Hypothyroidism and weight gain

[dre22]

I read your post to another sufferer, in which you stated that hypothyroidism causes weight loss, rather than weight gain.  But, according to my doctor, and most of what I have read, hypothyroidism is associated with weightgain, not weight loss.  I would think that hyperthyroidism would be more associated with weightloss.  But, I am no doctor, only a sufferer trying to do some research on her own.  I, myself, have been suffering from extreme weight gain, and struggling to eat less and lose the weight.  But, when I diet, or try to cut back on what I eat, I get bouts of nausia to the point that it makes me light headed, and feel the need to vomit, which has happened.  I have had many symptoms of hypothyroidism for years, and did not know it.  The doctor thinks it is very possible that that is very possible, and only now been diagnosed.  But for some reason, it is taking a long time for my levels to regulate, and the symptoms persist.  As stated in the earlier post, my TSH levels at the last increase went back up, rather than down, and I am now at 300 mcg/day of levothyroxine, or levothroid.  I still suffer the symptoms as well, and it can be rather discouraging.  I know I look, and feel lazy, but my intentions are there, and I really do try, but I cannot seem to get my body, or brain, to function like I know they should.  Right now I also have persitent Bronchitis, which does not help the situation. But,  the weight is a concern for me, and my doctor informed me that we need to get my TSH levels back within normal range first. Why is your information conflicting?

[toourlady89]

Hello, my co- hypothyroid sufferers, I am one as well and I am a recently retired ICU Nurse.  I was  reading the additional  symptoms that some of you have stated here...and I just want to clarify !  I think that there is so much concentration and blame on being hypothyroid, as there could be other issues going on..We have to look at the whole picture.
In my search, this is what I have found: symptoms of anxiety, depression, neuro problems such as tics, tremors, muscular twitches, memory loss, IBS, instability of blood sugars, cramps, asthma, blood clots, bowel disease, diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, hypertension, hypoglycemia, insomnia, migraines, fibromyalgia, kidney stones, migraine, grinding teeth,osteoporosis, Reynaud's syndrome, tooth decay, etc.. are all signs of Magnesium deficiency. If I could direct you my co hypothyroid sufferers to look at Magnesium supplementation.
My info sources are  "The Magnesium Miracle Book" by Dr. Carolyn Dean, a Naturopath MD, and Dr. Mark Sircus, Doctor of Oriental Medicinught e. I got my books from Amazon after reading up on the reviews.
This is what the book taught me:
Add Mg Glycinate or Mg L Threonate (for memory loss)  I take 3 caps a day) to your vitamin regimen. plus Vit D3, B complex and calcium from food are all necessary---for Mg Calcium balance.

Please search on YOU TUBE : Magnesium Deficiency.
You will find Dr. Dean, Dr. Marcus and several other Health Practitioners video on Magnesium deficiency.

Learning all you can about this mineral will be - to me, life changing for my family. Sleeping very well, no more teeth grinding, memory is restored, no more depression, shaking hands is better, eye tics in one cousin got relaxed, no more Botox injections, my leg cramps are so much less, sister's painful groin is better... so much more. Getting Mg built up in the system will take time 6 to 12 months, so I also use Mg chloride spray which works instantly- to speed up the process. I used the spray a lot at the start, it has been 6 months and I spray only once a day now after shower. I leave it on.
I wish I found Mg earlier on.
I took Calcium and Vit D3 only for many many years and according to my searches, it did more harm than good without Magnesium.That is another story.
I only hope that most of you will be able to change your life with Magnesium. As the book title says- Magnesium is a true Miracle.

Its important to get your thyroid levels within the desired range, but it may not be the reason for everything. I got better on Magnesium and I wish the same for everyone.
Google : Thyroid and Magnesium.
I wish you all the best.

