| BeckyH
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I was dx hypo last summer and have been on Synthroid since, but my weight only fluctuates in a 3-4 lb range-- not even a dent in my 22 lb weight loss goal. My last blood draw indicated my Thyroid was well within range (at the low end).
I exercise fairly often, but am sure I need to do more.
Very frustrating. I moved my med to a.m. a few weeks ago thinking I might metabolize it better on an empty stomach, etc., but, as I said, I've not really lost anything.
I'm also on 37.5 Effexor daily for insomnia.
Any advice? |
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Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:15 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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| Are you being treated by an endocrinologist or a gp? Thyroid problems are tricky. I had Graves Disease and never really got a handle on it until I was referred to an endo. If you are seeing one, have you discussed the weigh loss problem with him/her? Or have you seen a naturopath to see if there's anything else going on? |
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Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:56 am |
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| OldGreyBob
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Be careful in taking Synthroid. I had atypical Graves Disease and after the radiation treatment on my thyroid, I was taking 225 micrograms of Synthroid daily. Until last November, this dosage kept me into the upper part of the normal level. Also until last November, I was eating breakfast about 30 minute after taking the Synthroid.
Last November, I finally read the warnings that Walgreens had on taking Synthroid and eating too soon. I also changed my gym schedule to 5:30 am classes. So now I take my Synthroid at 4:30 AM and eat after gym at 7:15 AM. Combining the change in breakfast time and the fact that I when from 225# to 210# since November, my dosage has been reduced to 175 micrograms. I am also scheduled now for blood test every 3 months to see if the change continues.
For me this was an eye opener. I am now very careful on when I take my Synthroid, when I eat, and when I take my vitamins and mineral supplements. Vitamins and mineral supplements should be taken 4 hours after taking the Synthroid. |
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Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:13 pm |
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| OldGreyBob
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PS.
I was under the care of an Endocrinologist initially. She was very busy and only saw be for a very minutes at each visit. I switched to a Family Practice physician who now requests many more tests to make sure that my levels for both thyroid and liver remain in the normal level. The difference, he cares and she, the Endocrinologist, maybe was too busy! |
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Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:19 pm |
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| BeckyH
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Thanks for your insight...
I'm seeing a GP, but will ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist when I go back on Friday. When I talk about the weight gain to the GP, I don't feel "believed" that there's a possible connection between the gain and the thyroid. However, the pounds came on rapidly over the course of 2 years, with no change in diet and an increase in exercise. Then my dx of Hypothyroidism was made.
I still don't know if the Effexor is a factor either.
I'll keep taking the Synthroid in the a.m. 1 hour before eating or drinking. I had been taking it with vitamins and the Effexor at bedtime. |
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Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:25 pm |
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| rhales199
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this is too funny--
I feel like I was just reading a lot about myself!!
My name is Rebecca H (aka, Becky)...
I laso live in Idaho (in boise)...
And, I also have hypothy (I was dx'd almost 3 years ago).
Where in Idaho are you?
WAY FUNNY!!!
At first, I was taking Synthroid, but was switched to Levothyroxine, as the synthriod was too espensive for me (my hubby and I are low- income, and I don't have any type of health insurance what- so-ever!). I didn't have any problems with either one.
I think taking it in the morning an hour before breakfast will help. Also, if you ever get up in the middle of the night, you could take it then. It just has to be on an empty stomach, and an hour before you eat anything-- that's the best way for it to get absorbed properly.
Welcome Back, and good luck!!! |
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Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:27 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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| OGBob, I can't believe you let them murder your thyroid! When I insisted on keeping mine operational, the endo told me I had an unnatural attachment to my body parts, but I insisted and did a two year course of mediation with propylthiourac (don't count on that spelling being right). It has been several years and so far, so good. |
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Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:44 am |
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| BeckyH
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Good Morning rhales199,
I'm in North Idaho, Spirit Lake. It's a tiny little "Mayberry" in the mountains. 30 mi north of Coeur d'Alene. We're California transplants.
