Weight gain prevention just after total thyroidectomy?

I had a partial thyroidectomy several years ago. The doctor told me up front to expect some weight gain. Well, he did not tell me 80lbs of weight gain. I take my synthroid every day, 150mcg. I weigh and measure my meals and try to do the best I can. I weigh over 200lbs. I am physically and mentally sick looking at myself and carrying around all this extra weight. The doctor swears I am on the correct dose. I am thankful that I have a supportive husband of 23yrs, who reminds me that this is not my fault. For all those dealing with the same issue. Keep your head up.

@ Guest: ME TOO!!!! If I attempt to exercise, I have the same problem! No one believes me and they think that I am just lazy. My Dcotor once told me that the Replacement Hormones aren't getting to the cellular level.

Dear kcsc98,

I read your mail about your thyroidectamy. I had a partial thyroidectamy in January and the nodule was actually cancer I had a total thy in February. I am going to have radioiodine pills on 2nd of April.
I have a daughter of 10 years. If it is not inconvenient could you please write to me about how you kept safe distance wiyh your family after the teratment. Did you stay in a seperate room? How long did you kept safe distance from your family? If you don't mind could I please ask how you are now. Hove you fully recovered? I hope so.
I am so upset about my condition therefore I thought I would ask form a person who had a simillar experience.
Many thanks,
Muditha

I have graves since I was 44 years old.  I am now 61.  I have been on Methimazole 10 mg for about 16 years, and 5mg since 2 years ago.  I had radioactive iodine in 10/2010, did not work.  My hyperthyroid symptoms was worse than before, then it got better, now I am on 5mg, my TSH is lower than normal, but the T3 and T4 are in normal range.  I feel fine and normal, but my primary and endo think I still should either take another dose of radioactive iodine or total thyroidectomy.  I am worried and not sure if I should have it.  Any advice?

Weight Gain after total thyroidectomy:

I just recently had a total thyroidectomy on March 23,2012 and since then I have lost a total of about 20lbs.I only take 100mcg of levothyroxine a day but also take a all natural vitamin that reduces some of the fat intake and breaks it down.I walk on my treadmill and sometimes walk outside.I was scared because I was reading all these horror stories on here about people gaining weight.I dont eat as much as I used to I get full faster and all I drink is water now.

I had a TT last October. I'm a 36 year old male and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in November. I've gained a total of 4 pounds which I needed anyway. I weigh myself every morning and on most days I stop eating after 6:30 or so. That has been my secret for the past 6 years for controlling my weight and it continues to work well for me. Moderate exercise and a good diet also. I honestly believe walking is everyday is one of the best thins you can do (10,000) steps per day to be exact. I'm on 175 mcg of levothyroxine and for the first time I feel very tired and run down. They just increased my dose three weeks ago and its been a rough few weeks. Can anyone chine in in what else to expect on the ride up to the correct dosage? Thanks so much

I agree with this - I too had a total thyroidectomy in August 2011. 8 months later i'm 15 lbs heavier. This has been a battle. The weight creeps on. I know i should be eating more than i am, i am now exercising, but no matter what i do i gain weight. Slowly but surely. Prior to the surgery i had a hard time keeping my weight at 125 lbs. Putting on weight was difficult. I'm 50 and think this will continue to be an up-hill battle.

