Hypothyroidism

DM_K

I recently just learned that the treatments used for cancer can cause hypothyroidism.  I'm now on thyroid medication everyday so my mysterious weight gain had a reason and since taking the medication the weight is coming off.  Might want your doc to test your TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) if they haven't already.

barnyardgal

That's interesting. I'm glad

That's interesting. I'm glad they figured it out. I found out when I first had cancer that I was also hyperthyroidism without symptoms. The doctors said having hyperthyroidism can possibly cause or fuel cancer. I'm currently on medicine to control it, but in the next 6 months or so I'll have to decide on either surgery to remove the small nodule, or radioactive iodine. When they were adjusting meds I became hypothyroid for about a month. That was miserable so I'm glad you're feeling better..

Tamlen

Gaining weight

I've been running 3 miles a day + rowing 30 minutes a day, eating less and I'm still gaining weight since chemo. I checked my patient portal and my onc did a TSH test in November; it came back right smack in the middle of the normal range. I've never had a weight problem and am just totally befuddled about how to get back to my normal weight without quitting my job and exercising full-time  

zsazsa1

Tamlen said:

Gaining weight

I've been running 3 miles a day + rowing 30 minutes a day, eating less and I'm still gaining weight since chemo. I checked my patient portal and my onc did a TSH test in November; it came back right smack in the middle of the normal range. I've never had a weight problem and am just totally befuddled about how to get back to my normal weight without quitting my job and exercising full-time  

could be from surgical

could be from surgical menopause, but I agree with thyroid testing periodically.

barnyardgal

Tamlen said:

Gaining weight

I've been running 3 miles a day + rowing 30 minutes a day, eating less and I'm still gaining weight since chemo. I checked my patient portal and my onc did a TSH test in November; it came back right smack in the middle of the normal range. I've never had a weight problem and am just totally befuddled about how to get back to my normal weight without quitting my job and exercising full-time  

You might want to have your

You might want to have your levels checked again. My step mother was feeling awful for quite awhile. They tested her levels about 6 months ago and thyroid was fine. They agreed to retest again, and her tsh was 7! Now that she's on medicine she's fine.

derMaus

Tamlen said:

Gaining weight

I've been running 3 miles a day + rowing 30 minutes a day, eating less and I'm still gaining weight since chemo. I checked my patient portal and my onc did a TSH test in November; it came back right smack in the middle of the normal range. I've never had a weight problem and am just totally befuddled about how to get back to my normal weight without quitting my job and exercising full-time  

Statistical range means

Statistical range means nothing; what matters is how you feel. I argued with my doc years ago when he wouldn't give me Synthoid for my 4.0 TSH, insisting I was in the normal range. I was freezing all the time (e.g., wearing a wool jacket, in Morocco, in June), lethargic, and my hair was falling out. I finally got another doc to put me on meds and my problems stabilized. I didn't have any miraculous weight loss, unfortunately, but I felt much better. I try to keep my TSH around 2.0 but optimum is different for everyone, and lower is often better. 

Tamlen

derMaus said:

Statistical range means

Statistical range means nothing; what matters is how you feel. I argued with my doc years ago when he wouldn't give me Synthoid for my 4.0 TSH, insisting I was in the normal range. I was freezing all the time (e.g., wearing a wool jacket, in Morocco, in June), lethargic, and my hair was falling out. I finally got another doc to put me on meds and my problems stabilized. I didn't have any miraculous weight loss, unfortunately, but I felt much better. I try to keep my TSH around 2.0 but optimum is different for everyone, and lower is often better. 

That's helpful info

I'm freezing all the time too, my very thick curly hair is thinning, and I'm tired -- but I've been attributing it to the aromatase inhibitor, which also has these symptoms. What's getting my attention isn't just that I'm not losing weight despite careful eating and daily exercise -- I'm actually gaining. I think I'll ask my PCP to look into this more.

BluebirdOne

zsazsa1 said:

could be from surgical

could be from surgical menopause, but I agree with thyroid testing periodically.

After real menopause all hell broke loose.

I gained 25 lbs. in 18 months, developed hypothryroidism, high blood pressure, slow pulse. Have been on thyroid medication for 10 years. only continued to gain weight, not lose any.  Plus the terrible insomnia, and night sweats. So horrible. The body just sabotaged everything I was trying to maintain into old age. Then years later, cancer. Oh joy. 

Armywife

Tamlen said:

That's helpful info

I'm freezing all the time too, my very thick curly hair is thinning, and I'm tired -- but I've been attributing it to the aromatase inhibitor, which also has these symptoms. What's getting my attention isn't just that I'm not losing weight despite careful eating and daily exercise -- I'm actually gaining. I think I'll ask my PCP to look into this more.

Tamlen

I'm so impressed that you have the energy to exercise like that!  I'm an absolute SLUG since treatment.

Tamlen

Armywife said:

Tamlen

I'm so impressed that you have the energy to exercise like that!  I'm an absolute SLUG since treatment.

Armwife,

I was feeling so sluggish too, before I started. It was hard to get motivated to go exercise. Sometimes I promised myself I only had to row for 5 minutes and then I could stop (but of course, once I was on the rower, I didn't feel like stopping). The more I get back into shape, the more energy I've started to have again -- it's like my body was just waiting for me to get going. It's also been a mood lifter to start feeling strong again.

DragonLadyHere

I've been all over the place

I've been all over the place with my thyroid. I went into very early menopause (age 37) and it's been one thing after another. I'm often freezing, my hair is beyond thin, I have nodules they want to biopsy and my thyroid is ver big. The cancer and the chemo didn't help matters. I have an appointment about it next month. I feel for everybody here, but I sure would like to get mine treated somehow.