Hyperthyroidism and weight gain???

[ericajb]

I'm new to this and just hoping to get some good answers from some of ya'll with thyroid disease.

I had my first and only child in Dec '05. Developed hyperthyroidism April '06 and have been ever since even to this day. I have gone to several Endo's and got answers like Grave's Disease, Hashimoto's, thyroid going to fail, etc. Not one of the same diagnosis from any Endo. I have a new Endo appt. next Thursday at U. of Penn and I got some great references so I hope he is the one.

My levels have gone down considerably. Here are some of my results:

Thyroglobulin Antibodies   93 High     (<20)
Thyroid Peroxidase         >1000 high  (<35)
T3, Total                  473 high    (60-181)
T4, Free                   3.3 high    (0.8-1.8)
TSH                        0.01 low  

The TSH has been bouncing between 0.01 and 0.02 low. The t4, Free had been at 10.6 but has come down a bit. The T3 is slowly but surely increasing a bit every time I get a new blood test. The Endo that thought I have Hashimoto's said it was becasue of the antibodies. The other Endo said that I was going to crash and be low, Hashimoto's. Another one said that I had Grave's and the last one said it was Post-partum thyroiditis with hyperthyroidism only and that in time I would recover.

As all of this is going on, I have gained 20 lbs. and I'm very sad, I just can't get it off and I'm only eating about 200-300 calories a day now. This is something that is confusing doctors too.

Along with the thyriod, I suddenly developed PCOS. My gyno thinks it's from the thyroid levels being high and the Reproductive Endo tells me its not. Now I'm one birth control which makes me nauseous all day long. I've tried almost all brands on the market and I still get nauseous all day long.

I live outside of Philadelphia and we are lacking in good Endo's in this area so I keep searching for the right one that seems to know what is going on. This has turned into a nightmare, I'm supposed to be enjoying my life as a new mommy and I'm so sad all of the time, I keep getting fatter and fatter!!

Maybe someone else has a similar problem, heard of it before, knows someone with the same problem or can give me any advice as to what is going on with me. I will be so absolutely grateful to you.

[nykitty5]

I&#39;ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism Dec 2016. Doc Prescribed methimazole 15mg a day . No side effects as of yet. I&#39;m losing weight not gaining. No headaches or any thing like that but my joints sure do hurt , getting out the car and bed. Got to move slow!

[mataher]

good discussions!

[Mara006]

hair loss during treatment sounds like the thyroid treatment revealed an iron deficiency, which causes hair loss... this is actually quite common.

[01091958]

Pam I have graves disease an as you expect hyperthyroidism. That is one issue that took me to the Endo about 12-15 years ago. I would tell Drs. that I hardly ate but could not lose weight. I will tell you that what you eat as a person with thyroid disease can really affect your weight. I know. I gained so much weight(100 t lbs.)and I was only about 130 and went to 239. I was miserable after a year of trying to get it off that I had gastric bypass(one of the worst mistakes of my life.) I am on methimanazole and have been for 8 years. My weight still swings(149--165) at my high point but for the most stays in the 150s range. A good endo who GETS IT, is critical for you if your lab results are true. My sisters a top nurses and I even have been to Johns Hopkins before I found a great endo in Williamsburg who diagnosed me and put me on my way to some stability. Now she does not take my insurance and after crying my tears over that, I went to 2 other endos who tried to take me off of what she put me on. They knew each other and it was a serious power play. If you have Graves, you also need to be on something like Atenolol since we often have problems with our heart (which I had horrible palpitations and chest pain). The right Dr can make the difference in life and death. I was so close to a thyroid storm that by the time I had been to so many others Drs and UNDIAGNOSED WHICH WAS CRAZY, I could of died as the good Endo said. I had been hospitalized and very very sick in intensive care. I hope you find the right person with those labs, it is critical.

