Discouraged, but committed

[HappyCat]

Hi all.

I have posted a couple of times since my husband and I started Atkins on August 20, 2008. I have been SO GOOD with my diet (using Fitday, working out 2-3 times a week, etc...), and yet - my weight is EXACTLY where I started.

I was diagnosed as hypothyroid when I had a physical to start Atkins. I never had a clue that that could be part of the reason I was gaining weight. My TSH level after about 2 months taking Synthroid .025g was at 11.04. After a few more tests and adjustments, I am now taking .075mg, and it has come down to 6.31. I am going to get another test this week, to see if I need further adjustment to the dose (it seems as if I do).

Now, here's the kicker - even though I may have had a creaky thyroid, shouldn't I have been seeing SOME results in my weightloss by now, being that I am keeping to the 20 g (sometimes less, admitteldy) of carbs per day? And I have finally gotten religious about the water and going to the gym at least 2 times a week - trying for 3 - 4.

I know a few people have suggested to others that they jump to the OWL phase when this happens, but that just seems to confuse me how I may need to add carbs to lose.

When I see the numbers and successes posted for others, it both encourages me as well as makes me feel terrible that I am not getting the same results, and I wonder what is wrong with me.

**Honest moment here ** My husband (Tactical Cat) and I just got married on Valenties Day. When I see any of the pictures of that day, I just cry. I am so embarassed that I am this big. And honestly, I am NOT a very vain person. I do love who I am, but this weight gain has changed me into someone I don't recognize, and I have yet to see ONE picture that I feel I didn't look positively ugly in. I so wanted to feel beautiful that day, but instead I secretly wanted everyone to stop looking at me. It was soul crushing. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Please let me know what I need to do if you have any idea. You can't imagine how appreciated it is.

[nancyadams]

Hi. Part of the reason you're not getting the same results is that you are on a lousy thyroid medication. That medication leaves nearly everyone with lingering symptoms of hypothyroid. I am the perfect example. I had a TERRIBLE time losing weight. I finally found the thyroid patient website Stop the Thyroid Madness. Wow. That website taught me why I still had problems on my meds (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothyroxine, etc) and how much better dessicated thyroid is (Armour etc.) It also teaches out about other issues that we with hypo need to correct. Go look at it: Stop the Thyroid Madness - The truth about thyroid and thyroid treatment Because of learning from that website (and the book, which I love) I switched to Armour and I am now able to lose weight, and I feel a heck of a lot better, too. This page is great: Things We Have Learned | Stop The Thyroid Madness

[HappyCat]

Thank you Nancy!

I am not only new to Atkins, but also new to this thyroid thing too. I will definitely read everything at the Stop the Thyroid Madness site today. I can't help but wonder if changing to Armour may FINALLY get my weighloss kicked off.

THANK YOU!!!!

[GCC]

Sorry you are feeling so bad.

You are still very under-medicated! Thats WHY you are not losing wt.!

Optimal TSH is a LOW number, around 1.0
Increasing the Synthoid dose will lower the TSH.

They should increase your Synthoid dose until your TSH is low, around 1.0

After every Synthroid dose increase , you need your test re-done after about 6 weeks (to see if the dose needs to be increased more or not).

Please do NOT settle for a higher TSH level.

Its very important that you have the blood drawn *early morning*.
The TSH test is skewed if they draw the blood later in the day. Don't expect the doctor or the lab people to know this.

Are they testing your FREE T4 & FREE T3?'
They should !!

I would insist that they test both of those too. If it doesn't say the word 'free' then its not the right test.

Optimal for both of the Free T's is the middle to UPPER part of the 'normal range', NOT the lower part. You need to get copies of the lab reports to figure this out.

Even after the TSH is down to around 1.0 the FREE T3 can still be too low (since you are on a T4 only med).

Your body can convert T4 into T3, but you need to have it tested to make sure it is enough.

The mineral selenium in adequate amounts is necessary for the conversion of T4 into T3 (in your body).
So make sure your daily vit contains the mineral selenium.

Always ask for copies of all your lab reports. By law they must give you copies if your request them!

Good luck.

