thyroid questions

[targo]

I am just curious if anyone around here know and thing about underactive thyroids? I ask b/c for some reason I have it in my mind that I may have a thyroid issue. My doctor had questioned it a few years ago but dismissed it at that time as being nothing, I didn't bring it up at all she did. That had to have been 4yrs ago now.

My biggest stumbling block has been because i have been working so hard to lose weight, harder than most people do and have lost only a fraction of the weight that many others do... so it just makes me wonder that is all. I have done limited research online and have found some more things about me that seem to fit, but realize that only a DR can and should diagnose such a thing

so I was checking to see what people know

[Ivy]

Natrushka is very knowledgable about thyroid and adrenal issues. I haven't seen her in awhile, though.

[Jae Rae]

My mother has an underactive thyroid and has taken Synthoid (?) for many years. Recently I thought I might be underactive, so my doctor ordered a blood test, and it turns out all is normal.

Have you had a TSH test? That would be a good place to start.

Jae Rae

[mooshenh]

I was diagnosed hypothyroid. It took a long time for the doctors to figure out what the heck was wrong with me. What they do is take your test numbers and compare them to a range. What they don't do is take borderline cases seriously. We are all different and for one a borderline can be much more significant in terms of symptoms, than for another.

With that I was on Synthryoid for years and what I was told by my trusted alternative doc was that Synthryoid will suppress your own thyroid and make it sicker. I switched to an over the counter supplement called GTA-Forte, which is a stronger version containing porcine glandular (pig gland) which is a natural way to supplement thyroid hormone.

What was strange for me was when I stopped eating Gluten and started drinking shakes which contained ground flax seeds my GTA-Forte became noticeably too strong.

So now I just switched to plain GTA which only contains a quarter of the glandular than the GTA-Forte. The GTA is more for people who are teetering on the border. That is my impression.

So I don't know if cutting out the Gluten was responsible, as I read there is some sort of connection there. Or if the flax seed had a curative effect, I've heard that also.

All I know is I trust my alternative doc a heck of a lot more and that the GTA-Forte and GTA are non-prescription and you can purchase them over the internet.

I'd get a blood test though. Also I wouldn't want to make you distrustful of conventional medical doctors because they do make very worth observations, but a person has to keep in mind that their training has somewhat of a limiting effect on how they are allowed to practice.

Myself when I find myself not satisfied with the conventional medicine I tend to explore the possibilities but I also keep in mind that I don't want to stray into bullshit areas. Especially when it comes to my health. Take everything with a grain of salt and be observant and get that blood test and demand to see the results, sometimes you do have to be pushy, learn what the numbers mean.

Good luck.

[nightning]

*nods* My suggestion to you is also to go talk to your family doctor and arrange to get a blood test. It's the surest way of figuring out if there's a problem.

[targo]

yes it is

my DR is really great she takes me seriously and listens well, just that I have to drive into vancouver to see her

[scantilyclad]

My stepmom has an underactive thyroid, and she also seems to have the same problems losing weight. She hardly eats at all and is pretty overweight. She is also very active, so its always surprising to me how much trouble she has with it.

so that could very well be your problem.

[Metamorphosis]

What does your diet and exercise look like?

[GirlAmerica]

I do....

do either of your parents or siblings?

It generally will happen after women give birth....as it did to me.

Both of my parents have hypo-thyroidism.....it is a true curse.
However, educating yourself about it...and having a good Dr. makes it no problem once you get the hang of it.
It really doesnt bother me...treated it 'goes away'. You just have to monitor it very closely thru blood tests.

*brittle nails, dry skin and fatigue..would all be symptoms if untreated...

[targo]

I don't have brittle nails but I do have dry skin and am tired and depressed a lot.

I eat fairly well, hardly ever go out or eat fast food. Not big on buying lattes or anything either. I exercise 3-5 days a week for 60-90mins burning in excess of 350calories a day, and I don't eat more than I did before i started exercising. And in 5months I have lost 20lbs it's a huge red flag for me.

[Metamorphosis]

Have you considered that you may not be eating enough? Especially considering the fact that you do so much cardio.

[targo]

but um I am not hungry and don't want to eat more...

did I mention around here that I don't like eating?

[Metamorphosis]

but um I am not hungry and don't want to eat more...

did I mention around here that I don't like eating?

How often do you eat?

[targo]

haha depends on the day and my mood....

between 3 & 6 times a day.....