[radede]

i'm 45 3 weeks ago i was diognosed with hyper, i too crave sweets and carbs all day long, i'm not a sweet eater nor a big eater and i was consuming both like crazy, i'm waiting on my date for radioactive which like in a month in the meantime my doctor prescribed a blocker "atenolol for heart palpitation and methimazole" now i have to force myself to eat, i don't get hungry at all i do crave the sweets but i keep fresh sweet grapes in the house it refresh my stomach,and satisfy my taste glands. talk to your doctor about changing your meds and prepare fruit shakes use honey instead of sugar no milk a homemade smoothie pineapple is the best it helps eliminates excess water in your body. i hope this help. my biggest fear is gaining weight after radiactive treatment.  

[jlmedley]

In 1978 at age 28, I was diagnosed with having Hyperthyroidism, Graves Disease and having a Goiter.  My symptoms of heavy sweating (especially at the back of the neck), hands trembling, hair loss, loss of muscle strength (especially in my legs), being hungry all the time (I couldn't get enough to eat), restless sleep, hallucinating (mainly at night), buggy eyes (some people thought I was on drugs), depression and weight gain (went from 90lbs to 130lbs in 8 weeks). The doctors thought I was just losing my mind so they sent me to see a Psychiatrist.  After 10 minutes of talking to the shrink and discussing family history the Psychiatrist sent me to the hospital to have blood work done to test my thyroid.  I was in such bad shape from suffering with hyperthyroidism for several years, that I was immediately hospitalized.  After I was released from the hospital they scheduled me to be treated with radioactive iodine.  It took me two treatments of the radioactive iodine before they got it right, but I am doing well and take my synthyroid once a day, I lost the weight within 2 months but not without seeing a nutritionist and cutting my calorie intake.  

The Nutritionist wanted me to weigh my food and watch my calories, but after a couple weeks of that hassle I went on my own.  I knew that small portions and eating more frequently was the answer.  I had stop eating when my hunger was satisfied, but to know when to stop meant I had to eat slowly (the average person eats to fast to realize when they are full).  I prepared small meals (meat, small potato, vegetable (pork, chicken and fish) and would eat slowly.  As soon as I noticed I wasn't hungry I would stop, wrap the leftovers up and put them in the frig for later.  In the beginning I found myself getting hungry again, a couple hours later, I would reheat my leftovers and eat again until my hunger was satisfied and stop.  It sometimes took me 3 times of reheating my dinner before I ate it all.  But, as I practiced this daily I notice I could go longer periods of time before I was hungry.  For breakfast I use to eat a bowl of healthy cereal; at lunch I would only have fruit and I avoided sweets all together.  If I had a sugar craving during the day, I grabbed an apple.  I did experience a little stomach discomfort in the beginning but it went away after about a week and I think that was my stomach adjusting to less food.

The family history questions revealed to the Psychiatrist that my mother had suffered from the exact same illness around age 30 and she also had weight gain and was sent to a Psychiatrist, but in my mothers case she had a nervous breakdown from not being diagnosed early enough.  Also the  Psychiatrist revealed to me that only 2% of people with hyperthyroidism will gain weight and that often throws the doctors off.

I hope this post helps someone.

[100jennifer]

i am 18 years old and i do have hyperthyrodisim i have all of the symptoms except the weight gain when should i expect it to kick in i am currently 106 pounds i am depressed and i sometimes feel it a lot i cant publicly speak but i think thats just my personality any suggestions please help

[BizGirlNYC]

Hi TeeRoc - I read your story in this chain and I can relate to quite a bit of what you have gone through, including the HORRIBLE doctors in NYC.  I saw that you signed the post - TeeNYC.  I am hoping you can share the name of the doctor you found in the city, because I have gone through two in the past few years and I refuse to go back to either.  As a result, I am on no medication and my thyroid is still out of whack.  Hoping you can help.
Thanks!
-BizGirlNYC

[maksmommy2010]

Read up on adrenal fatigue, yours seem like classic symptoms.  Find a doc that can give a saliva adrenal test to confirm (usually natropaths and/or chiropractors)

[goolarra]

This is an old, long thread.  If you'd like to go to the top of the page, you can click the orange "Post a Question" button, start your own new thread, and we can address your individual concerns.

Please include current labs with reference ranges if you have them, tell us about your symptoms and give a brief meds history.

