Can anyone steer me in the right direction

**DDH** · 08-27-2009, 01:08 PM

I have had a weight problem since I had my son 14 years ago. I am at my heaviest now. I have gained a lot of the weight I have now in the last 2 years. I went from 200 to 260. I have talked to the doctors because I am constantly watching what I eat and trying to change my eating habits.
I haven't exercised much in the last year due to surgeries and other health issues and just not feeling good. Well, in the last month and a half, I have began exercising, using my treadmill, and my wii fit and in the last week began biking again. A month ago, or maybe less, I weighed 260 and today I get on the scale and I weigh 276. How does that happen. I am so depressed now. I feel like the harder I try to lose weight the more I gain. Before anyone ask, I have not been eating more or pigging out. I have had some ice cream, but not daily by any means. The doctor just recently checked me for cushings syndrome, but evidently everything was okay cause I haven't heard from her. Is there anything else medically that could cause this. I just feel like it almost has to be something medical. How does a person gain 16 lbs in a month? While exercising and watching what I eat. Seems impossible to me.
I have to do something to lose some weight. I feel miserable in my own skin and there are challenges to putting shoes on and other things when you are this heavy. I just don't get it. I don't understand and as happy as I am to be riding again, after weighing myself today, I just don't feel like anything I do is worth bothering.

**maillotpois** · 08-27-2009, 01:13 PM

Auto-immune thyroid disorders (i.e. hashimoto's) will sometimes occur after you've gone through childbirth. If your doctor has not already done a metabolic panel on you it is worth asking.

**DDH** · 08-27-2009, 01:37 PM

Well, I had Graves disease and one of the symptoms is suppose to be weightless and I still didn't lose weight. In the last year, I have had my thyroid and gallbladder removed. I take 137 mcgs of levothyroxide daily to replace the thyroid hormones.
Could I possibly have that too?
I don't think I have ever had a metabolic test done. Is that exactly what I ask for?
I don't want to seem ignorant, but I guess I kind of am when it comes to testing and doctors. I try to put my foot down and it seems like I still get looked at like I'm crazy. My endocrinologist is the first one that has paid attention to the weight gain without looking at me like, I'm just eating to much.

**redrhodie** · 08-27-2009, 01:52 PM

Trust yourself. If you feel there's something medically wrong, there probably is. Be firm with the doctor. Explain you are not overeating, you are exercising, and you are gaining weight. Keep a food diary so you can prove your case to them. Don't let your doc blow you off, and if he does, find another. It may take a few tries to find someone capable and willing to help you.

**Eden** · 08-27-2009, 01:54 PM

Seems like if you have had your thyroid removed and are on replacement hormones you absolutely should have had a metabolic panel done to be sure your doses are correct.... and if I'm not crazy it should be repeated periodically to be sure they remain correct?

Low thyroid can cause weight gain - among other problems.

**maillotpois** · 08-27-2009, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Eden

Seems like if you have had your thyroid removed and are on replacement hormones you absolutely should have had a metabolic panel done to be sure your doses are correct.... and if I'm not crazy it should be repeated periodically to be sure they remain correct?

Low thyroid can cause weight gain - among other problems.

Correct on all counts.

**DDH** · 08-27-2009, 02:59 PM

As far as I have ever been told when they check my thyroid, they only do a TSH check. I have asked and asked whether they should be checking t3 and t4, but because I am not savy about all the testing and have no research or knowledge to back it up, I tend to go with what they say.

I feel better than I did before they took out my thyroid. I'm still a bit hot, and my heart rate is still higher than I think it should be, but that could also be from the extra weight.
Sometimes I feel like I am going nuts and just not taking responsibility for my weight, but then I look at what I'm eating and don't feel like I should weigh this much or be gaining weight in rapid amounts like I am.
If it keeps going like it is I will be 300 lbs before the summer is over for gosh sakes.

**maillotpois** · 08-27-2009, 03:32 PM

Keep a food diary. Log every bite that goes into your mouth. Sometimes I find I am eating more than I think I am. Do this for a week, then take it to your doctor and ask for his/her input.

**Tuckervill** · 08-27-2009, 04:59 PM

I second the food diary idea. Don't skip it or doubt it's effectiveness. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was actually JUST a behavior issue and not something like a disease that you would be saddled with for the rest of your life?

I'm sorry you're having a hard time of it. The most important thing is to keep going, one foot in front of the other, and there's never a good time to quit.

Karen

**DDH** · 08-27-2009, 05:20 PM

Karen you are absolutely right. I don't need anymore health problems. They have seemed never ending this past year.
I did a food diary for a month once and when I went in to see the dietician she told me I wasn't eating enough. I was so frustrated I didn't know what to do and I haven't kept another one since.
Regardless of the past though, you girls are right, I should start another one, because it does help to see what you are eating and where you can cut out, and see where you are stress eating or what have you.

I will start one Sunday. I would rather start at the beginning of a week. I am rather anal that way. LOL

Maybe I can copy it and let someone that is more nutrition savy on here see it and help me where I am messing up.

I'm sure it has to be something I am doing, but 16 lbs in less than a month is crazy. I still can't get over that one.

Thanks girls for you help and advice. Level heads shall prevail. LOL

**Tuckervill** · 08-27-2009, 06:28 PM

Oh honey, don't wait until Sunday. Pick out that torn envelope out of the mail pile and write down what you ate today. Use your motivation when it's ripe--right now! There is no need...NO need to make it harder or less convenient to do it, by purchasing a fancy notebook or buying software. What do you have in your hand? Use it to make your life better. Now.

I haven't looked at this website in a long time so I don't know if it still has the same power it used to have over me...littlechanges.org. But the idea is great. Make the next choice you have before you better than the choice you made before. You have an opportunity every moment to make a good choice. Choose the best thing. Those tiny little choices add up to little changes which add up to transformation.

Don't think like a fat person.

With all the best encouragement and respect for your struggle,
Karen

**nscrbug** · 08-27-2009, 06:53 PM

I concur with the other posters that suggested having a complete thyroid panel done. There is a LOT more to getting thyroid issues under control than just testing for TSH. You definitely need to have T3, T4, AND the antibodies tests done. Something just doesn't sound right and I would definitely head straight to the endo's office and demand further testing.

**maillotpois** · 08-27-2009, 07:03 PM

And I agree with Karen that you should start the food journal NOW. It's so easy to let yourself get sidetracked. Capitalize on the motivation you have NOW.

**ccnyc** · 08-27-2009, 07:05 PM

Donna,

I sent you a PM.

Carol

**Triskeliongirl** · 08-28-2009, 12:50 PM

I think your dosage of thyroid hormone is too low for your body weight. For comparison, I take 150 ug of T4 and 5 ug of T3 (5 ug of T3 is equivalent to 20 ug of T4, so I take the equivalent of 170 ug of T4, and I weigh less than you (140lb)). Also, there is a wide range of TSH levels that are considered 'normal', some of us do better in the lower end of that range, i.e. is he correcting you to a TSH of 4 or 1, both are 'normal' but I feel much better at 1 than 4! I also do much better on the T4/T3 combo therapy than straight T4. I think you need to find a better endocrinologist.

I would also ask for a glucose tolerance test. I too was gaining weight, while biking 100 miles a week and eating 1200 cal a day. It wasn't until I got BOTH my thryoid replacement hormones optimized AND was diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance (I undersecrete insulin) and started eating a low carb diet that normalized my blood sugars, that I slimmed down from 175 to 140 almost effortlessly, on ~1400 cal a day plus regular exercise.

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