hypothyroidism and weight gain

I have a hypothyroid, had surgery to remove the right side of my thyroid in august and am on Synthroid 75mcg. I have gained so much weight the last couple of years (about 20 last year) and am at my largest weight (160lbs. and 5'4"). Has anyone experienced this and will the weight just start to fall off? I know it won't come off all on it's own, but I figured once my body got regulated I would lose some weight. Any advice? Thanks!

[Super_sally888]

Please post what your levels are: TSH, FT3, FT4, along with the reference ranges.

When you are properly medicated it should be easier tolose weight.  That said, it may not be 'easy".  And you may need to work harder than before to lose it.

[gimel]

In order to alleviate hypo symptoms, including low metabolism, requires adequate medication.  We hear from a lot of patients here that have similar problems because their doctors use TSH as a diagnostic to regulate med dosage.  This doesn't work because TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables, including the time of day when blood is drawn.  TSH does not correlate very well at all with hypo symptoms.  Also, patients taking thyroid meds frequently have their TSH suppressed to the low end of the range, or below.  Doctors misinterpret this as being hyper and want to reduce meds.  Actually you are hyper only if you have hyper symptom.  

In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones (free T3 and free T4), with meds as required to alleviate symptoms.  Frequently we find that this requires that the FT3 and FT4 hormones need to be in the upper part of their very broad ranges before symptoms are gone.  FT3 is actually the most important because it is four times as potent as FT4, and FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  

So to try and understand why you still seem to have hypo symptoms, please post thyroid test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, so that members can help interpret your status.

[stella5349]

adding to what Gimel said - many low functioning or non thyroid patients will develop a lepitin - cortisol and insulin issue. This is the stubborn weight factors we face and these can occur with a reverse T3 increase in the blood.

If your FT3 levels are not optimal  you can look at RT3 blood to see if those are stored. If so the above issues may be taking place.

You may want to check the basal body temp to see if you are low each day. If so - you can look towards RT3 to see if you are storing hormone. If you are storing or want to suggest  trying active T3 meds in addition to your T4 meds. Ask your doctor about putting you on Cytomel 2x's a day to see if you start to increase your metobolism.  

[FaithfulMom2]

Thanks for all the comments. I am getting blood work done next week so I will post the results then. The last time I went my levels were 4 and the dr. bumped up my meds to 75mcg.

[gimel]

Make very sure that you get free T3 and free T4 tested (FT3 and FT4), not total T3 and total T4.  I would go so far as to ask to see the lab request sheet to be sure of the correct tests,  before you let them draw blood.  You wouldn't believe how many times patients think they are getting FT3 and FT4 tests, only to find out after the fact that they really got total T3 and total T4.  Then you have to go back and go through the same thing again.  It is much better to make absolutely sure up front.

[stella5349]

again in addition... if you have to push to get the fress done. more often than not - you may find they are not quite sure how to read them. A free T3 test is best in the upper range the free T4 is usually pretty good lower-mid on the reference range.