[Barb135]

Although I don't have any where near the other health problems you have, I do understand about the inability to lose weight - I have Hashi's.  I agree with the post about apples being very good for you; I often eat one just prior to a meal and it helps fill me up so I don't eat so much at the meal. Or I eat them for snacks and they do fill my up pretty much.  According to your post, you are supposed to cook your food prior to eating it, so a snack of an apple with peanut butter would not work for you; you might try cooking the apple and rather than using sugar to sweeten it, try stevia instead and add a bit of cinnamon to give a little extra flavor.  I've also read quite a few articles that indicate that a tsp of cinnamon daily can help stabilize blood sugar levels.  

Stevia is a natural sweetner made from the sweet leaf plant.  It supposedly has no calories and will not raise blood sugar; therefore you get the sweetness of sugar, without all the other effects.  I have almost stopped using both sugar and artificial sweetner and gone entirely to stevia.  I've also found the stevia that contains inulin fiber (which is not digested) which helps to "keep things moving".  

Another thing you might try is green tea.  I drink a lot of it - fresh brewed from tea bags and hot water, drink hot, sweetened with stevia or agave nectar.  I have to admit that I haven't been able to lose any weight, but it does seem to help control my appetite a bit and I've managed to hold fairly steady.  You can buy decaffienated tea also if caffiene is a problem.  

Just some suggestions and remember - what works for me, might not work for you.  Good luck  

[arisa1536]

i have always tried to eat 5-6 smal meals a day and incorporate daily excercise into my lifestyle, when i combined these two and was still constantly tired, fatigued and over weight, the doctor took blood tests and my thyroid was VERY slow so now i am on levothyroxine and its only been a week but i am noticing side effects which arent that bad
I am hoping the weight will come off soon though

Has anyone else noticed weight loss from long term use of the pill Levothryroxine?

[dre22]

Thank you for the response.  I really appreciate it.  The only thing is that the colon is the large intestine, and connects from the small intestine (which is between the stomach and the colon), to the rectum.  What I had removed was the larger lower portion of the intestine, the colon, which is below the duodenum, and ileum.  Your stomach is actually closer to the ribcage, rather close to the heart.  The ileum, duodenum, and the other segment you are referring to, I believe, is actually part of the small intestine, which I still have.  In fact, my mother (still alive), has inoperable cancer which is in the form of a large tumor wrapped around the blood supply to her intestines, and has to wear a bag.  She would have problems with absorption far more than me.  She is missing most of her small intestine as well as the entire colon and rectum.  But, she does not have hypothyroidism, and as far as I know, it is not hereditary in her family, but cancer is, and I am at a much higher risk of thyroid cancer because of the FAP, but it could be nothing too.  We shall see.  Frankly, I am just tired of being, and getting sick all the time, and not feeling well, that's all.  But I truly thank you for the information on those organs, and their function.  I was wondering the same thing you wrote about, but not secure in my assumptions.  I am really hoping that this time my TSH levels have dropped.  Let me know if I can reciprocate your help sometime.  I hope everyone had a good  christmas and new years...take care all...

[Jenipeni]

Hi there


I have just been reading through your posts - I'm not sure if you will continue to check this posting but here's hoping.  You and your family have certainly had more than your fair share of health trials! I am really sorry : (  
You mentioned that you only have 5 inches of colon left and wondered if this would affect absorbtion.  You already know that it does affect your absorbtion of nutrients and probably have the inkling it is the same for absorbtion of your 300mcg of levothyroxine.
I looked up the prescribing info for thyroxine (here in Australia-same active ingredient as levothyroxine) because I remembered reading something about where the drug is absorbed.  Here's a short excerpt - I'm sure they won't mind!

"Approximately 50 - 75% of thyroxine sodium is absorbed. Studies in humans indicate that thyroxine sodium is absorbed in the jejunum and ileum, and in the duodenum."

So even a person with an intact bowel on a dosage of 300mcg of levothyroxine might be only getting the biological benefit of 150mcg!  I don't know how they could work out acurately how much absorbtion you are actually getting.

The jejunum, ileum and duodenum are proximal parts of the bowel - they are closest to the stomach, furtherest away from the rectum.  I don't know if you know what part of the bowel the remaining 5 inches is but it would be safe to say that absorbtion would be effected considerably if the jejunum, ileum and duodenum are no longer present.  

I wouldn't think that the normal maximum dosage directions would apply in your case because you have altered absorbtion of the drug.

