Weight gain prevention just after total thyroidectomy?

I am scheduled for a total thyroidectomy due to cancer in less than a month. I was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency earlier this year and I am currently on a low dose of hydrocortisone daily. I already have problems with weight gain due to the low thyroid function. A future of relying completely on an endocrinologist to balance my hormones is FRIGHTENING.

I have seen 4 different endos in 4 years and none of them diagnosed the thyroid problem, or the adrenal problem - or even the thyroid cancer... they were all diagnosed at the urging of an internist that I see for another health issue and my own investigation of my symptoms on the internet. I had to lobby constantly to get the testing that I needed. The current level of endocrinology "expertise" that I have found in the so called experts that I've met is very disheartening.

I am very worried about my future after the throidectomy. Symptoms of hypothyroid are already awful to live with (weight, fatigue, low mood, poor memory, hair loss, and so many more). When they overlap with adrenal problems it just makes life that much more challenging. If it gets worse, I don't know how I am going to face it.

"Austex" , you mentioned the connection between adrenals and thyroid. Since I am being treated for both I found your post most interesting. I understand why the moderator deleted the link - but could you give me some hints as to where to look for more information.

Thin, healthy, energetic people just can't understand. Ignorance really is bliss.

Hi EndoIsaNightmare,
I'm so thankful that you are finally getting with a medico that is helping you! Sometimes the journey is really, really long and hard, huh! I'm really glad I found this site, and yes, I understand about the moderator deleting webpages references. I just didn't think about it at the time. I found some other helpful info by googling STOP THE THYROID MADNESS and then looking for stuff about THOSE DURN ADRENALS. I had another TIA two days ago, so now I'm looking into whether there's some connection with thyroid/adrenals/stroke. Life is such a mystery, isn't it? Good luck with your research!
Cheers

I had a total thyroid removal 3 years ago, and not only did I NOT lose the nearly 100lbs I gained while suffering from severe hypothyroidism, I have actually gained more. My Dr. assures me my synthroid dose is correct, but nothing seems to be working right. I am tired all the time, hungry constantly, moody and depressed. At times this awful weight gain issue leaves me nearly suicidal.
Before the thyroid issues started I was average weight and activity. Now I am morbidly obese and miserable. Can I have my life back....

I've noticed that most of you have mentioned taking Synthroid, or similar. Have any of you taken natural thyroid replacements, like Westhroid, which replaces T3 and T4 naturally...instead of the synthetic? I am 53...am having a complete thyroidectomy in 2 days, and have been encouraged by another doctor to try the natural hormone first.

Good luck. I had a thyroidectomy in June and have put on 50 lbs. I also crave chocolate constantly. 50 lbs isn't so obviously on my as I am almost 5'10 but my weight seems to go up and down. I have clothes ranging from size 8 to size 20. Size 8 is out of the question now, but I am keeping my clothes just in case i find something that works. When I get a chocolate craving, instead of eating hot fudge, Im going to drink a slim fast. I don't get a lot of exercise as I do have 3 types of cancer and do not get around very well. I have worked myself down from a 20 to a size 12-14.

:'( i feel so alone.11 months ago after thyroid storm (due to over active thyroid and graves disease)i was admitted to hospital where is was discovered i also had addisons disease....there fore I take hydrocotazone ...8 weeks ago i had a full thyroidectomy.. and am now take 150micro gramns of levothroxin a day. for the first 2 weeks i felt wonderfull but since then found my self slowing down , i get aching legs and back, my feet cramp and the ocassional cramp in my hands. i am still shaking even tho not as severe as i used too.but people still notice my head shaking. (very embarressing) my skin is very dry. and my hair is thinning badly.it is an effort for me to walk to the shops with out stopping 4 or 5 times to reliieve my back pain. i have gain 16 lbs in the last 8 weeks now. i feel terrible....my specialist took a blood sample from me three weeks ago to see if my thyroxin needed to be increased..........after several phone calls i still havent had a reply.infact im sat waiting by the phone as i write this. i am having mood swings again. so my family keep telling me. which only adds to my frustration..........i feel so alone. i am angry due to the fact i went to the docs 15 yrs ago about my head shaking and was fobbed off numourus times over years trying to find what was wrong with me. sorry for venting this on you guys...........all i want is to feel like a 50 yrs old and not a 90 yr old. xxxxxxx

Guest wrote:

Guest wrote:

Okay, everyone needs to just take a chill pill. I had a total thyroidectomy 8 months ago, and actually have lost 22pounds. Granted most of that weight was from steroids I was on prior to surgery. Anyway, you need to quite panicing. If you stay active and eat right, you have nothing to worry about. You should also monitor your 3rd generation TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 on a regular basis, usually every 3months until your levels are stable. I have been on the same dose of Synthroid since surgery, and feel better now than I did before surgery. The people who gain the weight fail to tell you the whole story of their weight gain. Theoir diets are probally horrible, and they probally are not active like they should be. Yes, post thyroidectomy you have a greater chance of gaining weight, but stay on top of everything and you will do g=fine.

First off.. I had a total thyroidectomy in august of 07 and have been exercising fiercely, have cut out all snacks, and am taking my meds faithfully. I am happy all is well for you however.. don't assume since others are not as fortunate that we are "not telling the entire story". Its been 2 yrs and they are still trying to find the "magic level" for my synthroid. I am hoping once they do that my weight gain will stop and reverse. It has been a rough time just getting the synthroid levels right, let alone trying to function (and I am a very active person) I have managed to slow the weight gain but not stop it. Honestly.. people don't need your condescending remarks as they are already feeling down.

first off again. thanks for the condescending remarks made me feel a whole lot better i take steriods permantly and find it very difficult to loose weight.

