Hello, I havent posted for a long while, mailny because of lockdown, trying to keep safe, the virus and everything, but I have an under active thyroid, and recently ( well within the last two years ) my gp has upped my levothyroxine to 125! He now says after a blood test that im optimally medicated, again ! But im still putting on weight even though i dont eat that much, im wondering if my thyroid is also affecting my hormones ? I kept asking the gp for a dietician, which resulted in one session with several others on Zoom wherby the dietician assumed that we all ate too much !My prob is that i dont , and everything i eat puts on weight ! ive been trying to lose three stone since i put lots of weight on when my thyroid went crazy, but all it seems to be doing is helping me put on weight !!!! I have dieted till im blue in the face , ive given up , should i go on the thyroid diet ? how on earth can i lose the three stone my underactive thyroid has made me gain ?
Thankyou all xxx
Kind regards
Astro
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Astro16
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Unfortunately for those people who have hypothyroidism, few medical practitioners or doctors are aware that taking levothyroxine alone can cause unexplained weight gain. This is due to the fact that levo is an 'inactive' hormone and is supposed to convert to T3 (liothyronine) but some people cannot do so effectively and weight is gained.
Our aim, when taking thyroid hormone replacements is to have a TSH of 1 or lower and both Frees, T3 and T4, should be at an optimum.
Few GPs are knowledgeable (and I know that from my personal view) and I told the doctor 'that's incorrect' about a statement he made to me.
Our aim is to have a TSH of 1 or lower and both Frees should be towards the top of the range but few GPs check 'frees'.
If you take levothyroxine alone request some liothyronine (T3) be added to levothyroxine (T4).
An 'optimum dose of thyroid hormone replacements is one that enables our metabolism to be 'normal'.
Not everyone who takes levothyroxine gains weight but it is how metabolism is affected.
These are some photos from the USA - Stopthethyroidmadness so ita is worldwide problemm for some hypo patients.
Do you have your latest blood results to share? This will let us see what has actually been tested and if "optimally medicated" for him means scraping into the bottom of the free T4 lab range or something more useful!
You can't possibly tell how you're doing if all they test is TSH and I personally can't lose weight unless BOTH free T4 AND free T3 are nice and high in range - a good 3/4 through the lab range ... and you will never know if they are unless they test them. Both of them.
After that - well you need a certain amount of calories to convert properly so crash diets aren't going to help. And you need to avoid soy in all its forms so diet shakes will make things worse But it is possible (but not quick or easy). It's back to sesible eating, natural fresh food in smaller quantities; fewer carbs; eliminate as much rubbish as you can (fizzy drinks, crisps cakes, booze - you know the drill). Some people find the 5:2 helps (I lost an easy first stone on that, then nothing) or intermittent fasting (now a way of life for me - nothing before midday or after 7pm in my version - and while I don't lose weight on it (others have, lots) my weight is stable, pretty well regardless of what I eat, which is half the battle.
Thankyou Fuchsia pink, tried the intermittent fasting, and nothing , seems everything i eat puts on weight so i dont eat very much ! cant eat much any way as have a hiatus hernia too ! and ibs which causes bloating !!! but i will mention this to the gp when i mange to get to see him .Thankyou
Astro 16
What is the "thyroid diet"? If your free Ts are low, especially your free T3, it will be difficult or impossible to lose weight. The only way to know is to have both your free Ts tested at the same time.
Many hypo patients have yo-yo-dieted for years before they found out they were hypo and this can damage metabolism.
Calorie-counting will not work when your problem is low basal metabolism.
First, you need to make sure your metabolism is optimal (which requires high enough free T3 levels). Then, you need to make sure you eat enough. Eating too few calories for your needs can decrease metabolism and is especially bad for hypos. You need enough healthful fats, good proteins, and some healthy carbs for optimal T4 to T3 conversion.
125 mcg of levo daily is not that high a dose, and if enough T4 is not converted to T3 you will remain hypo even if your TSH is in range. Unfortunately, doctors and dieticians think that weight is all about calories in and out and exercise, and they seem unable to understand how profoundly metabolic disease can change how you burn calories and how your body stores fat. To many doctors and dieticians, you cannot gain weight unless you are doing something wrong. I gave up on them a long time ago.
