How do we hypothyroid people lose weight? - Page 6

Leo41 · 10-13-2012, 06:37 AM

One reason I get my labs done a week before my endo appointment is so that I can discuss the results with him and 'negotiate' if I don't agree with him about anything. It helps that I've been seeing him for about 5 years, and we have a trusting relationship. So if my labs don't indicate I need a change in dosage but I am having symptoms that concern me, he will often give me the increase because he knows that 1) labs are not the final word; 2) I monitor myself and would report any hyper symptoms.

Back to your doctor. Your T4 and T3 seem to be fine, so I'd be loathe to cut back on meds just because of the TSH--but all doctors tend to freak out over a very low TSH.

Unfortunately, you won't know whether you'll gain weight with the lowered dosage for some time because the T4 works so slowly in affecting the body. My suggestion would be to discuss your concern with the doctor. She may have some ideas about how you can proceed.

I actually lost weight when I was hypothyroid and undiagnosed, but years later when I began having conversion problems, and my T3 tanked, I rapidly gained weight until I could bring up the T3 with supplements. My point is that although your hormones may be too low with the new dosage, and in that case, you'll know with symtoms (my major one is always incredible fatigue), you may not have any immediate weight gain, and the other symptoms should convince the doctor to raise your dosage.

If you're not happy with this doctor, I'd suggest you 'shop around.' When you're dealing with a chronic condition that you'll have to monitor for the rest of your life, it really helps to have a compatible doctor whose opinions you trust.

brandywine12 · 10-13-2012, 07:33 AM

she is dr#10. my old drs ft4 range changed which was why I went to her to begin with . I heard a lot of good things about her and told her so,. I explained what he was trying to tell me about this stuff and she agreed, you know your self better than anyone she said, now this happens. What is it about the low tsh below range that freaks em out???What can it do? I have always had a low tsh . all my records will show it. doesn't matter how low they drop my meds. I was on this dose before and I got terribly ill on it, although it was generic by Mylan, switched over to brand and lost a few lbs of fluid weight. o u think that it will be a few months till I see a difference if at all in weight troubles?
I just started a fast pace job and cannot afford to loose any energy. I also had two lg cups of jo that morning of testing ...do u think it made it fall low? I am almost afraid to give a true reading in 6 weeks. for fear she will try to drop even more. thanks for responding back

DebbyL · 10-13-2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandywine12

she is dr#10. my old drs ft4 range changed which was why I went to her to begin with . I heard a lot of good things about her and told her so,. I explained what he was trying to tell me about this stuff and she agreed, you know your self better than anyone she said, now this happens. What is it about the low tsh below range that freaks em out???What can it do? I have always had a low tsh . all my records will show it. doesn't matter how low they drop my meds. I was on this dose before and I got terribly ill on it, although it was generic by Mylan, switched over to brand and lost a few lbs of fluid weight. o u think that it will be a few months till I see a difference if at all in weight troubles?
I just started a fast pace job and cannot afford to loose any energy. I also had two lg cups of jo that morning of testing ...do u think it made it fall low? I am almost afraid to give a true reading in 6 weeks. for fear she will try to drop even more. thanks for responding back

Hi Brandi,
I'm not an expert in this stuff, by any means... but reading stopthethyroidmaddness and their web has helped me a lot. I go to a naturopath who treats me for adrenal fatigue as well. She says that if your adrenals are tanked the thyroid meds will do no good at all. I had a saliva test & found that cortisol levels were low, so am taking Isocort for that & its the first time in 40 yrs. that I've been able to skip napping! Its fabulous! You can actually test yourself for adrenal fatigue, and buy Isocort online too. They say Dr.'s ignore adrenal levels unless you have some extreme condition... not sure what your specialist would do with that.
Question: Did you skip taking your thyroid meds before your test? Some say that's really important to do... I'm going to do that before my next test, as I'm starting to feel much better, don't want to have my reading come out too low either.

