hypothyroidism and past eating disorder

[aralove100]

I was diagnosed with hypo thyroid a year and a half ago.  I also ws in inpatient treatment several times for anorexia and bulimia. To my horror 3 months after leaving treatment and trying my best to follow my meal plan, I started gaining weight.  I blow up and became over weight.  I do not have health insurance so it is hard to get in to a good specialist.  I have been on medication for a long time and my thyroid still is not regulated.  

I am not happy about my weight.  I followed my therapist advice and had not been weighing myself and was weighing backwards at the dr.  but then a nurse who was incompetent got the wrong chart and so she told me my weight.175!  So, i ran out of the office and got a scale.  i found my diet diary app and am going nuts.  I recently got more labs done and still my labs are horrible.  I am tired and losing hair...all the symptoms besides weight gain are hard to deal with.
i am 5ft 7in so 175 was not ok with me.  I fight staying in recovery from the eating disorder but what am i supposed to do other than starve myself to control my weight?  I have been eating less than 500 calories and exersing when i can.  I have been purging when i eat to much and i know this is bad.  I now weigh 156 after two months of this.    I have my first appointment next week with a specialist and am hoping for some new treatment options.  I want to be honest about my diet habits but am afraid i will just be laughed at when the dr. sees my weight.  How am i supposed to eat balanced when i have this disease?  I know this is long i am just feeling so alone in this.

[Barb135]

Make sure your doctor is testing Free T3 and Free T4; if it's not specified on the lab report, they are ordering Total T3 and Total T4, which are considered obsolete and of little value, therefore, not nearly as useful as tests for FT3 and FT4.

Also ask them to test for thyroid antibodies to determine whether or not you have Hashimoto's.  The treatment won't change, if you do, but at least you'll know, because Hashimoto's is progressive, in that your thyroid will continually make less and less hormones, so medication will have to be adjusted.

[aralove100]

Still here.  i have asked for a copy.  the dr callef me and let me know it was low, my t3 was low this time along with t4  i am going to an indo next week and am hoping for answers

[Barb135]

Are you still here?

[Barb135]

You don't have to feel alone.  I, too, have hypothyroidism that affects my weight.  

I have to get ready for my own doctor appointment, this morning, but there's a lot I can tell you about hypothyroidism.  It's not easy to lose weight, with it, but it can be done, without starving yourself.

500 calories/day is not nearly enough to keep you going.  Do be honest with the doctor about your eating habits.  

Have you had thyroid blood work done?  If so, what are your current levels?