Thyroid Meds & Weight Gain

teamwink

me too!
I have similar issues - I am heavier than I've been in 10 years, and I'm eating less and exercising a little more. I am barely fitting into my "fat clothes", those that I wore in the first trimester of pregnancy and after the baby came (ladies who've had babies, you know what I mean!). My doc says my levels are normal so she is not concerned, but I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and I'm miserable dieting with no results at all. I've never had this problem, and I'm not sure how to address it in a healthy way - advice?

bkane101

nasher said:

slow and steady
The reason they go slow on increasing your synthroid dose is they do not want you to have the problems with excessive hyperthyroidism.

Darn it i cannot find my calculation for weight so I am making one from the normal dose

100-125 mcg/day for a 70 kg adult
1 kg = 2.2 lbs therefore 154 lbs

Barbara you said you weigh about 170 lbs so from what i have seen for people of that weight you should be roughly on 150-200 mcg/day

Synthroid builds up very slowly in the body and it take about 6 weeks to get to the new level where they can do the blood test and determine what your free T4 levels are at.

Another thing you should consider one of the side effects from too much synthroid is intolerance to heat and you mentioned you are in California and something about 110 F heat expected... being on too much synthroid would make it feel much worse.

for myself I am at 200 mcg of synthroid and 25 mcg of Cytomel (or the equivalent of 300 mcg total synthroid) and for my weight that is about right.

Another option you might have is ask the doctors about doing a synthroid and Cytomel trial to see if that controls your thyroid replacement better.

Cytomel takes about 8 days to build up to the full strength while synthroid takes about 6 weeks.

The ONLY problem I have noticed with Cytomel is if I miss a dose I notice it that day... if you miss a dose of synthroid you might not even notice it.

Be sure to check your calcium and vitamin D levels (being in California you might not have the vitamin D problems I have in Washington)

Good luck and keep us informed

Craig

Craig,
I'm hoping that my dr
Craig,

I'm hoping that my dr does increase me up more towards the 200 mcg level. Yesterday I had to take a sick day because I could barely move and I couldn't even get ready to go to work. I was so exhausted and my body hurt so bad (hurt like dead arm/leg hurt...not pain hurt). Today I was able to get ready for work but now that I'm here I'm going downhill fast. I do get my labs done in 1 week and I hope to be increased next week. Don't know how long I can go on like this yet I know it is a waiting game but the doctors don't have to live in our bodies while we are going through this. I have been writing down things to ask the doctor on my next visit which is mid-June and one of them is asking about the Cytomel. I have been on my increased dosage of my Levothyroxine now for 2 weeks and I'm still not noticing a difference, in fact I think I'm getting worse.

As far as the heat...I am always really cold, which I think is worse when you are hypo. When it's 85 degrees out I think it's a nice day and barely warm and then I can wear short sleeves. If it's 75 I'm really cold and in long sleeves. I think this will help me this summer if I'm still having these problems.

You were also saying about increasing my medicine slowly as to not go into excessive hyperthyroidism but aren't we supposed to be kept hyper and not hypo since we had cancer? Although I haven't heard good things about being hyper either so I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.

Barbara

sunnyaz

bkane101 said:

Craig,
I'm hoping that my dr
Craig,

I'm hoping that my dr does increase me up more towards the 200 mcg level. Yesterday I had to take a sick day because I could barely move and I couldn't even get ready to go to work. I was so exhausted and my body hurt so bad (hurt like dead arm/leg hurt...not pain hurt). Today I was able to get ready for work but now that I'm here I'm going downhill fast. I do get my labs done in 1 week and I hope to be increased next week. Don't know how long I can go on like this yet I know it is a waiting game but the doctors don't have to live in our bodies while we are going through this. I have been writing down things to ask the doctor on my next visit which is mid-June and one of them is asking about the Cytomel. I have been on my increased dosage of my Levothyroxine now for 2 weeks and I'm still not noticing a difference, in fact I think I'm getting worse.

