaughter, hospitals, appointments and deaths of close relatives etc etc.. has brought my weight down to 7st 7lb but I’ve had stress before and never lost weight so I can’t tell what’s the issue here. I would just like to put back at least half a stone to feel better in myself. My diet is healthy as I don’t do fats very well - saying that I try to eat the healthier fats whenever I can.

[LunaMa in reply to ABro]

I think we are of a similar vintage - I still think in imperial too!

Sounds like you have had a really hectic time so maybe it is a combination of things. I wonder if there is anything a pharmacist could recommend, that would build you up without overloading on vitamins or minerals that would conflict with conditions or medication? Might be worth asking.

[ABro in reply to LunaMa]

Thanks I will investigate - thanks for listening - I’m sure there are many with worse problems 😅

[Caroline888]

Your situation sounds just like mine. I've been slim all my life and struggled to put on weight until the menopause when I put on almost a stone in weight. In retrospect I can see that menopause triggered hypothyroidism in my case. Some symptoms I attributed to menopause didn't actually go away until twenty years later when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and started on levothyroxine. I lost the extra weight very quickly without trying and, like you, my weight is now at the very bottom of the BMI range (19).

As a girl I could never put on weight and now, aged 69, whatever I eat my weight stays constant at 8 stone 10 lbs. Most likely your weight loss is down to your better health now that you are taking levo. Your GP isn't concerned so I would guess your weight loss is due to the Levothyroxine.

I wouldn't worry about it - in fact I don't! I feel better than I have for a long long time. I hope you do too.

Best wishes

Caroline

[ABro in reply to Caroline888]

Aah thanks Caroline that makes me feel better - think we must have a unique metabolism. As I said above, we are lucky not to have worse health problems ☺️ Hope you continue to feel good - I’m a lot better now the stress has lessened tbh