Anyone had extreme weight gain with no problems showing in blood tests?

[Bls1g16]

Anyone had extreme weight gain with no problems showing in blood tests? I’m 23 and have gained 5 stone without changing my lifestyle.

[Lalatoot]

Depends what you mean with no problems showing in blood tests.If you are looking at thyroid blood tests then even so-called normal results can be problematic.

Without more information we can't comment.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Over what period of time has the weight gain occurred?

What blood tests have you had? Could you share your results with lab range?

Do you have an existing thyroid condition or any other health conditions?

[Bls1g16]

My mum has an underactive thyroid but it doesn’t show in my blood tests. Endocrinologist also looks at TSH, T3 and T4 I think. I previously had elevated cortisol and prolactin (around New Year) but they’ve since gone down to normal. The weight gain started nearly 2 years go. They’ve tried all sorts of contraception etc. and after everything just blamed it on depression (which is isn’t).

[Tuscansun in reply to Bls1g16]

What do you mean “they’ve tried all sorts of contraception”? Are you or were you on contraception? Then you could easily gain lots of weight.

[Tuscansun in reply to Tuscansun]

Also, high prolactin itself could cause rapid weight gain and you should ask your doctors to rule out problems with your pituitary gland.

[Lalatoot]

Have you had antibodies tested? What were the actual results of those blood tests. Many of us on here have been told our bloods are normal .....but that means nothing . The results have to be right for each individual within the normal range. So if your ft4 was 13 in a range of 10 to 22 you'd be told normal but if your body needs that level to be 19 it would not be normal for you. It's like wearing somebody else's shoes...ok if they are the same size but hurting if they have small normal feet.

[Bls1g16 in reply to Lalatoot]

I’ve heard that about thyroid before! My doctor doesn’t seem to think so though- any advice? I’ve been locked out of my patient access so can’t report exact values at the moment, just told ‘normal’ though- so frustrating!

[Lalatoot in reply to Bls1g16]

First step is to get the results and post them on here. Folks will advise.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Bls1g16]

Do you take levothyroxine alone? What dose?

[humanbean]

Low levels of iron can cause weight gain :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

The video in the link is just under 17 minutes long, and is worth listening to.

If you haven't had your iron and ferritin (iron stores) levels tested recently then you won't know for certain if you have low iron or not. Doctors are quite happy to leave people with levels of ferritin which are low in range, and they hardly ever measure iron.

Note that ferritin can be in range while iron might be anywhere from under range to in range to over range. The same is true in reverse. If serum iron is in range ferritin could be anywhere.

[Noelnoel in reply to humanbean]

humanbean

Thank you for that video link. I had no idea and I imagine that many of us who are doing all the right things and have seemingly normal thyroid levels or even high within the normal range, still have weight issues

[humanbean in reply to Noelnoel]

many of us who are doing all the right things and have seemingly normal thyroid levels or even high within the normal range, still have weight issues

Yes, me for example, and it is getting worse the older I get.

[Noelnoel in reply to humanbean]

humanbean, just what I wanted to hear. Lol

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Please add actual results and ranges

ALWAYS test thyroid as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water

As humanbean says ….low vitamin levels can mask thyroid problems

ESSENTIAL To regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 as well as thyroid

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Did GP refer to Endocrinology? Was it to investigate high cortisol and prolactin?

You need the result & ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4.

Are you in UK? Find out if your practice offers online access. If not, always request a copy of your results via reception. Don’t accept verbal or hand scribbled notes you need a printed copy with ranges (ranges vary between labs so essential). They shouldn’t ask why but if they do try to and avoid providing just say they are “for your records”

Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (Tg) are thyroid antibodies you might want to have tested. If these are positive it will strongly support early treatment ie when you level begin to show as low and not when they are severely under range.

It’s also a good idea to test B12, folate ferritin & vitamin D. These can mimic & compound hypo symptoms.

