Discouraged, but committed

[HappyCat]

Quick update -
The Endo had a cancellation, so my first apointment is today, adn not a day too soon.

After teh doc dropped me back to 0.075 Synthroid, the side-effects seem to be better (with the exception of occasional itching and a very dry scalp). But, I have gained close to 8 lbs in the last 3 -4 days, and have been very good with the diet, water consumption, etc.

I am at my wit's end. We are leaving on our honeymoon tomorrow, and I hope that the endo can at least make me feel like I am going to be heading in the right direction.

[crystal4l]

I feel your frustration! I had Hashimotos, and I had nodules throughout my thryroid. THey removed my thyroid and I am on Armour but can't lose weight! I lost 100lbs on Atkins 5 yrs ago, but after my second child my thyroid went haywire and now I can't lose to save my life.

[HappyCat]

Sorry to take so long for an update - but it was just like others had told me it would be. The endo pretty much made me feel like the weight gain, even with Hashimoto's, is just because I sit around eating bon bons all day. I DON'T and NEVER HAVE. He also condescendingly asked me if I knew how many calories I have to burn to lose one pound. Um, dork, no, but I do know how to use the treadmill, what to avoid and not to overdo it with calories.

He agreed to bump me up to .88 Synthroid, and said that Armour, or adding Cytomel to the Synthroid is not the answer and an outdated method for hypothyroidism.

So, now I am worse off than before. And bummed. Looking for another endo, or at least one that can be more helpful and explain it to me. Honestly, all I know about this disorder is what you all have told me and pointed me to to do research.

Now - yet another issue. Since my husband and I were on our honeymoon last week, and I had this wonderful experience with the endo the day before, I decided to bail out on Atkins for a while. If I could keep gaining weight even though I was following induction to a T for eight months with no loss, I had to wonder if my body is also accumulating the fat in an unhealthy way as well until they get this thyroid issue figured out. I will try to go lo-cal for a while, and continue to try to get motivated to work out more and more. Eventually, I will probably return to a lo-carb diet.

BTW - as a scary side effect - my ankles have puffed up considerably and I am scared I have really screwed up my body from Atkins, introducing Synthroid, or both.

Not fun. I could use a bit of advice or help from anyone else who has been there.

[msm2009]

I know how you feel!

My TSH was only 11 to start with (some people have a TSH of 50 or 100!) but when they put my on synthroid it took at least 8 MONTHS before i started feeling okay. I actually felt WORSE for that 8 months!

It sounds like you might be having an allergy to the synthroid. Ask your doctor if you can try a different kind. Like if you're on Synthroid, ask to try Levothyroxine which is the generic version. I've known people who have found relief from just switching brands.

[ErinB]

I can certainly identify with your misery, HappyCat, but my experience tells me you are on the right track. You made the appointment which got you the diagnosis. You are being treated for the underactive thyroid. Please know, if you are compliant with doctor's orders, once the thyroid meds are leveled, you will feel good and you will be able to lose weight.

I was long time undiagnosed. It took a long time to gradually build up the dosage for my prescribed Levothoid, just another brand for the same medication you were prescribed.

You are receiving correct treatment. It is standard treatment to receive a small beginning dose, another test after a period of time, increased dose if indicated, rinse and repeat until the lab work shows your level is correct. In between it is very typical to feel worse, then a little better, then a new dose, then feel worse, then a little better, then a new dose ... In my case, even after my lab work showed a TSH under 1, it was another year before I felt really good. If you are younger than me and have not gone undiagnosed as long, you may heal more quickly. So, please be encouraged. While it is likely your lack of success with weight loss is very much caused by the underactive thyroid, this is not a life sentence.

My leveling process:
4 May 2006 -Dr. appointment
Edema noted, diurectic prescribed (I still take a small dose and probably will the rest of my life)
Labs done, including TSH

9 May 2006 -diagnosed hypothyroid, TSH 6.4, started Levothroid .05mg
24 June 2006 - started .075mg Levothroid prescription, TSH 3.7
9 Oct 2006 - TSH at 1.9
12 Oct 2006 - Doctor prescribed 100mcg Levothroid
17 Jan 2007 - TSH test came back 1.7
18 Jan 2007 - Started 125mcg Levothroid
1 May 2007 - TSH is 2.7, Dr. prescribed 150 mcg Levothroid
18 July 2007 - TSH is .53

At that point my doctor scheduled the next lab for a year later. It took me most of that year to regain my strength and recover from the multitude of hypo symptoms, perhaps because I was so long undiagnosed. A year later, July 2008, my TSH was around .3 something. Since I was having no hyper symptoms, the doctor left my dose alone. While I had kept myself from gaining during all that time, I had no real success with weight loss.

