Yes, I Have Hypothyroidism... and it Sucks

[vonasaurus]

First of all, let's make one thing clear: I do not body-shame others, and you'll never face judgment from me based on your appearance.

Clear as mud? Spiffy.

I can't begin to count the number of times I've watched people eat cheeseburgers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, wash it down with a large Coke, and cite 'hypothyroidism' as the reason they can't lose weight... and it makes me want to tear my hair out, because hypothyroidism sucks balls. And, if you really had it, you'd know that.

Yes, my condition does make losing weight a nightmare. Your thyroid (a small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, near the Adam's apple) controls your metabolism and how well you burn calories- if your body doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone, it makes less energy and your body processes slow to a crawl.

I'm not fat. I have to watch what I eat more than the average person does and can work out for years without ever seeing results. It's depressing, but it is what it is.

Most symptoms of hypothyroidism are vague and mimic those of other conditions. They include:

-fatigue
-cold hands and feet
-constipation
-dry skin
-puffy face
-hoarseness
-muscle weakness
-elevated blood cholesterol level
-muscle aches/tenderness/stiffness
-pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
-heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
-thinning hair
-slowed heart rate
-depression
-impaired memory

And that's not even a full list, not to mention that you'll be on a first-name basis with your local blood clinic until you die (what, you mean people don't like being poked full of holes?)

Who is at risk?

Hypothyroidism is very common in adult women, affecting ~30 percent of us, and your risk increases with age. White and Asian people are more likely to develop hypothyroidism, as are people who have a family history, suffer from other autoimmune conditions, received radiation to the neck or upper chest, been pregnant, or had a thyroidectomy (full or partial surgical removal of the thyroid).

Some people are born with it, though most develop it over time. And, though not as common in men or children under 18, they can be affected as well.

Treatment

Thre is no cure for hypothyroidism, though it can be managed with medication and regular trips to the blood clinic. I take levothyroxine, a synthetic hormone pill that keeps things in check- it has to be taken on an empty stomach, meaning that I often can't have my morning coffee unti l~11 a.m., which makes school days and morning shifts so much harder than they already are for a perma-zombie like me.

I also visit the blood clinic every 3 months, so that my medication can be adjusted if needed. It's not a miracle drug by any stretch- more often than not, I still feel like shit.

Complications

Untreated hypothyroidism can cause a plethora of health issues, including:

-joint pain

-goiter (swelling of the thyroid gland);

-heart problems

-obesity

-severe mental health issues

-birth defects

-peripheral neuropathy (tingling, pain, or numbness in the extremities)

-infertility

Rarely, hypothyroidism can lead to a condition called myxedema, which can be fatal and requires immediate emergency treatment. Often triggered by sedatives, infection, or stress on the body, myxedema causes sufferers to lose consciousness or fall into a coma, and the body's internal temperature drops exponentially, resulting in death.

Still sound like a trendy excuse for your lack of self-control? Gag me with a spoon.

Sources

https://www.webmd.com/women/hypothyroidism-underactive-thyroid-symptoms-causes-treatments#1

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/dxc-20155382

https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypothyroidism/complications-hypothyroidism

[Anonymous]

I suffer from Hypothyroidism too and it sucks. I've had it most of my life. I've had friends make fun of it by saying "Oh, I can't lose weight, I must have hypothyroidism". Umm no, it's not that simple.

As someone who was diagnosed at a young age, I can say that it was a long, tiring and scary road for me. And through the years as I get older my hypothyroidism has changed too. I'm still symptomatic despite taking my medication and having the right levels. It's not an easy disease to suffer from by any means as you literally have to be so careful with what you do sometimes.

Yet when I explain that I am overweight due to my hypothyroidism, people roll their eyes. Even though I've been active all my life and eat healthier than most, I'm still bigger. And it sucks. But I have friends who complain about not being a able t lose 2lbs and cite Hypothyroidism as the problem. Yet they gorge themselves on pop, chocolate bars and junk food.

[vonasaurus]

exactly; hypothyroidism is so much more than just nighmarish weight gain... i can have the heat in my house cranked to full tilt and still freeze my ass off (thanks to the double whammy that is hypothyroidism + iron deficiency anemia).

i was only diagnosed in my late 20s, due to a shortage of family doctors where i live. but i suspect i've had it longer, especially now that i'm aware of my family's history.