[Metamorphosis]

Actually, after looking at what you posted, it doesn't sound like you are doing very bad. 20 pounds in 5 months is a healthy amount. Losing weight too fast causes rebound (as in the case of assisted aneroxia - like surgery). I am of the opinion that diet is equally if not more important than cardio when it comes to weight loss, but in reality you should not be losing more than 1-2 pounds per week, if you are doing it right. Eat breakfast. No sodas. Cut the carbs back at night. When I was cutting I just wouldn't eat any carbs past like 6 p.m.

[targo]

aside from my cookie habit that I have cut back, along with the sugar in my coffee... never drink sodas and juices, rarely drink alcohol.

[Dansker]

*nods* My suggestion to you is also to go talk to your family doctor and arrange to get a blood test. It's the surest way of figuring out if there's a problem.
Agreed.

I have an underactive thyroid; I take medication daily to keep my thyroid function normal.

About 3 or 4 times I year I have blood tests to ensure that my thyroid function is reporting as normal and every couple of years I have an ultrasound on my thyroid to check that it is normal in size.

My blood tests indicate a normal thyroid function, and will continue to do so while ever I take medication.

[targo]

I was also just reminded this morning why I don't take cough syrup, I do so rarely that I forget. You see the first dose goes down fine with no side affects however the second dose taken 6hrs after the first and just before I go to bed causes me to wake up all shaky in the morning. UGH!

[Natrushka]

I am just curious if anyone around here know and thing about underactive thyroids? I ask b/c for some reason I have it in my mind that I may have a thyroid issue. My doctor had questioned it a few years ago but dismissed it at that time as being nothing, I didn't bring it up at all she did. That had to have been 4yrs ago now.

My biggest stumbling block has been because i have been working so hard to lose weight, harder than most people do and have lost only a fraction of the weight that many others do... so it just makes me wonder that is all. I have done limited research online and have found some more things about me that seem to fit, but realize that only a DR can and should diagnose such a thing

so I was checking to see what people know

As someone who's Been There, Done That, I feel for you, Targo. Are you in BC? If yes, and you have a doctor who's admitted you have a thyroid problem, then you're ahead of the game. BC doctors and hormones = usually a bad scene.

Weight loss isn't rocket science, if you cut the calories you lose weight (not necessarily fat, but weight does move). I spent years killing myself with exercise and diet trying to maintain my weight; I thought I just needed to work harder.

From what I recall you're active and you're pretty young. If you're having THAT much difficulty with weight loss then you can assume Something Ain't Right.

Questions for you, they may seem silly, but humour me.

Do you have 'abnormal' cholesterol results?
Do you have problems sleeping? Or are you tired when you wake up?
Have you noticed your eyebrows getting thinner?
Do you have irregular periods?

Bottom line is do you feel ok? Blood tests when dealing with thyroid (or any hormone for that matter) are poor indicators of health. Blood tests for thyroid are notoriously bad, especially when you're being treated. This is one of those fields of medicine where you used to be better treated 50 years ago.

Edited to add: have you ever had your vitamin D levels tested? Do you take Vitamin D? If you don't and if you do live in BC it's something to seriously consider.

[prplchknz]

News Bytes of the Week—Is it healthier to be fit and fat—Or lazy and thin?: Scientific American (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=news-bytes-of-the-weekis)

[Jae Rae]

Bottom line is do you feel ok? Blood tests when dealing with thyroid (or any hormone for that matter) are poor indicators of health. Blood tests for thyroid are notoriously bad, especially when you're being treated. This is one of those fields of medicine where you used to be better treated 50 years ago.

Edited to add: have you ever had your vitamin D levels tested? Do you take Vitamin D?

Hello, now you've got me wondering. How are the tests different from 50 years ago? Are you saying the present blood test isn't very sensitive? I have low energy and get SAD, although I don't have the brittle hair and nails someone else mentioned.

Jae Rae

[targo]

As someone who's Been There, Done That, I feel for you, Targo. Are you in BC? If yes, and you have a doctor who's admitted you have a thyroid problem, then you're ahead of the game. BC doctors and hormones = usually a bad scene.

Weight loss isn't rocket science, if you cut the calories you lose weight (not necessarily fat, but weight does move). I spent years killing myself with exercise and diet trying to maintain my weight; I thought I just needed to work harder.

From what I recall you're active and you're pretty young. If you're having THAT much difficulty with weight loss then you can assume Something Ain't Right.

Questions for you, they may seem silly, but humour me.

Do you have 'abnormal' cholesterol results?
Do you have problems sleeping? Or are you tired when you wake up?
Have you noticed your eyebrows getting thinner?
Do you have irregular periods?

Bottom line is do you feel ok? Blood tests when dealing with thyroid (or any hormone for that matter) are poor indicators of health. Blood tests for thyroid are notoriously bad, especially when you're being treated. This is one of those fields of medicine where you used to be better treated 50 years ago.