I don't know if this information will help at all.  I am a nosy  nursing student who loves anatomy and physiology, and find any information about my thyroid condition empowering on some level.  Not everyone feels the same.  
Wishing you wellness
jenipeni

[parissa]

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FANATICAL ABOUT MY HEALTH. I ALWAYS TRY TO EXCERCISE 40 MIN TO AN HOUR AN HALF EVERY DAY AND EAT EXTREMELY HEALTH. HOWEVER AFTER A A MAJOR UPSET IN MY LIFE EVERTYTHING WENT PEAR SHAPED AS THEY SAY!
I BECAME SO FATIGUED THAT I COULD NOT WALK , I HAVE PUT ON TWO STONES SINCE. I BECAME DEPRESSED, HAD TO SEE A COUNCILLOR, I COULD NOT FOCUS ON ANY AREA OF MY LIFE.
I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM THYROID UNDERACTIVE.
I WAS GIVEN 50 MCG OF THYROXINE...SYMPTOMS IMPROVED ... I WAS BACK TO MY HEALTHY EATING, GYM ALMOST EVERYDAY , I DID LOOSE FEW POUNDS...THEN MY DOSE OF LEVOTHYROXINE INCREASE TO 100 MCGS AND I ACCIDENTLY THOUGHT I WAS TO TAKE TWO TABLETS SO 200 MCG FOR TWO MONTHS... SYMOTOMS OF FATIGUE DISAPPEARED AND MY EATING AND EXCERCISE REMAINED VERY REGIMENTAL ANDMANAGED TO LOOSE HALF A STONE.... ONLY HALF A STONE AFTER EVERDAY OF EATING HEALTHY AND EXCERCISE... I DONT KNOW WHY I CANT SHIFT THE TO STONES  THAT I HAVE PUT ON . OTHER AREA S OF MY LIFE IS ON A STANDSTILL TILL I SEE SOME RESULTD.
I AM VERY SCARED NOW THAT MY DOSE IS CORRECTED AFTER BLOOD TEST SHOEWD IT WAS TOO HIGH THAT I WONT LOOSE ANY WEIGHT EVEN THOUGH I AM STRUGGLING , I CANT OUT ON ANY MIRE WEIGHT.
I THOUGHT THAT IF MY MEDIACTION WAS TOO HIGH THEN I SHOULD OF HAVE LOST MORE WEIGHT BUT I M LOOSING MY PERSEVERSNCE OF TRYING SO HARD AND NOT SEEING RESULTS, I THINK THIS IS DEPRESSING ME MORE.
I RUN UP TO FIVE MILES EVERY OTHER DAY AND EAT VEGETABLES AND LEAN PROTEIN AND ONLY COMPKEX CARBS VERY LIMITED

I TAKE SUPPLEMENTS SUCH AS FAT METABOLISER, KELP TABLETS AND SELENIUM AS WELL AS SPIRULINA AND GREEN BARLEY GRASS.
MY ONLY DOWN FALL IS MAY BE TWO CUPS OF COFFEE A DAY.

SOMEONE SHED SOME LIGHT AS I AM SUFFERING FROM THIS STATE IN LAST YEAR AND NOW I AM 30 ...I FEEL THAT ALL MY LIFE IS ON A STANDSTILL AND CANT BEAR TO FACE ANOTHER YEAR STIIL TWO STONES OVER WEIGHT AND TIRED AND FOGGY MINDED .....SOMEONE TELL ME IT WILL GET BETTER PLEASE....

MY DOC IS NOT SO UNDERSTANDING AND SAYS MY WEIGHT IS NORMAL BUT I AM SEVERLY DEPRESSED CSUSE NON OF MY CLOTHES FIT!