Apart from weight gain do you have any other symptoms? Here’s a long list of hypo symptoms?

mk0thyroiduky0qtp9yo.kinsta...

[Bls1g16 in reply to PurpleNails]

Yes they did but as I said my cortisol and prolactin levelled out so I was discharged. I’m going to get my thyroid antibodies and vitamin levels checked so will see what happens! Honestly I have so many symptoms, everyone was shocked when my results were negative.

[Anthea55 in reply to Bls1g16]

This page on the ThyroidUK website lists symptoms and you can download a tick box list which you can then print and fill in to show your doctor

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

' I’ve been locked out of my patient access ' - I've never heard of that before. Did they tell you why? I'm sure it's your right to be able to see them. You need to complain to someone, but I'm not sure who. I think it may be the practice manager for you to try first. My only thought is that some practices have restricted access during lockdown, so you may not be the only person locked out.

Anyway, insist on a printed copy of your results and refuse comments about 'normal' and 'in range'.

[Goldengirl01 in reply to Anthea55]

You get locked out if you put a wrong password too many times.

[Anthea55 in reply to Goldengirl01]

Yes, I hadn't thought of that. It's normal in any system to only allow a few mistakes. It's just to stop people from trying all options indefinitely or automatically until they hit the right one.

There may be a 'forgotten password' option which will usually send you an email allowing you to reset it. If not, ask the surgery to let you in again.

Passwords are usually case sensitive - do be careful with that.

[Sharoosz in reply to Anthea55]

Absolutely insist a copy of results for your records! If most doctors don't even know what 'normal' and 'ok' are with thyroid, what does reception possibly know!?

[Wired123]

If you are female I would also investigate PCOS, you can Google info on this as it’s quite common 1 in 5 women have it

[JAmanda]

Docs will say results are normal when t4 is in range (likely at the very bottom) and tsh is in range or just above. They never test T3 so they never actually know how high the active hormone is so can’t see if you have central hypothyroidism. I’d get private tests of those three measures urgently then post the results here.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Testing for PCOS too

PCOS and Hashimoto’s are often linked

[shaws Administrator]

It is a common question on the forum, about unexplained weight gain. The following link might be informative and helpful:-

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

[Hidden]

Do you know what your cortisol levels were? Often GP's/doctors don't understand them. Cortisol is at it's highest level first thing in the morning however it is possible for it to stay at that level rather than dropping down as it should do, this happens in Cushing's syndrome. Is your weight all over or is it mainly around your tummy with your arms & legs still slim? What other symptoms do you have? Symptoms of Cushing's are weight gain, insomnia, elevated BP, stretch marks, round red face, thinning hair but excess facial hair, thin skin, easy bruising are some & you don't have to have all of them. If you think you may have it I can help a bit more.

symptoms of Cushing's

[Hidden]

Have you had your heart and kidneys checked? Is the weight gain all over your body or musty in your legs?

[Mumstheword175]

I was always skinny even pregnant and after three children. I put on four and a half stone (fully pregnant I put on 10lbs) and lost the use of muscles on my right hand side. The doctor said it was a virus and I nearly died before it was taken seriously. When I had mentioned thyroid as it’s in my family I was told not to tell them how to do their jobs.

My daughter started feeling unwell a number of years later. I immediately thought of the thyroid but after taking her back and forth they kept telling me she was fine. In the end we went private as she had all the symptoms and we were getting desperate. I didn’t want her to go so over weight like me. The private consultant was able to get all her blood results. In the UK you have to have three tests showing a problem after one another. She was showing problem, problem, ok, not three in a row. She had all the symptoms but they went by blood tests and she wasn’t getting the three in a row.

So don’t take what the doctor says as gospel. Ask for the readings and you can see if it’s out of normal range. Write down your symptoms each day and see if a pattern shows through. Don’t despair. Many of us had a fight to get diagnosed but perseverance will get you through it