What should i be asking doctor to test?

[dgleds]

Ok so im hypothyroid and been that way for quite some time...(like over 20 years)

I did lose some of the weight that i gained when i became hypothyroid...

I work out 5 days a week aerobically ,and i was trying to do low carb, which of course doesnt work if your hypothyroid...so i added carbs back in a bit ,and did low calorie and lower carbs ,and that didnt work either..So now back to 1200 calorie a day diet, and its not working either...I only want to lose 10 pounds, but its impossible...SOooooo what is it i ask doctor to check beside TSH..is it free t4 and freeT3, becasue i must have some kind of conversion thing going on.....or something

[greygoose]

The weight you can't get rid of is more than likely water retention - it is with most hypos. So no sort of diet is going to get rid of that because it has nothing to do with food.

Yes, you do need your FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time to see how well you convert. But the majority of doctors refuse those, especially FT3. And even if he orders them, the lab can refuse to do them if they don't think they're necessary. Many people end up doing their labs privately to get full thyroid testing.

[dgleds in reply to greygoose]

I havent gone yet to the lab, but last time i was in there the lab tech told me to tell doctor if they do those tests to make a side note, or they just get sent back as TSH....so you are correct greygoose, but i will try...

[Windowview]

I cut out added sugar for six months, mainly to bring down my cholesterol. No alchohol or bread but I did eat fruit and loads of nuts and I lost 21lbs.

[dgleds in reply to Windowview]

i havent used sugar in years !!!! I dont bring bread into my home, and only have it when i go out for like coffee etc...

[greygoose in reply to Windowview]

Cutting out sugar does not lower cholesterol, it's nothing to do with your diet. Cholesterol is made in the liver. It's low T3 that causes high cholesterol. Raise the FT3 and your cholesterol levels will drop.

[Windowview in reply to greygoose]

Well I managed to lower mine from 9.05 to 6.39 through diet over six months. I basically followed a Mediterranean diet, cut out red meats, animal fats and sugar. It will be interesting now that I’m allowing other things back into my diet whether my cholesterol goes up again when I retest it in six months.