Health Related Weight Gain

Farmor I'm glad you are more stable now. I will join the community as its been hard to get support from the endo with covid going on and most of my treatment is via email. My GP made some big mistakes with medication and diagnosis and don't seem to want to touch me now. Not that I blame them, I think it is quite rare. I have 1 other support group and they have been so knowledgeable.

If it comes to it I have asked for it to be removed rather than the radioactive iodine because I have 5 children ranging from adults to 7 (suprise late baby) and I wouldn't want to have to be away from them for 2 weeks.

I put all my symptoms down to menopause at first, the hot flushes and the racing heart beat etc and nobody talks about that so, I just assumed. I ended up in a bad way but hopefully I will never have to feel like that again.

I had an overactive thyroid for years, though not Grave's disease. Mine was "toxic multinodular goitre", though if that had been properly diagnosed in the beginning, I might have had different treatment. I was on and off carbimazole for years, and like you VioletSky, I could eat lots without putting on weight.

Over the years, my thyroid was getting more and more enlarged, and was actually starting to strangle me! Surgery was recommended and I had total thyroidectomy 14 years ago. I was immediately put on 100 mcg Eltroxin and have been on that ever since. It seems to be the right dose, but I suppose a combination of menopause, getting older and no longer having overactive thyroid, I can easily put on weight.

However, I've managed to prevent it getting too out of hand by eating a lot less than I used to. I do the 16:8 system (sort of). Don't eat between about 7 pm and 11 am next day. Last year I realised I'd gained nearly a stone but managed to lose most of it between Christmas and Easter. It was very slow - I had to reduce my intake a lot to even lose 1 lb a week!

In the last couple of years before I finally had thyroid out, I did a lot of research into thyroid problems and was in a help forum thyroiduk.org/help-and-support/online-thyroid-community/. Hypothyroid (underactive) is far more common than overactive and doctors seem reluctant to prescribe thryoxine.

Whiff I didn't realise that doesn't come under health! I will check it out, thank you.

VioletSky take a look at the dieting and exercise forum. Pears sequel thread. You will find help and support there. I have lost 7 st over 4 years. After decades of giving up a diet if I had a bad day realised it's s marathon not a sprint. If I only lost quarter of a pound I was happy same if I stayed the same. I weigh and measure everything and count calories. Plus go to an exercise class which is mainly chair based exercises. With some walking ones. I walk with a stick. I was a 32 now 16.

We are a friendly bunch . And have different ways of losing weight. Give it a read and might help you.

I will look into it all, thank you

Let us know if you join perhaps we can start a slimming world thread for support. Definitely ask you GP about a referral as I have heard of this a few times on other sites so at least it is a start.

I need to lose weight, I think the NHS has a website with help and advice.

I don't know anyone with thyroid issues so it's good to know I'm not alone. I don't think the plan was for me to go so low for so long but with covid going on it was difficult to get hospital appointments and my doctor was uncomfortable dealing with it. I am still at the very low end of normal range. I just fall asleep every chance I get. They are trying to wean me off the carbimazole now. Fingers crossed it works.

I will definitely look into slimming world. Thank you.

My husband needs to lose at least five stone (preferably seven) and has been referred to Slimming World by the GP for a free twelve weeks course.
One month in and he's lost 1 stone 5lbs and has a collection of "slimmer of the week/month" fridge magnets!
It's really struck a chord with him, especially as there are so many foods he can eat in unlimited quantities so he never needs to go hungry.
He's finally realised that his treats, eg he'd have a Magnum after dinner almost every night, add up to an extra day's worth of calories every week.
Now even if we eat out he's ordering "sensible" choices.
He has the Slimming World app on his phone which is great for quickly checking if a food item is a good choice or not.

Welcome, VioletSky, I am sorry you have been so ill.

Thyroid conditions are very tricky, play havoc with your metabolism and can cause weight loss/ gain depending on the particular condition.

When I had over active thyroid, I was pleased with my weight loss but distressed with all the other symptoms, which carbimazole could not control.

After I had radioactive iodine treatment to 'destroy ' my thyroid glad, I became quite ill, like yourself, with hypothyroidism until I was prescribed thyroxine.

Since then I have gained a lot of weight. I have gone to Slimming World a few times over the past 12 years, lost some weight then put it on again! I struggle at times to stay 'on plan' especially during the pandemic. I worry about the family, then I 'comfort eat/drink' and the weight goes back on.

However, I find SW to be a very supportive organisation with lots of ideas and recipes to help you to lose weight. The group app lets me see what other people are eating, it is also very helpful to members asking for advice. I rejoined after lockdown and I've lost my first half stone, it's good to aim for small amounts, they add up to bigger weight losses!

I think I have come to realise that the price to pay for a stable thyroid situation is accepting that I will never be slim again.

However I know that I am responsible for making healthy choices in eating and exercise (walking) to make the best of things.

I hope things improve for you, VioletSky.
I find that I lose weight steadily if I abandon bread and wine! Remember other weight loss organisations are available! Find out what works for you. Wishing you well.

I had Graves Disease several years ago, and was also anaemic, so I can empathise. I managed to lose the extra weight with alternate day fasting, keeping the carbs low. It was easy because I was in the right frame of mind. Any plan works if you stick to it! . However, I have again piled on the pounds during the lockdowns and can't seem to stick to healthy eating. Food is almost my only pleasure these days! Bread is my favourite food too. Good luck, I hope you will be successful.

9 stone is incredible, truly amazing. I will look into it, money is tight at the moment with not working.

I have been advised by a doctor to drop gluten as apparently it can benefit Graves sufferers so lots of carbs will be out now. I absolutely love bread. I haven't seen if there is any benefit though as I'm not handling taking iron very well.

I was seriously overweight until about 10 years ago ( size 32) I joined Slimming World and have lost nearly 9 stone it has been hard but I have more or less maintained that even over lockdown and before that a very stressful few years that involved a major operation, mother passing away , husband having a major stroke and having to give up my job to look after him. I am still not " slim" but am happy with how I look.
It is quite a good way of eating as there are a lot foods that can be eaten in unlimited amounts while other things can be eaten in moderate amounts and treats can be "synned" . their ethos is a third of your plate should be free food ( usually vegetables) and lean meat( protein) and potatoes /pasta/rice ( carbs) for the other two thirds. I have never felt judged and the way of eating is easy to follow. I am not calling it a diet because to me it has become the norm .diet suggest a quick fix that you go back to the normal way of eating. Which is why people go-to . I do have days that I go off plan but you reign yourself in and get back to it the next day. Loads of recipes and advise on their website. But to be honest I tried to adapt my own normal recipes to their way of cooking and it seems to work. I used to crave white bread and eat about 3-4 pieces while cooking tea but I have managed to stop that craving.