Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

[ksing88]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

Another thing I forgot to mention is when I saw my endo. last week my tsh was 1.78 and my free T4 was three. My tests 4 months ago from my OB/GYN were Tsh 3.77 and Free T4 .9

It just goes to show you that the testing of this organ(thyroid) can be off from lab to lab. That's why my doc. treats THE SYMPTOMS not the test results. even though I tested last week at a 1.78, he still put me on meds. He told me that some people need to be at 1 or <1 to feel good.

See a Dr. that will LISTEN TO YOUR SYMPTOMS.

Take care,

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

Hi, My TSH was 3.32 and the reference range for this lab is .37-5.5. I have an appointment with the endocrinologist on Tuesday the 14th. We will see what she says. Dawn

[2big4mysize]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

4 months doesn't mean the lab was off. your thyroid can change a great deal in 4 months if somethig you were or weren't taking caused it to be off. if you have symptoms that are truely thyroid deficiency caused then finding the right level for you is what it takes.

alot of folk blame everything undr the sun on thyroid too once they get diagnoised.

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

I know what you mean too big, My mother gained 24 pounds in year and she is blaming her thyroid, but when I talk to her on the phone she tells me what she had to eat for the week. If I ate like that I would be the size of a house. She recently had a stent a put in her heart, and she had a nutritional consult done. They gave her a low fat diet and a diabetic diet. The low fat was loaded with carbs, I told her that was just going to turn to sugar and then to fat. I told her to try the diabetic diet, she won't do atkins. She believes all the bad things she has heard. Forget about my success......D-

[ksing88]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

I have now been on the synthroid for 2-1/2 weeks. I have to say, I feel better. At the same time I started thyroid meds, I also cut my lexapro in half (anti-depressant)and now i am down to 2.5mg. from 10 mg and I am having NO WITHDRAWALS what so ever from going off the lexapro. I just want to lose weight and am doing everything by the book. I have lost an additional 3 lbs. since starting thyroid meds.

The Dr. said my thryoid wouldn't change like that in 4 mos. because of diet, he said different labs have different sensitivities. Don't know that I really believe that because there are so many good things that happen to your body cutting out the carbs. All I know is I feel better than I've felt in 15 years and I'm not exaggerating. He's shooting for my thyroid to be around 1 or even a little less.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

glad you are feeling better. Congrats on the weight loss too.

[purplecat]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

Hi! I've had symptoms of hyperthyroidism for several years. The MDs said my last test was normal; however, I obtained a copy of my labs and found that each year it had been going down and had gotten to .94 (lowest .3 - by their chart - and highest being 5.00). I was falling asleep at my desk, missing work due to chronic fatigue, gaining weight no matter what I ate, losing chunks of hair, and freezing all the time (no matter how hot it was outside). They still won't give me medication (I've got an appointment to see a new doc in October - earliest he could get me in). However, I discovered a natural (herbal) remedy that has moved my levels back up to 1.2 (had only been on the herbal formula for 3 weeks at retesting). It's called Thyroid Assist and you can find it www.nativeremedies.com. I don't work for this company so I have no need to promote their products for monetary reasons. I just don't want anyone to feel as bad as I have felt over the last 2 years and not have anyone give them the help they deserve. At times I wonder why I even pay for insurance just to have to fight with doctors to get any help.

[Alexa]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

Hi Purplecat,

That sounds very frustrating - I really hope the new Dr can help you. If not, can you try some others?

The book by Mary J. Shomon says that lots of people have to really fight to get a diagnosis with this disorder because of the 'official' tests. It's a good and helpful read, called 'Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know'.

Best of luck to you

[purplecat]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

Thanks Alexa! I will have to get that book and read it. It's been a tough battle. It's almost like they want my thyroid to stop working completely so they can get more money from me. This doctor is my last hope. I'm just so tired of fighting.

I will keep you posted (hopefully with good news).

[*Wendy*]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

My first TSH level was >150. After being on Synthroid @ 100 mcg for six weeks it dropped to a 9.85. Then I was on 150 mcg and it came down to 0.26. I felt great there! But my doctor said it was too low, and dangerous to stay down there for too long. So he lowered my dosage to 125 mcg and my next test (which was in June) came in at 1.73. It is in range, but I'm not as spunky as I want to be and I'm not losing weight as fast as I should either. My family doctor is handling this, although I could go to an endocrinologist he referred me to, only they aren't on my health care plan.

With all the mentions of T3 and T4 and Estrogen, etc. it sounds like maybe I ought to go out of pocket and see the endo, right? Do you all think Endo's use the more updated scale?

I have to go in about 1 week to get my next bloodwork done (they only test for TSH) and I'm seriously considering binging on broccoli from now until then in hopes that it will make my TSH numbers a little higher so that he'll increase my dose a little bit. Is that crazy?

I know it is - but really I do miss my broccoli and I want to eat it way more often anyway, so doesn't it make sense to eat the way I want to eat in the future & get the dose adjusted to complement that eating style?

Sorry for rambling and going off topic a little bit!

[purplecat]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

The Endocrinologist that I was sent to used the exact same test (using the same levels). A doc I work with said I was not getting enough protein (my lab levels were off). Several people at work see the new doc I'm going to see and LOVE him. I'm just praying once and for all for answers. Falling asleep in the middle of working (or while driving) is just not kosher.

Can you tell me how broccoli affects the thyroid?

[*Wendy*]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

That's awful Catrenia! I hope this new doctor gets to the bottom of your issues. I'll keep you in my prayers.

There is a group of foods called "groitogens" and I gather that they affect the way your thyroid hormone (or replacement hormone - like Synthroid) functions. I read about them in a sticky at the top of this forum, and they are mentioned several places in the older threads in this forum too.

I am going eat as much brocolli & other groitogens as I care to for the next 5 days, because I want my dose to be based on how I want to eat. And I've been avoiding them somewhat because I knew they probably would slow my metabolism down even more.

I think I will go out-of-pocket and go to the endocrinologist after this next blood test, because having just reviewed most of this forum I'm convinced there is more going on in me.

My symptoms just don't match my now "normal" levels!

Plus I've read a bunch about Estrogen, and that excess estrogen can give you really bad TOMs (that's me!) and interferes with ongoing breastfeeding too, (something I really struggled with after the first two months). And my family doctor doesn't "do" estrogen testing.

I feel like I'm being a bit whiny about this, because I do feel SO MUCH BETTER than I did 6 months or a year ago before I knew what the heck was going on with me, but I still just don't quite feel "me" again - not like before my daughter was born 5+ years ago.

[purplecat]

Re: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain

Wendy, thank you for your reponse. Yes, estrogen can affect TOM in a bad way. I have Endometriosis and a fibroid tumor and TOM is horrific for me. Something natural you can try is Raspberry Leaf tea (if it's allowed on Atkins) or progesterone cream - make sure it has actual progesterone. GNC sells one that is less than 10% estrogen so make sure you check the levels on the box before buying. I found mine (when I was using it) at a natural health food store called Wild Oats. I stopped it when I started Seasonique. However, I've stopped Seasonique and am now trying to go back to natural remedies.