I had a modified neck dissection 15 years ago due to thtroid cancer and take 200mg of generic synthroid, I have gained alot of weight (50lbs.) alot in my middle, disgusting, I look like I'm 8 months pregnant. My arms are huge, etc. No matter what I do I can't get the weight off and lately seem to be gaining it by the day. I cannot go without my synthroid due to not having a thyroid. please someone help me! Jeanne
SO glad to read this. I started more than 5 years ago saying "I think something is systemically wrong..." Then, more than 2 years ago, I went to my doc and said "could I be hypothyroid?" He asked if I had gained weight (I'm 53, 5'10" and 147-150, in 14 years as my doc, he's never seen me vary by more than 5 lbs!) When I said "no" he said couldn't by hypothyroid. Suggested same to the ob/gyn I've had since I was 24....asked same question, no, couldn't be hypothyroid. I had EVERY symptom, am menopausal (so it's classic) had terrible "brain fog," would pull car into drive way and basically pass out, just doze off, though not tired during the day. Did blood test (but not the more complex one that they suggest you do). Yep, I was hypo -- but just borderline. Funny thing was, I weighed 143 -- THINNER than I'd been in 10 years, for no apparent reason. So the opposite of what is supposed to happen with hypO thyroid. So, I go on lowest dose of thyroid meds. Like so many here, I look like I'm 5 months pregnant (bloated looking -- NEVER had a belly in my life, never been prgnant). And I've totally lost my waist. I'd just say I'm "middle aged" - but I eat very well, almost a vegetarian, run, exercise, always had a high metabolism, been tall and thin. I live in San Francisco and we have many practitioners of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) who work with herbs, acupuncture, etc. I went to a lovely young woman (from Hong Kong, undergrad in maths from Harvard, was in IT for years, but alwyas wanted to be a "healer.") I said I didn' tlike the idea of being on pills the rest of my life, as eerything I read said I would need to be. She asked to see my bloodtests, said that I was borderline and she thought we could fix it. She said to be sure to be in bed by 11 p.m. -- that the body recharges its adrenal system between 11-1 a.m. Said to STOP drinking fluoridated water. Eat seaweed. And buy sea salt and use that -- table salt has iodine added into it -- sea salt has all the trace minerals and there is thought that they interact in important ways. I had been trying to be very healthy and almost never ate salt and ate lots of cruciferous vegetables (spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts). I have since read that those vegetables an SUPPRESS thyroid function, so only eat them three times a week, max. Also, by not eating salt, I wasn't getting iodine! I've started -- but I've continued to take the thyroid. But I'm thinking this is a waste of tie -- i still have the "brain fog" -- and now I'm bloating, too. I was unemployed and had to go to a medical clinic that participates in our city medical insurance program -- been in S.F. for 40 years now. But everyone talks about how thyroid needs to monitored so carefully to ensure you 're getting the right dose -- yeah, right. This stuff, from what I've read, is a highly specialized field...and most docs just throw some tabs at you and that's it.
I see "guest" says she's gained weight on her arms. I have gained it on my BACK -- I NEVER, EVER had "muffin top" when I wear jeans, etc...and now my BACK is loose and flabby. And my arms have always been toned -- when I walk, I wave them around the whole time (I don't like the "bulked up" look I get from lifting weights and just making motions like I'm swimming or serving volleyball while I walk keeps them nicely toned). Suddenly they're "loose" and they aren't "responding" as usual. I keep saying "well, yo're 53 now...so, you know..." Except that, every time I've ever said that to myself, I've found later that it was something else, and that just cutting out carbs and doing more exercise gets me back to normal in -- literally -- 2 or 3 days. So -- no. this is NOT normal for me!
I'm a 48 yr. old male and was told my thyroid was low, I was given 50 mcg of synthroid a day . My weight hasn't gone up, but it sure hasn't dropped either. I've been dieting and exercising harder than ever and it seems I'm at a stand still. Very frustrated!
My heart goes out to all of you1 Hi my name is Maria and I too take synthroid, sounds like a bad AA meeting! I have been on it for the last 8 years due to cancer. I have no thyroid left so I'm totally depended on this med., I am a fitness professional so I know all about the I was really thin to OMG all I do is fight belly fat - I never gained weight there! My advice to everyone is not one your going to like... unfortunately you will have to drastically cut kcal. around 850 to 1000 and train 2x a day. For all the ladies WEIGHT train, cardio is great and it will help you stay thin but weight training will change your body and the muscle that you will put on will help you burn fat faster. The funny thing is I go on these sites ever so often to make sure I'm not just making excuses for my fluctuation in weight. I will tell you all this, I may not be a size 4 anymore but I am fit ! I jump from a 6 to a 7 in size and I fight to stay there but at some point you have to ask your self, Am I healthy not why am I not skinny. This disease leaves us feeling weak, fat, angry and defeated try to find a happy medium that you can live with forget the old you reinvent a new you a healthy, fit you please don't starve yourself or go on these fad diets they don't work! find foods that work for your body and an fitness regiment that you can get through without quitting. For me running, spinning and kettle bell training keeps me in a comfortable range. Good Luck there is hope!
I had a total thyroidectomy due to cancer back in February and have gained 5 pounds! I'm 40 years old but have been working out HARD everyday since I was 18 so I completely blame it on the Synthroid. Doctor's are full of it when they say it's not the meds. Synthroid is a synthetic and doesn't give the body what it needs to run properly. I finally got into a doctor tomorrow who is willing to give Natural-Throid so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works. Get off the junk. It's your body and deman natural!