[HappyCat]

Thank you very much for that, GCC! I have scheduled an appt with an endocrinologist (his first available appt is May 1, but still, that's something), and I called my GP to make sure that the scrip he is writing for my bloodwork next week adds the free T-3 and free T-4 testing to it.

I didn't understand any of this until you all directed me in the correct direction! I can't tell you what a difference it has made in the way I feel about WHY I may not be losing weight and why I am feeling like I am constantly going uphill despite really trying hard to follow the plan and get my butt moving. It's the summoning the energy to get to the gym that is the hardest part for me lately, but perhaps this is thyroid-related. Nevertheless, I will go. I am so fortunate that my husband is an awesome motivator as well - always encouraging and supportive and never judgemental. I am a lucky girl!

Are there any additional suggestions on what and how I should proceed with the diet or testing? Do you find that you require more water intake than most to lose? I had read that somewhere, but I have no idea if that is valid or not.

[GCC]

You're welcome.
Make sure the T's are labeled 'free'.
If it doesn't say 'free' then its not the right test.

[Organic-NoSoy-LC4Life]

Happycat,

Oh my goodness yes, a TSH of 6.31 is interfering with your weight loss. For the life of me I don't understand why you are on such a low does of synthroid. That's criminal.
And yes, as the other ladies stated, synthroid is an awful drug that leaves most people drowning in symptoms even after the TSH gets into a "normal" range. Synthroid is a T4 drug, that's it. Armour gives you T4, T3, T2, T1 & Calcitonin, the same as what your thyroid whould produce on it's own if it wasn't having issues.

You should know before you go to that appointment that it is very rare to find an endocrinologist who will treat you correctly for hypothyroid. Do not be surprised if he refuses to prescribe Armour, if he tells you it's not a modern treatment, or even if he refuses to draw your FT3 & FT4 levels. Also please don't be surprised if he is condescending and blames the weight gain on you, not the thyroid problem.

Maybe you'll be lucky, but if you're not, please don't take it personally, and don't let it affect your commitment to a low carb lifestyle, or your desire to switch medications.
You just may need to find a different type of doctor to treat you -- perhaps a D.O. or a N.D.

If you're getting your blood drawn by your GP, you need to get him to run the two auto-immune tests. TPOAB & TgAB. This is in addition to getting your FT3 & FT4 numbers. You need to know if you're hypothyroid or if you have Hashimoto's Thyroidists, the auto-immune form of hypothyroidism. Knowing which kid you have will affect your treament decisions.

When you go get your blood drawn, do not take your synthroid that morning. Take them after your blood draw. This is so you can get a true representation of your numbers.

You also want you family doctor to test your iron levels, specifically your iron storage: the test is called Ferritin. You'd need that test in addition to your TIBC. Other people say you should also get your B12 checked as well. If your numbers for these two tests are low, it can affect how much of the medication actually gets into your cells... how much you can use.

That's a bunch to start with, I know but it's the info you need to truly treat your thyroid. The biggest bit of advice I can give you, and I've been dealign with this for over a decade, is that you MUST take charge of your own healthcare. You can't just sit back and hope that your doctor will fix you. You'll need the same will, grace and strength that you use to stay on Atkins to get yourself adequate care for your thyroid. You have to become your own patient advocate. Stop the Thyroid Maddness is a good place to start that journey.

To sum up:

Thyroid Tests:
TSH
FT3
FT4
TPO AB
TgAB

Other Tests
TIBC
Ferritin
B12

And ALWAYS get a copy of your bloodwork results when you leave your doctor's office. You'll need it when you get people to help you understand your results.

If you want to understand more about the tests in general, try this website.

Sorry this is long, I just get so frustrated and angry when I hear about people who are suffering, because their doctor's don't know how to help.

LC4Life

[HappyCat]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!

It is ONLY because I stumbled onto this forum, and met you wonderful people that I insisted on the lab work you suggested (ALL of it), and my doctor has just now determined that I have Hashimoto's Thyroidists.

I still am not even sure what this means, or how we will proceed (he is starting by bumping me up from .075 to .125 of Synthroid).

I would NOT have known about this, or that it even exists without you all, and I am so sincerely thankful.

