If you only have 20 lbs to lose, I'd say you're doing quite well. I have 150 lbs to lose, have been working my BUTT off since October, and have lost a whopping 20 lbs. I am currently unemployed, so I can spend a lot of time exercising where I normally wouldn't be able to. I've never spent less than an hour a day in the gym (and am dripping wet with sweat when done) - There are days I've spent more than 3 hours in the gym - I'm ready to just give up....

starbux and wheelsprings, hang in there! It's frustrating! I have been working out 5 days a week, 90 minute sweat grueling sessions along with impromptu bike rides, plus walking my dogs regularly... in three months, I lost 4 pounds. I religiously tracked my calories and stayed between 1400 and 1500 calories.

I've been told that for best results, eat a low carb diet; drink plenty of water even when you are not thirsty; do extra strength training to build more muscle; and break up your routine (even have two routines a day, one morning, one evening). Also, drop calories down to 1200 one or two days a week.

Easier said than done.

I hurt my leg and couldn't work out for a couple weeks, and instantly gained back the 4 pounds I'd lost. But giving up is not an option. Persevere, sooner or later you will find the right mix - but accept that it is going to be very slow going.

HG...definitely sounds like you might have an issue with the thyroid. Since most informed Endos say that a TSH of above 1.5 in a woman is bad, it looks like you were well on your way, years ago.



The only issue I have with this view (the "the pharmaceuticals and doctors just want to push more and more drugs" view) is that the studies that have changed the ranges weren't done by Rx companies. And on top of that, the Rx companies and the doctors are fighting tooth and nail to keep the old ranges, not the new (lower) ones. If you feel like complete crap, and all your symptoms line up with thyroid disease, but your numbers aren't high enough, you can't get on meds with about 80% of the doctors out there. They actually make more money on you if they don't treat your thyroid....."what do you mean?" you ask! Well let's think about it. Thyroid medication is relatively cheap. Once you are on the right dose, especially if you take natural thyroid like I do, you're looking at about a $15 per month out of pocket. Which means that they are barely making anything off of me. But if I am not on thyroid meds and I do have a thyroid problem, I am likely to be depressed, so they put me on an anti-depressant (I was on these from about age 21 to age 29). Some of these cost in the hundreds per month range, and they'll always push the ones that there isn't a generic for. Also, your cholesterol is likely to be very high (another common symptom), so they can put you on a statin or other cholesterol medication, which can be in the many hundreds per month range. And here's a real kicker. If these are women, and they are trying to get pregnant, and they have to go for fertility treatment, we start dealing with possible thousands per month. And since there are dozens of other issues with the thyroid that they can give you treatments for, etc, the thyroid pill is the least of anyone's worries where money is concerned. Thyroid hormone is necessary for every single cell in your entire body. Without it, you will die a long, slow, painful death. And while you are doing it, doctors will put you on every single cover up drug they can try and cost you a lot of money.

The first doctor I went to last January (2008) put me on Anti-depressants (like all the doctors before him), which I was on for 11 months, $50 per month. $550 for just close to a year. Now I am on thyroid pills with a new doctor. Those cost anywhere from $5 - $15 as I moved up in dose. So they have cost me approximately $75 for 6 months. If I stay on this dose for a whole year, they will cost $180, versus the $600 for the antidepressants. And I have an HSA now, which I didn't have when I was on the $50 anti-D's. So that $15 is without insurance....my anti-d's would have been over $100 per month without the insurance....easily.

If you need thyroid treatment, you need to get it. If you aren't sure, but you think you might need it, you need to fight hard to find someone who will take your concerns seriously. It will cost you much, much more (not including your health, which is priceless) to not get treatment.

It finally happened tomorrow is the big day, I start on the Armour.

Just curious approximately how long before you start to notice positive improvements in your health? When did you see a difference?

Also has anyone had any negative reactions to it?

I thought I was doing better, had the blood work done last weekend and then today I had a fatigue crash as I call it stayed in bed most of the day.
tqo

fairynanook
I really like you previous post.
People need to realize that they themselves need to be informed and that doctors are not god and do not know everything.