Message me if you'd like more info on testing your adrenals.
Blessings,
Debby

Leo41 · 10-13-2012, 09:19 AM

Brandy- The TSH that's lower than the lab range indicates you are moving from hypo to hyper, and that's what doctors want to avoid. They try to keep us 'balanced,' as our thyroids would do if they were working normally.

It's critical that you keep copies of all your lab work (I have mine from when I was first diagnosed) because if you have a history of very low TSH, that may be normal for you, but a doctor wouldn't know that unless you showed him/her your past lab reports.

That's what's difficult about thyroid and why I really dislike a lot of the hysteria that's all over the Internet about thyroid. What's 'normal' for one person may be 'abnormal' for another. For example, my own T4 and T3 levels are a little lower than the Internet gurus would approve of--but at that level I feel great and have no symptoms. Doctors have told me that people are very individual in their optimum hormone levels; few of us 'match' the textbook. That's why it's important for you to be pro-active about all this and develop a good relationship with the prescribing doctor.

All physicians are very conservative (or at least the good ones are) in prescribing thyroid hormones because the hormones are extremely powerful. There was a story online a while ago about a young woman (in her 20s) who decided that Cytomel (T3) would help her lose weight (it doesn't). She not only convinced her doctor that she needed it for her thyroid, but she immediately began taking a higher dose than prescribed. She ended up in the ER with a heart attack.

So keep all this in mind when you're dealing with a doctor. They have a different perspective than we do on all this. However, it's our bodies, and that's why you need to educate yourself as much as possible and be pro-active with the doctor.

brandywine12 · 10-13-2012, 04:16 PM

hyper? I am in no way going in that direction right now or in the past few months.
I have read up for a very long time on td and what it all means. I also know that every body is different in this condition, its not a one size fits all.
hyper in what way? my labs are not showing that at all right now. I was hyper when I first got diagnosed,...aka I had a toxic multinodular goiter , had to have RAI done as my heart was going to explode as I was told back then . it was beating at a very high rate , by 3 times higher. I had it done almost immediately after being hospitalized and in trauma unit. within 24 hours they did RAI.

I am symptom free when it is low like it is.I sleep very well , I have lots of energy ...not nervous energy. I had that in the very beginning.shook rattled and rolled lol! lost 65 lbs in 2 months , lost a ton of hair, ect. ect.
sos I don't think my labs show hyper in anyway, tsh is low always low for me.
I do keep records and get copies of all my labs when done. so sick of being jerked around my drs who think that #'s are what is needed. So , I am not going to take meds this next time around and see what she says then about my TSH.How can tsh be relevant , when I no longer have my gland to produce any thing.?

well I do appreciate the responses . I needed some one to talk to about this as my dh doesn't understand any thing I tell him about this disease, he know tho when something isn't right!lol.(being ticked off all the time and as he calls it a smart ass.)

Thanks a bunch for chatting w/ me about this

brandywine12 · 10-13-2012, 04:23 PM

Hi , I take my meds before i go to bed for the night.
the only time I napped is when I didn't have enough medication. I haven't napped in a very long time.In fact I go to bed around 8-9 o'clock every nite, I get up around 4am. for work . I work 10 hours a day.I convert t3 very well also. no need for t3 meds.
I don't think I have any thing going on as far as my adrenals go tho.
thanks for your response.

watcher513 · 10-14-2012, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandywine12

I convert t3 very well also. no need for t3 meds.

Are you sure? According to your labs, you're not even at mid-range for FT3. You're also over the mid-range for T4.

Sept 2012
on .112 mcg. T4
tsh .01 (0.35-4.94)
ft4 1.57 (0.7-2.19)......mid range is 1.44
ft3 3.04 (2.77-5.27) ...mid range is 4.02

2010
tsh 0.068(0.35-4.94)
ft4 1.89 (,07-2.19)
ft3 3.42 (2.77-5.27) on .125 mcgs was reduced back then to the .112's T4(synthroid).

My guess is that the TSH wasn't the only reason your doctor lowered the dose each time. Your FT4 was above the 3/4 range mark which is 1.82 in 2010 and it's still above mid-range now.

