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Gained 10 lbs in 1 month on desiccated thyroid
I've had Hashomoto's for 8 years and 8-9 months ago my thyroid went out of whack. I experienced strange symptoms, such weight gain, palpitations and extreme sleepiness but at some point my weight went back to normal. Most of my symptoms went away when I was put on desiccated thyroid and I’ve been on this medication since September. I feel a lot better, but now I’m gaining weight again :(.
The thing is that my test results are pretty normal (except for the tg which is usually negative) and I really don’t get why I’m gaining weight. Over the past month I’ve worked out approx 6 hours per week and my workouts have been relatively intense. I generally eat less than 2000 calories per day. Heck, I’ve been consuming less calories than I was the last time I gained 10+ lbs and I've been putting on weight a lot faster. Based on this calculator: https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/health/bmr-calculator.php I'm supposed to be eating 2000+ calories per day to maintain my normal weight. Something’s definitely off.
Here are my most recent test results, from 2-3 weeks ago:
TSH: 0.05 L (0.3-4.0)
FT3: 3.6 (2.5-5.9), bottom 32%
FT4: 14 (9-19) , right at 50%
TPO: 380 H (<40)
TG: 130 H (<40) <- this antibody was negative in August
Has anyone experienced this? What did you do?
The thing is that my test results are pretty normal (except for the tg which is usually negative) and I really don’t get why I’m gaining weight. Over the past month I’ve worked out approx 6 hours per week and my workouts have been relatively intense. I generally eat less than 2000 calories per day. Heck, I’ve been consuming less calories than I was the last time I gained 10+ lbs and I've been putting on weight a lot faster. Based on this calculator: https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/health/bmr-calculator.php I'm supposed to be eating 2000+ calories per day to maintain my normal weight. Something’s definitely off.
Here are my most recent test results, from 2-3 weeks ago:
TSH: 0.05 L (0.3-4.0)
FT3: 3.6 (2.5-5.9), bottom 32%
FT4: 14 (9-19) , right at 50%
TPO: 380 H (<40)
TG: 130 H (<40) <- this antibody was negative in August
Has anyone experienced this? What did you do?
Thyroid medication causes TSH to drop, and thus reduces output of natural thyroid hormone. Since serum thyroid levels are the sum of both natural thyroid hormone and any thyroid medication, only when TSH is suppressed below range, and no longer stimulating the thyroid gland, will further increases in thyroid med start to raise your FT4 and FT3 levels as needed to relieve hypothyroid symptoms.
You are not quite there yet, but note that taking significant thyroid med in only one or two doses daily, as compared to a continuous low flow of thyroid hormone in the untreated state, has been shown to cause suppression of TSH. A suppressed TSH when taking thyroid medication should never be diagnosed as hyperthyroidism, unless there are hyperthyroid symptoms due to excessive levels of FT4 and FT3.
As TSH becomes suppressed by the daily dose of thyroid med, the output of natural thyroid hormone is stopped, and the patient will thus need a full daily replacement amount of thyroid hormone from thyroid medication. Since the average normal secretion for euthyroid humans are 94-110 mcg of T4 and 10-22 mcg of T3 daily, that means the average person will need at least 2 grains (120 mg) of desiccated thyroid med, plus an additional amount to account for losses due to absorption being less than 100%. Also, everyone is different in their need for thyroid hormone. So you can see that you are a long way from being on an adequate dosage of medication. This is further evident from your symptoms.
You can find all this info in the paper you previously downloaded and gave to your doctor.
You are not quite there yet, but note that taking significant thyroid med in only one or two doses daily, as compared to a continuous low flow of thyroid hormone in the untreated state, has been shown to cause suppression of TSH. A suppressed TSH when taking thyroid medication should never be diagnosed as hyperthyroidism, unless there are hyperthyroid symptoms due to excessive levels of FT4 and FT3.
As TSH becomes suppressed by the daily dose of thyroid med, the output of natural thyroid hormone is stopped, and the patient will thus need a full daily replacement amount of thyroid hormone from thyroid medication. Since the average normal secretion for euthyroid humans are 94-110 mcg of T4 and 10-22 mcg of T3 daily, that means the average person will need at least 2 grains (120 mg) of desiccated thyroid med, plus an additional amount to account for losses due to absorption being less than 100%. Also, everyone is different in their need for thyroid hormone. So you can see that you are a long way from being on an adequate dosage of medication. This is further evident from your symptoms.
