Is it common to continue to experience weight gain after starting Levothyroxine? I am still in the process of of reaching optimal levels after being diagnosed with Hypothyroid in August 2019 and still experiencing all symptoms. My weight has continue to increase while staying active, counting calories and taking Levothyroxine exactly as prescribed.
So I guess my question is does weight gain typically stop once optimum thyroid and vitamin levels are reached? Of course assuming that I’m also watching what I eat and staying active.
Thank you all so much for your feedback!
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Katie1003
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How many calories are you consuming? Low-calorie diets can negatively affect conversion of T4 to T3, meaning that you stay hypo and continue to gain weight.
I have been doing weight watchers for four years. Typically consume 1500 cal a day. I lost 80# and maintained it almost three years and I have gained 10# since starting Levothyroxine. 😔
OK, maybe not enough calories to support conversion. But, could be because you're not on your right dose of levo yet. Do you have any blood test results, with ranges, to show us?
Here are my most recent labs below. I was increased to 75 mcg from 62.5 mcg after these were taken. I cannot tell any difference from the increase at all. I repeat labs on Monday.
Well, you're still hypo on those labs. Your TSH is much too high. It should come down to 1 or under when on levo. Your FT4 is only 38.57% through the range, should be up to about 80%. And your FT3 is 46.11%. Most hypos would want it higher than that. But, at least there doesn't seem to be a conversion problem at that point. But, that could be due to the high TSH. Be interesting to see what your lab come back at on Monday.
Unfortunately yes. Only because you're still under medicated so still hypo.
Doctors are all terrified of heart strain from too much medication and would rather we were all just in the "range".
The "range" is for healthy people and used as a differential diagnosis, you're inside the range you don't have a Thyroid problem or you're outside and you do.
Unfortunately the "range" is pointless for someone already diagnosed, We already know you have an issue, they should give you more medication every 4 weeks until your base temperature comes up to human and the weight starts to come off.
Welcome to our world! You're going to have to be your own advocate now.
Ask for more medication tell doctor you're putting on weight. Start taking lots of vitamin C and D3 if you can tolerate it, They will help the levo to work. Do NOT take iron or calcium at the same time as the levo they need to be 4-6 hours apart.
My doctor completely contests weight gain, says thyroid contributes 1% - I've told him I've gained 2-3 stone in 6 months after a lifetime of being borderline underweight, limit and track calories and workout 3-4 times a week with a personal trainer as well as yoga and swim, still refuses its anything to do with it. Argh.
Unfortunately the range was established on mostly sick people. The lab just took the findings from 95% of the folks sent to them for testing and said, this is the "normal" range. But stop! Think! Were doctors sending perfectly healthy people devoid of symptoms to the lab for testing?
Not hardly. When someone finally did decide to take a look at the results for people who definitely did NOT have thyroid problems, they found a much, much more narrow range for "healthy".
I’m exactly the same! I’m putting on weight quicker than I’ve ever put it on before and it’s so frustrating especially when I’ve worked so hard to lose it and keep it off! Hopefully when we both are treated to a decent level we will lose what we’ve put on! Xx
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.
Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
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 thyroid antibodies
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )
I have Hashimoto's and I actually got my fattest when I was on the highest dose despite swimming 1km nearly daily (some days I was too exhausted to get out of bed) and hardly eating anything (I was over 80kg). I kept having to up my dose as after feeling better for a while I went back to having symptoms and got worse and worse. In the end what worked for me was changing my diet and lifestyle. I first went gluten free which made a huge difference and three years ago went onto the Autoimmune Protocol diet which has been life changing. I am now at 60kg and feel as healthy as I did before I got the hashimoto's. I also now do yoga everyday, and try to be strict with getting enough sleep.
Rosie2m you may also find this info helpful based on your reply
Thanks pharmaguapa, I have been gluten free since the start of January but am yet to feel any difference, I will continue for at least another 2 months, I’ve not heard of the autoimmune protocol diet so I will have a look into this, thankyou xx
I can take up to 6 months to get the gluten out of your system so give it time. And of course you may be one of the people who is not affected by gluten (I have a friend with Hashimoto's who has no problems with gluten but can't do dairy).
Yes, unfortunately this has been my experience too. Started on levo about 3 months ago although my dose isn't that high so far - 25mg/50mg on alternate days. I've definitely noticed weight gain since starting though which is thoroughly frustrating!! x
I gained weight it's hard to lose. Just fruits, vegetables, nuts,different types of beans and salad. Walk a lot. Yet cannot lose weight instead bloating.
I know this is an old post but just read it and wondered how the weight is going. I haven’t been taking levothyroxine long but as someone who has weighed myself every day for the last five years I can definitely say that only since taking Levo I have started to put on weight. I had symptoms of hypothyroidism long before I started taking Levo and no weight gain, until now with medication.
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