On the other hand, your FT3 was, and still is below mid-range, by a ways.

brandywine12 · 10-14-2012, 04:38 PM

I guess your right, I was doing 0.07 when I was doing the math , i was wrong. as for converting ....I thought as long as you are converting over it is ok? Again wrong! would a small dose of t3 be an ample amount to bring it up? would armour be what I need instead if t4 meds? I have been on t4 only this whole time(23 yrs). so you think I am hyper according to my labs because my t4 is above its range and t3 is low. I was always under the impression that t3 is what makes u hyper when its over range.not t4.thanks fro responding back , I will keep this in mind!

watcher513 · 10-15-2012, 04:16 AM

Well.....looking at your dose and what it was before also, giving too much T4 does it also. When I started taking T3, before adding it I was originally on 100 mcg. T4 for a few years. They backed me down to 75 mcg. T4 and they added T3 also. It's a balancing act....and takes time. Unfortunately they added too much T3 for me at first (12.5 mcg.) and didn't tell me to split it which I called about the next day when it was was Way too much. Then the T3 was backed down immediately to 5 mcg. to start, once a day. Then later on it was 5 mcg. 2x/day. Then slowly worked up higher but my T4 is still 75 mcg. today (a little over 3 yrs. later).

brandywine12 · 10-19-2012, 02:52 AM

well I was thinking....if ur dr gave u t3 meds w/ ur t4 meds didn't (the t3 drive down ur tsh?I seem to think that not every body has to be in mid range , I always had a little higher t4 . I think that I am one that has to be that way.one size don't fit all.
for over 23 yrs my tsh has been lowish , it has to be that way in order for me to feel well.

watcher513 · 10-19-2012, 03:01 AM

Oh, I agree, we're definitely all different. Yes, they both (T3&4 replacement) drive the TSH down. I feel best near the low end of the TSH range (which my doctor goes by), which is a little below the mid-range for my FT4 and around the 3/4 up the range for my FT3. I get my own tests because they won't run a FT3.

That's why they lowered the T4 when they introduced the T3.

betty301 · 10-27-2012, 04:38 AM

so ask for a bit less T4 and ask to try some cytomel??

blondosaurusrex · 01-30-2013, 08:47 PM

I am a former Synthroid user w/ a sluggish thyroid (due to goiter and tumors) and it worked decently. However, I didn't feel any different when I wasn't taking it than when I was. Then I asked my Dr about Armour (T3 & T4). My thyroid levels are now perfect, I feel better, and it was quite a bit cheaper than Synthroid ($3.89 vs $18.76 per month). Also, I know most generic drugs are just fine, but thyroid medicine is something that really should be brand name. If you switch to Armour, however, this isn't a problem because there isn't a generic form.

Stephlemons · 02-22-2013, 09:33 AM

To Inatic, I have tried to contact your coach twice now with no luck. I am also a hypothyroid patient and have been struggling with weight loss since being diagnosed. I am in pretty good shape muscle wise. I just can not get rid of the fat. So frustraed

inatic · 02-28-2013, 05:22 PM

stephlemons. his wait list grows by the second. His site has a very slow response time due to site reconstruction. Maybe check his fb page?

mattie jo · 04-19-2013, 06:38 AM

hi pam, long ago you told me i had to be on low carb to lose. i didn't listen.

Now, I have done some changes to my life and so far lost 4 lbs. It took someone's bad joke to get me started, "Lets go out for lunch because I know how you like to pack on the calories." I told a friend what this person said, and she mentioned the book Wheat Belly. I read it, went off wheat, and my energy level sky-rocked. Also, my blood pressure that the doctor was now concerned about was 160/105 before going off wheat and now it is around 130/76. After reading the book I know I will never eat wheat again. But still I didn't lose weight. I cut out sugar, and that helped a little. I was eating stevia and finally I realized that the last time I went low carb my appetite decreased almost daily. (I have the record of what I ate.) This time nothing. So I threw out the stevia and began losing. I have no idea if I will continue to lose, but 4 lbs feels better. And this is only recent.

