Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
See an endocrinologist not just a GP for your hypothyroidism. Some drugs and vitamins interfere with thyroid drugs. Its a delicate balance to get the dosage right and a GP is just guessing.
My hypothyroidism is managed and I have no problem whatsoever with diet, exercise and maintaining my weight.
My husband is on Synthroid and his dose just went up to 200 Mcg. He tried the generic and it did not work.Been on the brand for a few years now. Last prescription refill we did not relaize they gave us the generic (Levothyroxine) and it's a 3 month prescription so the last Dr. appt. his levels were up, don't remember the number. This time it's was back to synthroid.He goes for another check up in April. WW works and not eveyone looses 5 lbs in a week. I have lost 46 lbs so far and it's been a year. I still have 30 more to go. It's a slow process but I am fine with that. Some weeks I'll loose 2 lbs and others maybe 1 lb or less or stay the same. I have gained weight some weeks but not much and that's usually because I ate alot of salt that week or I just got my period.I don't know of anyone that has gotten to goal in 8 weeks. I know it seems like that. I went to Vegas for a week last May, came back and only gained 1 lb. Weight watchers does work if you follow the plan correctly. We all want a miracle and lose weight fast but that's not reality. Loosing 1-2 lbs per week is considered normal and healthy. My DH lost 85 lbs so far and not because of the thyroid meds alone, he has cut back portions and carbs and drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day. Plus I am cooking low fat and healthier for the past year without depriving myself of the foods I love.
It's important to understand that thyroid replacement hormone is not supposed to be a weight loss method. It is supposed to replace thyroid hormone that is otherwise deficient, when the thyroid, for whatever reason, is not doing its job properly.
When the thyroid is underproducing, one of the symptoms is weight gain. That particular symptom can be controlled through diet and exercise but it is more difficult to control when your thyroid isn't functioning properly. Once the replacement is at the right dosage, you can then work on losing weight. The meds aren't what's making the weight come off, at all. The meds are simply making your metabolism do what it should have been doing, and wasn't. If you overeat, you'll still gain weight. And if you don't control your portions and caloric intake, you still won't lose.
A TSH level of 5 is way too high. I am always shocked to see a lab that still goes that high for in-range TSH. Years ago, most labs went to 3 as their top in-range. But last year after years of debate with thyroid specialists and researchers, the American Society of Endocrinology recommended that labs use 2 as their top in range for TSH. But I've only seen one lab so far that has changed to that.
If you follow on the main big thyroid forums you will rarely find anyone who feels good above 2.
That is usually because a high TSH means you are not producing enough T4 to convert into enough T3 which is the actual hormone your body uses. T4 is actually just a storage hormone to be converted as needed into T3 which is the actual workhorse hormone. So you need to ask your doctor to always have your FreeT3 tested along with your TSH so you can keep track of how well you convert T4 into the needed and important T3.
A trick that I used that really helped me find where my "sweet spot" was when I would stabilise on my meds and actually feel GREAT for a few days, I would run to the lab (ask your doctor for a standing lab request) and get tested so that I found where my good lab numbers are for me personally. Everyone is different---for me, I feel best with TSH between 1.2 and 1.8 and my Free T3 at mid or upper range. My memory goes, I lose my hair, get depressed, feel cold, and gain weight at anything above TSH of 2. I have been doing this for 20 years now, so I almost don't even need labs anymore to verify what my body always tells me about my thyroid levels.
Since you will need to raise your dosage of thyroid meds to lower your TSH and increase your thyroid hormone levels, you will need to raise your dosage VERY carefully. Many doctors are ignorant about how overly-sensitive some of us are to thyroid hormones---they are POWERFUL hormones and can't tell you how many times docs have had me increase way too much at one time and I'd go into serious hyper.
Until you learn how sensitive you are to raising your thyroid levels, go really slow and in tiny increments (you'll need a pill cutter) so you can allow your body to adjust to the increases of this POWERFUL hormone. I take 61mcg a day to stay stable at my good TSH level. But if I need to increase it, I would only add 1/4 of a 50mcg tablet a week (not a day)to that dosage and wait for 4 weeks and get my labs, and see how I feel before increasing anymore. You may not be that sensitive to increases, but until you know for sure, it is better to err on the side of caution than go hyper--which can take weeks to calm down again. You may be able to get from 5 to 2 or less with only one or two increases.
Good luck to you.
Last edited by mountainrose; 02-24-2012 at 05:53 PM..
When you specify your TSH please include the range of your test. If you have a TSH of 5 and the normal range is, .5 to 5.5 then you are on the high side of normal. Most people do well with a TSH of 3 or less with this range. IMO, unless your doctor has good reason for not trying to reduce your TSH you need to find a new doctor preferably an endo.
I also suggest reading Mary Shomon and doing a web search on her. Mary has written a number of best-selling books on thyroid disease, hormones and weight loss, and is a nationally-known patient activist. Mary founded Thyroid-Info.com and has published the popular Sticking Out Our Necks thyroid newsletter since 1997.
I see a lot of people on here that I assume are not doctors giving advice on what thyroid levels should be. I just hope the people reading them understand that the only way they are going to solve their own thyroid issues is to go to their own doctor, preferable an endocrinologist and have their blood work done and give a full history.
Peat has a Phd in biology & has a lot of good info on thyroid & endocrine health etc. One of his central theories is that polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) suppress the thyroid. Watch this video:
I understand your pain. I have struggled with weight issues since my teens and I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroid and PCOS in my mid twenties. I take synthroid and metformin for both conditions. Losing weight is rough but gaining it is as easy as "pie" for me. My doctor is great and he suggested a nutrionist that he is affiliated with. After meeting with her I knew that was what I needed. I went on to lose 50lbs in about 7 months. It was a whole process; overhaul my eating habits, regular excercise, and stay on my meds. After some life setbacks I gained the weight back and a little more within 2 years. I've started back on my weight loss journey this year and went back to her. It's even harder this time because I'm older, I no longer work at a company where we have a cafeteria onsite that will make me any healthy dish I wish, and I don't have a job where I'm constantly on the move or too busy or stressed to eat. I've lost 18lbs since january and m goal is to lose an additional 40 before my bday in sept. I know the conditions make it harder to lose weight but it's a battle you have to keep fighting in order to feel better from the inside out. Good Luck!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