[deeizme]

i had serious water retention (b4 i knew anything about my thyroid) to the point where they checked my heart out bcos docs didnt know what else couuld have caused it, all the things i am reading tonight about hyperthyroidism is now making so much sense as to why i been soooo tired, and fat (gained 34kg) and fluid retention and just so much.. i do have anxiety and depression but not quite sure thats got anything to do with it, but may be a contributing factor?

[Blah716]

Another thing ... people with hyperthyroidism will experience either weight gain or weight loss... not all people with hyperthyroidism will really experience weight loss...

[Blah716]

I am 21 and I also have hyperthyroidism... when I read your concerns regarding weight gain... I raised it to my doctor... ... my doctor said that... since you have Hyperthyroidism your metabolism is very fast together with it is that you tend to each much... by the time you are treated/ given meds... everything abnormal goes back to normal... including your metabolism but still you tend to eat a lot since you are used to it... by the time your metabolism is normal and you still eat a lot... thats the time you will gain weight!!! and most of the people blame it to their meds...  What you need to do is that... when you feel that your metabolism is slowly going back to normal... you also need to decrease your food intake and watch what you are eating and make sure you won't exceed to your daily caloric needs and lastly you need to exercise!!! Hope this info can help!!! :)

[Momof3irl]

Has anyone found a way to loose weight when you've gained it in hyperthyroid (graves). Currently being treated and now gaining more weight. So unfair..... Gaining it both ways. Need some hope or I'll have diabetes with my weight issue. I am keeping food journal.

[TeeRoc]