Here are some common reasons for weight gain/inability to lose weight with hypothyroidism:
- low free Ts, especially low free the T3 (the active hormone), due to being undermedicated or not converting enough levo to T3;
- vitamin and mineral deficiencies leading to insufficient T4 to T3 conversion (zinc, selenium, iron, vits B, D & K, just to mention a few);
- insulin resistance (common in hypothyroidism) leading to insulin levels that are still in range but higher than optimal, which in turn causes the body to store fat (there are some effective supplements such as berberine, chromium, and cinnamon ceylon);
- a history of yo-yo-dieting and very low calorie diets which can decrease metabolism further and cause the body to hold on to fat; also, strict dieting increases conversion to the inactive form of T3 (reverse T3, rT3) and decreases conversion to the active free T3. People on levo need a certain balance between the two; if more rT3 is being made from T4, less free T3 is available.
Thankyou for that. Trouble is my gp , once he has the optimally medicated result he doesnt test again until i have to up my meds ! But i will ask him about changes in brand etc! When i manage to get to see him !Thankyou x
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Many people find different brands are not interchangeable
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any 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
When were vitamin levels last tested
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
In U.K. medics never call it Hashimoto’s, just autoimmune thyroid disease (and they usually ignore the autoimmune aspect)
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am 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
List of private testing options and money off codes
You say push my Gp , how does one do that ? My Gp only tests for what he tests for and he gets so fed up with me asking to be sent to specialists as he says im optimally medicated !!! I have asked to see a dietician, he sent me to a zoom meeting , where the dietician thought we all ate too much , so that was a total waste of time, and i asked him to sent me to a neutricionalist who specialised in the thyroid , to no avail!
I also think i may have developed cushings syndrome because mof the stress levels I have and my high blood pressure, he gave me tablet for that but they dont seem to do a great deal ! I ache most days , and i feel bloated most days , Ive got a very itchy arm on my left side , and i just feel terrible most of the time , Im so fed up i dont know where to start!
NHS guidelines recommend thyroid patients have vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested annually
See links I gave above
Personally, like thousands upon thousands of U.K. patients, I test privately
Typically many members use Medichecks or Blue horizon for full testing annually and Monitor My Health for just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 after any dose change or brand change
If vitamins are low but within range, down to you to self supplement
If vitamins deficient, you could/should show results to GP
Come back with new post once you get results
Only test 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change
All private testing, do early Monday or Tuesday morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
By dieting I presume you mean a low-calorie diet? That could be the problem. You need a certain amount of calories to convert T4 to T3. If you don't have enough, your conversion will be poor, so your FT3 will be low, and that would make you put on more weight. Stop dieting and make sure you get about 2000 calories a day at least. It's not the calories making you put on weight. In fact, your extra weight is probably not even fat, but water. And, no amount of dieting will get rid of that. Try the pinch test to see if it's fat or water:
Hi Astro16, it's so difficult isn't it. My weight just didn't come down on thyroid meds, I'm pre diabetic down to weight gain so I'm attacking the insulin angle. I've bought a pedometer which I keep in my pocket at all times. It's been an eye opener. I found out that the daily walk I did around the village was only 4,000 steps and you need to aim for 10,000 steps or more if you're up to it. I've cut carbs, sugar a lot, I was maintaining some weight loss, but I still hadn't made too much progress. So now I'm trying eating one meal a day between 6-7pm suits me. On day 4 so far, plus I'm doing 14,000 steps. It's hard now because I feel so tired, but I think this will pass. I think it just takes more drastic measures. I also have a circuit within my house which I do after every drink, and before OMAD after every meal, I did eat twice a day. My tum is just starting to go down a little, and 3lbs lost in the last 7 days. You really have to push yourself to do this, but it does pay off. I put 5 stones on due to untreated hypothyroidism in a 20 year period. It's really stubborn to shift, but I am at last making progress.
Are you talking about intermittent fasting? I have read that is not always a good idea for hypos, especially if they are undermedicated as fasting can lower a damaged metabolism even further.