i never had a thyroidectomy, but you sound like what i was going through. in my early 30's my thyroid went totally dead. my tsh was 198. they said it was the 2nd worst case they had ever seen, i had a goiter to boot. it took 5 doctors to find out i had a thyroid issue. anyway, they put me on synthroid and it took about a year to get my thyroid working. I was always a exercise freak. walking, running, biking, kick boxing, ballroom dancing, karate and just free style dancing. then after my children my thyroid stopped and i because so exhausted i could barely pick myself up. i was before pregnancy 112 lbs and 5'9''. i have suffered with this hypothyroid and eventually talked a doctor into putting me on Armour Thyroid, so i could get both the T4 and T3. the T3 can also be bought in addition to synthyroid, its called Cytomel. Cytomel, T3 gives you energy. I see you gained weight. Doctors argue and say you must be doing something wrong. but i wound up in the hospital really sick and on a liquid doctor only, i put on 3 pounds in 3 days, although the liquids i took in, i put more out. impossible, right? technically you would think so. now, my body aches all over, they took me off my armour thyroid when it ran short in the USA. So now back on the synthyroid, up at 175mcgs, i'm stil running low, can't loose weight, i'm exhausted, but now my blood pressure which use to always be low is border line high to high and my weight is crazy. i've gained so much i hate it. i always was into eating healthy and exercise and looking good. Now, i'm fat and can't exercise like i use to, i hurt so bad and the last endocrinologist said i have hashimotos disease, probably why i'm hurting so bad in my elbows, knees and joints. i can't sleep at night and this last year i developed diabetes, take a shot everyday and this last year went into menopause. i have to take narcotics just to get a little relief from extreme pain. the pain is unbearable. i'm not saying this will happen to you, i'm just venting. i've been looking on different sites where it seems women suffer from these side effects of thyroid and hormone imbalance. yet doctors they all go by the book and don't really have any answers for women who are really in unbearable pain. My doctor thinks i want the narcotics to probably get high. i dont drink alcohol or smoke or do anything bad, but if i don't take a narcotic along with tylenols and aspirin during the day i can't move from the deep pain. I just wish there was an answer out there. i use green vegetables. i saute them and i have a vitamixer juicer. i eat fresh vegetables and sub acid to acid fruits. like melon, or blackberries. i don't drink caffeine. I have to tell you this thyroid problem has ruined my life. i don't want to go out anymore, aside from the pain, i've become so fat that i know people look at me and are shocked. a lot of it is water, so i also take a water pill the doctor has prescribed. i have daily migraines. still no doctor yet has been of any help. If you find that you have gotten help, let me know, but if not, this thing can drive you over the edge and for doctors not to understand about the weight gain, well, they haven't had the same problem, they just learned in medical school out of books. most people i know with thyroid issues suffer in silence because doctors dont want to hear it. they just say, take the pills, eat right and see you next time. if your in severe pain, its like a game they play. they think, oh, a drug addict. i am as straight as an arrow and now my life is hell. pain, weight, migraines, no sleep, diabetes, menopause, ibs, and oh yeah, get this, i actually have grown one inch in height. how is that possible? i'm 54 years old. i'm now 5'10'' the funny thing was, before pregnancy i was 5'9'' after the kids my feet fell, i dropped to 5'8, now, i'm 5'10''. i had them remeasure me. i said how can that be possible. another anomaly. Hormones are hell!

Hi, i did not have a TT, but i have been suffering with hypo thyroid for a long time. i've tired all the pills. You feel really tired, because the levothroxine is the T4. ask your doctor to add the T3, cytomel. the T3 gives you energy. probably about 25mcg, or mgs. i forgot how they measure it, but it would be good. the T3 works rapidly, unlike the T4 that takes weeks to work. I hope this helps. I'm going through all kinds of suffering now. this has been a battle since i was diagnosed back circa 1994. Ask your doctor about it. it really does give you a boost in energy.

Dear Laura dont quote please with your Doc re this but i think that if you have too much thyroxine after total thyroid surgery you are not hyperthyroid it actually imbalances your T3, T4 AND TSH's...so sends your endocrine into reverse i think ...the doctoer should know this ...if not tell them to refer to a endo specialist ..which is always handy after surgery anyway for follow ups ...l am a 46 yr old woman who had surgery 10 yrs ago ...l exercise reg and eat well but have my down times also ....l have put on a total of 25lbs too much...and cant shift it ...but you have to remember you no longer have a thyroid ....so sometimes we have to be happy with our health being well and not worrry worry to much about the nasty lbs...take care and good luck

Omg!!! This scares me. I am having my thyroid removed next week, I have lost 80 pound and it was hard I'm so scared about gaining weight after this surgery .... I'm 5'7 and 165 I'm at my max ideal weight as it is . Lord please tell me this can be avoided

A positive story for all you scared to get the surgery: I had a TT March 2012. Before I knew it three months later I went from 167 to 180! (I am 5'11) I worked out and tried to cut back my food intake. You see I was hyper before my surgery and spoiled by it. Well, after my three month appt and the reality of the weight gain I committed to a serious life change. I stopped eating at night. NO wine (which Sucked!), and cut carbs. It wasn't fun but I guess this is my life now. I work out daily to Jillian Michaels at home. I have three little kids, so her 20 minute work outs rock alternating 6 week 6 pack. Well, at this point I am down to 160, and I plan to keep going. I have more energy than ever and I feel fantastic. I just bought a size 8 today in jeans and I have an actual outline of abs! yay! I should note that I started Wellbutrin after my surgery for depression and that does aid with weight loss. Anyway, just some hope for others because I was so scared of the weight gain and I read horror story after horror story. The thing you have to remember is that more people write the bad than the good. So for every horror story you read, there is someone who is adjusting fine and just not online talking about it. 

i had a total 13 yrs ago ive gained 15kgs since then. i spoke to my endo many times he says im doing everything right so he has put me on diabex. this has worked and i managed to lose 7kg however diabex causes me to have diarohea and all the weight has gone back on. This is very depressing and i hopethat one day they can help all of us that have had a total or partial

HI Kristie! What type of natural vitamin are you on? I am deathly afraid of gaining weight. I have various food allergies so I eat a completely clean diet.