weight loss from hypothyroidism

[otto12]

I have lost 60 pounds over about 2 years.  I have had trouble getting on the right thyroid dose, so i have been mostly hypo.  Can hypothyroidism cause weight loss?

[mulligan2525]

I'm glad you posted this!  I always thought weight loss was a hypER thing.  My levels are definitely on the hypO side and I have weight loss.

[Totie]

I had TSH level of 10.8 and still lost weight. I think everyone is different.

Now I just maintain it...

[otto12]

I had graves disease and radioactive iodine.  My TSH levels could still be coming down after 5 weeks?  I had the FT4 done it was .80 and the range was .59-1.61.  The FT3 was 2.3 and the range was 2.3 - 4.2.  I'm nervous about staying on this dose because i'm very sensitive to thyroid hormone I have to take half of it in the morning and half in the afternoon.

Thank you

[Barb135]

Two weeks on a dose of synthroid is not long enough to know how it's going to work for you.  It takes at least 5-6 weeks for the med to stabilize in your blood.

It's normal for TSH to come down when increasing thyroid med, since TSH is counter intuitive i.e   when thyroid hormone levels are increased, TSH decreases.

Is TSH the only test you're getting?  You should be tested for Free T3 and Free T4 every time you  have thyroid blood work.  Those are the actual thyroid hormones and correlate much better with symptoms than TSH, particularly FT3, which is the hormone that's actually used by the cells.

Any doctor dosing a patient, based on TSH, alone, will keep that patient ill.

Do you know if you have Hashimoto's?  Have you had an ultra sound to determine whether or not you have nodules and/or swelling/inflammation?

[otto12]

Hi.  Thank you for replying.  My last dosage was an increase from .50 3 times a week and .75 4 times a week.  My results were TSH 7.4.  I went up to .75 everyday and my results were TSH 3.99 only after 2 weeks though.  I began feeling like i was getting too much synthroid.  I don't know if i needed more time to show the TSH getting lower or what but i just can't get on the right dose.  The doctors are puzzled.  And i keep losing weight.

[Barb135]

Forgot to ask what med/dosage you're on and how long you've been on it.

[Barb135]

While weight loss is typically associated with hyperthyroidism, there are some people who lose weight when hypo, as well. I should be so lucky......lol

If you'll post your current thyroid test results, with reference ranges, we can better assess your situation.  Do you have any symptoms of over medication?

[mulligan2525]

It has for me.  I just have no appetite.  I'm hoping that turns around once my levels are up!