What can I do??

[Mell77]

All my life I have suffered from weight problems, menstrual problems and feeling tiredbut not sleeping. I was very obese 25 stones and managed to lose 12 stone over 2 years exercising 4 hours a day 6 days a week and eating less than 1000 calories. I managed to sustain my weight for just over a year and in the last 2 yearshave nowregained 5 stones even though I watch what I eat and exercise 2 hours a daily 5 days per week! My doctor ordered thyroid tests which he gave me but I now have to wait till July to see a specialist as my GP is unsure what the results mean. These were the findings free T4 15.4 pmol/L, TSH 2.05 mIU/L, Ferritin 58.2 ug/L, T3 not indicated and TPO 286 IU/ml. He said the TPO is very high but not sure if that means I will need medication or even if that is what is causing the weight gain and other problems. I have very bad sleep problems and am lucky to get 3 or 4 hours undisturbed sleep per night, I suffer from very heavy and prolonged menstrual periods at one point for 7 months non stop but now am on a contraceptive pill to control this and Im very sensitive to the cold! Can you give any advice or indication what course of action may be taken.

[Mell77]

Met with my Endo today for the first time disappointed with her even though she was a nice lady! She agrees I have alot of hypo symptoms, weight gain, tiredness, dry skin, dont sweat alot, family history of thyroid problems on my dads side of the family, always cold etc etc. My TSH is normal which is all that matters in her book even though the TPO levels are 286. Has refered me to a sleep apnea clinic, obesity clinic for possible gastric banding as my BMI is 40 and further tests for PCOS. Im not happy!!!

[Super_sally888]

Hi Mel,

What you are describing sounds very like PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Look it up on the internet.  Treatment is lower carb diet, exercise (yes you are doing the right thing there), and maybe an insulin sensitiser like metformin.

In addition see if your dr. will let you trial low dose of thyroid hormone.  It will not hurt as long as they monitor and make sure your thyroid levels are within normal range.

My doctor let me trial a low dose of thryoid hormone 7 years ago, when I had an enlarged thryoid, only very slightly abnormal tests, and nearly every hypot symptom in the book.  In my case thyroid (as well as PCOS) are definitely part of the cause.  It seems I caught the thryoid problem early.... because over the years my TSH just keeps going up and I have to keep adjusting the meds.

Accept that weight is always going to be an issue for you (yes, unfortunately) and that you may have to work harder than 'normal' people to manage it.

Very best wishes,

Sally

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

TPO is high -- autoimmune thyroid disease, probably Hashimoto's -- but TSH is normal so the thyroid is not the likely cause of symptoms.  In some cases a trial of thyroid hormone is offered -- it may or may not help.