Hi All,
I have been battling with graves for 3 years now. The first year was the worst. My mom was dying and I was so sick with a mysterious illness I could not help take care of her. I went to 3 doctors who all told me I was depressed. Thank GOD my husband was with me at the last cardiologist appointment when the Doc told me everything looks great but your heart rate was completly irregular. My husband got so mad and actually yelled.."look at her" I was 72 pounds literally, I was shaking so bad I vibrated off my chair and the exhaustion was crippling. It was then and only then did the Doc finally look at my blood work and he was shocked, he said OMG do not walk, run to an Endo. My levels were dangerously high since I was not treated for such a long period of time.
My mom passed away and I was inconsolable with grief. On top of that incredible loss I was also dealing with very early menopause, high blood preasure (185/100) bouncing off the walls, didnt know my own name insomnia, and graves I was bed ridden for the last 2 years. I went on Methomozole as soon as I was finally diagnosed and stayed on it for  more then a year and a half, but my body was not responding. I finally decided to stop the medication and go to a holistic doctor. It help, I am out of bed most of the day and finally gained weight. I went from 72 pounds to 100 and felt better, but in the last 2 months I put on an additional 7 pounds ALL in my belly.  Some weight went to my delapitated boobs, and my non exsistent butt and for that i am grateful, but my belly is huge, especially for someone who not even 5 feet tall. I am really struggling mentally with this type of weight gain. I know 107 pounds is a a joke to some people but i never weighted more then 100 in my whole life. As i said i am small 4ft 10inc tall, so this 6 months pregnant looking belly I have is crazy looking, totally not proportioned.
My last blood work in Feb right before I started seeing this holistic guy was at its highest. I went to my gyno in Feb because her blood work showed I was depleted of every other hormone needed to function but she would not touch me until my hyperthyroidism was better. She wanted it killed. Since menopause and graves have very similar symptoms I went back to her last month begging her to help with my other hormone difficency and she spent almost over an hours with me. I cried the whole time. I told her my brain fog is so bad that Literally in the middle of a convo I will forget what I was talking about in mid sentence, on cue, it happened, right in the mistbof our conversation. She finally gave me pergestrone but refused to give me estrogen. She demanded I see an Endo. I told her that the one I had was a jerk and she made me laugh saying, she has never met an Endo she liked. She said the ones she knows are all nasty...lol.. Anyway I kept my promise and went to an Endo in my neighborhood last wekk. HOLY COW!!! I have NEVER EVER been treated so badly in my life. First he had me wait for 2 hours I was the last patient and completly fine with that believing I was going to finally get better and when I finally got in to see him he said what's wrong with you?? I do not take your insurance!!! Wow!! He proceeded to go on and on about my sucky insurance pretty much said I was stupid for going to my holistic Doctor asking if I believed in miracles, being a Christian I resounded YES, I believe God makes miracles happen every day (not knowing where he was going with this) he replyed well I don't believe in god or miracles!!!! Didn't realize Bill Mahr was an Endo....he also said I was lying about how much Methomozole I was prescribed and the dose when it was upped...on and on and on..after all that .he said he would TRY to  help me by giving me a phone number to another doctor. Yeah, i need his help as much as I need more thyroid hormones....Wow do no harm doc, do no harm. I cried all night but i didn't give up, I went to another women this week and people, I hit the JACKPOT!! She was amazing. Sonograms on site, blood work on site, caring, compassionate, sweet, held my hand for the whole visit, explained I should NEVER have been on the amount of Metho, and for as long as I was on them. She said the dose hindered my progress, she said last blood work showed my numbers were still dangerously high and she feared a thyroid storm. I explained I felt severely bloated (which means fat, right ladies) especially when I drink water because my legs hands and feet look like something out of Lord of the Rings movie....I explained how the belly was not my normal bodies characteristic and how it came on me so fast.. She told me that since my graves went untreated, was treated incorrectly she believed the whole thing is out of whack in other words, some days I am pumping huge amounts of the thyroid hormones, and other days I may not be producing any at all. That made sense, and would explain the unexpected weight gain.
My legs and feet blow up like crazy if I drink as little as 16 ounces of water. She explained this was thyroid edema, this and all my symptoms will go away the second the graves is taking care of. Anything that doesn't go away will be addressed. The sono showed an ANGRY thyroid, huge in size with 2 different textures (still not sure what that means) She sat me and my daughter down and explained exactly what was going to happen within a certain time frame. What a relief, that was exactly what I needed. She also didn't make me feel stupid about spending so much money on my holistic doctor. She said, "for you I will believe 10% if this new blood work comes back better, I will admit I am wrong but there was nothing wrong with you trying alternative medicine" WOW!! I felll in love right there and then.
This is our new plan...
2 weeks on Metho
2) 10mil in morning  and at night
In 2 weeks cut the dose to
1) 10 mil in mornin and again at bedtime
2 weeks later
Cut Metho in half
Take half in morning half at bedtime.
Come back in July and see what the numbers look like.
If still high we are going for the radiation
If it went down we will try and get it into ramition  and take it from there.
I feel very confident with this Doc, she understand every worry I have and I believe I will eventually return to the women I was 3 years ago.
I feel for anyone with this disease but especially women. The weight gain, the unhealthy weight loss, hair loss etc... It's a nightmare and it has ruined my life for the past few years. I wish us all good health and I will keep ya posted on my progress. I pray it works, and if it does maybe someone on here will get better too.
Tee NYC

[hannahjoy]

I am on the same boat as everyone else - very frustrating.  I lost 70 pounds before 2008 and then started gaining it back, even though I was still eating and exercising just as much.  Went to a nutritionist in 2011 and they gave me blood work to start a weight loss problem. Only then did my TSH come back at a 0.005.  They did the free t3 and t4 test and those were way out of whack as well.  I was then diagnosed with Graves and given the radioactive iodine treatment.  Since then if I eat super healthy and exercise every day, I maintain my weight or gain a little.  Went on 175mg levothyroxine and was a little high on tsh, went on 200mg levothyroxine, and was too low.  Very frustrating so I feel your pain!  But yes, hyperthyroid can definitely cause weight loss.  My endo also told me that sometimes because you're hyperthyroid you are so anxious that you snack all of the time.  Good luck!

[gimel]

Can you please post the reference ranges that go with those T4 results?  Also, are you currently taking any thyroid meds?  What symptoms do you have that relate to a thyroid problem?