Also my Westhroid meds are down to 30 mg. a day. Maybe I will be able to cut them further. But I certainly recommend the book, Wheat Belly.

jacknbox5 · 04-21-2013, 08:40 AM

I agree with all of you. I have been hypothyroid since I was about 25 years old. 20 years later I am still battling it. I have been on synthroid the entire time and really I am still up and down. If I get my blood work done two weeks in a row the one week I will be high next I will be low. Routine hasn't changed it just must be how the body absorbs the medication so it is very frustrating.

10-15-2012, 04:16 AM	#159
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,642 Gallery: watcher513	Well.....looking at your dose and what it was before also, giving too much T4 does it also. When I started taking T3, before adding it I was originally on 100 mcg. T4 for a few years. They backed me down to 75 mcg. T4 and they added T3 also. It's a balancing act....and takes time. Unfortunately they added too much T3 for me at first (12.5 mcg.) and didn't tell me to split it which I called about the next day when it was was Way too much. Then the T3 was backed down immediately to 5 mcg. to start, once a day. Then later on it was 5 mcg. 2x/day. Then slowly worked up higher but my T4 is still 75 mcg. today (a little over 3 yrs. later). Last edited by watcher513; 10-15-2012 at 04:17 AM..

10-19-2012, 03:01 AM	#161
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,642 Gallery: watcher513	Oh, I agree, we're definitely all different. Yes, they both (T3&4 replacement) drive the TSH down. I feel best near the low end of the TSH range (which my doctor goes by), which is a little below the mid-range for my FT4 and around the 3/4 up the range for my FT3. I get my own tests because they won't run a FT3. That's why they lowered the T4 when they introduced the T3. Last edited by watcher513; 10-19-2012 at 03:17 AM..

04-19-2013, 06:38 AM	#166
mattie jo Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 77 Gallery: mattie jo	hi pam, long ago you told me i had to be on low carb to lose. i didn't listen. Now, I have done some changes to my life and so far lost 4 lbs. It took someone's bad joke to get me started, "Lets go out for lunch because I know how you like to pack on the calories." I told a friend what this person said, and she mentioned the book Wheat Belly. I read it, went off wheat, and my energy level sky-rocked. Also, my blood pressure that the doctor was now concerned about was 160/105 before going off wheat and now it is around 130/76. After reading the book I know I will never eat wheat again. But still I didn't lose weight. I cut out sugar, and that helped a little. I was eating stevia and finally I realized that the last time I went low carb my appetite decreased almost daily. (I have the record of what I ate.) This time nothing. So I threw out the stevia and began losing. I have no idea if I will continue to lose, but 4 lbs feels better. And this is only recent. Also my Westhroid meds are down to 30 mg. a day. Maybe I will be able to cut them further. But I certainly recommend the book, Wheat Belly. Last edited by mattie jo; 04-19-2013 at 06:40 AM..

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10-13-2012, 06:37 AM	#151
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	One reason I get my labs done a week before my endo appointment is so that I can discuss the results with him and 'negotiate' if I don't agree with him about anything. It helps that I've been seeing him for about 5 years, and we have a trusting relationship. So if my labs don't indicate I need a change in dosage but I am having symptoms that concern me, he will often give me the increase because he knows that 1) labs are not the final word; 2) I monitor myself and would report any hyper symptoms. Back to your doctor. Your T4 and T3 seem to be fine, so I'd be loathe to cut back on meds just because of the TSH--but all doctors tend to freak out over a very low TSH. Unfortunately, you won't know whether you'll gain weight with the lowered dosage for some time because the T4 works so slowly in affecting the body. My suggestion would be to discuss your concern with the doctor. She may have some ideas about how you can proceed. I actually lost weight when I was hypothyroid and undiagnosed, but years later when I began having conversion problems, and my T3 tanked, I rapidly gained weight until I could bring up the T3 with supplements. My point is that although your hormones may be too low with the new dosage, and in that case, you'll know with symtoms (my major one is always incredible fatigue), you may not have any immediate weight gain, and the other symptoms should convince the doctor to raise your dosage. If you're not happy with this doctor, I'd suggest you 'shop around.' When you're dealing with a chronic condition that you'll have to monitor for the rest of your life, it really helps to have a compatible doctor whose opinions you trust.

