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Weight gain really getting me down

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sarahl1983
sarahl1983

Hi everyone

I got diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism in October 2017 and started on 40mg of carbimazole each day and 25mg of propranolol.

In November 2017 I also found out I have Graves Disease.

I am now on 30mg of carbimazole due to my levels being normal.

I've put 2stone 7pounds on since my diagnosis and it's really getting me down now.

People did comment over Christmas when I saw them to exchange presents and comments where made but I had only put 1 stone on and that was the weight I was when I saw them 2 months before.

Now I'm at a point where I weigh over 16stone and I've never weighed this much even when I was pregnant and I ache everywhere. Daily tasks are even harder to do and it's really getting me down.

I told my doctor at Christmas about comments people had made and I was already reducing my calories and I'd been on 1500 calories a day for 3 weeks and still gained weight. She said I must be lying so I can't even go back to her.

Today I've started following slimming world and I'm hoping it makes a difference but I really don't know.

Last week I put 5lb on I'm eating normal like i always have and maintained in the past.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • linda187
    linda187 sarahl1983

    Posted

    Those are fairly high dosages of carbimazole and you don't say what your current thyroid test levels are.  It sounds like you have gone from Hyper to Hypo.  Can you get your last thyroid test level results (that is your results and the range for normal for each test in brackets beside your result) and post it to this Board?  I can sure understand your frustration with gaining weight.  

    • sarahl1983
      sarahl1983 linda187

      Posted

      ENDOCRINOLOGY

      Thyroid Function

      THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE   1.98           mIU/L     0.27 - 4.20 

      FREE THYROXINE                12.5           pmol/L    12.00 - 22.00 

      TOTAL THYROXINE(T4)           77.4           nmol/L    59.00 - 154.00 

      FREE T3                       3.78           pmol/L    3.10 - 6.80 

      THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY        <10            IU/mL     0.00 - 115.00 

      THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES

      *

      109            IU/mL     0.00 - 34.00

      They are my results from last week.

      I'm not due another blood test until the start of March.

    • linda187
      linda187 sarahl1983

      Posted

      If it were me, I would want to know if I also had Hashimoto antibodies.  Can you ask your family doctor to test this?  The test is for TGAb antibodies and repeat anti-TPO.  Usually Hashi patients have higher levels of anti-TPO and are more sensitive to both thyroid hormone blocking drugs like Carbimazole and thyroid replacement drugs like Levothyroxine.  I think your meds are a little too strong for you now because your Free T3 and T4 are at the bottom of the range and the dose of Carbimazole can be lowered even a little bit so your values can come up to mid-range.  
    • sarahl1983
      sarahl1983 linda187

      Posted

      My carbimazole got reduced to 30mg 2 weeks ago.

      What is the test for hashimotos?

    • linda187
      linda187 sarahl1983

      Posted

      TGAb and anti-TPO.  You have already had anti-TPO and it is elevated but the TGAb is what you need to get done to rule out Hashimoto's.

  • marianne76981
    marianne76981 sarahl1983

    Posted

    I am so sorry to hear this.  I, too, was just diagnosed with Graves in Dec after having been hospitalized twice for hypercalcemia caused by untreated hyperthyroid.  since the start of tapazole, I have gained an enormous amount of weight.  The lack of control and support is what is so discouraging.  If you read about the medications, it says for side effects of tapazole "excessive weight gain". 

    • sarahl1983
      sarahl1983 marianne76981

      Posted

      It is awful that we are just left to deal with it.

      The first thing the endo will say to me is about my weight.

      It's not right.

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