[Opinion Owner]

Oh that's terrible! But I totally know what you mean about being cold!! My feet are freezing as I type this and I have wolly socks on plus a blanket! People touch me when I'm cold and have told me I feel unnaturally cold! I have low iron levels as well and it can make the regular blood tests tough!

That sucks that it took so long for you to get a diagnosis. It doesn't help that you are young as well. I was diagnosed at 8 years old, and it took them about a year or so to figure it out. Because hypothyroid symptoms are not specific to hypothyroidism, it makes it hard to figure out what exactly is causing all of the problems. I was so bad right before my diagnosis that I had to take a nap after walking to the bathroom (which was 10 steps from the couch to the bathroom).

[vonasaurus]

man, i feel your pain~ i used to sleep for 12-13 hours a night and would still wake up feeling like i'd been run over by a tank. right now, i'm sitting beside a heater and my exposed foot (the one that isn't broken/covered by a splint) is freezing.

with the signs being as vague as they are, no wonder it's a difficult diagnosis to make.

[HungLikeAHorsefly]

I've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's for about 15 years now. One time I had to go off of levotyroxine for about a week due to an issue with getting my prescription filled, and I turned into a zombie. That's the best way I can describe it.

I couldn't think well enough to do my job. I had to concentrate hard just to have a casual conversation with someone. I shuffled around, slept a lot, and every muscle in my body ached. I felt cold all the time (even though it was summer). I'd catch myself staring at things for long periods of time for no reason. People would talk to me and I'd just give them a blank stare for several seconds before I even realized they were even there.

[vonasaurus]

i feel your pain~ when my ankle was operated on, the surgeon took me off levothyroxine for 2 weeks, and i was even more zombified than usual.

i'm sorry to hear you've had to go through this.

[nalaa]

I also have or had Hypothyroidism and whether or not it can be cured depend on what causes it. Iodine deficiency was the reason for mine and i's easily cured. Gluten and/or casein intolerance can also cause it, in which case, don't eat gluten/dairy. Imbalanced hormones can cause it too, in which case consider taking or not taking birth control, reduce stress, cut out dairy...
Heavy Metal exposure can cause it as well. I never really ate a lot of fish (or had mercury fillings) so I didn't have to change there but my doctor recommended going for deodorant without aluminium and it did wonders, especially for feeling tired all the time
It can absolutely CAN be cured, at the very least improved. Not with a pill maybe but that's ok.

And the good news is one way or another that it can be treated to the point that your metabolism should work like normal. And you should feel normal, lose weight normally. If not you should talk to your doctor, maybe consider a different doctor Thyroid problems are only an "excuse" for excess weight if they're undiagnosed

[vonasaurus]

from what i understand, iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism is incredibly rare in north america. but i'm glad to hear that yours was/is curable.

i was without a family doctor for 10 years (there's a huge shortage of them where i live, as they all go to the us, where the money is better) and was only diagnosed in my late 20s. but, as soon as i got one, she sent me for bloodwork and that was it- after my diagnosis, i found out about my family's history of it (my mom and grandmother had it as well), and things finally started to make sense.

at one point, i did lose 20 pounds on levothyroxine. but, otherwise, i still feel tired and draggy most of the time... until recently, i had no idea that there were other options, so i'll discuss those with my doctor next time i see her.

right now, my biggest fear is that i'll get fat- i shattered my ankle ~3 weeks ago and can't walk for 3 months... and i'll probably have to walk with a cane once all's said and done. but i'll wait and see how things go.

[nalaa]

For the tiredness, seriously have a look into the deodorant and other causes of possible heavy metal toxicity. Made a world of difference for me. As well iron and iodine supplements

[vonasaurus]

i take iron supplements for anemia, though they don't seem to do much (and i have to be careful about taking them with levothyroxine, if i don't want blood poisoning). but i'll have to check out some of the other stuff. thanks!

[RedThread]

My mom is the only person in my immediate family who doesn't have hypothyroidism. I have the most special kind caused by Hashimoto's Disease. It's an autoimmune disorder. It does tend to run in families and it can be quite miserable. I used to lose weight incredibly easily. My fastest has been 60lbs lost in a few months. Nowadays, that's impossible. I can still lose weight by taking extreme measures of dieting and running but it's incredibly slow. It's so frustrating because I want to get in great shape again after gaining some weight over the last few years. My confidence was much better when I looked damn good.