As far as the heat...I am always really cold, which I think is worse when you are hypo. When it's 85 degrees out I think it's a nice day and barely warm and then I can wear short sleeves. If it's 75 I'm really cold and in long sleeves. I think this will help me this summer if I'm still having these problems.

You were also saying about increasing my medicine slowly as to not go into excessive hyperthyroidism but aren't we supposed to be kept hyper and not hypo since we had cancer? Although I haven't heard good things about being hyper either so I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.

Barbara

Hyperthyroid
Hi Barbara,

My Endocrinologist is keeping me hyperthyroid for at least three years after my last recurrence. He said that this helps prevent recurrence.

I am hoping things get better for you very soon.

Blessings,
Julie-SunnyAZ

bkane101

sunnyaz said:

Hyperthyroid
Hi Barbara,

My Endocrinologist is keeping me hyperthyroid for at least three years after my last recurrence. He said that this helps prevent recurrence.

I am hoping things get better for you very soon.

Blessings,
Julie-SunnyAZ

My TSH results
Hi Julie. You seem to have so much knowledge on all of this so I wanted to let you know that I had my TSH level checked and I'm still at 37.77. Isn't that REALLY high!? He increased me from 125 mcg's to 150 mcg's and said they would re-visit it when I see him again in a little over 3 weeks. This is such a long process and I don't notice any changes from when I was on 88 mcg's and put to 125 so I'm wondering if I will even notice anything with this small change. I know it will take at least 2 weeks to take affect. They are mailing me my lab results because I'm curious to see what else they tested for. I think I have an issue with my cortisol levels too.

Hope you're doing well.
Barbara

sunnyaz

bkane101 said:

My TSH results
Hi Julie. You seem to have so much knowledge on all of this so I wanted to let you know that I had my TSH level checked and I'm still at 37.77. Isn't that REALLY high!? He increased me from 125 mcg's to 150 mcg's and said they would re-visit it when I see him again in a little over 3 weeks. This is such a long process and I don't notice any changes from when I was on 88 mcg's and put to 125 so I'm wondering if I will even notice anything with this small change. I know it will take at least 2 weeks to take affect. They are mailing me my lab results because I'm curious to see what else they tested for. I think I have an issue with my cortisol levels too.

Hope you're doing well.
Barbara

TSH Results
Yes, you are VERY hypothyroid. My level is 0.4 and that is considered very hyperthyroid which is right where my Endo wants me to be. It's no wonder you feel bad. See if they can test your levels again two weeks after starting the new dose. Then go see the doctor at your three week appointment. You should be able to get a lab slip for just a blood draw and then you will have the results when you see your Endo. He can then adjust the levels again at your appointment. I am guessing you will need at least 175-200 mcg's daily, but that's just a guess. It should not take this long to get your levels straight. Yes, two weeks is the standard time for the T4 to change to TSH in your body, so you won't notice any difference until that point. I sure hope they get this straightened out soon for you. I will keep you in my prayers.
Blessings,
Julie-SunnyAZ

nasher

bkane101 said:

My TSH results
Hi Julie. You seem to have so much knowledge on all of this so I wanted to let you know that I had my TSH level checked and I'm still at 37.77. Isn't that REALLY high!? He increased me from 125 mcg's to 150 mcg's and said they would re-visit it when I see him again in a little over 3 weeks. This is such a long process and I don't notice any changes from when I was on 88 mcg's and put to 125 so I'm wondering if I will even notice anything with this small change. I know it will take at least 2 weeks to take affect. They are mailing me my lab results because I'm curious to see what else they tested for. I think I have an issue with my cortisol levels too.

