Weight loss

[Mypandorabox]

I’ve just started Levo having been diagnosed with hypothyroidism just before Christmas . I know it might take time to get the levels of medication right but I wanted advice on weight loss . I’ve piled it on recently . Will being diagnosed make it easier to lose weight bc I’ve been finding it super hard ,

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you know your blood test results from before starting on Levothyroxine?

Have thyroid antibodies been tested, or vitamin levels?

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

How long have you been on this starter dose?

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that

most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in Levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. 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) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies if not been done yet

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

Until on a good dose of Levothyroxine you need to be patient and kind to yourself. Plenty of rest, some gentle exercise, like a short walk daily

If you have high antibodies, then looking at strictly gluten free diet

But important to get coeliac blood test first while still eating high levels of gluten

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mypandorabox

Weight gain is one of the signs/symptoms of hypothyroidism. As you become optimally medicated then weight loss should be possible. In the meantime, sensible healthy eating and patience, no low fat diets (healthy fats are important) and lay off any hard exercise, just gentle exercise such as swimming, yoga, walking, etc. It can take many months to reach your optimal dose as thyroid hormone needs to be increased gradually - 25mcg every 6-8 weeks.

Make sure you get regular retests and increases in dose. When doing thyroid tests we advice:

* Blood draw no later than 9am as TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. We need the highest TSH when looking for an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction.

* Fast overnight from evening meal/supper the day before. No breakfast before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH.

* Water only before the blood draw. This is because coffee can affect TSH so it's possible that any other caffeine containing drinks can as well.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin, then leave this off for 7 days before the test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure then it can give false results. Most testing equipment uses Biotin.

Also, take Levo on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only and water only either side. Take Levo on it's own, 2 hours away from any other medication or supplements, some need 4 hous (iron, calcium, iodine, magnesium, Vit D). This is so that nothing affects Levo's absorption.