Even with medication I don't feel like I used to. I don't feel fully rested ever even when my medication is perfect. It's something I've gotten accustomed to as time goes on. I've only had it for a few years. I have to really push myself to get shit done whether it's homework or simple chores. It almost feels like depression even though I'm definitely not depressed. Everything just feels more exhausting now. When I ignore getting my blood checked the feeling gets way worse which is my own fault for not keeping up with a stronger dosage.

But hey that's where tenacity and perseverance come into play. Gotta keep on keeping on. We can't let anything defeat us or stand in our way. Many people have things a lot worse than hypothyroidism.

[vonasaurus]

in the scary world of health issues, i suppose we have it good. but it still does suck... a lot.

i can relate to the lack of energy you described though. i can sleep 13-14 hours and still wake up the next day feeling like i got run over by a tank. i *can* lose weight on levothyroxine, though the process is frustratingly slow~ it's like, i'll be dead before i reach my ideal weight goal. but it is what it is.

thanks for sharing your experience.

[redeyemindtricks]

Why doesn't yr doc put you on a combination of T4 (levothyroxine, the one you're currently taking), and T3 (liothyronine, brand name Cytomel)?

T3 is the thing into which yr body converts T4 anyway. So, if you feel like crap because yr body converts T4 badly from pill form... you shd take some Cytomel along with it.

Literally the only reason why doctors don't prescribe T3 is that patients will feel noticeably more crappy and sluggish if they forget it. (Levothyroxine takes 2 weeks to accumulate in the body, so, a missed dose isn't as noticeable.)

And most docs are irrationally reluctant to prescribe combinations of 2 or more similar drugs -- probably because most patients are just dumb, or bad at compliance.

But, yeah. Ask about Cytomel. If yr doc refuses, fire yr doc and get a new doc.

__

Also... What is yr diet like?

If you eat a lot of carbohydrates, then that will make hypothyroidism worse.

If you eat a low- or moderate-carb diet that's high in protein, then, yr hypothyroidism will get better.

Lots of people can eliminate their hypothyroidism almost completely by just dropping carbs (including ALL sugars) from their diets.

[vonasaurus]

i'll ask her about it. but, given that i spent 10 years on the waiting list for a family doctor, finding another one isn't an option if she refuses.

i'm very careful about what i eat~ not militant, but i do pay attention to portion sizes and avoid too much junk. i tried a vegetarian diet, but that didn't work; neither did atkins or any of the other popular ones, so i'll talk to a dietician once my leg heals (gps here don't deal with that kind of stuff, but i'd imagine the waiting list for a dietician is at least a year long, like the waiting lists for everything else in ths country... i desperately need my hearing checked too, but it's an 8-year wait for an audiologist).

[redeyemindtricks]

Oh, you're Canadian. Yh got ya... I've met plenty of Canadians who hop the border to the States for medical stuff [... for which that's at least somewhat of a worthwhile investment -- not just a checkup].

The diet thing is pretty simple, actually, with regard to the thyroid aspects.
Simple carbs (sugars) = very very bad
Refined complex carbs (WHITE bread/WHITE rice/WHITE grains) = very bad
Whole grains = bad, but ok in moderation... more ok later in the day
Fat = mostly irrelevant to the thyroid
Protein = very very good.

If you pretty much shoot for eating as much protein as you can stand to -- especially from lower-fat sources -- then the problem WILL be attenuated.
Also, the **digestion** of protein burns additional calories, so, protein calories are actually "worth" LESS to yr body overall. (And, if recent studies are any indication, excess protein can't be stored as fat anyway, so, there's no reason not to literally eat as much protein as you can stand to. and/or afford to.)

[redeyemindtricks]

It's unlikely that a registered dietitian will have done any study/research on the connection between diet and thyroid conditions, anyway. So, if THAT is the reason you want to see a RD, then you're probably wasting yr time.

(If you want to see a dietitian for other reasons, ofc, that's different)

[1truekhaleesi]

The women in my family have a history of thyroid problems. However, we tend to have hyperthyroidism. My mom noticed red dots on my throat. Apparently, that means the thyroid has gotten out of control. I need to be more vigilant about watching for signs. I've never had issues with my thyroid before. So when I saw the red dots, I just thought they were a break out and that maybe my period is coming. I looked up why this was happening so suddenly. The best answer I got was that my thyroid gland was releasing more hormones that it already does. That still doesn't fully answer my question including why my thyroid did that.