10-13-2012, 07:33 AM	#152
brandywine12 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pa. Posts: 313 Gallery: brandywine12 Stats: 195/160-155 WOE: Atkins 100% Start Date: 1-4-11	she is dr#10. my old drs ft4 range changed which was why I went to her to begin with . I heard a lot of good things about her and told her so,. I explained what he was trying to tell me about this stuff and she agreed, you know your self better than anyone she said, now this happens. What is it about the low tsh below range that freaks em out???What can it do? I have always had a low tsh . all my records will show it. doesn't matter how low they drop my meds. I was on this dose before and I got terribly ill on it, although it was generic by Mylan, switched over to brand and lost a few lbs of fluid weight. o u think that it will be a few months till I see a difference if at all in weight troubles? I just started a fast pace job and cannot afford to loose any energy. I also had two lg cups of jo that morning of testing ...do u think it made it fall low? I am almost afraid to give a true reading in 6 weeks. for fear she will try to drop even more. thanks for responding back

10-13-2012, 09:19 AM	#154
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	Brandy- The TSH that's lower than the lab range indicates you are moving from hypo to hyper, and that's what doctors want to avoid. They try to keep us 'balanced,' as our thyroids would do if they were working normally. It's critical that you keep copies of all your lab work (I have mine from when I was first diagnosed) because if you have a history of very low TSH, that may be normal for you, but a doctor wouldn't know that unless you showed him/her your past lab reports. That's what's difficult about thyroid and why I really dislike a lot of the hysteria that's all over the Internet about thyroid. What's 'normal' for one person may be 'abnormal' for another. For example, my own T4 and T3 levels are a little lower than the Internet gurus would approve of--but at that level I feel great and have no symptoms. Doctors have told me that people are very individual in their optimum hormone levels; few of us 'match' the textbook. That's why it's important for you to be pro-active about all this and develop a good relationship with the prescribing doctor. All physicians are very conservative (or at least the good ones are) in prescribing thyroid hormones because the hormones are extremely powerful. There was a story online a while ago about a young woman (in her 20s) who decided that Cytomel (T3) would help her lose weight (it doesn't). She not only convinced her doctor that she needed it for her thyroid, but she immediately began taking a higher dose than prescribed. She ended up in the ER with a heart attack. So keep all this in mind when you're dealing with a doctor. They have a different perspective than we do on all this. However, it's our bodies, and that's why you need to educate yourself as much as possible and be pro-active with the doctor.

10-13-2012, 04:16 PM	#155
brandywine12 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pa. Posts: 313 Gallery: brandywine12 Stats: 195/160-155 WOE: Atkins 100% Start Date: 1-4-11	hyper? I am in no way going in that direction right now or in the past few months. I have read up for a very long time on td and what it all means. I also know that every body is different in this condition, its not a one size fits all. hyper in what way? my labs are not showing that at all right now. I was hyper when I first got diagnosed,...aka I had a toxic multinodular goiter , had to have RAI done as my heart was going to explode as I was told back then . it was beating at a very high rate , by 3 times higher. I had it done almost immediately after being hospitalized and in trauma unit. within 24 hours they did RAI. I am symptom free when it is low like it is.I sleep very well , I have lots of energy ...not nervous energy. I had that in the very beginning.shook rattled and rolled lol! lost 65 lbs in 2 months , lost a ton of hair, ect. ect. sos I don't think my labs show hyper in anyway, tsh is low always low for me. I do keep records and get copies of all my labs when done. so sick of being jerked around my drs who think that #'s are what is needed. So , I am not going to take meds this next time around and see what she says then about my TSH.How can tsh be relevant , when I no longer have my gland to produce any thing.? well I do appreciate the responses . I needed some one to talk to about this as my dh doesn't understand any thing I tell him about this disease, he know tho when something isn't right!lol.(being ticked off all the time and as he calls it a smart ass.) Thanks a bunch for chatting w/ me about this

