Weight gain due to being over medicated?

[Maramonro]

Is it possible to gain weight when over medicated? I have been hypo since my TT, and I haven’t gained any weight even when my TSH was 27, but as soon as I became “normal” and my TSH came down to 0.17 I started gaining weight and after being suppressed for 4 months I gained 10kg, even though I haven’t changed my diet much. I have been having the same weight all my life, so this is very unusual. Thanks

[greygoose]

Is the TSH all your doctor tests? If so, it is totally inadequate and not possible to tell if you're over-medicated. You also need the FT4 and FT3 - the most important number.

[Maramonro in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your response. Both FT3 and Ft4 are in “normal” range, slightly higher than when I had my normally functioning thyroid.

[greygoose in reply to Maramonro]

If they're in-range then you're unlikely to be over-medicated. But, it would be much better if you put the actual numbers - results and ranges - rather than just telling me they're in-range. They might actually be too low.

[Hidden]

Hi,

I just saw this.

I gained a lot of weight last year while on NDT, with a suppressed TSH, FT3 in the upper third of range and FT4 below midrange (so what many would call "optimal"). Someone suggested I should have cortisol levels tested (24 h saliva) and my results showed slightly elevated cortisol levels throughout the day. I have since been taking supplements to lower them. I have not ordered a new saliva test yet, but at least I am now able to get a whole night´s sleep (which used to be impossible), so it seems I´m on the right track.

I also have insulin resistance which of course could be a result of high cortisol as hormones interact. I have read that T3 can actually cause or worsen insulin resistance if your take too much (this info is from tiredthyroid.com and the book with the same name).

So, besides trying to lower my cortisol levels, to keep my adrenal glands from burning out (I have read that highish cortisol x 4 is the first phase of adrenal fatigue), I am also taking various supplements in an attempt to treat insulin resistance naturally rather than taking anti-diabetic drugs.

Insulin is a fat-storing hormone so it seems almost impossible to lose weight unless it´s under control. My latest labs showed fasting insulin levels of 18 (ref 2-24.9, should ideally be <5), which could explain my recent weight gain.

When it comes to endocrine disease (my original diagnosis is Hashimoto´s diagnosed 20 years ago), it´s very difficult to know what triggered which condition, or if a given hormonal imbalance is the cause or the result of another hormonal imbalance...sometimes, it ´s driving me crazy as it feels like I always end up with new questions and not enough answers...

[Maramonro in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your response. I haven’t checked my insulin but my dhea and testosterone is high, which could be due to hormone replacement but it is hard to determine whether I had it before my thyroid was removed as I was never tested for that before. I read that one of the symptoms of higher testosterone is obesity

[Hidden in reply to Maramonro]

Yes, DHEA is not uncomplicated...I was put on it a couple of years back by a so called anti-aging doctor. I took 20 mg daily and developed side effects such as oily skin and increased facial hair which could be due to higher testosterone levels (I´m female and noticed an increase in testosterone which DHEA can convert to). I cut back to 10 mg daily and then weaned off it after another couple of months with no side effects. I know DHEA levels decline with age, but am not sure it should be taken as an anti-aging supplement, especially since it can convert to various sex hormones and I am also on HRT.

[actionhealthy in reply to Hidden]

Would love to know which supplements you are using to lower cortisol and insulin?

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