[SMF11]

So I'm 51 and despite eating a very low carb (& almost no sugar) diet, and despite having 11 horses at home and doing almost all the work myself, I am overweight and can't seem to lose it. (I need to lose 30 lb).

My doctor did bloodwork and found all the tests (forgive me, they are not in front of me) were on the low side of normal (so, if the normal range is 0.8 - 3.0, my level was 0.8). I'm having another round of bloodwork done and will get the results later this week.

But, at what point would medication be considered? What are the pros and cons of thyroid medication? I kind of think I need thyro-l like one of my horses!

[KateKat]

Are you eating enough? Do you have enough fat in your diet? You sound like a very active person so I would first make sure you are getting enough calories to support your level of activity. Do you have any other issues besides not being able to lose weight?

[SMF11]

Are you eating enough?

(what you would do if you saw me!)

Yes, I definitely eat enough -- I need to cut down portion sizes. Also, I eat a very high fat diet. (good fats -- lots of olive oil). My cholesterol level and other bloodwork is all in the normal range. (My cholesterol went down 45 points when I gave up gluten and ate more fat -- it is now 170).

I do have a few other symptoms . . . tiredness (but I could just be tired!), plus I have an autoimmune condition that correlates with thyroid problems.

[rideagoldenpony]

I highly recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Well-Hy...ds=mary+shomon and also her e-mail newsletter and Facebook page.

Check out the articles at: http://www.holtorfmed.com (there are some AWESOME articles there)

I recently came across this (probably from one of the above sources) blog post listing 300 symptoms of hypothyroidism: http://hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypoth...ms-yes-really/

AND..... most importantly, the "standard" bloodwork can come back OK, but you really can have a thyroid issue anyway. The trouble is that regular doctors don't know what to do with you, and you really will have to find your way to a specialist.

[Plumcreek]

You can always try going on Synthroid or the generic as a test. I have heard that even low numbers in the range can make you feel crummy. I had to have my thyroid cut out, and now that I am on Synthroid, I definately am maintaining with less body fat (never much, but now almost none). I had all the classic symptoms with tiredness foremost, but thought I was just lazy. My vision even got much better. When starting Synthroid, you will have maybe up to a month of extreme high energy until your body resets - one potential business contact thought I was a bit hyper.

Re eating: I have noticed that many friends with a moderate weight problem eat very fast. My good friend often ends holiday dinners feeling really uncomfortable, because many forks of food follow the one that will make her feel full, before that food gets to her stomach to send the full signal.

[Melelio]

0.8 is pretty low. That's about where I feel my best (I usually test out around 4-5 if I haven't been taking Armour for awhile).

Try making sure ALL WHEAT is out of your carb load...see how you feel in 2 weeks. yep, ALL....

[ThoroughbredFancy]

All wheat out. Meats, vegetables, and some fruits. High protein and fat. I have a hard time losing weight but if I follow a diet that is Paleo or very close I drop it fairly easily...if I stick to it.

[LauraKY]

You've had Lyme which can cause autoimmune thyroid problems. Make sure you get the entire thyroid panel and autoimmune testing. Been there, done that, own the t-shirt.

[SMF11]

All wheat out. Meats, vegetables, and some fruits. High protein and fat. I have a hard time losing weight but if I follow a diet that is Paleo or very close I drop it fairly easily...if I stick to it.

Yeah, this is why I'm thinking there might be a thyroid issue -- I do all this already. I've been strictly gluten-free for a year and a half now.

Thanks, LauraKY, I'll focus on the Lyme/autoimmune aspect.

If I'm borderline, is there a downside to taking synthroid?

[LauraKY]

If you take in more thyroid supplement than you need it can cause bone loss.

[grayarabpony]

If I'm borderline, is there a downside to taking synthroid?

http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroidd...rmedicated.htm

The very last thing on the page and well worth reading:

"If you have Hashimoto's Disease, you may be in a period of fluctuation where the thyroid is overfunctioning and the thyroid's own hormone production, when added to your thyroid hormone replacement, is temporarily causing hyperthyroidism."

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyr...ashivshypo.htm

"Hashimoto's typically involves a slow but steady destruction of the gland that eventually results in the thyroid's inability to produce sufficient thyroid hormone -- the condition known as hypothyroidism. Along the way, however, there can be periods where the thyroid sputters back to life, even causing temporary hyperthyroidism, then a return to hypothyroidism. This cycling back and forth between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism is characteristic of Hashimoto's disease."

In general, it's not a good idea to take thyroid supplementation unless TSH is high and T4 is low, regardless of antibody status. My hypothyroidism was diagnosed 20-some years ago from a few symptoms (periods stopped, heart rate in the 40s- low 50s) and a TSH of 6.

If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism it's a good idea to get adrenal function checked too.

[dappled]

I have a small cyst in my thyroid that I have to get an ultrasound on every 6 months to check for changes or growth. However, the last time I had blood work done to check my thyroid levels, they were normal.

I think minor thyroid issues are actually very common and usually nothing to be alarmed about.

[DesignerLabel]

Definitely see an endocrinologist. My doctor told me that even the "normal" range is not normal for some people, and you can benefit from thyroid supplementation. Definitely check it out.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

Yeah, this is why I'm thinking there might be a thyroid issue -- I do all this already. I've been strictly gluten-free for a year and a half now.

Thanks, LauraKY, I'll focus on the Lyme/autoimmune aspect.

If I'm borderline, is there a downside to taking synthroid?

Hm, well then. I would see if you can get in with a specialist such as an endocrinologist that can look into the potential issue further than a GP can. Some of us are also just blessed with slow as molasses in January metabolisms I know how frustrating it can be as I am very strict about my diet and exercise. My blood test results always come back normal, yet I still struggle to lose weight. I hope you find an answer and a remedy.

[RunningwaterWBs]

I recently came across this website, which (very correctly, in my long experience with thyroid issues) warns against the dangers of only relying on a T4 supplement like synthroid rather than trying to replace all of the "little" thyroid hormones -- the ones that regulate weight gain and sleep, for example.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

I've also had excellent results based on Mark Hyman's book, Ultrametabolism, which has an entire chapter on thyroid function and all of the misdiagnosis that currently surrounds it. He details how to eat to combat this.
http://www.amazon.com/Ultrametabolis.../dp/0743272560

[tle]

havne't read all the replies. A family member had Hashimoto's diagnosis a few years ago... on top of symptoms of Chronic Fatigue, Rheumatoid Arthritis, mood swings, social anxiety, and yes weight gain. She radically changed her diet and found that ALL of her symptoms and issues disappeared with no medication! There are a lot of diseases and disorders that can/are linked to diet that no one really thinks of. You can take a look at the records she kept with pictures from month to month (ish) at http://windraven.smugmug.com/Other/J...1651983_vQZqdS