I did start to get serious about following a low carb plan about mid-June 2008 with some success, but real success didn't occur until I started exercise. It has gone like this:

June 15, 2008 - 269/269/135 (Started reduced carb, no exercise)
July 1, 2008 - 269/259/135
July 17, 2008 - 269/252/135
August 1, 2008 (20) - 269/249/135
September 11, 2008 - 269/241/135
September 22, 2008 - 269/240/135
September 23, 2008 - 269/239/135
September 25, 2008 - 269/238/135
October 14, 2008 - 269/235/135
October 25, 2008 - Into smaller size jeans finally! (20W)
November 21, 2008 - 269/234/135
November 23, 2008 - 269/232/135
November 29, 2008 - 269/231/135
December 6, 2008 - 269/230/135
December 21, 2008 - 269/229/135
January 3, 2009 - 269/227/135
January 10, 2009 - 269/226/135
January 17, 2009 - 269/226/135
January 18, 2009 - 269/226/135
January 25, 2009 - 269/225/135

Interlude where I wasn't really trying.

Bought a HealthRider (still not ready for the gym) and began working out about a half hour a day here.
February 24, 2009 - 269/227/135
February 27, 2009 - 269/225/135
March 1, 2009 - 269/224/135
March 8, 2009 - 269/223/135
March 22, 2009 - 269/222/135
March 28, 2009 - 269/221/135
April 3, 2009 - Smaller size jeans! (18W)
April 4, 2009 - 269/220/135
April 11, 2009 - 269/222/135

[Starting about April 14, 2009, I doubled my exercise time, three days a week include a 20-minute cardio session above 130 bpm, the rest in the 120-129 range. Five days a week, just try to stay in the 120-129 range with, every 10 minutes, a one-minute fast and hard as I can push, anaerobics trying to develop lung capacity. Every day best arms/legs resistance during warmup I can do with the Health Rider. I am 64, so my HR ranges are based on that.]

April 18, 2009 - 269/221/135
April 22, 2009 - 269/219/135 218.8 (New digital scale)
April 23, 2009 - 269/218/135 218.4
April 24, 2009 - 269/217/135 217.2
April 26, 2009 - 269/219/135 219.0
April 27, 2009 - 269/217/135 217.6
April 30, 2009 - 269/216/135 216.4
May 1, 2009 - 269/216/135 216.2
May 2, 2009 - 269/216/135 215.6
May 5, 2009 - 269/215/135 215.4
May 7, 2009 - 269/215/135 214.8
May 9, 2009 - 269/214/135 213.6
May 10, 2009 - 269/213/135 213.2
May 11, 2009 - 269/213/135 213.0

YMMV, of course, I did read posts by others about their experience in treatment for a hypothyroid condition, but I always took my medical advice from my own doctor ... the one who was examining me. I was fortunate to find one who listened to me, one who treated the person, not just the lab results, one I trust. If I did not trust him, I would find another doctor, but I wanted my trusted physician to prescribe for me. Even though there are a lot of really caring people posting on internet boards, I was not confident in taking even well intentioned medical advice from them, but that's just me.

My intention here is to offer you hope. My hope is that your treatment will happen faster than mine did and that you'll feel better/start losing weight more quickly than I did. However it goes, I'm here for you if you need support and I would say to you, "You can do this."

BTW, I eat broccoli, cauliflower and spinach regularly.

