weight loss with hashimotos?

[maxigirl]

I have many of the symptoms of hashimoto's disease and I have been diagnosed with elevated antibodies. I went through a period of time with severe anxiety/depression/lethargy/mental fog, etc.. it was truly agonizing and I was actually put on psychiatric disability because although I had hashi's antibodies, my tsh was normal- 2.7, 1.5 (tests two weeks apart).  I also lost a significant amount of hair- my hair is still thinner than it has ever been in my life. I normally have thick dark hair. It is now thin.  So- long story short- After going through many doctors, I finally found a doctor who put me on a small dose of synthroid despite my normal tsh labs. I started feeling soooooo much better within 2 weeks and I have been on it ever since (for about 2 months now). I feel more like myself again! My question is this-

I started actually losing weight when all these symptoms arose. I have lost about 12 lbs (a lot for me) in the past 6 months. All the research I have done says that when hypo you gain, not lose, so I am confused by this. My doctor says I am definitly not hyperthyroid based on test results TSH and TBII. So why am I losing? I have also been to a gastrointerologist to rule out celiac- I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy- everything normal.

Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. :)

[mshypo]

the scary part is that so many doctors, including the psych ones, don't seem to be aware of this.  here's one more article for you:
http://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/pccpdf/v05n06/v05n0603.pdf

[maxigirl]

Thanks for the input. I am very interested in the psychiatric stuff and will pick up the book you recommended. I will also check out the article. I can't believe how profoundly I was affected psychiatrically, it is really scary.

[HashiMan]

I am kind of breaking code here I have already had 2 questions answered. This is kind of a follow up to my Q & A you already gave.
Your suggestion to the patient on this thread was a.m. cortisol and is what I had done twice in a month period. When my result on 180mg of Armour was 1.7 reference range 3-8ng/ml he my dose was lowered to 120mg Armour and the next a.m. result a month after on the lower dose was still low but better at 2.7 reference range 3-8 ng/ml.
Many of the saliva tests showed normal/low and with a normal adrenal stimulation test he has been puzzled about this. All I know is when it gets low I have the symptoms I describe.
I feel like someone who is slipping through the cracks not able to be helped.

[mshypo]

Hashimoto's can cause symptoms even when labs are in range...and often presents with psychiatric symptoms.  Here's a article that will interest you:
http://www.drrichardhall.com/Articles/hashimoto.pdf

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

you're not hyper -- the classic hypo-gain, hyper-lose does not hold for about 15% of patients -- also look into adrenal insufficiency and GI disease as you are doing -- sprue is more common in hashi patients so I am happy to see this has been mentioned.  Adrenal insufficiency can be screened for with an am cortisol -- if >11 doubt there is insufficiency, if <11 with your weight loss may be wortwhile to do an ACTH stimulation test.