hypothyroidism???

Question

o.k. i've been on thyroid medicine for an underactive thyroid for almost 2 years. I had put on some weight because of this and struggling to get my levels just right and of course losing the weight. my primary care doctor is sending me to an endocrinologist for further care. any advice on how to lose the 10lbs i've put on since diagnosed with this condition. i'm working myself to the bone with no success.

Answer 1

My wife also has an underactive thyroid (Hashimoto's Disease) and has been on synthroid for almost 5 years. She too gained weight. Along with excercising she used the "Weight Watchers" program and it really helped her. Boosted her self esteem again as well. The diet and support meetings help quite a few people from what I understand. Best of luck to you.

NREMT-P

Answer 2

First thing you need to do is read as much as you can about being hypothyroidism. Doctors often under-dose hypothyroid patients based on the TSH test, where a free t4 or free t3 test might show they are still hypo. If you don't have your numbers exactly where they should be for you, you won't lose weight. Another cause of not being able to lose weight is insulin resistance. Many who are hypo develop this because of the weight gain the hypothyroidism has caused. Insulin resistance makes it even harder to lose weight. I suggest you find out your lab numbers and the next time you get tested (always in the morning) you get a TSH, Free T4, Free T3, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin.

Are you still having hypo symptoms even though the doctor says your labs are fine? This could mean you are under-dosed or that you are on the wrong medication. I have put a few links below for you to check out. Good luck!

Answer 3

This all depends on the approach that you wish to use.

Orthodox/standard medical establishment methods; natural, holistic, methods which may involve major lifestyle changes or, possibly a correct combination of both.

The typical orthodox approach will be to test your thyroid levels (the TSH, thyroxine, T3 and T4 levels should all be tested) via blood tests. If levels are off, the patient is put on medication and then re-tested at a later date. That's about all that standard medical practices provide.

Natural healing approach that can be performed by a thoroughly competent, experienced, holistically-oriented MD or naturopathic physician:

A thorough physical evaluation and medical history should be taken (only MD can do the physical portion). The doctor should spent at the minimum 1 hour with you on your first visit.

For your thyroid: Have your practitioner perform hormone testing for the thyorid utizlizing SALIVA testing. Testing hormones via the blood only shows what is circulating within the bloodstream; saliva tests indicate what is actually getting into the tissues and cells. Saliva testing is more accurate and has been in use by research labs for 25-30 years. Saliva tests should also be performed for your adrenal glands, and, possibly, the sex hormones--the 3 estrogens, progesterone, DHEA (should come up in the adrenal test) and testosterone. This will provide a very clear and more complete picture of any imbalances in these organs. No organ/gland/system functions in isolation within the body. They all communicate with each other--if your thyroid is off it will eventually affect the adrenals and visa versa. And remember--thyroid function is critical to a great many functions in the body, as are the adrenals (these tiny glands produce at least 50 different hormones!).

In addition to testing the above get your IODINE levels checked. It is not possible for your thyroid to function at optimum capacity without receiving the proper amount of iodine. If your thyroid levels are just slightly off, it may be possible to correct them without the use of medication by bringing up low iodine levels. Of course, you must make sure that you are not allergic to iodine.

In the meantime: If you are not already doing so: EAT REAL FOOD. Avoid like the plague: all sugar and white flour products, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, processed foods, artifical sweeteners, high glycemic foods (foods which will raise your blood sugar too fast--look on Goggle for Glycemic Index resources/lists), carbonated beverages, caffeine, alcohol, dried fruit, fruit juices, fruit drinks (eat 1-2 pieces of low-glycemic fruit/day AFTER a meal). Eat good, lean protein--preferably organic: chicken, turkey, lamb, bison, ostrich, venison, wild salmon/fish, sardines, mackerel and lots of dark, leafy green veggies: spinach, swiss chard, kale, dandelion. Drink plenty of high quality spring water--you do not want to drink tap water. Herbal teas are good. Snack on sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, brazill nuts, pitaschios, cashews, walnuts--in limited quantities.

Your practitioner, in addition to the above testing (and tests they may want to perform) should also test you for heavy metals. It is quite common to find mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, tungsten, etc in many peoples' tissues these days. In fact, most people I know are walking around with these toxic substances in them--a result of a very toxic environment as we are exposed to over 70,000 chemicals each year. If present in the body, they can disrupt the functions of many organs/systems and cause many different symptoms. This requires getting a chelation therapy IV drip and then collecting your urine for 24 hours to determine any heavy metal levels. Bear in mind that some people are "retainers"--the metals are not always released on the first drip, but come out later in subsequent drips.

If you do require continued medication many doctors use a product called "Armour Thyroid" which is more natural than "Synthroid." I am on "Nature Thyroid" which has less binders than "Armour Thyroid." Your doc really has to have a complete understanding of the endocrine system and the way the body heals--the doc should be able to "think outside the box" as everyone is unique. This may require your doc to change your medication at times, or adjust the dosage. Many orthodox docs absolutely DO NOT GET THIS--are CLUELESS and are too hung up on the blood tests (not knowing or wanting to believe the saliva tests validity, as it's hard for them to change their ways)--and will even go as far as discounting their patients' obvious symptoms. There are also other natural remedies (amino acids, herbs, homeopathics) available for helping thyroid function.

It will be beneficial to have your hormone levels checked every 3-4 months. This will allow enough time for your body to adjust to the levels and to see if they are correct and balanced. As for your "working myself to the bone"--if the glandular system is not performing properly, NO AMOUNT of exercise will correct the problem. This is not to say don't exercise--keep on doing that, but realize that it won't solve the problem AND it is not healthy or normal to have to "work oneself to the bone." Use moderation, or you may deplete yourself (can deplete adrenals over the long run).

NEVER GO OFF OR REDUCE your thyroid medication without consultating with your doctor.

Do stay positive. This problem can be resolved, you can feel much better and will lose the weight--when the proper protocols are found and followed. Your body does know how to heal itself--it's just requires the right guidance.

Also--it's important to understand that healing requires some sacrifice. You may have to change your lifestyle a bit--diet, exercise, etc. Allow patience, perseverence and faith to be your allies. It is well worth the effort.

I've been very successful in bring my thyroid function up via the above solutions. I've been most fortunate in having an excellent practiitoner to guide me. Obviously, the holistic route was my choice. Everyone is different. Choose what is best for you.

Below are listed some sources and where you/your doctor can get saliva and iodine testing kits. Also listed are some good info sites for holistic health.

Good luck, hang in there, and best wishes for excellent health.