[rosewood513]

First of all, the weight didn't seem to bother your new husband, if he loves you just the way you are do not worry for now. Of course you want to look beautiful and feel beautiful, and you will. But from what I am reading you are beautiful, beauty is only skin deep as they say and you sound beautiful from within,
All of these nice gals are telling you right. I am new to thyroid and weight gain. I do know that I just started and I am losing weight, never have able to do that for the past 6 years, luckily I amonly 25 pounds over but hopefully that will change.
As soon as your dose is adjusted you will be fine, the weight will start to fall off.
One word in the doctors defense and believe me I do not like to defend them,

they have to start low dose because it is hormones and they have to buuld up to it, I have worked for doctors for many years and understand. Too much would not be good either, so be patient it is not an over night fix. But do not let it go on too long it is up to you to remind the doctor, hey this is not working, but remember it does take some time for your body to absorb all the hormones and get on track. right now I am on too much hormone and that is just as bad so I have cut my dose and it seems to be fine, you don't want to be given too much either.
Take care it will come, be patient.
Rosemarie

[rosewood513]

Happy cat,
I know exactly how you feel. I losts 6 pounds and felt really great. Then for no apparent reason since I have been doing the same things, I started to gain,not just stay the same, but I am gaining, why?
I weigh 160 and every time I try to go below I start to gain, now I know about my set point but it is possible to lose weight and reset you set point. I did dip below but that is when It started to rise.
How much do we have to take, this is a life sentence, I am not a quitter but I am really close to doiong so.
It's like when you reach the top of that mountain and someone is there right at the top with a bat to beat you down again. I had such high hopes of looking and feeling better this summer and they are all squashed.
I just want to know if there is any hope, should we still try or give up because nothing is going to happen anyway.
I am sorry I am so down today but I feel so beat up.
Thanks for the opportunity to just rant on and on. I just needed some support from those who do understand becuse my friends don't.
I am an, in control, person and having my body take over the control is killing me.
Good health to you all today and always.
Rosemarie

[ErinB]

Originally Posted by rosewood513

I just want to know if there is any hope, should we still try or give up because nothing is going to happen anyway.

Hi, Rosemarie,

I think there is always hope, yes. You just need to find the work-around.

I'm not sure from reading your post, but do you have an underactive thyroid? If so, how is your treatment going? What did your last labs look like and when were they done?

Sometimes there is an issue with a food we're eating, but there are many here who can help discover it with you. Consider posting your typical menus in this forum ---> Review My Menu - Atkins Diet

Sometimes we just need to drink more water or step up the exercise.

Those who have stayed with it have learned an awful lot about themselves and how food/water/exercise affects their bodies. I sure hope you'll stick with it and slay the dragons. I think you can do it.

[ziggy]

i copy pasted this post i made mostly from rosewood513 topic cause i think it will help i also edited some stuff and added new stuff

These vegetables inhibit the thyroid function
Brassica family: Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mustard greens

so dont eat any of thoughs vegetables if you ate large amounts of these then that could explain alot of the weight loss problems

cardio like exercise does not always burn fat try lifting heavy weights and pushing your muscles to the max that will have better fat loss & muscle gain effects

eating low carbohydrate is the best way to go but not only that look at all these other diseases it prevents

Diabetes - The Cause, Prevention, Treatment and Control of Hypoglycemia and Types 1 & 2 Diabetes.

biblelife link has many other links to all the other dieseases eating low carb helps vs

YouTube - BODY BY SCIENCE 5 (The Science Of Fat Loss -- Part 1)

YouTube - BODY BY SCIENCE 5 (The Science Of Fat Loss -- Part 2)

A clear explanation of why low carb diets work. (article)

and these links more info for helping vs fat loss

also dont eat any sugar alcohals or aspartame they can cause stalls in alot of people or even weight gain

make sure to eat 20 net carbs max but maybe in your case 15

and remmber to eat only medium amounts of protein atleast for now

super high fat , medium protein , super low carb

for example a meal of 6 chicken eggs toss 3 of the egg whites to be on the extra 100% weight loss effect side

normally protein converted glucose causes no blood sugar spikes i think but people with messed up metabolisms or something maybe a problem could happen so untill your metabolism is healed from eating low carb i think you should stay at medium protein

and dont ever eat low protein you need medium protein eating low protein is very dangerous


so ya try maxing cardio at 7 mins and as high resistance as you possibley can do but make sure your body can handle it dont give yourself a heart attack if you think its too hard on your body then take it slow and over the months build up to the highest resistance you can do safely

this will drain the glucose from your muscles

then for weight lifting lift the most heavy weights you can do this will drain the glucose from your muscles

ofcourse learn how to lift the weights properly first cause the last thing you want to do is hurt yourself

so when you do eat the tiny bit of carb glucose (20 net carbs) and protein converted glucose it will go straight to your muscles instead of maybe doing something unwanted like makeing your body store fat