Hi since being diagnosed as hypothyroid I've gained 6 stone and losing it seems so hard. I also have pcos.
When I do try it's so slow that I quit and then I'm back at square one.
I just don't know what is the best way to lose weight with a thyroid issue? I've tried slimming world and lose an initial bit of weight then stop. Ww same issue again and I find calorie counting is great but takes time and I have a 2 year old.
What ways are the best for this condition? Or have you lost weight and managed to keep it off ? I still have fatigue issues and since my last pregnancy I've had joint pain and issues with my back hips and also had to go gluten free.
Any tips or suggestions would be great 👍 thanks
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nettiboo1982
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nettiboo1982, Optimal thyroid levels are crucial for weight issues so that has to be the starting point for help from members. If you've had a thyroid test recently, post the results (TSH, FT4 and FT3) and tell us what thyroid medication you're currently taking.
Do you have any recent blood results to share? - you need to know what free T4 and free T3 are doing, not just TSH, and ideally have good key nutrients too - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12.
In my experience it's just not possible to lose weight until TSH is properly low and BOTH free T4 and free T3 are nice and high in range (you want these a good 2/3 or higher).
If your GP can't or won't do full testing (I've had some success with mine by saying that these are the tests recommended by Thyroid UK) you will see LOT of posts here about private testing, with discounts available on the main Thyroid UK site
Then: avoid soy [you should be doing this anyway] - which rules out diet shakes; eat healthy. A lot of people swear by the 5:2. I lost an easy stone on this - then nothing. I now do the intermittent fasting thing (as a way of life) so for me it's just hot water until mid-day; then nothing after 7pm. I can now eat what I want and weight stays stable, which is half the battle. A number of people here have found the weight fall off on this regime. I can't say that it's been that easy for me, but I'm at my pre-diagnosis weight, which is where I want to be.
Hi I haven't had a recent blood test so have no idea what my number is currently.
I've had issues with my thyroxine since having my baby I seem to react to having slightly too much my dose used to be 125mcg but now I get a racy heart if I take it every day so I alternate 125mcg then 100mcg. I feel better on the 100mcg days but easily fatigued. I've never had it investigated of I convert my medication well.
Supplements I take iron and b complex and a calcium with vit d zinc etc.
I don't have gluten and haven't now for over a year and no longer have increased inflammatory markers. Although I still have issues with joint pain and back hips and legs. My tummy is still easily upset and I think I'm experiencing peri menopause now too.
It would just be nice to not feel so unwell all of the time I'm almost 40 but feel alot older.
My doctors are very oh well your tsh is fine your fine etc and the endocrinologist here is more diabetic doctor than thyroid.
So first step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done
As you are gluten intolerant, likely to have low Ft3 and may need to see thyroid specialist endocrinologist to get T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine
Remember to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before blood test as biotin supplements can falsely affect test results
Important to regularly retest iron and ferritin at least 3 times year if taking iron
As vegetarian you may need separate B12 as well as vitamin B complex
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease). Ord’s is autoimmune without goitre.
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s.
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