Hope you're doing well.
Barbara

Wow thats high
um wow

the normal range listed for TSH Sensitive is (.34-5.6) uIU/mL the only times I have been above normal range is when i was going for a scan and off my thyroid meds or on thyrogen shots the doc wants to keep me in the lower than normal range... so i would definatly say something is wrong

bkane101

sunnyaz said:

TSH Results
Yes, you are VERY hypothyroid. My level is 0.4 and that is considered very hyperthyroid which is right where my Endo wants me to be. It's no wonder you feel bad. See if they can test your levels again two weeks after starting the new dose. Then go see the doctor at your three week appointment. You should be able to get a lab slip for just a blood draw and then you will have the results when you see your Endo. He can then adjust the levels again at your appointment. I am guessing you will need at least 175-200 mcg's daily, but that's just a guess. It should not take this long to get your levels straight. Yes, two weeks is the standard time for the T4 to change to TSH in your body, so you won't notice any difference until that point. I sure hope they get this straightened out soon for you. I will keep you in my prayers.
Blessings,
Julie-SunnyAZ

TSH/T4 result
Julie,

I just got my results also for my free T4 test and that was 1.2 which is in the "normal" range, but my TSH is 37.77 which is really high. They didn't test for T3. Isn't it weird to have one test come back really high and the other is normal? Guess I'm confused...and I think they should test for more things than just those 2.

Barbara

sunnyaz

bkane101 said:

TSH/T4 result
Julie,

I just got my results also for my free T4 test and that was 1.2 which is in the "normal" range, but my TSH is 37.77 which is really high. They didn't test for T3. Isn't it weird to have one test come back really high and the other is normal? Guess I'm confused...and I think they should test for more things than just those 2.

Barbara

That is weird!
Maybe your body just isn't processing the T4 and converting it efficiently. Did they test your antibodies? Maybe the antibodies are high and are throwing off the TSH. Maybe time to consult with a new Endo?
Julie-SunnyAZ

Baldy

bkane101 said:

TSH/T4 result
Julie,

I just got my results also for my free T4 test and that was 1.2 which is in the "normal" range, but my TSH is 37.77 which is really high. They didn't test for T3. Isn't it weird to have one test come back really high and the other is normal? Guess I'm confused...and I think they should test for more things than just those 2.

Barbara

Weird labs
Barbara,

How about your thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin AB? I seem to recall if your thyroglobulin ABs are high, they can badly skew other results.

Alan

acdrunner800

teamwink said:

is it possible?
I have similar issues - I am heavier than I've been in 10 years, and I'm eating less and exercising a little more. I am barely fitting into my "fat clothes", those that I wore in the first trimester of pregnancy and after the baby came (ladies who've had babies, you know what I mean!). My doc says my levels are normal so she is not concerned, but I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and I'm miserable dieting with no results at all. I've never had this problem, and I'm not sure how to address it in a healthy way - advice?

I am having this same issue
I am having this same issue now and I'm so frustrated! I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 3 years ago and had a total thyroidectomy, and I had very good endocrinologist at the time who has unfortunately left the state since then. He had explained to me that he wanted to keep my thyroid levels on the higher than average side, at least for the first 5 years after surgery, because it lowered the chance of the cancer recurring, and also because I have a history of depression, which is worsened by low thyroid levels. My new doctor seems to have different beliefs, and like your doc, she says she is not concerned because my levels are normal (according to her guidelines). Meanwhile, in the past couple of months, since she lowered my dosage, I've gained 15 or more pounds (I'm scared to weigh myself right now), and I've been dragging all day. Did you resolve your issues? If so, would you mind sharing how? I'm thinking I should find a new doctor, but meanwhile I feel like if I don't take care of this ASAP I'm going to keep getting bigger. It's so uncomfortable, I've never had this issue before either and I don't feel like myself! I've always been very healthy and good about exercising, and now I barely recognize myself. Please update me on your situation if you can. I hope you are doing better and can shed some light for me. Thank you!

CherylMike

teamwink said:

me too!
I have similar issues - I am heavier than I've been in 10 years, and I'm eating less and exercising a little more. I am barely fitting into my "fat clothes", those that I wore in the first trimester of pregnancy and after the baby came (ladies who've had babies, you know what I mean!). My doc says my levels are normal so she is not concerned, but I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and I'm miserable dieting with no results at all. I've never had this problem, and I'm not sure how to address it in a healthy way - advice?

