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649848 tn?1534633700

Low TSH and gaining weight

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in June 2008.  During the year prior to the diagnosis, I went from a weight of 115-118 lbs to 140-145 lbs.  During that time, I was also diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency and started on shots.  My initial TSH result was 55.54 in June 2008 and I was put on 100 mcg synthroid daily.  In mid Sep 2008, my TSH was again tested and result was 0.03 and my synthroid was dropped to 88 mcg daily.  For well over a year, I have been on a diet (approx 1000-1200 calories/day) focusing on vegetables, fruits and whole grains.  I work out for at least 30 minutes/day, as well as having a job which requires a large amount of exercise (mostly walking).  In spite of my diet and exercise, my weight had stayed right around 145, but recently has begun to creep up again - it's now 149.  I have talked to my doctor, but have not been given any ideas as to what might still be the problem.  Is there something else that we should be looking for that could be causing this?  Can you give some ideas of things that might help me lose the excess weight.  Since I've never carried this much weight before, it's beginning to affect my feet and knees.  
Thank you
12 Responses
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Grave - This is a really old thread, but I have to say - don't give up.  I'm 10 yrs into it and still haven't.  When I posted this thread, I was at 145 lbs and I've run the gamut since then.  I've been as high at 160, trying to follow my doctor's orders.  I finally gave up on that and went my own way - I was able to lose 26 lbs, then they messed around with my thyroid hormone dosage and I got stuck.  

My endo decided that everything that all my symptoms (weight gain, cold intolerance, fatigue, constipation, muscle aches/pains, etc) are because I'm "older", not because I'm hypo.  That prompted her to decrease my thyroid hormone dosage (which she's been wanting to do for a couple of years) and of course, I went even more hypo.  Fortunately, my pcp took mercy and increased the dosage back to where it was.

Although we become more prone to certain things happening as we age, I'm a firm believer that age, itself, is not a reason for anything to go wrong with our body if we take care of it.  Many doctors agree with me.

I'm seeing a holistic nurse practitioner also and she recently did a blood to check for nutrient deficiencies. As it turns out, I'm deficient in several nutrients that help with energy production and of course, when we don't have energy, we don't get the exercise we need.  There are also some things we need in order to use the thyroid hormones adequately.  They don't do us any good if they simply float around in our blood and don't get into our cells to be used.  

And of course, there is the insulin aspect.  I've turned around my insulin resistance by keeping my diet under control, though tests can be deceiving.

You'll read a lot about how diet can reverse hypothyroidism and/or Hashimoto's or other autoimmune conditions... I haven't bought into that, but I am a firm believer that the microbiome (our gut) is a very important aspect of our health process.  Without a healthy gut, we don't digest food properly, nor does our body use it properly.  I'm not an advocate of the "across the board" gluten-free diets, but I do believe an elimination diet might be helpful for many of us because we do, often have sensitivities that we aren't aware of.  Sometimes we can do the elimination diet, heal our gut, then add certain foods back in and be okay with them in reasonable quantities.  Sometimes we have to give things up permanently.  

Some of us (like me) don't absorb certain things and may not realize it... I've given up nearly all gluten-containing products and dairy... it does make me feel better, though I'm still not losing weight.  It's not due to low thyroid hormone levels, but it could be due to my body not using the hormones properly.  

I'm working on getting my vitamin/mineral levels up to where I need them.  I also know I don't absorb proteins and proteins are necessary for muscle building/maintenance and energy production.  I'm trying to research and figure out why and what I can do to change this.