[vonasaurus]

i don't know much about hyperthyroidism, since i have the opposite problem. but here's what i found when i looked it up:

www.webmd.com/.../overactive-thyroid-hyperthyroidism

some people are born with thyroid issues, though others develop them over time. and, as with hypothyroidism, i'd imagine it can be influenced by other factors, such as a family history.

[JustChris]

Wow, I've always wondered about that because I've come across women who have had this but I never knew what it was. I just assumed that they didn't take care of their health but knowing that people can have it and there's no cure for it really makes me feel bad that they have something like that. It's a terrible disease. That sucks. I'm sorry to those that have it.

[vonasaurus]

it does suck, and i appreciate your kind words. thank you :)

[Phoenix98]

Health is a bitch it's true, I don't body shame but it's also part of my job to make it clear what will happen to someone who leads a unhealthy life style and that they need to change it.

Of course everyone should be aware that sometimes legitimate health issues like yours makes it incredibly hard to stay healthy but with that being said you yourself also need to make just as hard of an effort to stay healthy or the disease/sickness wins.

If not to do it for someone else at least do it for yourself, everyone owes it to themselves to be the best, healthiest and strongest person they can be.

By the way I can tell you about some natural remedies and foods/drinks that will help with some of those symptoms and complications at the bottom if your interested they won't get rid of them completely but they will help.

[vishna]

Wow, great MyTake. Gotta be real, the only person I know who has told me of the condition in the family, *mother-daughter* those people do not exercise and eat loads of junk/have binge eating disorders. Still, it's essential to understand 1 or 2 people does not equate to everyone dealing with this condition. I feel for you.

[vonasaurus]

my mom and grandmother both suffered as well; while it's true that your risk is increased if you have a femily history, people need to stop using it as an excuse... we (as a species) have been doing the same with mental illness for years, and it makes me beyond angry when people think depression etc. is "badass"; no, they are not. they are monsters that ruin lives. but that's a whole other post... *rushes off to write mytake on mental health*

thanks for sharing :)

[vishna]

Agree, mental health is extremely serious and deserves sincerity and dedicated research, convenience for our inaction should not be thrown in the mix.

[bloodmountain1990]

I had a friend in college who developed hypothyroidism and she told me how brutal it was. She'd work out a lot, eat healthy as possible and still couldn't lose a pound. She even showed me pictures of her when she was skinnier and athletic and it was kinda hard to see how drastic the weight gain was till she told me what hypothroidism was.

[vonasaurus]

i can relate to your friend; i tried changing my diet (was a vegetarian for a year and, before that, tried every fad diet under the sun)... i also danced competitively for 10 years, worked out with a trainer 4x/week and taught cardio classes at a local gym, all with no results.

i lost 20 pounds after starting on levothyroxine, but i still feel like shit even though my tsh levels are supposedly normal. guess i'll be having a chat with my doctor about other options once my leg heals.

in the meantime, this (and she'll probably agree):

pics.onsizzle.com/...old-photos-when-u-2808040.png

[Anonymous]

Well, bringing your thyroid level up to normal while taking levothryroxine should make you feel much better. Did you mention this to your doctor that you still don't feel good? And do you know what the underlying cause of your hypothyroidism is? Do you have autoimmune issues? In any case I am sorry to hear you're having to deal with this.

[vonasaurus]

i have iron-deficiency anemia, though i'm not sure that counts.

i did lose 20 pounds on levothyroxine last summer, but i hadn't been on it for very long and wanted to give it a chance. but, now that it's been more than a year, i'll probably have to chat with my doctor about other options.

[Opinion Owner]

Unless your thyroid levels with the medication is a bit low and they need to bump up the dose a bit? And yes the anemia can make you feel tired also. Do they have you on some iron supplement? I'd imagine they do.

[vonasaurus]

yes, i take iron supplements... but i have to be careful with them, since taking them within 4 hours of taking levothyroxine can cause blood poisoning.

i probably need my dosage tweaked, but it's so hard to get bloodwork done during the school year (and, now that my leg is broken, it's even harder to get out and about... though i'm due to have my splint removed and a cast added at the hospital tomorrow; maybe i'll just get some bloodwork done while i'm there?).

[Elarra]

Yuck, glad I don't have that. Sorry you have to go through that. But this does go to show that just because someone has a weight problem that it doesn't necessarily mean they have a horrendous diet and it also says that some people with a horrendous diet and weight problem really do lie to themselves. Good take.