Me Three but am now feeling better with some advice from my endo
I had a TT and RAI 1.5 years ago. Everything looks good now, but I was having severe problems with fatigue, mental fuzzyness and weight gain. I complained to my doctor and she told me my weight (150 lbs and I am 5'5") was within the normal range. (I weighed 117 when I had my TT - however that is way to thin for me). I spoke to her and told her that I was very uncomfortable with my weight - heart disease and type 2 diabetes runs in my family (dad). She told me that I was hyperthyroid, which can cause weight gain and other symptoms that mirror hypothyroidism. She wants to keep me hyperthyroid, just not so high. (I was losing hair and not sleeping) She made some suggestions - get off the ambien, do not let the dog that gets up all night sleep with you, exercise and watch what I eat and she would lower the synthroid dose form 125 to 112. I am doing everything that she suggested and am down to 135 after 2 months. I am on the adkins diet (which I did for years and it always held my weight around 130), I jog 2 miles and power walk .5 iles 6 days a week and 2 of my dogs have to sleep in the kitchen on their beds. This has really made a difference. The weight did not come off easily (before I would only exercise 3 to 4 days a week and could eat more carbs, the weight came off fast and stayed off). But, it is worth it. I have so much more energy and mentality feel more with it. I am still having trouble sleeping, but it is getting better. I am 51 years old.

Katt66

synthroid
ok... I'm going to go cry now. Weight has been a steadily increasing problem for me (obviously everyone on this thread as well), and I just got put on synthroid. After reading all the postings in this thread it seems the meds arent helping anyone much. Maybe the docs need a new theory and new therapies !?! Geez, weight is going to get worse???!! So much for being hopeful.....

Stacie3071

Katt66 said:

synthroid
ok... I'm going to go cry now. Weight has been a steadily increasing problem for me (obviously everyone on this thread as well), and I just got put on synthroid. After reading all the postings in this thread it seems the meds arent helping anyone much. Maybe the docs need a new theory and new therapies !?! Geez, weight is going to get worse???!! So much for being hopeful.....

Crying with you..
I have Hurthle Cell.. Had a TT in oct. with RAI in Dec 2011. I have been on synthroid since Oct '11. I have gained almost 30lbs. I saw my oncologist Tuesday of this past week and she was excited that I had actually lost 2 lbs in 2 months :-/ ... she told me to get my metabolism going I needed to walk, even though I am on a thyroid replacement that it was going to be hard to lose weight that the replacement was not as good as the what the thyroid put out.

Take it one day at a time... the weight will come off.. she did reccomend a low carb diet... so that is where I am at right now..

Good luck!!
Stacie

tron34

Baldy said:

Incredible
I find it incredible that endocrinologists allow people to gain so much weight. To me, this is a glaringly obvious indication the dosage is incorrect. I'm lucky this hasn't been an issue for me so far, hopefully it won't ever be.

Alan

It does not surprise me at
It does not surprise me at all that they will let their patients gain weight, as mine will not return a phone call to make an appointment. I had my tt almost 2 years ago, only had 1 of the 3 radioactive iodine treatment...and only one lab done for blood work .

MPaccione

Stacie3071 said:

Crying with you..
I have Hurthle Cell.. Had a TT in oct. with RAI in Dec 2011. I have been on synthroid since Oct '11. I have gained almost 30lbs. I saw my oncologist Tuesday of this past week and she was excited that I had actually lost 2 lbs in 2 months :-/ ... she told me to get my metabolism going I needed to walk, even though I am on a thyroid replacement that it was going to be hard to lose weight that the replacement was not as good as the what the thyroid put out.

Take it one day at a time... the weight will come off.. she did reccomend a low carb diet... so that is where I am at right now..