Edited to add: have you ever had your vitamin D levels tested? Do you take Vitamin D? If you don't and if you do live in BC it's something to seriously consider.


you're amazing THANK YOU! My doctor is great I can walk into her office and say DrWang I think blah blah blah because blah blah blah should we look into that and she will say alright.... she's been my DR for 12 yrs now I only go in and ask stuff when I am certain there is a problem or when I have concerns.

I don't take a vitamin D supplement but i do drink milk and am outside often. My body is pretty good at craving it's deficiencies.

I do know that my iron levels typically run low I have had those tested. Did you know that you can get an energy rush from Iron supplements?

As for your questions


Do you have 'abnormal' cholesterol results? being 33 I haven't had it tested

Do you have problems sleeping? Or are you tired when you wake up? Yes sleep has always been an issue for me.... never want to sleep yet am always tired.

Have you noticed your eyebrows getting thinner? I pluck them pretty thin as it is..... and i am just super hairy to begin with so I don't know.

Do you have irregular periods? they are starting to become that way since having my 4th child not super irregular but not consistent either.


it's the weight loss that is my red flag

[targo]

my big concern is that 3 yrs ago over the summer of 2004 I made a big effort to lose some weight I was walking only, about an hour 3-5times a week and cutting back on my carb intake but not changing things over and still snacking as i do now and having my coffee way sweeter than it is now and way more of it. And over the course of the summer I lost 30lbs I was fasting 1 day a week as well for church but still I was drinking juices and broth so it wasn't a complete fast.

But here i am 3 yrs later working way harder and eating way better and in the course of 5 months I have lost only 20lbs and 15 of it was the 15 I had gained back over 3 yrs. It's discouraging and disheartening to say the least and so now I feel the need to dig for a medical reason so I don't feel crazy and so I feel vindicated in my efforts instead of thinking I am just not good enough....

[Natrushka]

Hello, now you've got me wondering. How are the tests different from 50 years ago? Are you saying the present blood test isn't very sensitive? I have low energy and get SAD, although I don't have the brittle hair and nails someone else mentioned.

Jae Rae

Jae Rae, 50 years ago doctors gave you thyroid replacement hormone until you went hyper then backed you down to where you felt good. A very few good doctors use this method today, still, think of it as "optimal" vs. "normal".

Blood tests have a few problems, the primary one being that what is defined as 'normal' is skewed. In today's world "normal' contains sick people. Sensitivity isn't an issue, what is measured and what it is measured against, are.

Then you have doctors who test thyroid function with a TSH test - which isn't good for much other than first diagnosing auto immune thyroid disease. The 'normal' range for TSH runs anywhere from 0.2 - 5.5. That's because the group of 'normal' people contain 75 year old subclinical hypothyroid women. The range in progressive US labs has been changed to 0.2 - 2.7 (or there abouts, it has been narrowed a lot in the last few years). Bottom line from people who're being well treated, TSH is meaningless. I haven't had a TSH number for years (it was < 0.0001 last time it was tested).

As well, blood tests measure what's in your blood, not what's being used or what is useable. That's a big difference when it comes to normal vs optimal.

In your case, with the tiredness and the SAD, I would definitely look into vitamin D (http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamindmiracle.html#miracle). It's been shown to be superior to light therapy for SAD and a very little known fact about vit D; it isn't a vitamin at all, it's a hormone precursor. It's also necessary for proper thyroid and progesterone hormone function.

Anyone living over a latitude of 40 degrees should be taking supplemental vitamin D. Just about every Canadian city is over 40 degrees latitude, btw.

[Natrushka]

I don't take a vitamin D supplement but i do drink milk and am outside often. My body is pretty good at craving it's deficiencies.

I do know that my iron levels typically run low I have had those tested. Did you know that you can get an energy rush from Iron supplements?

Are you in BC? If you are - for some reason I think you are, don't know for sure though - then it would be physically impossible for you to make enough vit D from the sunlight available even if you danced outside on June 22nd naked from 11 - 3 pm. You might get a nasty burn though (not to mention what it might do for your popularity among the neighbours ;) )

From Weston Price (Vancouver is 49 degrees if memory serves):

In far northern or southern locations, latitudes 45 and higher, even summer sun is too weak to provide optimum levels of vitamin D.

As for food sources - if you're eating cod or drinking cod liver oil daily - or eating liver - it's hard to get 2,000 IUs of vit D from food.

Interesting about the iron. Ferritin is necessary for thyroid function. Just as necessary as vitamin D. And selenium. And iodine.


