Struggling to lose weight..

[lst863]

Hi, I have Hyperthyroidism for 2 years, still taking anti-thyroid Methimazole 5mg medicine every other day. I have been feeling ok. Tired most of the time. The problem is that I have been gaining so much weight over the year! I gained almost 20 pounds. I didn't know that Methimazole medicine blocked my metabolism. I have been struggling to lose weight. Couldn’t lose weight. My Endocrinologist doctor recently told me that I don’t have Hypothyroidism and the anti-thyroid Methimazole medicine is blocking my metabolism to prevent me to lose weight. She also said that I have stay on this medicine to prevent me becoming overactive again. There is nothing she can do to help me to lose weight. I felt so upset and do not know what to do and how to lose weight. Your help and suggests will be very greatly appreciated it. Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested for Hashimoto's and TSI or TRab antibodies tested for Graves

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) Or Graves' disease diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

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

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Private testing for suspected Graves - TSI or TRab antibodies

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Obviously your symptoms suggest you are now hypothyroid. Endocrinologist could add Levothyroxine...as block and replace protocol

Come back with new post once you get results and members can advise on next steps

[Hennerton]

It sounds as though you are not on the right dose of Methimazole. I was on Carbimazole which is the same basically and kept having my GP check my levels. It is common to go up and down and quite hard to settle on the right dose. You need blood tests, as Slow Dragon says. We cannot really say what is wrong without them but you should not be gaining weight if the dose is correct,