You can find all this info in the paper you previously downloaded and gave to your doctor.
1 Comments
Thank you Gimel. The thing is that my doctors here will probably never be ok with my TSH being completely suppressed (I live in Canada and they follow relatively strict guidelines here). Is there a way to get my FT3 and FT4 to acceptable levels (mid range-ish) without fully suppressing the TSH? (they're probably going to want it >0.5)
UPDATE:
I got my test results a few days ago and my FT4 is still too low. My FT3 is "normal" but it's still very low. I don't get it. My dose was recently upped to 60 mg desiccated thyroid. Why are my levels getting worse? Shouldn't they be getting better? I do feel better.
TSH 1.10 (0.3-5)
FT3 3.6 (3.4-5.9), bottom 8.6%
FT4 9 (12-20) L
I didn't take my medication the day I went in for blood work (I waited 27 hours).
Symptoms:
Nausea (this one's new but it's getting better)
Slow metabolism (I gain weight a lot faster than I used to, but it's significantly better than it was 2-3 months ago)
Mild to moderate memory problems, depending on the day (significantly better than 2-3 months ago)
Dry skin
I sleep slightly more than I used to.
I got my test results a few days ago and my FT4 is still too low. My FT3 is "normal" but it's still very low. I don't get it. My dose was recently upped to 60 mg desiccated thyroid. Why are my levels getting worse? Shouldn't they be getting better? I do feel better.
TSH 1.10 (0.3-5)
FT3 3.6 (3.4-5.9), bottom 8.6%
FT4 9 (12-20) L
I didn't take my medication the day I went in for blood work (I waited 27 hours).
Symptoms:
Nausea (this one's new but it's getting better)
Slow metabolism (I gain weight a lot faster than I used to, but it's significantly better than it was 2-3 months ago)
Mild to moderate memory problems, depending on the day (significantly better than 2-3 months ago)
Dry skin
I sleep slightly more than I used to.
4 Comments
which ndt are you taking? how long were you on the 60 mg dose before testing? from these labs it looks like you will need an increase. Do you have issues with hair loss?
I'm taking Erfa. I've been on 60 mg for about 6 weeks. I had issues with hair loss before, but it was pretty mild (I'm sure some people have it worse when they're hypo) and it's better now.
what did your dr suggest, did he suggest an increase in dose?
My dr increased my dose by 5 mg. We're doing it slowly because I'm deathly afraid of going hyper.
I recently had labs done. Here are the results:
TG: <20 (Ref < 40) Negative this time.
TPO: 770 H (Ref <40) This antibody always comes back high
TSH: 0.5 (ref 0.35-5.0) how is my TSH so low if my thyroid is failing? It should be 20.
FT3: 3.2 L (ref 3.4-6) that’ll explain the weight gain
FT4: 11 L (ref 12-22) that’ll explain the weight gain
Ferritin: 31 (ref 12-109) I’m taking a supplement
I’m on desiccated thyroid (30 mg). I didn’t take it the morning I did the labs (I waited for 26 hours).
My Tg came back negative this time. I’m glad it went back back down but is it normal for the Tg to fluctuate like this? It was positive a month ago.
My TPO basically doubled over the past month. Is this bad?
My FT3 and FT4 are officially too low for the first time ever (overt hypo). Now I know why I put on 10 lbs in 1 month. What’s interesting is that I feel relatively ok. Other than the weight gain and crawling metabolism, most of my hypo symptoms are nearly gone.
I think I finally figured out why I was still having symptoms when my FT3 was close to the middle of the reference range. Turns out that the lab changed the reference range. The low end was changed from 3.1 to 2.6 (most labs have it around 3.5!). I was having horrible symptoms at 3.5 so no, this new reference range doesn’t work Life Labs!
http://www.btf-thyroid.org/information/quick-guides/97-thyroid-function-tests
Based on the reference range they were using before my FT3 was at 16%. It’s better than the 12% I was at before but still significantly lower than the 30% I thought my levels were at. This time I went to a clinic that works with a different lab and surprise surprise my FT3 is really low again (this time it's out of range).
https://thyroidpatients.ca/2019/01/06/abbott-laboratories-reference-range-normalizes-lower-free-t3/
TG: <20 (Ref < 40) Negative this time.
TPO: 770 H (Ref <40) This antibody always comes back high
TSH: 0.5 (ref 0.35-5.0) how is my TSH so low if my thyroid is failing? It should be 20.