Hello PurpleCat71, I've been doing a softer option intermittent fasting for about 18 months now, with no ill effect, in fact I've had more energy than I've had in many years. I've also lost11/2 stones and kept it off with exercise. I still need to get my A1C down further,it was 6.2 last October, and it gets checked every 12 months. I hope I'm not wrong about this but walking up to 7 miles a day would surely boost my metabolism? My FT3 was found to be a little high last time I had my thyroid bloods done, but I don't feel over medicated at all.
My layman opinion is that your (highish) FT3 had more to do with your weight loss than exercise….since low T3 will make weight loss very difficult or impossible no matter how hard you exercise. My own experience is that, once hypo, you cannot boost your metabolism simply by cutting calories or exercising. You need optimal free T3 levels along with optimal nutrients. Lowering insulin is important or even crucial sometimes, but nothing will work if free T3 levels are low.
Hi again, in the 11 years I've been on thyroid meds I have never lost an ounce. My T3 was once 12! I felt fine, but reduced down as instructed. The biggest frustration to me is why the thyroid meds have never caused any weight loss, I gave up on that a long time ago! I am absolutely convinced and done endless research on this that high insulin and too high blood glucose is maintaining my weight gain. Before I never went up above 91/2 stones, and kept to that easily and I've had 4 children. Until I have that under control my weight won't come down, glucose going to deposit fat instead of giving you energy. My waist circumference is far too high at 39 inches. I've been pre diabetic for many years now. I have reduced it down from 7.3 to 6.2. I got it down with low carb, exercise and weight loss. I will keep to this regime, I'm really finding the extra exercise is moving things in the right direction. Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated.
Well, if insulin and blood glucose control using exercise and low carb diets is indeed more important for weight loss than thyroid hormone optimisation in hypothyroid people, I am sure many members will be relieved since doctors are not very knowledgeable about thyroid disease. I hope others will chime in.
I juggle a lot of chronic illness Purple Cat, being full blown diabetic I can do without. I self treat T3, the best combination for me was T3 and NDT. Because of potency issues in NDT I was forced to go on T3 only. I've never had a normal temperature on T3 like I used to on the previous combination. I feel OK or I wouldn't be walking so much. I tried levo for 2 years, that was a big failure. Tried levo and NDT, that was much better. I don't think I will ever be in a perfect balance with thyroid meds as I need other medication for interstitial cystitis. I dropped cimetidine as a pharmacist told me that it would affect my absorption of thyroid meds. I had already been on thyroid meds for 9 years at that point, so that was pretty much a waste of time. I take just hydroxyzine and pain meds now for my bladder and follow an acid free diet, as anything acidic causes severe pain. I inject my own B12, I take all necessary supplements, as I suffer with anaemia too ( my bladder bleeds) the last year on T3 has given me more stamina. I have arthritis in every joint so weight loss is important for that too. I'm 2 stones lighter than I have been. With heart disease, dementia etc etc I need to control my blood glucose more, and I'll do whatever it takes. I'm not starving myself, I eat a substantial meal in my hour slot in the evening. If I start feeling ill, and my thyroid function is taking a hit I'll stop. I'm 65 and know my body very well. I have managed other chronic diseases for well over 20 years. I've done a pain management course, and a I've done a course for chronic disease management, I have great insight, I'm well read on chronic disease because I had no choice. I have had to be very proactive to get my health more manageable, chosen hospitals, and consultants travelled far and wide which is incredibly difficult with a bladder disease. I have had GP's phone me up for advice for their IC patients. I have also been a mentor for people with IC. Thank you for your interest.
Thankyou for that, unfortunately my mobility isnt that great, I had both hips replaced about six years ago , and one of the muscles in my leg has collapsed, so I cant walk very far now, also i cant run, jump, dance or skip like i used to before my hips were replaced. My thyroid caused my hips to go in the first place, and i think if id left it any longer i would have been in a wheel chiar! It really upsets me that i cant move like i used to , but i have an exercise bike which i use occasionally as I really fin exercise difficult and very painful . I have been looking for diets that dont need lots of exercise , but to be honest i dont really eat a great deal. I have breakfast, which is two toast , coffee and water, and i have a meal about 6.30 pm and thats on a plate about the size of a side plate, but still i put on weight with everything i eat !!! Im thinking that i may have a hormome imballnce or something else, ????? unfortunately because of the Coronovirus and the vaccine prog , ive been unable to see my gp , and when i did mange to see him he referred me to a zoom meeeting dietician who just thought that everyone ate too much. I dont eat processed food, i cook evrything i eat myself unless its raw salad ! Still i put on weight and ive cut lots of sugars out of my diet too !