Does anyone else have Hashimoto's Thyroidists? If so, how have you dealt with it? Will my weight loss routine have to differ to compensate, other than just sticking to Atkins as I have been doing?

You will never know just what a difference you may have just made in my life. I'd bake you all browinies, except they'd be really gross using pork rinds, cheddar cheese and sour cream.

XOXO
An eternally thankful Laura (aka Happy Cat)

[Organic-NoSoy-LC4Life]

I have it. Hashimoto's is the same as Autoimmune Thyroiditis. It's an auto-immune disease. Autoimmune hypothyroid.

Everything I said in my previous post still applies, even more so now. Go to that website and read everything. Seriously.

Unlike regular hypothyroid, treating Hashi's is more like treating a moving target. Things can change all the time.

I can only tell you my own treatment plan. I refuse to be treated with Synthroid alone. While it did help initially, (I was diagnosed with a TSH around 10, about adecade ago) it didn't remove all my symptoms. I tried a combination of Synthroid & Cytomel, but eventually ended up on Armour Thyroid, which I still take today.

I spent many years rolling my dosage around trying to get a steady TSH. (Which is impossible with Hashimoto's.) Finally I found a doctor that allowed me to experiment with taking enough Armour to override my own thyroid. That works for me.

The advice I give anyone recently diagnosed is to get all the tests done that I mentioned in the last post.

If Ferritin and/or B12 come back low, work to raise them.
If your sodium comes back on the low end, try adding 1 tsp Celtic sea salt to a glass of water and drink it everyday.
When you take your thyroid pills, make sure you're not taking them at the same time you're taking iron or calcium. They should be separated by 2 hours.

If you do switch to Armour, make sure you get your Adrenals tested first. You can read more about that on the STTM website if you go that route.

Personally I feel it is extra important to take supplements when you have Hashi's.
I take a very high quality multi vitamin (w/ no iron) several times a day. I take Iron once a day, CoQ10, GLA, Omega 3's: EPA & DHA, a probiotic and high doses of Vit C. Plus other stuff prescribed to me by a nutritionist. Reading Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution really helped me understand what all the different supplements do.

For me a low-carb lifestyle is the only lifestyle that allows me to lose weight. Follow the book, make the lifestyle change, and it should work, once you're on enough thyroid medication.

Good luck.

[HappyCat]

What an amazing help and mentor you (and the others) have been. I can't thank you enough.

The first thing I am realizing is that with Hashimoto's, I call my doc lately more than my best friends. This is so alien to me, and I am SO over feeling akward calling so much. I am really looking forward to the appointment I have scheduled with the endo.

I have ordered the book, and can't wait to read it. I have just purchased (and perhaps gotten really overcharged - but that is another story) a good multi-vitamin and an additional 250 Selenium. Perhaps I should wait to read the book before messing about with what I take?

Now that I am on .125 Synthroid for the last 2 weeks, I think I might feel worse than before - but that could be an adjustment period, I would suspect. My newest fun side-effect is this rash of small bumps that appears all over my arms, and itches when touched. It came about only a few days after the increase in dosage, and I was told by the doc that it was just some kind of contact thing and nothing to do with the Synthroid. They put me on prednisone for 5 days, gave me a prescription cream, and told me to take antihistimines. About 4 days later, the bumps did go away. Now, last night (two weeks later), they came back in spades - all over my arms. Faboo. I have a call into the doc to find out what the heck is going on. I will NOT take prednisone again - I think that is like trying to kill a mosquito with an atom bomb. But, I need to know if there is a relationship between this rash and the Syntrhoid, or Hashimito's itself.

Additionally, I seem to have abdominal cramps on my lower right side that come and go lately. Mostly, I feel like a slug and am still not losing weight at all.

I have been very good on the diet too. As for the gym - I am so wiped out when I get home from work I am finding it hard to get there.

We're going on our honeymoon next week, and I hate to think that I am going to still feel like I am in this bubble state and not really able to be present and enjoying it all like I normally would. Being in a bubble-like state in St. Maarten is still better than being in a bubble in Connecticut - but you know what I mean.

I am so frustrated!!!!!