[MuffinHead]

My mother has hypothyroidism and wasn't diagnosed with it until in her mid 30's. Mostly due to the fact that doctors at the time in Pakistan and Qatar could not figure out what was wrong with her. The symptoms started to get much worse into adulthood.

[kickme]

i'm glad my high school and college days weren't during this time when most of the girls were fat. 90% of the young girls look pudgy to me and not sexy. i never even appreciated the awesomeness of having beautiful sexy girls all around me in class and at parties. Some of the less attractive faced girls would be considered knockouts today because they had fit and sexy bodies. I'd feel sorry for the young men of today, except they all look and act like such pussies I can't even tell the gay ones from the straight ones. Oh well

[spoonman2014]

I'll be a douche and agree with you on this. I'm in college, post military life and I know kids in their late teens who are fat as shit and losing their hair, i'm almost 30 and the kids think i'm like 20, shit one girl invited me to an under 21 club lol! I think the hormones in food are making kids age so fast. A good chunk of the kids i'm in college with have already been to rehab and had other horrible things happen to them. It is only a matter of time before they end up with arthritis and other elderly diseases at 30. My mom is a elementary school teacher and they already have girls who have had their periods and bitchy attitudes and boys with facial hair and are big for their age

[pooper89]

I was diagnosed with hashimotos when I was 14. But I've never gained weight except for in college i got up to 132. But I'm back down to 125 and I didn't diet or do anything. A few months ago I took a no sweets challenge. It opened my eyes to this sort of thing... first 2 weeks are the hardest. After that it's relatively easy

[dragonfly6516]

I'm overweight, because I have birth defects in my legs that make most exercises near impossible for me. But I have almost all of these symptoms and even some of those from the untreated list. But the state laws won't allow doctors here to treat without a family history. I'm adopted. Any advice?

[vonasaurus]

i'm not familiar with us law, though @OlderAndWiser is a lawyer and lives in the states... he may have some suggestions for you.

[OlderAndWiser]

Feel free to PM me if I can offer any assistance!

[likitb4istickit]

I'd rather just have my thyroid removed, even if I had to go to the other side of the planet to get to a surgeon willing to do it without having thyroid cancer.

[Unit1]

Isn't health a bitch. That sucks indeed. What else can I say? My condolences to you, lady!

[vonasaurus]

indeed, she is a bitch. thanks for your kind words, as always :)

[Unit1]

Glad I said the right things ^^ :)
Hope you'll recover from that one day.

[vonasaurus]

well, fingers crossed someone finds a cure for it before i kick the bucket.

[Ladyslipper]

Most the fat women I know blame pcos not hypothyroidism

[vonasaurus]

pcos is no laughing matter either... i guess no illness is safe.

[spoonman2014]

I feel for you, I do not struggle with weight problems or any real health issues but that has to be hard to be born with something you really can't fix. Hats off to you, I hope you have a blessed life

[SovereignessofVamps]

@redeyemindtricks told me that hypo only can cause a max weight gain of 15-20 pounds. She showed me an article about it before, but I can't find it on Google.

[vonasaurus]

i can't find anything either, though it's my understanding (from what my m. d. says, anyway) that there's no limit to the weight gain.

the closest i could find was this:

"A minority of women with hypothyroidism don’t gain weight. The difference arises from their individual biochemistry... That’s why some women with low thyroid can have weight gain even when they severely restrict calories."

from here: www.womentowomen.com/.../

[redeyemindtricks]

"Most of the extra weight gained in hypothyroid individuals is due to excess accumulation of salt and water.
In general, 5-10 pounds of body weight may be attributable to the thyroid, depending on the severity of the hypothyroidism."

www.thyroid.org/.../Thyroid_and_Weight.pdf

^^ This from the thyroid association -- an organization that would stand to gain directly if the severity of thyroid disorders WERE trumped up. So, when **those** guys say this -- meaning, they're saying it even though it reduces the perceived importance of (and, thus, funding for) their entire cause -- it shd be taken even more seriously than otherwise.

[vonasaurus]

will have to give that a read, thank you :)

[SovereignessofVamps]

@redeyemindtricks Thanks!!

[John_Doesnt]

But there is effective treatment for it in the form of synthetic medication containing thyroid hormone T4. It's a difficult condition to deal with, but the treatment is also effective.