FT3: 3.2 L (ref 3.4-6) that’ll explain the weight gain
FT4: 11 L (ref 12-22) that’ll explain the weight gain
Ferritin: 31 (ref 12-109) I’m taking a supplement
I’m on desiccated thyroid (30 mg). I didn’t take it the morning I did the labs (I waited for 26 hours).
My Tg came back negative this time. I’m glad it went back back down but is it normal for the Tg to fluctuate like this? It was positive a month ago.
My TPO basically doubled over the past month. Is this bad?
My FT3 and FT4 are officially too low for the first time ever (overt hypo). Now I know why I put on 10 lbs in 1 month. What’s interesting is that I feel relatively ok. Other than the weight gain and crawling metabolism, most of my hypo symptoms are nearly gone.
I think I finally figured out why I was still having symptoms when my FT3 was close to the middle of the reference range. Turns out that the lab changed the reference range. The low end was changed from 3.1 to 2.6 (most labs have it around 3.5!). I was having horrible symptoms at 3.5 so no, this new reference range doesn’t work Life Labs!
http://www.btf-thyroid.org/information/quick-guides/97-thyroid-function-tests
Based on the reference range they were using before my FT3 was at 16%. It’s better than the 12% I was at before but still significantly lower than the 30% I thought my levels were at. This time I went to a clinic that works with a different lab and surprise surprise my FT3 is really low again (this time it's out of range).
https://thyroidpatients.ca/2019/01/06/abbott-laboratories-reference-range-normalizes-lower-free-t3/
3 Comments
are you going to increase your meds? what dose are going to do? and what med?
I'm on Desiccated Thyroid (30 mg every morning). I'm going to talk to my doctor and see what she says. I'm assuming she's going to up my dose.
I'm on 60 mg now (30 X 2)
Question: is it possible you are pregnant?
Also b12 needs to be at least 700 if not 900 for many to feel well. So the range in the usa is wide and the lower part of the range is ridiculously low. So what was your actual b12 level?
Based on you preciois lab reaults it may make sense to further supplement with synthetic T3to get your free T3 level up. If your most recent tests show a similar trend.
That would be my opinion anyhow.
Overtraining can precent T3 from
Entering the cells. Even if T3 is in the blood . Over trainig can also increase cortisol.
My mom recently went hatd core keto diet. She lost weight initially and then nothing. She INCREASED her fat intake and water. Increased calories and LOST weight!
Just proves that calorie counting simply is not as clear cut way or just doesn’t always work.
Also b12 needs to be at least 700 if not 900 for many to feel well. So the range in the usa is wide and the lower part of the range is ridiculously low. So what was your actual b12 level?
Based on you preciois lab reaults it may make sense to further supplement with synthetic T3to get your free T3 level up. If your most recent tests show a similar trend.
That would be my opinion anyhow.
Overtraining can precent T3 from
Entering the cells. Even if T3 is in the blood . Over trainig can also increase cortisol.
My mom recently went hatd core keto diet. She lost weight initially and then nothing. She INCREASED her fat intake and water. Increased calories and LOST weight!
Just proves that calorie counting simply is not as clear cut way or just doesn’t always work.
1 Comments
Thank you flyingfool. I'm definitely not pregnant. My B12 is always close to the high end of the reference range. I wish I could supplement with synthetic T3, but my current doctor is only authorized to prescribe desiccated thyroid. I would have to see an endocrinologist and get them on board to get a prescription for Cytomel (but convincing an endocrinologist to prescribe T3 is next to impossible).
I've been managing my weight by following a very healthy diet (relatively low calorie, packed with vitamins and nutrients). It kind of sucked at first (and sometimes it still does), but now I'm closer to my original weight and look healthier than I have in years.
I've been managing my weight by following a very healthy diet (relatively low calorie, packed with vitamins and nutrients). It kind of sucked at first (and sometimes it still does), but now I'm closer to my original weight and look healthier than I have in years.
Jenn1302 , do you have new results?
4 Comments
Not yet. I'm probably going to have them in a few days. I'll make sure to post them on here :)
Jenn did you get your labs?
can you please post what your results are, my antibodies went up too on ndt.
3 Comments
My thyroid doctor wants to wait a few weeks before I get my levels checked again because it's only been a few weeks. I will post them as I have them.
Jenn1302 , do you have new results?
*as soon as
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