TQO,

It took me about 1 week to start feeling better. I'll explain. When I first went in, I was started on a half grain. I went to the doctor 1 week later, and since I wasn't noticing a difference, went ahead and upped my dose to 1 grain. I was on that for 1 month, and was upped to 2 grains. 1 month up to 3 grains. 2 months and up to 4 grains. I am at that dose currently. Everywhere I have read, really recommends upping by a half a grain every 2 weeks until you get to 3 grains. You don't want to start out faster than that, becuase it can cause some side effects of hyperthyroid, and isn't good for your body. But you should go much slower than that (unless you body reacts badly), because you will fall back into hypo whenever your body gets used to that dose, unless it is the correct dose for you. After 2 weeks on 1 grain, 2 grains, and 3 grains, my body fell back into hypo mode, so where I had been feeling a lot better, I stopped and started feeling really bad again. So you just want to make sure that your doctor is going to up you if you start feeling like that. I'm still not at my 100% dose, but I am doing a lot better. Unfortunately, my doctor is really starting to upset me and I am at a point of not knowing what to do. But that's another story.

I have been on the medicine for 6 months now, and I am feeling probably 80% better than I did when I started. I've lost 16 pounds, but I am holding there for right now. But I don't think I am on my optimal dose at the moment either. I am debating starting to take an iodine supplement as that can really help, supposedly. We'll see.

As far as negative reactions, the only thing I've noticed is that I have a skin rash that hasn't gone away since around the time I started taking these. My doctor had me on these Amino Acid supplements and I thought that it was those that were causing the issue, but due to some circumstances, I stopped taking them about 2 weeks ago, and I still have he rash, so I am starting to wonder if it is the Armour causing it in me. It doesn't itch, it is just there on both of my arms. But that could easily be some kind of allergy. So who knows?

Glad you are going to start. Hope that you start feeling tons better!

Fairy

You might want to get your B12 and magnesium level check, as you age you're ability to absorb these may changed. They can decrease your medicine's ability to work at its peak level. Research foods that aid your body's use of thyroid, and use foods that maintain blood sugar levels rather than a series of very high and very low. The diabetic diet is based on this.

Fairynanook,

I was wondering if you or anyone else that has thyroid problems, has had problems with digestion.
I seem to have a real slow emptying of the stomach, it bloats me out like crazy and I can feel everything. As soon as I finish eating I can see the bulk. I dont have nausea or vomit etc.
Once in a while I get reflux, but not enough for that to be a part if it.

Im highly considering going to the endocrinologist (like Jillian says) to get the tests done to see if its that or some other stomach issue.

thanks!

I don't think it has to do with thryoid - more likely your diet. I've noticed that when I eat more protein and less carbohydrates I don't bloat the way I do when I'm eating more carbs. I'm not sure whether it's sugars, white flour or carbs in general that do it. When I did Atkins, I loved the flat stomach I had. (OTOH, the constipation was awful!)

I haven't noticed this problem Mahsee. If you have the other symptoms of thyroid disease, I'd say it is definitely worth seeing an Endo to get tested, but I don't think this is part of it. I'm not really sure what it would be, other than what Ginny has said. Sorry!

Keep in mind that if your thyroid problem is related to an auto-immune disorder, such as Hashimoto's, you may also develop other auto-immune disorders. I also have Celiac Disease, which affects digestion because it damages the villi in your small intestines. The specific treatment for CD is a strict gluten free diet (no wheat, barley, rye or oats). The symptoms of CD mimic other digestive disorders, so it is difficult to diagnose. I have found that many people with CD also have thyroid issues. Also, if you have a sluggish thyroid, this slows down your metabolism. Constipation and bloating can be symptoms of being hypothyroid.

Through all of the testing and treatment, I have had to be my own health advocate and do my own research. My doctor is wonderful, but she only has so many hours in her day.