Good luck!!
Stacie

Crying too
I had my thyroid removed 1 1/2 years ago, numerous goiters. When they removed it, they found that my thyroid was 4 times larger that it should have been, and to make things even better cancer was found in the gland. I am glad that it was removed, and that the cancer did not spread, but the weight gain since has been impossible to deal with. I am 57, had thought that my menopausal sweats, were over, and done with, now they are back and on a rampage. I take 125 mcg of levothyroxin daily, eat like a bird because my appetite has been horrible, have no energy etc. I had hammer toe surgery about a month ago, so this has not helped my mobility. Prior to all of this, I was fairly active, walked mountain roads every other day, 3 miles easily! Now to make matters even worse, my family is on my case, they say that drinking my one mug of milk, a day is the reason for my gains, lack of energy..sometimes I just want to slap them!! Oh and my husband ordered a bow & arrow for me, because I showed an affinity for it when I was 28 years old! I really am a nice person, but I have always watched myself weight wise, so the lack of understanding on their part is disconcerting. I have suffered with severe depression for years, mostly under control, but haranging me certainly does not help. I go to my endo guy this week, he says little, but believe me I will have tons to say to him..any suggestions?

rockpc

CherylMike said:

Me Three but am now feeling better with some advice from my endo
I had a TT and RAI 1.5 years ago. Everything looks good now, but I was having severe problems with fatigue, mental fuzzyness and weight gain. I complained to my doctor and she told me my weight (150 lbs and I am 5'5") was within the normal range. (I weighed 117 when I had my TT - however that is way to thin for me). I spoke to her and told her that I was very uncomfortable with my weight - heart disease and type 2 diabetes runs in my family (dad). She told me that I was hyperthyroid, which can cause weight gain and other symptoms that mirror hypothyroidism. She wants to keep me hyperthyroid, just not so high. (I was losing hair and not sleeping) She made some suggestions - get off the ambien, do not let the dog that gets up all night sleep with you, exercise and watch what I eat and she would lower the synthroid dose form 125 to 112. I am doing everything that she suggested and am down to 135 after 2 months. I am on the adkins diet (which I did for years and it always held my weight around 130), I jog 2 miles and power walk .5 iles 6 days a week and 2 of my dogs have to sleep in the kitchen on their beds. This has really made a difference. The weight did not come off easily (before I would only exercise 3 to 4 days a week and could eat more carbs, the weight came off fast and stayed off). But, it is worth it. I have so much more energy and mentality feel more with it. I am still having trouble sleeping, but it is getting better. I am 51 years old.

same for me
i had stage 2 hodgkins @ age 21. after 10 wks of radiation, i needed to start thyroid meds. started with synthriod @ 50 mcg. had it changed only once to levothyroxine 75mcg about 5 yrs ago. i am 41 yrs old now & have gained 20 lbs over past 2 yrs. not happy with it at all. my regular dr told me levels were "fine" but would prescribe me diet pills... i declined. i have to think i need a new dose. i try watching my diet & tried exercise and only lost 3-5 lbs. but as soon as i stop that routine, my weight comes right back.

nonaR

teamwink said:

me too!
I have similar issues - I am heavier than I've been in 10 years, and I'm eating less and exercising a little more. I am barely fitting into my "fat clothes", those that I wore in the first trimester of pregnancy and after the baby came (ladies who've had babies, you know what I mean!). My doc says my levels are normal so she is not concerned, but I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and I'm miserable dieting with no results at all. I've never had this problem, and I'm not sure how to address it in a healthy way - advice?

doesnt it just want to
doesnt it just want to make you scream to the doctor well you may not be concerned...but this is my body gaining weight and me feeling litke i dont know how i am going to make it to work or maybe lose my job becouse i cant think clearly enough to do it well or because i cant drag my self out of bed to be on time,and it is me on weekends who is so exhausted on weekends that i have to stay in bed and cant spend time with my kids with hopes that on monday morning i can get up and earn a liveing so we can keep a roof over our head on food on the table and who is crying all the time geeze it is me and I AM CONCERNED. so fix it....just saying

nonaR

teamwink said:

me too!
I have similar issues - I am heavier than I've been in 10 years, and I'm eating less and exercising a little more. I am barely fitting into my "fat clothes", those that I wore in the first trimester of pregnancy and after the baby came (ladies who've had babies, you know what I mean!). My doc says my levels are normal so she is not concerned, but I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and I'm miserable dieting with no results at all. I've never had this problem, and I'm not sure how to address it in a healthy way - advice?