[venora]

Wow you should write a book.That was a very helpful post.I did not know that about apples.
Dre you and your family will be in my prayers
Love Venora

[dre22]

Wow,  I didn't know that about potatoes, white flower, wine, and coffee, white flower, and caffiene products.  I know my doctor warns me about caffiene, but not why. I do tend to drink coffee in the morning, and to stay awake while studying late at night.  I also, on occasion have soda at school, but rarely at home for some reason.  I usually drink the vitamin waters, and I haven't smoked in over 15 years.  I have been eating bread though: toast in the morning, maybe a couple of slices of garlic bread with dinner, it adds up. I also have been known to eat dried fruit, although it is difficult for my system to process, it doesn't seem to have quite the acid content.  Thank you very much.  I really appreciate it.  You have given me a lot of helpful advise.  I have been so frustrated with all of this.  I hope you have a very, merry christmas.

[dre22]

in regards to the FAP, yes my mother has to wear a bag from it, and has a 10lb. inoperable desmoid tumor wrapped around the blood supply to her intestines.  My Aunt has cancer from it, and my cousin has a large brain tumor from the disease which they term Turcot's syndrome.  My mother is worried because I am also at a much higher risk for Thyroid cancer, and cancer of the pituitary glands.  Although I have been taking my vitamins, I keep getting sick, and I now have Bronchitis that I have had for over 2 weeks now.  I have recently had an upper and lower colonoscopy on what is left of my intestines, and my rectum, and camera scope done a couple of weeks ago.  I have also been having some intestinal problems, and a severely spasming colon.  The gastroenterologist who examined me was rather upset that I waited so long, considering my history, but although he found multiple polyps and sent them for biopsis, they were all cancer free, which I am thankful for.  I still have the spasming colon, and rectum though, and multiple painful, bleeding hemorrhoids, on top of the Thyroid problem.  I had mentioned my Thyroid condition to the gastroenterologist, and he stated that it is possible, and I quote "possible" that it may be related to the FAP, but when the biopsis came back cancer free, he didn't persue it.  I was never sent for an ultrasound, or anything other than being put onto medication, and my blood levels regularly checked.  They did examine my neck for lumps, but only found my glands swollen near my ears, which was about the time that my bronchitis was kicking in.  My thyroid seemed fine, at least as they were feeling around on the outside of my neck they did not seem to notice anything.  My mother and Aunt are still concerned though, because of our family history with cancer, and the FAP.  My grandmother also died of the disease, when she was around 40,  and my great grandmother had to have her stomach replaced with a pig's stomach, and to wear some kind of wired contraption around her waist, before also succumbing to the disease.  My mother also went with me to UCSF, where they did some genetic testing, to see exactly what type of gene mutation that our family carried that made us so susceptible to the disease.  It turns out that we just do not have the gene to begin with, so we have absolutely nothing to prevent us from getting it.  The good thing the doctor there told us, was that, with FAP, if you do not inherit the trait, and do not come down with the disease you cannot pass it down to following generations, so it is you cannot be a carrier without also having it, or missing it.  
But, since we just lost my stepdad to cancer, and the doctor's misdiagnosed him, bigtime.  They did not identify that it was cancer until his autopsy, when it was too late.  So now she is worried about me, especially considering our history, and the problems I am having.  I think I am at the maximum dosage right now, 300mcg of levothyroxine, is that the maximum?  My doctor was shocked when he got the test results back last week, and my levels had gone up, instead of down.  Unfortunately, this has my mother very worried, and I am not sure what to think.  Any further comments or suggestions?  And again thank you for reading it utahmomma, and others.

[dre22]

also, I seem to remember being told from somewhere, and I am not sure on this, but since I have only 5 inches left of my colon, rather than the 10 to 12 ft. that most people have, I am not able to absorb nutrients as quickly, and easily as someone who still has their colon.  Could this also be a factor?  Also, my liver tends to test a little high, and I do drink a glass of wine now and then, but not all the time.  A bottle of wine will last me over a week, and that usually also includes cooking with it, but I don't know if that even means anything.

[dre22]

I just thought about this as well.  All the food I eat is supposed to be cooked.  My body can no longer easily digest raw foods, particularly fruits and vegetables.    I also am supposed to avoid raw salads, for the same reason, and when I have eaten them, because I do like them, I have major problems, and it has caused me some difficulties.  I ended up in the hospital twice over the last 7 years or so, with blockages, when I didn't follow those restrictions.  So that may also add to the problem?  I try to juice the stuff too, but I also have a problem with foods being too acidic, which burns all the way out.  But, I still try.  So far I have been lucky in that I haven't had any blockages in a couple of years.  I know too, that cooking the foods often removes some of the nutrients that our bodies need.  Do you have any alternative suggestions?