Hi Astro, so sorry to hear of your mobility problems. It's very difficult to have a stable weight when you can't move very much, and then almost impossible to lose the weight too.
I've been where you are, I used to be pushed in a wheelchair if I had to go any distance. I've had 18 surgeries now. It sometimes takes me until midnight to do my steps. I have to break it down and rest when I need to. With food I've given up potatoes and bread, and concentrate on good protein with lots of vegetables. I wish I could help, when you have mobility issues you have to concentrate on what you can do, and do as much of that as you can. I don't eat in the evening, I mean after dinner! That helped shift some weight too. I can't eat any sugar or things with white flour. It's a gradual process, you know what you're doing, and however long it takes eat healthy, any little treat I eat I just put weight on, so it's not worth it. Plus the guilt eats you up. Cut out the toast, it's not a good way to start your day and can give you a spike in blood glucose, best to start off with something high protein. I eat an omelette with red peppers and mushrooms. This has stopped me getting hungry. I love carbs, porridge etc but they had to go. If your blood glucose starts the day with a spike, then it's an uphill journey to get it down, plus you'll feel more hungry.
Have you had any tests for diabetes? Just a thought, insulin makes you gain weight, but totally understand your circumstances.
I have started to only have sourdough in stead of bread, but i dont have wholewheat as it bloats me .
I can have seeded, but just ;ately i have to be really careful what i eat , and this is very difficult, as i used to be able to eat anything and not put on weight , but now nearly everything puts on weight ! I told the gp this and all he did was send me to an on line diateician who was impling to the group that they ate too much. My plate is the size of a side plate and i cant eat too much as i have a hiatus hernia too !! I was having an avocado in the mornings but since ive learned how bad it is for ones carbon footprint, i dont have them . I used to have a poached egg, maybe i should go back to thoat difficult to cook thing ! Im just so upset that once the weight goes on its nearly impossible to shift. and at the moment im 11 stone , and short and it really doesnt make me feel wonderful at all , as my h ips hurt all the time even though they have been replaed due to the muscle collapse and wasteage !! Walking even just down the road is hard . Exercise bike is hard too, i was wondering that i may have cushings syndrome, but i dint want to look like a hypochondriact to my gp!!
I dont think so . Im trying to ascertain what it is thats making me put on weight and i just cant seem to find out what it is. Its not food as i dont eat enough of that to put on weight ! I love cooking , but i dont eat a great deal because i have a hiatus hernia too which stops that .
Before the surgery, I couldn't handle anything stressful. I couldn't spend time with my kids the way I wanted to. I felt like I had no control over my diet. It really affected my health, which affected my work and my life. I lost all my happiness. I chose the clinic tonicweightlosssurgery.co.uk. Last year my body fat percentage was in the morbid obesity category. Now my standard is too low. It completely turned my life around and gave my kids and me a second chance to create memories and have fun together, thanks to Tonic. Try this way of losing weight.
I have a lot of symptoms of Underactive thyroid, and it seems GPs just don't want to help.I'm so tired lethargic, my periods are shockingly heavy, im taking 3 to 4 days per month off work, my eybrows are thin as hell my weight gain is getting ridiculousi have 2 jobs and am very active on my feet all day i eat reasonably healthy keep a food diary i eat about 1500-1600 cals per day i drink 2 to 3 litres of water per day and im 3 stone over weight and climbing, i have tingling hands I'm constantly freezing cold, i have Hip and leg pain all the time, I'm moody I get really low, my Memory is shocking, i can't remember this so bad i turn around and come home at least 3 times whilst on my way to work in a morning.
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But it is possible (but not quick or easy). It's back to sesible eating, natural fresh food in smaller quantities; fewer carbs; eliminate as much rubbish as you can (fizzy drinks, crisps cakes, booze - you know the drill). Some people find the 5:2 helps (I lost an easy first stone on that, then nothing) or intermittent fasting (now a way of life for me - nothing before midday or after 7pm in my version - and while I don't lose weight on it (others have, lots) my weight is stable, pretty well regardless of what I eat, which is half the battle.
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