[hypohypernorm]

I had the ultrasound done but didn't give me much info than no nodule or mass identidied & I don't have a tumor. I don't have my latest thyroid test result, they won't give me a copy unless they find out what's wrong.The ones I have are from Dec.(down belos). I really don't understand what's going with me, no matter what I do I can't lose weight and I'm always tired.

1st
T4 1.4
TSH 0.68

2nd
T4 Free 3.04 high
TSH <0.006 low

3rd
T4 7.6
TSH <0.006 low

[flyingfool]

Very first post to the thread showed BOTH TPO and TG to be elevated clearly she has Hasi's copied and pasted here:
-------------------------
My levels have gone down considerably. Here are some of my results:

Thyroglobulin Antibodies   93 High     (1000 high  (<35)
T3, Total                  473 high    (60-181)
T4, Free                   3.3 high    (0.8-1.8)
TSH                        0.01 low  

--------------------
I still find it odd to me that when Hypo she losses weight and Hyper gains weight. But maybe that is the lag in testing in that the testing is 180 degrees out of phase with the fluctuations of hyper and hypo she is apparently experiencing as a result of Hashi's.

[gimel]

Have you ever been tested for the thyroid antibodies, TPO ab and TG ab?  Also, have you ever had an ultrasound of your thyroid gland?

The reason I ask is that patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis often have problems with nodules that can leak thyroid hormone faster than normal.  As a result they will cycle between hypo and hyper.

Also, please post your thyroid test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.

[hypohypernorm]

I have a thyroid & goiter problem like others in this site. My Dr. finally referred me to a specialist coz he couldn't figure out what's wrong with me. At first he was treating me for hypo but after my 2nd lab test the result is hyper, so he ordered another one and the result was normal. Now that I'm under a specialist he said that my thyroid goes in faces. He ordered a lab test and the result is normal but he said that my TSH is below normal. He prescribed Synthroid to shrink the thyroid and to have some energy back and I'm gonna have a lab test every 3 months to figure what faces of thyroid have and get it under control. When I had hypothyroidism I've lost a lot of weight and now that I've been having hyper and normal I can't lose any weight.

[goolarra]

While we usually associate weight loss with hyper and weight gain with hypo, some people don't conform to that.  However, I'm wondering if you aren't overmedicated and hypo at this point...sure sounds that way to me.

Please post recent labs so we can have a look and see what's going on.  Include reference ranges that vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.

[flyingfool]

Wow.  Your experience is exactly opposite of what I have witnessed and experienced.

Thyroid is a factor in metabolism.  High thyroid (hyper) and the body is overactive metabolism and most of people with Hyper have weight LOSS and have difficult time gaining weight.  Maybe once on medication they can gain and that might be your issue. Or they have over medicated and slowed the metabolism too much.

Most low thyroid (Hypo) tend to find it almost impossible to lose weight and have if anything rapid weight gain.

I suppose there are always exceptions to the rule.

[karenee]

Clearly, weight gain is a big problem for those who are HYPER. I was diagnosed with Graves 3 years ago.  My weight was stable until my methhimazole (tapazole) was increased to 20 mg...THEN I gained 30 lbs in two months and have never been able to lose it. (even committed to a three month low-cal, healthy diet and personal trainer-NOTHING came off! =0(  )

Here are a few insights:

•My doctor has just ordered a cortisol test.  From what I've read, HYPERthyroidism can increase cortisol levels and make you gain weight.  We'll see what happens!

•As far a cellulite, HYPER causes muscle wasting, which makes you soft and flabby.  It also makes it hard to exercise because if you don't have your muscles working for you, it's difficult and exhausting.

•My experience is that people I know who are HYPO and on meds are thin, fit and feel good.  People who  are HYPER are on a rollercoaster-feeling hypo, then hyper, no energy, feel ill, with weight gain.

I will repost when I get my lab results.  If nothing is amiss, I will just keep hoping that someday I will go into remission and feel normal again and be able to lose weight. =0(

I feel everyone's frustration-I went from being someone who was thin and fit, walked several times a week, took hip hop classes, and had lots of energy to someone who is overweight and constantly wishes they could take naps every day!