Hypothyroidism and weight gain during and post menopause.

[Jayjames]

I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid when I was 25 and am medicated with levothyroxine 75 mg: I am now 53 and my meds have been kept at the same level for all these years. I have queried this but my docs have said my levels. I have struggled with my weight gain especially in my mid forties and have suffered with swelling of the stomach. I put some of this down to menopause, however I have continued to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly but my weight is still very slow to come off. My question is: Is anyone else going through this, and have you got any tips on how you have dealt with it? I still have my thyroid and was diagnosed after having my daughter all those years ago.

[Marz]

I see you joined in 2017 so no doubt you will have read loads of posts over that time and know that members can rarely comment without your latest results with ranges. Do you have them ?

Also would be good to know your levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD.

75mcg is a small dose and possibly keeping your T3 low in range.

[Jayjames in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz, not at the moment but I”m due for a blood test, so I will get them and update on here as soon as possible .

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Jayjames]

Suggest you get hold of your historic blood results and ranges as well - quite likely you have been under-medicated but just about "in range" for a while ... whereas you need to be in the top third / quartile really to feel well.

In my experience it's nigh-on impossible to lose weight until your free T3 and free T4 are nice and high - but it's pretty easy to blame the menopause instead of sorting out your thyroid. Sigh.

[Jayjames in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you fuschia pink, yes it is very easy to blame the menopause, and also very confusing trying to determine the cause of symptoms. I was prescribed hrt at one point which just made matters worse.

[Marz in reply to Jayjames]

I would post a new one when you have results. Does your GP test more than the TSH ?

[Jayjames in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz, no I don’t think she does, I will update asap,

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

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 .

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 as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Even if we don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until on full replacement dose

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

BMJ also clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...

[Jayjames in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thank you, lots of information to take in: I am honestly not sure if I have Hashimoto “s disease, it’s obvious I need to educate myself a lot more and need to do some more research, I seem to have had my head in the sand for some time. I take folate, b12, and I make sure I eat a couple of Brazil nuts everyday, and also eat a healthy diet, along with exercise, however I am still struggling with fatigue. Thank you for your information and I will update as soon as I have results