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1099201 tn?1338180918

appettite and metabolism slower

. Is it common when having a thyroid problem to not have much of an appeitite. My appetite is not much. You would think I  would have more of appetite condsiderng all the excercise I do,  At least 3 to 4  times a week I either do water aerobics, walk or  ride the stationery bicycle.  So it is common to have a slower metabolism with Hashimoto's and not feel hungry after not eating very much.
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Avatar universal
Hello! I found your words very very enlightening:

"These issues can stop us from doing many of the things we want to in order to keep our bodies going the way its intended. A loss of appetite would be definately found in a person who becomes nearly disabled in activity."

Since being diagnosed Nov 2010, my exhaustion and sleepiness has been tremendous. I am working to get the correct level of meds but many issues with md's have been making this difficult.

I am sleeping about 4X my norm. Since I do not work and have no children or responsibilities it is most comfortable just to lay around and sleep on the couch. (In the past I was never able to 'force' sleep and was in fact an insomniac for 50 years.) So I think the excessive sleeping is caused by Hashimoto's.

I have never in my life had a lack of appetite - until now. I even quit smoking 10 months ago just before diagnosis and lost 10 pounds. May be a world's record! lol....

I can barely force food. Your words offered an explanation - albeit scary one. Thank you for sharing. (I did purchase protein powder but haven't had any yet.)

Peace, Nancy
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
In the case of the metobolic issues associated with the hashimoto thyroid, it can cause a loss of appetite for many reasons.

The one above that is discussed is commonly linked to many physicians explanation, but there are other things associated with the loss of appetite too.

With this disease, many bodily function can slow. One major area is the digestive track. When this happens food nurtrients are less likely to go where they need to go and the body's ability to flush or release itself becomes less. Toxic build up and gas can expand making it very uncomfortable and give the person experiencing this become less hungry for sure as it goes on.

Another good link also is the acid involved on the gut. Acid can change in form becoming actually LESS than what the body needs to be able to break down food. Also its potency can become thick or more acidic in a sort - than can create more problems for the patient dealing with things. Nausea and acid reflux are common and often patients are given a PPI medication to release this. Most often the meds make the condition worse due to taking the acid down more when really it needed to be neutralized and made to create the level its been missing.

Last my opinion is how the disease is linked to the inflammation of the entire body. Many other things must work together in sync to create the overall wellness we had prior to getting thyroid disease. Both Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto will cause a bloating and inflammation to us. These issues can stop us from doing many of the things we want to in order to keep our bodies going the way its intended. A loss of appetite would be definately found in a person who becomes nearly disabled in activty.

One terrible thing that happens to most, even with a loss of appetite, even severe - many patients will gain weight. Caloric intake is no longer a biggy when weight is packed on and can't release out they way it should. Types of food becomes harder to digest so a life style of new food choice is common, just to deal with daily life of a semi-normal style.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I get a lot of my information from major teaching hospitals, government agencies, etc, so I usually consider my sources as "well respected"; however, not every treatment they recommend, agrees with I've seen from patients here on MH.  I sent you a PM with several links.

My use of the term "normalized" was in relation only to what Shennigan's body requires through the use of her medication.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Do you have a link to the study on the ATA website?  I'd like to read it and haven't been able to locate it in their thousands of articles.  Thanks.
Helpful - 0
1425146 tn?1282761884
the following from ATA/Ehealth:

"Because genetic factors can make someone vulnerable to developing autoimmune disease, it is not uncommon for persons with Hashimoto's thyroiditis to have a history of other autoimmune disorders, including Graves' disease (another thyroid disorder that causes an overactive thyroid gland), juvenile diabetes mellitus, pernicious anemia, or the skin disorder vitiligo."

The autoimmune disease is developed, many times, due to a weakened gland, and that gland may often be weakened by HYPERthyroidism (graves, thyroiditis, etc.), which is exactly what happened to me and what I wrote. It is not established medically fact that simple autoimmune deficiencies cause hashi's. If anyone finds such evidence, please forward to me as I would appreciate it and do not know of it. In my case, we don't know if it was genetic as every blood member of my family has thyroid disease in one form or another, or because I was undiagnosed as hyper for so long. So far as I know, there is no medical fact answer to that.

Also, as you become "vulnerable" (not from magic beans, but from disease in progress, usually a thyroidic condition) you DEVELOP the autoimmune disease of Hashi's as the study states, but you (most likely) already have a thyroid problem. So it's an "autoimmune condition secondary" not primary autoimmune disease, that has a visible and health affecting relation to Hashi's. It's not proven in any study to be the other way around.

Hopefully, Barb135 and many on this Board who spend a great deal of time in research and speaking with patients, can provide info to help those who study our disease. That is my personal goal, I've just had limited success!

Best in Health
Helpful - 0
1425146 tn?1282761884
Please re-read myh post please:

Hashimoto's is usually a "hyperthyroidic" condition left untreated that has
"aged" or "damaged" the gland (damage to the gland makes it much more easy for the antibodies to successfully "attack") to the point where you "roll over" to hypothyroid. This is the slowing of metabolism. It would show up much more in weight gain but your exercise program is stopping/slowing that from happening.

There are 2 words there to note - "usually" which relates a medical fact and my own condition, and the rolling over to hypothyroid - where you wind up as a Hashi's patient, and the post goes on to elaborate on that. I can't make it clearer, but it does not say hashi's is a HYPERthyroidic condition, but that it's root cause over 40% of the time, is untreated hyperthyroidism. That's also a medical fact proven in a study last year by the ATA, you can find it on their website.

At the Foundation, we are not getting any emails this year about anyone's thyroid "normalizing", with the exception of temporary post partem hypothyroidism which is not that uncommon after pregnancy. Other than those, we have had no emails or communication from any patient diagnosed with Graves, Thyroditis, Hashi's or a number of rarer thyroid diseases that have just cured themselves and the patients health has returned to normal. I would love to hear from anyone that has had this happen to them so I can use their case examples in the positive.

Best in Health

Best in Health
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hashimoto's is most commonly associated with hypOthyroidism, which does slow down your metabolism, but not necessarily your appetite ..

There may be other causes for your lack of appetite, which may range from stress to lack of sleep, or other medical issues.  

Or maybe your thyroid levels are getting "normalized" so your appetite is getting back to what it should be.
Helpful - 0
1425146 tn?1282761884
Yes.

Hashimoto's is usually a "hyperthyroidic" condition left untreated that has
"aged" or "damaged" the gland to the point where you "roll over" to hypothyroid. This is the slowing of metabolism. It would show up much more in weight gain but your exercise program is stopping/slowing that from happening.

Lack of appetite affects all of us at times with any of the Thyroid diseases. It's common to have a bit of nausea with Hashi's, and after 40 many experience a slowing of their appetite. I would suggest you consider a vitamin routine to make sure your minerals are staying OK. Consider vitamins a, b-6, c, d, e, and zinc. Your doctor may have others he would suggest as well.

Best in Health and welcome to the Board
Helpful - 0
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