So...weight loss CAN happen with Hypo, huh? I don't mind slow loss-- it's no loss that of course, frustrates me. My DH has lost 10 lbs on SBD since Valentine's Day and he even has an occasional beer :? . I think I may have to live on P2 forever...
I'm afraid I will have to increase my exercise again in order to get going. I'm a teacher and the LAST thing I want to do is spend an hour on my cross trainer after school...I move like a waitress all day long...and gyms are just too noisy for me after hearing kids chatter all day :shock: .
It looks like Boise has better weather than we do today. Enjoy! |
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Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:01 pm |
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| OldGreyBob
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maltby_gardner wrote: OGBob, I can't believe you let them murder your thyroid! When I insisted on keeping mine operational, the endo told me I had an unnatural attachment to my body parts, but I insisted and did a two year course of mediation with propylthiourac (don't count on that spelling being right). It has been several years and so far, so good. I have/had atypical Graves Disease. I would get thyroid storms that landed me into the hospital couple of times. During these storms my BP got as bad as 200/0 (0 is a very bad number) and tachycardia (atrial friberation). We tried 3 months of beta blockers and they had no effect on stopping the thyroid storms. In one of the worst trips to the hospital the ambulance stopped in the parking lot of a Perkins so they could chemically stop and restart my heart to get it rhythm to normal. Atypical Graves you have both a generally overactive thyroid and nodes of hyperactivity -- I feel very lucky it was not cancerous! Surgically remove part of the thyroid had a less of a chance of success than the radioactive iodine.
I also feel very lucky that my heart while abused by the thyroid storms was not damaged. I was told by my Physician that my heart at my last physical was in excellent shape for a man of 60! I currently am at the gym 6+ times a week doing BodyPump, BodyStep, etc. |
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Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:53 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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That's horrible! What I had was bad enough and that sounds a hundred times worse. As it was, I thought I was dying of some previously undiagnosed heart condtion and was going to leave my newbord daughter motherless.
Under your circumstances, I definitely would have let them murder my thyroid! |
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Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:28 pm |
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| Lynt
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| I've been without a thyroid for 26 years..what's the big deal? I've been happy, healthy, on meds, and normal sized too until I quit smoking two years ago and gained 30 lbs. There are medical reasons sometimes for being without a thyroid that are a heck of a lot more imperative than keeping it! My reason was a tumor. |
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Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:31 pm |
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| OldGreyBob
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| Oh yeah, people can live for many years without a thyroid. The person who was my best man at my wedding lost his at the battle of Khe Sanh in January of 1968. He was wounded in the neck and they discovered he had thyroid cancer, for him his wound was a lucky hit. He is still healthy, although the cancer reappeared twice, He is a retire professor who run in 10k races in the D.C. area. |
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Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:15 pm |
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| 2muchbackend
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| I'm on Levoxyl and still not feeling it so I'm going to also do the hour before eating and see if that helps. |
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Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:52 am |
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| Jerjer63
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| I'm on Phase 2 and feel that I'm getting nowhere fast and it's not because I'm not following the plan. It's because of hypothyroidism. I've just recently had my 2nd appointment with an endocrinologist and was so frustrated when I left there I wanted to scream. My thyroid has shrunk a little since my first visit (I've been on meds for 10 years now but symptoms have gotten worse) but none of the other symptoms have improved. Like weight gain, fatigue, joint pain, dry skin, and fogginess. I expressed my frustration with him on not being able to lose weight even with the dosage change he made and his comment was, well you're just going to have to try harder! OMG! I walk 5 days a week at a minimum, wear a pedometer to insure I get in at least 10,000 steps a day, and follow SB faithfully. I've got a follow up appointment in a few months to see if there's been any improvement. If not, I'm taking my thyroid elsewhere! |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:36 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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Jerjer63 wrote: I've got a follow up appointment in a few months to see if there's been any improvement. If not, I'm taking my thyroid elsewhere!
If you've seen this turkey twice and are unhappy with him, why are you willing to wait a few months? To see what? It's not like his attitude is going to improve. You deserve an endo who is supportive of your efforts, who acknowledges that it's hard to lose weight and who seems to give a rip about how crappy you feel. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:47 pm |
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