why such weight gain in stomach

[hyposick]

is the hypothyroid have side effect of huge weight gain in the abdominal area, on armour thyroid, feeling like its not working lately 90 mg.  It was 1 year ago past April I was diagnosed and have since gained 30 pounds and lately starting to feel like more weight gain and depression coming back

[stella5349]

No I can't say I ever tried Cytomel. I went from Synthroid to Armour. As Sally says you have to keep two things in mind -

1 Give appropriate time to allow a med to work - this is a long process for most to feel the benefits of any hormonal medication.

2 Give your body time to heal too. It took quite a while to get this way so we can't expect anything overnight -

#2 is the hard one for me to accept at times.

Let me ask -  I get the impression in your post your friend went on Cytomel and helped her lose weight right? She did also take Synthroid T4 too with that right?

Not converting meds properly is easy to see with the correct lab tests - as said the FT3 and FT4 are what will tell if you are not converting correctly. Did you doctor run those or are they just assuming this could be an issue?  Especially being on Armour - since it is a direct T3 med - you really need those test ran along with TSH.

Remember Armour will be useless - per say - IF your cortisol levels are out of whack - adrenal fatigue is very common as not diagnoised much at all in combination with thyroid problems.  Your levels on labs may change - but symptoms will persist.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

You know, depression is also a symptom of hypothyroid.  From what you're saying it sounds that your levels are out.

They need to test TSH, FT3 and FT4.  TSH should be around 1.0.  FT3 and FT4 should be at least mid-normal range.

Some people love armor, some people don't!  The alternatives are just T4, or T4 and T3 combination.  It does take time to get things at optimal level.  But this takes regular testing and monitoring and possibly adjustment, over a period of months.  I take a combination of dessicated thyroid (similar to armor) and T4.  That works for me and I feel pretty ok.  It did take a long time to get to that stage.

Agree that you also should be reviewed for adrenal involvement.

[hyposick]

i will , I have a whole list for the endo, since first diagnosed I have learned the TSH is not the only way to measure if i'm at the best dosage and medication,  I do feel like the medication is not working as at first, I'm told this is very common with armour.  I have been so scared of synthroid, since thats what they originally put me on and I lost my hair, really scatter brain, muscle soreness and all that.  But now learn that i could be the type that does not convert to t 3 and may also need cytomel?  have you tried cytomel? I have a friend that her doctor started her on and it helped her lose all her weight she put on from synthroid.  It's really interesting to hear what others go through and to know you're not the only one, since this is so new to me.  
I appreciate your thoughts........................

[stella5349]

Hopefully your endo will check out everything. My thought is if you called the office crying as you say - most likely you may find him leaning towards you may have depression. That is usually how that goes.

Which may be true. I know the weight increase for me was truthfully depressing - but getting my thyroid in a better level of wellness really gave me hope to tackle the weight issues.

I would ask the endo - if he understands checking on the cortisol and weight. Ask him how he feels about hormone testing too.

[hyposick]

thnk you for your suggestion, I"m at my wits end...........I have made an appt with an endocronologist next week, my MD wants to see me this week, I called his office today crying , same as yesterday crying and really down.  It seems like all my hypo symptoms are back with vengence.  The abdominal increase weight really is uncomfortable, I was 125 , 5.3" before I was diagnosed and now 1.5 year later I weigh 155 and feel horrible.  I feel sometimes like the medication is poisen and has done this all to me!  This week I have a terrible heartburn and burning in my thyroid area.......

[stella5349]

Are you sure you are at your optimal dose? What are your labs?

There can be a couple of things going on with you.

First taking the hypothyroid situation - your metobolism is very slow - so weight gain is easy even if you are limiting your food. You have to learn how to eat different things to even maintain a weight.

Peek over at the Zone or South Beach diet - many hypo's adapt to that lifestyle of eating for life.

Concentrating on your location of your weight in the stomach -

Two things come to mind as I suffer the same thing.

Your GI track is slow because of the disease. Digestion is slow too - so bloat and discomfort is common. A good probiotic and digestive enzyme is important to regulate that. Recently I started my regimin again on both and in three days was completely better with the horrible acid reflux and bloating I had.

Hypo's left in a abnormal thyroid state "can" develop adrenal fatigue - cortisol issues are common and cortisol will concentrate directly around the middle when the adrenals are not working correctly.

Adrenal fatigue will also shut off the thyroid meds from working - so getting proper tests is important.

It sounds like you need to check out those adrenals to start with to see if you are having some issues. If you are and they are not corrected - then you can fall into a cycle of increasing meds for no reason and still gaining weight and left still with the hypoT symptoms.