Hyperthyroidism and weight gain

[Dlynn4]

Can a person with hyperthyroid gain weight?

[smilesoo]

I refuse to say I have graves I think is the phentermine,  im feeling good. What should I do im.scare to take tapasole

[LeighM009]

Well - it will be hard to distinguish my symptoms as I have tested positive for other things which as far as I know do not contribute to the weight gain.  However, here are a list of my symptoms:  
constant hunger (even after a huge meal I could still eat)
extreme tiredness! (no matter what, I am exhausted and a perpetual yawner... I even took Provigil/Nuvigil and constantly yawned with those),
with my lack of sleep (laughing, I say that but I really get approximately 7 - 8 hours a night and usually it is solid sleep although sometimes I do have bouts of insomnia) -
and then my irregular menstrual cycle (had a uterine ablation with a D/C performed January 2007) I am VERY irritable!!!!  
I also have hyperhidrosis (actually, the dermatologist said I am an excellent candidate for botox injections since their medical treatments have been unsuccessful and my entire body cavity is constantly sweating.)

Can't be treated for the following as my BP is usually 90/50-60 and the medicine makes my fatigue even worse!
CREST disease - tested positive for that...
Raynaud's - have had since I was 18 (36 now)
Scleroderma - for the last 7 years it never showed up, rheumotologist said they found the marker this year in my lab work.  

With that, I watch my saturated fat intake (no more than 11 grams daily - if I can help it), I am conscience of my sugar intake, and I exercise about 5 days a week (it usually consists of running anywhere from 3-5 miles).  My weight gain this month is NOT muscle! as my clothes do not fit me now and I can literally feel the fat on my bottom and thighs jiggle whereas a few weeks ago I felt toned.  

I guess this is all I can offer until I get my lab work completed.

[Smilerdeb]

I suffer with Graves and had hyperthyroidism and gained 11kilograms before RAI & Thyroidectomy last June.

Before diagnosis I would go through 'fat stages and skinny stages' and eventually was placed on anti-thyroid meds to try and control the hyperthyroidism which was unsuccessful.

I started off at 55kgs post diagnosis and went to 71kgs.
I am now 58 kgs after getting my levels stable and have NOT exersised to lose the weight.
Mind you, I did so much exersise prior to RAI and did not lose one pound!
Once your levels even out and stabilise, so too will your weight.
Have you had the Graves antibody test done yet (TSI)?

Graves cannot be diagnosed without antibody testing so ask for this to be done.
All the best on your road to wellness.

[gimel]

TSH alone is totally inadequate for trying to assess thyroid problems.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables, including the time of day when blood is drawn.  Doctors like to think that it correlates well with thyroid hormone levels and with symptoms, but the truth is that it does not. So having a TSH in the low end of the range, by itself, is not an indication of being hyper.  At best TSH is an indicator, to be considered along with the more important indicators, which are symptoms and also the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4. Symptoms are really the most important indicator.  What symptoms have you noticed, other than the weight gain?

If you have test results, please post the actual numbers and reference ranges so that members can help interpret the results.  If you do not have tests for FT3 and FT4, then that should be done.  You should also be aware that many members report that FT3 and FT4 results in the lower end of their reference ranges frequently result in lingering hypo symptoms.  In my opinion the very best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever medication is required to alleviate symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH level.

If it should turn out that you have FT3 and FT4 levels in the low end of their ranges, along with your TSH result, you may need to also check your pituitary function.  At any rate, before getting any deeper, lets start with a look at any available test results and your symptoms.

[LeighM009]

Well, my TSH level is 0.55 (normal, but the norm reference is 0.34-5.60).  That is really the only test taken (I think).  I have the lab report here in front of me - what test should I be looking for?  However, I work for a bariatric doctor and he said I was hyper... and he is betting with Graves???  I know this is all just based on speculation, but the weight gain this past month is crazy!  It is depressing me - and I am not thrilled with the idea of taking phentermine to shed these pounds.  And there really isn't anymore modification to my diet I can make as I am pretty much eating cardboard as it is.

[gimel]

What was the basis for the hyper diagnosis?  Please post whatever thyroid test results and reference ranges you have so that members can provide the best response.

[LeighM009]

Hi.  I am new here and have been diagnosed with hyperthyoidism; however, I have yo-yo weight gain.  Sometimes I can gain about 10 pounds in a month - what kind of treatments are available for this?  My doctor thinks I have Graves, but everything I have read suggests weight LOSS not gain.

[gimel]

What is the basis for you stating that you are hyper?  I'm asking because so many times we hear that a patient has been declared to be hyper by a doctor, based on TSH level, only to find out that in reality the patient still has hypo symptoms and their FT3 and FT4 levels need adjusting to alleviate those symptoms.

[ChitChatNine]

Hi -- anything can happen, but usually with hypO thyroidism

WELCOME,

C~