I have had my thyroid removed. Why have I put on so much weight.

[maddison]

[Hidden]

Probably because you don't have adequate hormone replacement; your dose of t4 - or whatever they have put you on, may be too low

[shaws Administrator]

If you can get a copy of your latest blood test results and post here complete with the ranges as labs differ. You may be on too little meds. If you have recently had your thyroid removed you will be like most of us here who have had to learn and read a lot in order to recover our health.

This is a link to Dr Lowe's site. Some of the links may not be available as the site is in probate at present but there are lots of info which may help.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

[debjs]

I had my thyroid removed 2 years ago and won't go into my complicated post op history but was taken off all meds and left to become very hypo and put on 2 and half stone in 4 months! As others have said it sounds as though you may be under treated.

[GuardianAngel]

Hi Maddison,

I will tell you my story and you may find it helps you.

I had my thyroid removed 6 3/4 yrs ago now. In that time I have put on 5 stones and I am now finally starting to get rid of a bit of it.

I was 45 when they took mine out gave me levothyroxine to take each day and told me i would be finr and to get on with my life.

In the last 2 yrs I have had the hardest time but now feel the best in all this time. It appears that removal for me brought on the menopause - drs dont tell you that - after hair loss - anti depressants lots of blood tests finally seeing an Endocronoligist and best of all everyone here at thyroid uk I have got somewhere.

I have made the following changes in my life which have helped me but we are all different.

I take my levo at night before bed now with water. not with my toast and marmalade.

following recent posts here I dont touch grapefruit and avoid orange juice and have porridge and very little toast so that it does not interfere with the levo which it can do.

my vit D is still low but drs wont help so its down to me ( too many people with low vit d so nhs cant help)

I also have diverticulitis so i now use a bread maker most of the time not shop brought.

I try to cook as much from scratch as I can I eat butter not marg just trying to avoid processed foods.

I have also had weight loss hypnosis and it is beginning to work so I have lost a few pounds.

I see my endo again in Jan.

for your info I take 150mg of levo 3 days a week and 125mg 4 days a week. but i feel better after taking 150mg the night before so I will push him to up it to that all the time.

my own gp was interested in my switch to night time meds as he had not heard about it so do push anything you believe in and help is always on here.

all the best and good luck

Karen

[maddison]

Thank you. I have also had diverticulitis and had a third of my bowel removed this year. It's no fun is it .i will try taking the meds at night.I am 61 and been through menopause. No one warned me of the side effects of not having a Thyroid but I had no choice I had a large growth on it. Thank you once again for your help. Maddison..

[Jackie]

Hi you often need T3 as well, especially related to weight etc. Make sure you have had a FT3 test, if your NHS Lab will not do one there are other ways.Most of us need FT3 near the top of range.

Jackie