[utahmomma]

I am *so* sorry for all you, and your family, has been through.

I'm not a medical professional - just becoming a professional patient.  

I don't know what happens in the body but I know that when I, and others I know, are seriously ill that our immune systems are very, very weak.  When I was having problems with my TSH rising I was getting bronchitis every month, having horrible IBS problems, and my blood sugar was very difficult to control.  I was also having major neurological problems which are just now being taken care of.

I also know that cancers can come in clusters.  Some of us just seem more prone to cancer than others (I think it has something to do with Darwin's theory but that's a whole different discussion usually saved for holiday family dinners)  :-)

I really don't think your nutrient absorption or liver issues impact your thyroid but stranger things have happened.  It does concern me though that your doctors haven't scheduled an ultrasound of your thyroid.  Neither my sisters nor I had palpable nodules (meaning they couldn't find them when feeling our thyroids) yet our small nodules were there and were, for the most part, cancerous.  The only way you can find a deep or small nodule is on an ultrasound and it's a non-invasive, relatively inexpensive test.  

Do you have an endocrinologist?  You may want to find one if you don't.  Your regular physicians can also order thyroid ultrasounds.  If it's negative - wonderful, one less thing to consider.  If you have nodules, it's something to explore.

I'm astonished that your levels continue to climb on 300mcg of Levo.  Another good reason to see and endo.  I'm not sure what the top dosage is but that is a very high dose.  I have a sister at that dose and her pharmacy has to special order her meds.

I don't want to worry you but please seen an endocrinologist and push for an ultrasound of your thyroid and, in light of your cousin's brain tumor, perhaps an MRI of your brain (looking at your pituitary).  It may just be useless tests that show nothing but it's best to know.  Since you have arthritis, have they checked your for autoimmune diseases too (specifically ANAs)?  You may have an autoimmune disorder causing your hypo.

My best to you!
Please keep us posted.

[venora]

Wow you should write a book.That was a very helpful post.I did not know that about apples.

[GravesLady]

If you are taking levothyroxine (T-4) the hightest dose is 300 with the lowest dose at 25.
25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 175, 200 and 300. So any of those doses can be added to the 300. Or any combo that works.

At a does of 300, a thyroid should be just about
non-functional or pretty close to it.

[GravesLady]

This is probably more than you want to know:

Oops, well ok.  Cook vegetables (fruit) are very good as long as they are plain. We don't have to eat raw to lose weight. Hypos shouldn't eat raw anyway due to most raw vegetables being goiterogenic (suppress thyroid function) and should be eaten in moderation. However cooking may lower the goiterogenic effects, so cooked vegetables are good.
Soy isoflavones can also wreak havoc on the thyroid by causing anti-thyroid antibodies to be produced.  Over time this could cause hypothyroidism to occur or worsen if it already exists.  Soybean products such as tofu, soy sauce, etc. should only be used in moderation. Avoid soy supplements and foods with added soy, as the soy reduces thyroid function.  Avoid caffeine drinks like coffee, cola; avoid stimulants like smoking and alcohol as these all effect the thyroid function. Avoid processed and refined foods, like white flour and sugar. Avoid dried fruit, processed potatoes, shrimp, and wine. The sulfites in these foods can destroy riboflavin, which can lead to deficiency. The liver reacts to thyroid disease, so don

[GravesLady]

I read your other post, but don't know what you are asking.

My goodness, your family has been through a lot - God Bless you all.
My husband had colon cancer and wore a colostomy/ stoma bag and did kemo up to the year he died, 4 years after diagnosed.  Don't know if it was FAP.