Gwen1234, I wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I have had Addison's Disease for over 25 years and have just had a total thyroidectomy because of papillary cancer two weeks ago. I am still in the recovery stage from the surgery and have just begun to have some symptoms. My RAI is not yet scheduled but my endocrinologist has already begun the synthroid. I will have the thyrogen injections the two days prior to the RAI.
I have managed my Addison's well in the past and have had few health problems until now. It will be interesting to see how my body responds to being without adrenal glands as well as thyroid glands.
I cannot even imagine what you are experiencing with your thyroidectomy and Addison's diagnosis so closely together. Hopefully you are feeling better since your reply.

:)







Hi.. I had a thyroidectomy about 7 yrs ago. I am on Synthroid 200mcg and I am continually gaining weight!

I am 52 years old. I weigh more now than I did 12yrs ago giving birth to my 9.5 lb boy~!! I watch everything and still seem to gain...

help! I need a good diet plan!

I had a total thyroidectomy on 30 December 2009, at first my weight stayed good I had only gained 5 pounds by March. Since my weight was down to 97 pounds and I am 5'2 this was ok. But now its mid June and my weight has gone up another 14 pounds very quickly. I am not a junk food or pop type person and I work 2 jobs so I am active. I told the doctor when I was there in March that I felt I was starting to gain weight quickly even though I was excersing every day, she told me my levels were fine. I am a petite person normally so all this weight is very worrisome. I understand gaining some weight as I had Graves disease which made my metabolism go wild but I do not want to be overweight either. I have even noticed that I am losing hair again which is what happened when I had Graves, I can't seem to win either way.

I had my thryoid removed 12 years ago, I have gained weight and had some difficulties with calcium assimilation.
The calcium is a big problem and rather than going in the bone - I have had calcium tendonitits (ouch!)
So getting the calicium in the bone is tricky, the doctor has prescribed a high dose of Vitamin D for me.
Get your TSH- T3T4 and calcium checked a couple times EACH YEAR! HAVING THE RIGHT DOSE OF HORMONE IS ESSENTIAL!
It is an uphill battle - I think it is important to eat good foods (salads after 12pm) and you have to learn to
adjust and learn to like yourself -- even your new self. Anything is better than hyperthroidism, even being fluffy. 8-|

The key to this problem - is just do your best to adjust to yourself as you grow older - lets face it, we change.

Hi everybody, I had a thyroidectomy ten years ago, and I have gained forty pounds. Even after my kiddies I didn't retain the weight. I had no issues with weight gain my whole life - until I had my thyroid removed. I had trouble getting my levels right through meds, but even afterwards it didn't matter. I believe the cause is mainly no energy. I cannot shake the fatigue, regardless of what I do.

I had my total thyroidectomy a year ago next week. I suffered with a severe case of Graves disease and ended up in hospital because of heart problems numerous times. I lost so much weight that people asked if I was anorexic, weight was around 97 pounds when I entered hospital. The first 5 months i only noticed a small weight gain and it was a healthy gain of 10 pounds, so everything was good. I work 2 jobs, do not drink any kind of soda very rarely eat junk food, I work 7 days a week so excercise isn't on the agenda but have two physically demanding jobs. All of a sudden between May and November I added another 23 pounds on my body and I have no idea why. I also became tired, suffer with headaches constantly, ill with colds and flu and my throat gets sore easily. I was on 150 mg of Thyroxine and had my blood tested last week and the levels were not correct so the doctor has given me a higher dosage 175 mg in 6 weeks i have to have another blood test done and see if my levels will be better. I do not understand how people who were hypothyroid in the first place and had a thyroid removed can lose weight yet for those of us who were hyperthyroid gain enormous amounts of weight. I am 5'2 and my normal weight has always been between 110 -120 now its up to 133, I actually have a fat and skinny closet lol.

I am so sympathetic with all these posts! I had a total thyroidectomy in 2008 and I weighed 115 to 120 lbs. It's now 2011 and I'm almost 160lbs! It's very frustrating for me because I've seen two different Drs for my weight gain,fatigue,being cold all the time and getting cold chills while it's 100 degrees outside and all I get is well, nothing. I eat less than I used to, I run around at my job and that's six days a week, my digestive systems all messed up and the Drs always tell me they have me on the right dosage of meds. These Drs won't put me back on cytomel they say it's to keep the cancer from recurring but honestly I felt a lot better on it and wasn't gaining weight. I started gaining the weight in 09 after I began the radiation treatments and the thyroxine. But their answers always the same they must know what's best while I have to keep buying new clothes all the time to keep up with the weight gain. Clothes shopping is horrific for me when it used to be a joy I usually end up in tears after ward with no clothes at all to show for the shopping I've done. Some one must know something that will help us??? Frustrated in Texas.

I can relate with what you are saying, I have had weight gain after my 1998 total surgical thyroidectom. If I were you -- I would have my thyroid levels checked. I say that because of your symptoms and your body mass has increased. Ask for blood tests for T-3, T-4, TSH and calicum. My doctor keeps my TSH blood level about .10

Try not to let the weight change or alter your mood or opinion of yourself. I try  to eat right and diet - but if the TSH levels are off I gain weight quickly.

 Also - if you have kids, have their levels checked. I noticed the all too familar sign of HYPER-thyroidism graves (overactive) in my 28 year son and I was correct, his numbers were way off and he had RAD (radio-active iodine treatment) in July 2010 to treat his overactive thyroid. Now he takes thryoid hormone medication (his Dr. first adjusted his dose using his weight/height body mass) then later checked his TSH to verify if the dose was correct.

ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT INFO: TAKE MED IN MORNING BEFORE MEALS - I TAKE WITH FULL GLASS WATER. WAIT TO TAKE ANY VITAMINS OR CALCIUM FOR 3 HOURS.  ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use