I had radiation oct 10 for hyperthyroids and placed on synthroid. I am almost 40, have gained 55lbs, as well as everyone else, my doctor swears its not synthroid. At first my energy level was high, I wasnt so tird and weak. Now I have all the symtoms as before synthroid. I no longer have an active thyrois due to radiation. So, does anyone know of any other medicines I could try to get on that may help this unwanted situation? I wish I would of stayed with a hyperthyroid now. I look 7-8 months pregnant!!!!!!!!! HELP IF YOU CAN. Thank you all for shareing your stories, I needed to know I was not alone onthis one.
I am and 18 year old model, and have been on synthroid 125 msg for 3 years now. Since being on it, i have now stopped modelling due to this medication! The weight is all in my stomach, and i dont know what to do? My doctor says it has nothing to do with synthroid, but clearly it does! Glad i found this site!
Hi I just started taking synthroid this month. I found out I am pregnant and the dr found that I have a thyroid problem on top of the pregnancy. My sister in law has been on synthroid for years. After having her son she has had problems loosing the weight also. There must be a serious problem with the synthroid if it is causing so many people to gain weight. I will ask my dr abut this at my next appointment. Good luck to all that are having issues witht the synthroid.
I have the exact same issues as all of you. I was put on Levothyroxine 25 mg two months ago. I have gained 8 lbs and am very bloated. I have puffiness in my face, hands and ankles also. I was really depressed and that has been a little better, but the weight is making me depressed too. I had lost 25 lbs before that. I noticed I stopped losing and started gaining. I am very active and diet also. I hate this. I am going to ask my doctor if there is another pill I can take.
I had my thyroid removed 7 years ago due to cancer. I have been on various levels of synthroid since. My hairs has thinned extremely and I have been continuing to gain weight excessively. I turned 36 last year and have since gained 18 pounds. I am 5'3 and like you never had problems until of course had my thyroid removed. I have never felt "normal" since. I'm still tired, cranky, and have become increasingly more depressed. I am going to be calling my doctor on Monday and asking to be switched to Armour. I'm so glad I have someone who relates. Talking about this with others they just don't seem to understand. They keep telling to work out more and eat healthier... I do eat healthy and have always been active. The last year my energy has been so low I feel exhausted after working out.
Just hopping you could get us a feedback on your Natural-Throid. Thanks.
I'd sure like to know more about this -
thanks Nanci
thanks Nanci
I have Hashimoto's and my doctor put me on .50mg of Synthroid. I am 5'10" and before this all started I was always around 140lb. I gained 10lb over the years, went to different doctors and they all told me I was fine. When I finally found a doctor who ordered more than the standard TSH test and put me on Synthroid I was really hoping I would start to feel better. I hate being tired and forgetting things all the time (weight gain not great as well). After she started me on Synthroid, it took like 10 days and the scale went up by 8lb like overnight. When I talked to my doctor she just told me that my TSH was improving and that I should stay on synthroid. She also told me that Synthroid never causes weight gain (what a joke since when you go the synthroid page the safety facts mention weight gain as a possible side effect) and that I should just keep taking it. Nothing changed, I still feel lousy and the weight gain is becoming a real problem. I have been doing 2 to 4 hour workouts per DAY!!! for several weeks now. It has slowed down the weight gain but the scale is still going up. I know I shouldn't make the decision to stop taking synthroid without talking to my doctor but since she is ignoring my complaints and is unwilling to talk about other medications or run some more tests I will just stop until I find a doctor that is more knowledgeable when it comes to Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. Stopping synthroid (ran out of prescription and couldn't get it refilled for a week) has helped me drop weight before. I know it sounds craze since Synthroid is supposed to help people and make it easier for them to lose weight (given they eat a healthy diet and exercise), but it hasn't helped me. I am still tired, I still have memory problems and I still can't lose weight even though I eat healthy and exercise. I hope you can find someone who listens and can help you. I am looking for that doctor myself.
Hi there. I have been reading all of these posts and I feel like I am in the same situation. My thyroid stopped working in 1996 while I was in 6th grade. I have been on thyroid medication since (16 years). My dose started out at 25 mcg and now I have been taking 200 mcg for the past 5 years. I can not seem to lose weight, even though I exercise and eat healthy. I have 3 children (my youngest is 2) and I still look like I'm pregnant. I am always tired and hungry (its a struggle not to eat 24 hours a day) and I weigh more now than when I was pregnant. I am 29, 5'5" and 230 pounds!!! My weight has been steadily climbing no matter what I do. My doctor had me see a nutritionist and she couldn't figure out why I weigh what I do. She didn't see anything wrong with my eating habits or activity. I am tired of fighting this problem all of the time and getting looks from people like i do nothing but sit on my butt and eat. I am tired all of the time and my husband is starting to worry that I am getting depressed. I am at a loss of what to do. My stomach is so bloated and it sometimes hurts because its so distended. None of my clothes fit and I just get more upset when I have to go buy a bigger size when I should be getting smaller sizes. I go to the gym at least 4 times a week and don't eat junk food. I don't even overeat. After reading these posts I at least feel a little better, that maybe its not me but the medication that is making my life miserable. I've been on this medication for so long that if I miss a single dose I have massave headaches and have no energy whatsoever. I would like to try taking the natural or herbal treatments but I'm scared that I will start having the hypo symptoms again (and that was miserable). I don't know what to do and my doctor hasn't been helpful with my concerns. She only suggests upping the dosage, but its already dangerously high. If anyone can help please let me know, I'm open to suggestions.