I suggest next time you do TSH have the FT-4 and FT-3 done as well.  You might be having a conversion problem or they might relate to some other health issue, however I am not an expert but I can give a guess to some.  I am going on 10 years and my levels are not regulated or even stable, so I know how frustrating it is.
We can't expect to be feeling good 100% of the time.  Even normal healthy people have their off days too. Then their are some symptoms that just goes with the thyroid territory and we are just not going to be a 100%. Then you have all this other health issues going on too. Any illness can have an impact on thyroid as well as stress factor, especially if we are autoimmune.
Win isn't a factor, but smoking is, and again especially if autoimmune.
Other factors are having all test go to the same Lab, time of day test are done and done approx as close to the same time of day every time. Thwere are other factors that can effect levels but this post is getting too long as it is, so I'll leave it here.

Back to weight and diet. Over eating is a bad habit which is very hard to break, but it can be done.  Who's the boss anyway, you or food?  You are! So I know with hard work you can do it.
Cutting back may not be the answer but rather the types of food eaten.  High protein, low carbo diet works well.  A person can consume up to 200 calories more per day if eaten in proteins. Before I was a vegetarian I went the protein route, with low/med. glycemic vegetables and some fruits.  I didn't have to count calories or grams.  Ate as much protein foods as I desired and I chose the leanest meats possible.  It took me 6 weeks before I lost my first pound, however once I started losing there was no stopping the weight loss. Can't cheat on this diet, not even with gum or win, for it will set you back a week to start all over again.

Quick short term diets that have worked for me:

Before vegetarian:  Lamb chop and tomato, 5 times a day for 1 to 2 weeks = I lost 7lbs. on this one.

Apple sliced into eights spread with peanutbutter on each, I like nutty, but go lightly on the peanutbutter....for 2 weeks only.

An apple no more than 5 times a day, spread out, for 3 or 4 days.  The rest of the week your regular diet, then back to apples, alternating apple and regular diet as long as you want and/or feel good.

Apples act like water pills - apples take the excess water out of the system, which might make you pee a lot at first.  

The above are fad diets and are not recommended for life time weight loss.  They would be for quick weight loss of no more than 20 lbs.  Except for the apple alternating with regular diet.

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/weight.html
"Most of the extra weight gained in hypothyroid individuals is due to excess accumulation of salt and water. Massive weight gain is rarely associated with hypothyroidism. In general, 5-10 pounds of body weight may be attributable to the thyroid, depending on the severity of the hypothyroidism. Finally, if weight gain is the only symptom of hypothyroidism that is present, it is less likely that the weight gain is solely due to the thyroid."

When you get the TSH, FT-4 and FT-3 and possibly antibodies, get copies of the test with the Lab reference range and let us know how it all came out. Also keep us posted on your weight/diet progress.

Good Luck and God Bless.

[dre22]

Thank you, and did anyone happen to check out my posting just before this one?  It give more information about my condition.  Like I also have FAP, and had my colon removed about 15 years ago, arthritis in my hips (which was bad enough that my doctor had put me on Vioxin, before it was recalled).  Oh the heck with it.  We just have to deal with what we have , right?  Thank you for all your help, but I would be grateful if someone could look at the posting before this one, if they have not already.  Thank you everyone.

[utahmomma]

I don't know if it's a coincidence or not but many of us with thyroid problems also develop Type II diabetes.

idesofmarch had great suggestions as you *do* need to eat 5-6 small meals a day.  Otherwise you are starving your body for fuel then overdosing it by overeating (which is stored as fat).  A very healthy diet for ANYONE (not just us diabetics) is the American Diabetes Association diet (which Atkins and South Beach are patterned after).  The ADA diet is much healthier though.  Here's the link:  http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/overview.jsp

Next time you meet with your endocrinologist discuss your weight control problems and ask to be tested for hypo/hyperglycemia.

It took me putting on 20lbs (while only eating once a day) and failing a glucose tolerance test then meeting with the hospital's dietitian before I figured out that I needed to eat MORE (of the right things) to lose weight.  I also keep close tabs on my blood sugar.

GravesLady also has a very good point - I'd say MOST of us on this forum are on, or have been on, antidepressants.  Talk to your doctor about the possibility that your thyroid problems and weight gain may be the cause of (or symptoms of) a bit of depression.  It's amazing what can trigger a change in the brain chemistry.

