Weight loss

[eli1]

Hello, I am sure this a common post. I recently paid for the DOi2 test and was found to have 1 of the Gene's that means i struggle to covert t4 to t3 and can lead to obesity. I am under a consultant and he is writing to the ccg to see if they will allow me to have t3. My question is has anybody lost weight when this has been discovered and how. I am just pining weight on and at 5ft 2 I cant afford to get any bigger. I am even considering surgery when things eventually return to normal. Any advice would be grateful as it is so disheartening.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Please add latest results and ranges

Plus essential to have optimal vitamin levels BEFORE starting T3

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Dio2 gene doesn’t mean we don’t convert, but that brain needs addition of small doses of T3 alongside levothyroxine

NHS funding does depend (wrongfully) on CCG area ...post code lottery

I managed to loose 15kilo ...not easily...but weight loss is definitely not main aim

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As per previous post 9 months ago....

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

First step is to get full thyroid and vitamin testing, privately if necessary

[eli1]

I have been taking t3 which a friend gets from Greece pharmacy and consultant oversees this. I take 100mg alternative days. I dont have my latest results but will get them. Since taking t3 I have felt alot better in myself, not exhausted all of the time. Still have dry skin but not cold all of the time. Yes I have Hashimoto's. Weight loss is now one of my main aims as I have put on lots of weight and it doesnt seem to matter how much I restrict what I eat. No not on gluten free diet. Does that help?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to eli1]

Sorry I don’t understand what you are saying....

1) getting levothyroxine dose optimal first, so that Ft4 is steady in top third of range.

2) vitamin levels must be optimal BEFORE even considering adding T3

3) if Hashimoto’s trying strictly gluten free diet and/or lactose free diet BEFORE considering adding T3

after these first three points.....if Ft3 remains too low consider cautiously adding very small dose of T3 alongside levothyroxine

4) Taking any dose of T3 has to be EXACTLY same dose every day

5) taking T3 has to be started EXTREMELY slowly.....maximum of 5mcg twice a day and retest FULL thyroid after 6-8 weeks.

Taking too much T3, inappropriately can cause massive issues including weight gain

T3 is not a diet pill

[eli1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply. I have never thought t3 to be a diet pill and have not taken it for that. I have taken it slowly and consultant agrees I need it and do take a low dose same time every day. I obviously have given the impression I am looking for a quick fix weight solution which is not the case. I have tried for years and continue to try and lose weight. I thought I might have got some advise on how others have lost weight but feel I have been judged. I take my health very seriously and would not do anything to intentionally damage it. I will think twice before trying to seek some advice from groups that I think may have people who have gone or going through a similar experience.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to eli1]

Sorry you read it that way

you say you are taking 100mcg T3 on alternate days?

That’s an extremely high dose...even if it was 50mcg everyday...presumably you are still taking levothyroxine as well ?

[eli1 in reply to SlowDragon]

No I am taking thyroxine 100mg every other day. I take 25mg t3 in the morning and 12mg in the evening. I will look at a gluten free diet that might help. Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to eli1]

That makes a lot more sense

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 regularly

Does endocrinologist do these

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Presumably you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

[eli1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I have Hashimoto's. He hasnt checked them for a while. I might pay for a private test for vitamins. I take selenium and magnesium . Thank you I disnt explain myself earlier very well.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to eli1]

If you have high antibodies this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to eli1]

You maybe far better taking 50mcg levothyroxine everyday rather than 100 levothyroxine one day and zero the next day.

Easy to cut 100mcg tablet in half

[Steni in reply to eli1]

I understand why you feel as you do after asking your question - it was a good set of questions and important to get other people’s experiences - don’t stop posting though it’s such a great source of help.

