hypothyroidism weight gain

[HassanJutt]

hello all, i am a hypothyroid patient my last report result is TSH 2.34 so it’s a normal report of thyroid but i am gaining weight please tell me what’s this why i am gaining weight if my reports are normal

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

HassanJutt

TSH 2.34 so it’s a normal report of thyroid

The only "normal" thing about that result is that it's within it's reference range, it doesn't mean that it's at an optimal level for you. Also, it's not TSH that's the important test, TSH is not a thyroid hormone, FT4 and FT3 are the thyroid hormones and we need these testing to see our actual thyroid status, TSH can't tell us that. Your TSH is actually suggesting that you are undermedicated. What dose of thyroxine are you taking?

The aim of a treated hypo patient on levothyroxine only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

Were your FT4 and FT3 tested?

[HassanJutt in reply to SeasideSusie]

I haven’t tested for Ft3 and Ft4 yet and i am taking 50mcg daily in the morning

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to HassanJutt]

50mcg thyroxine is just a starter dose and unlikely to be a full replacement dose for anyone.

The full thyroid panel - TSH, FT4 and FT3 - is the only way to measure your thyroid status, just testing TSH is completely inadequate, I've explained above why you need all of them. You can ask your GP to do them but it's likely they wont be done or you can do them with one of our private recommended labs if you are in the UK (maybe add your country of residence to your profile, it helps when we are responding to members).

If in the UK the most popular private labs are Monitor My Health, Medichecks and Blue Horizon. Details and discount codes here:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning around 9am (for highest TSH) and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test for lowest Ft4

Important test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

[HassanJutt in reply to SlowDragon]

these vitamins test are related to weight gain in hypothyroidism?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When on too low dose levothyroxine and still hypothyroid it’s likely to result in low vitamin levels due to low stomach acid

Important to have good vitamin levels for good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) into Ft3 (active hormone)

How much levothyroxine are you taking

On levothyroxine TSH should always be below 2

Most people when on high enough dose levothyroxine will have TSH around or below one