My message here is "don't give up"... that's why I've been here for 10 yrs - to help others with what I've learned.  There's a reason (or more) you feel the way you do and aren't losing the weight.  If your doctor will work with you, it's good, but if not, you might be able to figure it out on your own, with a little help...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Barb
I'm in the same boat as you. I retain water like a sponge and no matter how much I stomp my feet at the Endo (Accountant) they only know how to tell me my numbers look great ...as if I would get gitty over being told my numbers look great instead of good..... I'm only 16 months into this thyroid garbage and very far from being and expert....at some point I need to except this fat suit it's going nowhere fast.
Helpful - 0
536100 tn?1288195834
Just a few years ao they changed the glucose range. Anything over 99 is considered prediabetes. Seeing you had a reading of 99 have it checked frequently.  Also, see if you can get an insulin test.  
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
My blood tests were done in the morning - they told me it had be fasting.  I have heard of insulin resistance and done just a little research on it - plan to talk to my dr to see if I can get tested.  There's a lot of diabetes in my family, including my son, who was diagnosed @ 10 yrs old with type 1; also have a nephew w/type 1 and 3 siblings w/ type 2 so have figured for years that it was just a matter of time.  My fasting blood sugars are always in the normal range, but have been as high as 99; last one was 88.  

Thanks for the diet suggestions - will research them and in the meantime, I'm upping my workout to 1 hr/day rather than 30 min; also trying to stay with the fruits, veggie's, etc and stay away from a lot of carbs.  Also researching other possibilites for cause to the weight problem.  
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
I never hear of that one.

But if its a reduced carb plan - it is something that is good for us.
Helpful - 0
536100 tn?1288195834
I had to actually go on Metformin ER to lower my insulin levels. Diet and exercise did not work for me.  It helped me to lose 10 pounds, which wouldn't budge before.  If I can lose another 20 and get my insulin levels lower, the I hope to get off the Metformin.  My insulin level is now a 8. It's was a 17 for years. Another good diet plan is the schwarzbein Principle written by a doctor for her diabetic patients. It's a reduced carb plan.
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
Hypo's will store insulinas DNarose says - but another major problem for us is bad carbs.

We store then and in actually they convert to stored sugar. I found one of the better diets to stick to ( and very hard to do since we crave sugar and carbs) is the Zone diet by Dr Sears - or the South Beach plan.

It can no longer be said we will diet though as hypo - it's a life style change.
Helpful - 0
536100 tn?1288195834
Was that TSH test done in the morning?  TSH will be higher first thing in the morning and lwest around 2PM. You always want to test asap upon waking each and every time.  TSH for those on T4 should be around 1.0. (MORNING TSH)

Another thing you can look into is insulin resistance. Also called Prediabetes.  It can make weight loss almost impossible.  I have it, along with the hypothyroidism. To diagnose it, you need a fasting insulin, glucose, and an A1C.  Another test would be a Glucose tolerance test.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Don't know anything about celiac.  Will do some research, but any info you can pass on would be appreciated.  
Thanks
Helpful - 0
231441 tn?1333892766
Hi,

given the B12 deficiency, I would recommend you be tested for celiac and/or just try a gluten free diet to see if it helps.

People with thryoid and other problems may often also have problems with celiac.  Celiac can make it really hard to lose weight.

Something else to look into...

Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Thanks for your reply.  You were hyper? Now hypo?  I've only been hypo, but sounds like you've had a worse time of it. I just get so discouraged - I'm 5 ft, diet and exercise faithfully and still packing on pounds.  Just feel so bloated and "huge" all the time and probably worse because I'm trying to get it off and no luck.  I've thought of asking dr for anti-depressants, but I hate taking drugs and if I could just get started losing even a couple lbs, I'd feel like there might be hope.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Barb...I gained 16kgs from being on anti-thyroid meds for over 12 months and then had RAI.
I havent lost any weight although I am able to now start exercising more since getting my levels near to normal.
Usually weight gain is from your levels being 'out of whack' or leaning towards hypo.
I am 5ft 1 and weigh 66.4 kgs and prior to diagnosis of Graves and Hyperthyroidism, was 55kgs fluctuating all the time.
I find my knees and feet ache and hurt when I am BOTH nyper and hypo.
Not much help to you but please believe that you are not alone in the weight gain.

Debs
Helpful - 0
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