10-13-2012, 04:23 PM	#156
brandywine12 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pa. Posts: 313 Gallery: brandywine12 Stats: 195/160-155 WOE: Atkins 100% Start Date: 1-4-11	Hi , I take my meds before i go to bed for the night. the only time I napped is when I didn't have enough medication. I haven't napped in a very long time.In fact I go to bed around 8-9 o'clock every nite, I get up around 4am. for work . I work 10 hours a day.I convert t3 very well also. no need for t3 meds. I don't think I have any thing going on as far as my adrenals go tho. thanks for your response.

10-14-2012, 04:38 PM	#158
brandywine12 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pa. Posts: 313 Gallery: brandywine12 Stats: 195/160-155 WOE: Atkins 100% Start Date: 1-4-11	I guess your right, I was doing 0.07 when I was doing the math , i was wrong. as for converting ....I thought as long as you are converting over it is ok? Again wrong! would a small dose of t3 be an ample amount to bring it up? would armour be what I need instead if t4 meds? I have been on t4 only this whole time(23 yrs). so you think I am hyper according to my labs because my t4 is above its range and t3 is low. I was always under the impression that t3 is what makes u hyper when its over range.not t4.thanks fro responding back , I will keep this in mind!

10-19-2012, 02:52 AM	#160
brandywine12 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pa. Posts: 313 Gallery: brandywine12 Stats: 195/160-155 WOE: Atkins 100% Start Date: 1-4-11	well I was thinking....if ur dr gave u t3 meds w/ ur t4 meds didn't (the t3 drive down ur tsh?I seem to think that not every body has to be in mid range , I always had a little higher t4 . I think that I am one that has to be that way.one size don't fit all. for over 23 yrs my tsh has been lowish , it has to be that way in order for me to feel well.

10-27-2012, 04:38 AM	#162
betty301 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 895 Gallery: betty301	so ask for a bit less T4 and ask to try some cytomel??

01-30-2013, 08:47 PM	#163
blondosaurusrex Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 7 Gallery: blondosaurusrex Stats: 280/225/140 WOE: Atkins (Induction) Start Date: October 2011/Restart: February 2013	I am a former Synthroid user w/ a sluggish thyroid (due to goiter and tumors) and it worked decently. However, I didn't feel any different when I wasn't taking it than when I was. Then I asked my Dr about Armour (T3 & T4). My thyroid levels are now perfect, I feel better, and it was quite a bit cheaper than Synthroid ($3.89 vs $18.76 per month). Also, I know most generic drugs are just fine, but thyroid medicine is something that really should be brand name. If you switch to Armour, however, this isn't a problem because there isn't a generic form.

02-22-2013, 09:33 AM	#164
Stephlemons Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 1 Gallery: Stephlemons	To Inatic, I have tried to contact your coach twice now with no luck. I am also a hypothyroid patient and have been struggling with weight loss since being diagnosed. I am in pretty good shape muscle wise. I just can not get rid of the fat. So frustraed

02-28-2013, 05:22 PM	#165
inatic Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alpharetta,Ga. Posts: 17,805 Gallery: inatic Stats: 182+/126 5'4 50!yo 16/4 5 kidlets later! WOE: Coach:Erik Ledin leanbodies consulting Start Date: LowER C since 2/02 wt training 10/15/02	stephlemons. his wait list grows by the second. His site has a very slow response time due to site reconstruction. Maybe check his fb page?

04-21-2013, 08:40 AM	#167
jacknbox5 Junior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 2 Gallery: jacknbox5 Stats: 321.5lbs/321.5lbs/139lbs WOE: Atkins Start Date: April 29, 2013	I agree with all of you. I have been hypothyroid since I was about 25 years old. 20 years later I am still battling it. I have been on synthroid the entire time and really I am still up and down. If I get my blood work done two weeks in a row the one week I will be high next I will be low. Routine hasn't changed it just must be how the body absorbs the medication so it is very frustrating.