Marilyn

I, totally understand what you are going through. Twenty six years ago, I had my thyroid removed due to cancer. Unfortunately, the doctors cannot regulate my thyroid levels. I have gained over 100 pounds since my surgery. I lose some then I gain it back and usually plus some. The doctors will raise the synthroid, and then they will lower it. I'm hoping that one of these days, they can get the levels where they need to be, so that I am not always tired, and I can lose weight.

Anyway....Just wanted you to know that I have been there.

*ugh*

imjustak,


Are you only on synthroid for your thyroid regulation? Synthroid is a T4 only drug. Your thyroid is responsible for making T4, T3, T2, T1, and calcitonin. I would think, if you don't have a thyroid anymore, you should be on total replacement, not just T4 replacement. And it sounds to me, like you aren't getting the help you need with your current doctor. Perhaps you should think about getting a second opinion. If you go to realthyroidhelp.com, there are forums where you can talk to people about the help they are getting. You can ask for doctor referrals of doctors who believe in total replacement therapy, not just T4. There are thousands of people out there who, like you, can't seem to get there thyroid regulated under their current doctor. But so many on that site have had success when seeing a doctor recommended on that site, and they are able to live again.

Not trying to pry or be rude. Just wanted to make the suggestion.

Fairy

Last week I went to my endocrinologist, and I had gained back the 9 lbs I had lost previously. Frustrating! I'd been sticking to about 1200 to 1400 calories. Anyway, he suggested I get a heart rate monitor, so we could determine how how much I'm burning and when. So I started wearing this thing this week, and lo and behold, on days I don't exercise I barely burn 900 calories. Plus, if I sit for more than an hour, my heart rate drops to about 50 beats per minute. Not good! However, today I did 15 miles on my bike after work, keeping my rate up over 120 and I've burned over 2200 calories! Wow.... what I've learned is that I cannot afford to not exercise. And, I can gain weight on 1200 calories if I don't exercise often and with intensity.

Wow, Lisa, that stinks. It's amazing how few calories we can burn with this flipping disease. My doctor had people who were eating about 1000 calories a day...very restrictively....and still gaining weight. And that simply isn't healthy at all.

I started putting my weight back on, but my doctor didn't want to up my meds again, so I started on iodine. Since starting it on Monday, I have lost 3 pounds (as of this morning). And I've been able to manage doing some more work and my head has been clearer. I'd recommend talking to your doctor about it...especially if you see a DO or a doctor who is open to supplements and the like.

This last month, I had a horrific cycle...extreme cramps again...horrible. My basal temps were down...in the range of 96.0 to 96.2 as a high. I'm hoping that this will help, because I haven't had the painful cycles since going on my Armour. And I don't care to have to go back to that every month. Ugh!

I had a dr tell me that i could never lose weight because i have hypothyroidisum. Is this true? I do take synthroid daily, and have blood work done every three months. I never had a weight problem untill a dr 15 years ago gave me radiation iodine capsule because i had hyperthyroidisum....

NO it is not true! Can it be hard yes, can it be done yes.
Read and read some more about it. You have to figure out what is going to work for you.
There is a thread that had been going for awhile about being hypothyroid look for "Hypothyroidism anybody" there is good information there.

I have been hypothyroid since 2000 and overweight. In 2007 I was told I had borderline high-blood sugar, I started making changes in my lifestyle one of which included my diet and exercise. I have lost 70 lbs at this point. Yes it is slow but it is possible. Since starting, my weight has either stayed the same or I have been losing, not gained any of the 70 back and not planning to either.

You can message me if you want.

Take care and good luck,
tqo

navywife, you can still lose. It might be harder than before because your thyroid is a metabolism regulator; it may come off slower than you are used to. But as t_q_o pointed out, you'll need to figure out what is going to work for you. It's still calories in minus calories out... experiment to find out what your "setpoint" is.

Generally, I hear a lower carb, low calorie diet (1000-1400 cal) with consistent cardio workouts (40-60 minutes, 5 days a week) seem to work best.