[bizwiz12751]

I would normally agree that hypo means weight gain and hyper means weight loss, and that is what should happen. However, it seems that all our bodies are different, surprise!!! Anyway, I was hypo and I gained weight and now I am on so much meds that I am hyper and still very little weight loss. It just never ends! I thought all my weight gain worries were over and now when I did research I found out that hypers can also gain weight. Of course, I am one of those that are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Just shoot me now, lol. By the way, now I'm on a mission to have my meds perfect so I don't gain weight, good luck to me right? Sorry to ramble on.......the moral to this story is that not everyone goes by the book so that means that we all need something different. There may be other underlying problems and depression might be one of those things. Anyway, sorry I couldn't give you an exact answer. Good luck.

[utahmomma]

That's another problem with us thyroid patients - short attention spans and we don't read everyones posts.  :-)

First of all, are you seeing an endocrinologist?  If not, you need to be.  Second, have they checked your thyroid antibodies, done and ultrasound of your thyroid, and checked you for other antibodies (ANAs, etc.)?

I read a bit about your condition (FAP) - wow, I'm sorry!  Since the polyps from your condition had the potential of becoming cancerous, are there any other cancers associated with the condition?  Is there any kind of autoimmune component to the condition (like RA, lupus, etc.)?  

If your personal or family history has either a cancer component or autoimmune component could lead the endocrinologist to pursue a series of tests and possibly a diagnosis.

I'm copying GravesLady on this as she is the guru of labs.

[dre22]

Allright,  
I didn't know that thank you.  I have developed this embarrassing, and bad habit of overeating, which I didn't used to have.  I used to eat very little, but then I still gained weight even then.  Anyhow, I thank you very much for the information and advise.

[GravesLady]

My information is not conflicted.  Some hypos will gain weight and some will lose weight and the rest won't go either way.  Likewise some Hypers will loose weight and some will gain weight and the rest will have no problem with weight at all.  I believe it depends on our system more than thyroid issue and how bad the thyroid condition is.  My sister is Hypo and she has lost a lot of weight which took her 5 years to lose but she persisted and stuck to it.  I have a Hyper/Graves' (which I am), friend who gained lots and lost of weight, where as I lost. A lot of Hypers complain about gaining weight.  I am one of the rare one who lost mega weight which was very pretty either and became a big problem.
If symptoms persist they perhaps something else is going on.  Some of  the thyroid symptoms are the same as other health conditions.
I know its hard! I believe that there is a right diet out there for you, you just have to find it and stick with it, probably for life. Find one with a maintenance program that you can live with.  This is going to have to be a life style change as far as eating habits, diet and exercise. Have you thought of a diet/nutrition guide to help you with your weight issue.  Sometime doctors can recommend some.
If you can't get your body and brain to function perhaps you are depressed about your weight which antidepressants might help you get through the rough spots of thyroid and weight issue.  A lot of us thyroids are on antidepressant, its not all that unusual with thyroid.

Good Luck!

[dre22]

thank you very much.  I will try that, and you have a very Merry Christmas too.

[idesofmarch]

Hypo = weight gain  Hyper=weight loss        Try eating every 2 hrs, just a light meal or snack to avoid the light head & nausea.  You may be waiting to long in between meals & getting low blood sugar symptoms. Just make sure that your snacks are low in sugar & meet the food pyramid recemendations daily. Look up what your calorie intake should be to lose 1 to 2 lbs. a week;   Or you may want to figure how many calories you were eating and cut it down to no less than 1200 a day. Ask your Dr. before you start, what he thinks about your diet and execise abilities. Start slow on exercise and add to your program a little each week. It truly is very hard to lose weight when the thyroid is Hypo and not stable so don't beat yourself up over slow loss of weight.  The change still is doing you good though you may not see the results you want. Don't weigh in every day because there could be too many fluxuations.  Pick one morning a week to weigh yourself.  Get a friend to join you, alittle competition goes along way and it's more fun.  Good luck & happy Holidays