doesnt it just want to
doesnt it just want to make you scream to the doctor well you may not be concerned...but this is my body gaining weight and me feeling litke i dont know how i am going to make it to work or maybe lose my job becouse i cant think clearly enough to do it well or because i cant drag my self out of bed to be on time,and it is me on weekends who is so exhausted on weekends that i have to stay in bed and cant spend time with my kids with hopes that on monday morning i can get up and earn a liveing so we can keep a roof over our head on food on the table and who is crying all the time geeze it is me and I AM CONCERNED. so fix it....just saying

nonaR

CherylMike said:

Me Three but am now feeling better with some advice from my endo
I had a TT and RAI 1.5 years ago. Everything looks good now, but I was having severe problems with fatigue, mental fuzzyness and weight gain. I complained to my doctor and she told me my weight (150 lbs and I am 5'5") was within the normal range. (I weighed 117 when I had my TT - however that is way to thin for me). I spoke to her and told her that I was very uncomfortable with my weight - heart disease and type 2 diabetes runs in my family (dad). She told me that I was hyperthyroid, which can cause weight gain and other symptoms that mirror hypothyroidism. She wants to keep me hyperthyroid, just not so high. (I was losing hair and not sleeping) She made some suggestions - get off the ambien, do not let the dog that gets up all night sleep with you, exercise and watch what I eat and she would lower the synthroid dose form 125 to 112. I am doing everything that she suggested and am down to 135 after 2 months. I am on the adkins diet (which I did for years and it always held my weight around 130), I jog 2 miles and power walk .5 iles 6 days a week and 2 of my dogs have to sleep in the kitchen on their beds. This has really made a difference. The weight did not come off easily (before I would only exercise 3 to 4 days a week and could eat more carbs, the weight came off fast and stayed off). But, it is worth it. I have so much more energy and mentality feel more with it. I am still having trouble sleeping, but it is getting better. I am 51 years old.

hyperthyrodism
I thought hperthyroidism caused you to lose weight.

PASurvivor

MPaccione said:

Crying too
I had my thyroid removed 1 1/2 years ago, numerous goiters. When they removed it, they found that my thyroid was 4 times larger that it should have been, and to make things even better cancer was found in the gland. I am glad that it was removed, and that the cancer did not spread, but the weight gain since has been impossible to deal with. I am 57, had thought that my menopausal sweats, were over, and done with, now they are back and on a rampage. I take 125 mcg of levothyroxin daily, eat like a bird because my appetite has been horrible, have no energy etc. I had hammer toe surgery about a month ago, so this has not helped my mobility. Prior to all of this, I was fairly active, walked mountain roads every other day, 3 miles easily! Now to make matters even worse, my family is on my case, they say that drinking my one mug of milk, a day is the reason for my gains, lack of energy..sometimes I just want to slap them!! Oh and my husband ordered a bow & arrow for me, because I showed an affinity for it when I was 28 years old! I really am a nice person, but I have always watched myself weight wise, so the lack of understanding on their part is disconcerting. I have suffered with severe depression for years, mostly under control, but haranging me certainly does not help. I go to my endo guy this week, he says little, but believe me I will have tons to say to him..any suggestions?

You are not crying alone!

I had my thryoid removed in March of 2011 and just had a second surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes this past October.  I have gained 30lbs since this started, of course combined with menopause and I quit smoking the day before my first surgery.  I am seriously considering taking it back up.  Please don't let anyone harang you!  Unless they are going through this they don't understand.  I watch every bite I put in my mouth and do 30 minutes a day on the treadmill and nothing!  I gained 5lbs the morning after RAI!  My endo has been good, but doesn't understand the weight being a big problem for me - both emotionally and physically.  I am switching to a female doctor with hopes she will understand better.  I hope that you are feeling better these days!

I have noticed that everyone is talking about Atkins and I am going to look into that.  However, food I enjoy is all I have left - not sure I want to give it up!