[fayray in reply to eli1]

Im not gluten free not everyone has an issue with gluten I tried to go gluten free which isn’t that easy but it made no difference

[fayray]

Hello it’s not a magic tablet I’m the same I don’t convert my weight ballooned from 9st to 13st in a short period of time, my unsympathetic dr mention i go to the pub on a Friday night!!!! Where I used to drink Diet Coke or sparkling water 😡Eventually after having to try everything on the market t3 was introduced I lost a small amount of weight initially but it’s a combination of supplements T4 and t3 that seem to be working after 15yrs of trail and error. I even tried t3 only and was great for 6 months until things returned to how they were like your body gets used to the dose and it stops being that effective. Exercise is vital not loads but 30 mins 3 or 4 tines a week min it’s a hard road for life I’m afraid, I’m now for the first time in 15 yrs 10.9 and it’s been a battle at the moment I can eat what I like but at any time it can change it’s exhausting -

My gp prescribed t3 for over 7yrs then stopped due to cost I’m trying to fight it without much luck.

X

[MissDemeanour191]

Yes it's a long hard slog. And as you get older, when food is one of the things in life you like to enjoy! can get depressing. I went through menopause while battling hashimotos as well. Couldn't take HRT. My unsympathetic female GP said it was because i'd packed in active job....postwoman, & weight gain is inevitable as you get older! My husband is slim and loves cooking & can eat what he wants grrr! Yes, I know I shouldn't eat gluten, and I do suffer it affects my joints & makes me bloated, but like i said, as you get older, it's a bit of what you enjoy!

I'm due to get my blood done soon at GP's test my TSH, but I always have to push for it, as they say it's only necessary every 12 months, and wifh situation at present, don't even know if they're doing it. I read some of the posts on here, from people who obviously know their stuff, and yes,, I admire their knowledge, bur I look after my elderly mother, my husband has been off on the sick & is due back at work in an environment where social distancing is nigh on impossible, & he suffers with anxiety. In a perfect world, I would 'get on top' of my hashimotos & be good!! However.....

[eli1]

Thank you for your replies. I am menopausal and have caring responsibilities and work full time in a busy job so it is hard. I have tried every weightloss thing going joined a gym and still the weight continues. I will have a look at gluten free and see if that helps. Thank you

[BrynGlas in reply to eli1]

I have had the same weight loss issues since before I was diagnosed low thyroid over 25 years ago and still going through it. I have never seen a consultant/Endo. I discovered recently that only 3 or 4 of all the blood tests that I have been given through the years, were never recorded in my files and I was never given a copy of them I had to find that out by asking and asking.

Unfortunately, weight loss is a baby steps thing too it seems. I have gone gluten and dairy free and eat low carb, no rice, potatoes, pasta etc I seem to be losing slowly at the moment. It isn't as bad as it sounds.

I find it helps me to keep a diet diary too and weigh myself naked, after the loo, before eating/drinking anything (except my thyroxine with a sip of water) first.

Have you tried Michael Mosley's 'Fast 800' diet? It is pretty low carb diet anyway, but any carbs/dairy, that are mentioned in recipes etc try to avoid, likewise dairy. It is worth a go for a few weeks. You don't have to stay on it for years, but give it a try. You may find it works brilliantly.

Also there is a Fast 800 Facebook diet group where you will get support on weight loss too, I know that at least one of the Admins has low thyroid. Mention thyroid issues on there too if you decide to go that way.

Good luck with weight loss

[Timetraveler67]

Hi Eli1 just wanted to say that if I eat gluten I get really sick, it causes a flair up (I also have hash) I get joint pain bloating and can be in bed for days after. But about weight, I can’t say for sure it’s the reason but I’ve lost about 7 pounds since going gluten free. It’s taken me 3 years to get my thyroid levels somewhat normal, I tryed t3 but it didn’t help, I didn’t know then what I know now about vitamins etc and I really messed my body up trying different combinations of hormones including NDT. Ive learnt one thing and it’s I should be respectful to my levo which I wasn’t before. I treated it like the enemy because when I took it it made me feel worse. I hope you feel better very soon and that you lose the weight you want x

[Molly161018]

I've found keto very effective for weight loss with hashimotos - and it is naturally gluten free.