Do you have 'abnormal' cholesterol results? being 33 I haven't had it tested
I would lay money on it being abnormal. Which isn't alarming, just a sign of something else. High cholesterol ain't a risk factor for VCD, but inflammation is.


Do you have problems sleeping? Or are you tired when you wake up? Yes sleep has always been an issue for me.... never want to sleep yet am always tired.

That sounds right. Low iron / ferritin would contribute. Messed up sleep cycles affect hormones (not in a good way)

it's the weight loss that is my red flag

Honestly, that's respectable weight loss. I just think the means you need to go to in order to achieve it are extreme. I lose weight now restricting calories to around 1800 and doing 20 minutes cardio twice a week, two full body workouts (heavy mind you) a week. It used to take me 5 hours of cardio and four one hour weight workouts a week on 1200 cals to maintain. "Ain't Right"

[targo]

yes i am in BC southern BC but BC just the same

Now are all vitamin D's created equal as i have a multi vitamin with D-Pantothenic 12.5mg (d-calcium pantothenate)
as well as Vitamin D 400 I.U

[Natrushka]

my big concern is that 3 yrs ago over the summer of 2004 I made a big effort to lose some weight I was walking only, about an hour 3-5times a week and cutting back on my carb intake but not changing things over and still snacking as i do now and having my coffee way sweeter than it is now and way more of it. And over the course of the summer I lost 30lbs I was fasting 1 day a week as well for church but still I was drinking juices and broth so it wasn't a complete fast.

But here i am 3 yrs later working way harder and eating way better and in the course of 5 months I have lost only 20lbs and 15 of it was the 15 I had gained back over 3 yrs. It's discouraging and disheartening to say the least and so now I feel the need to dig for a medical reason so I don't feel crazy and so I feel vindicated in my efforts instead of thinking I am just not good enough....

You're not crazy, and more importantly, you're not LAZY.

My gut says the fast you were doing in 2004 made more of a difference than you may know. Fasting improves insulin sensitivity - at a molecular level. A fast with broth, with some fats, even some protein, does the same (just avoid the carbs and it's a fast, keep the cals really low though, or it's just low carb :D )

Do you have any idea just how many calories you are eating? If not, FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal (http://www.fitday.com) can help you figure out a few typical days. The calories aren't the only story, what they are made of matters. You need the protein grams and you need the essential fats, the rest depends on your genetic makeup and what makes you feel the most comfortable.

[Natrushka]

yes i am in BC southern BC but BC just the same

Now are all vitamin D's created equal as i have a multi vitamin with D-Pantothenic 12.5mg (d-calcium pantothenate)
as well as Vitamin D 400 I.U

Vit D is either D2 or D3, one is synthetic (d2) one is not. You always want to supplement with D3. And if you can get the lovely Dr.Wang to test you... that would be even better. The test is called "25(OH)D" and I know for a fact it's done there (and covered).

Read the weston price article on Vitamin D. You'll see some interesting symptoms of low levels.

[targo]

well I see my account is still there... I haven't used it in a long time I really should look at it again

thanks

[targo]

it's one a day and it doesn't specify a D2 or D3 on it

[Natrushka]

Hmm, who makes it? Does it say cholecalciferol (D3) or maybe ergocalciferol (D2)?

[Jae Rae]

Jae Rae, 50 years ago doctors gave you thyroid replacement hormone until you went hyper then backed you down to where you felt good. A very few good doctors use this method today, still, think of it as "optimal" vs. "normal".

Blood tests have a few problems, the primary one being that what is defined as 'normal' is skewed. In today's world "normal' contains sick people. Sensitivity isn't an issue, what is measured and what it is measured against, are.

Then you have doctors who test thyroid function with a TSH test - which isn't good for much other than first diagnosing auto immune thyroid disease. The 'normal' range for TSH runs anywhere from 0.2 - 5.5. That's because the group of 'normal' people contain 75 year old subclinical hypothyroid women. The range in progressive US labs has been changed to 0.2 - 2.7 (or there abouts, it has been narrowed a lot in the last few years). Bottom line from people who're being well treated, TSH is meaningless. I haven't had a TSH number for years (it was < 0.0001 last time it was tested).

As well, blood tests measure what's in your blood, not what's being used or what is useable. That's a big difference when it comes to normal vs optimal.

In your case, with the tiredness and the SAD, I would definitely look into vitamin D (http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamindmiracle.html#miracle). It's been shown to be superior to light therapy for SAD and a very little known fact about vit D; it isn't a vitamin at all, it's a hormone precursor. It's also necessary for proper thyroid and progesterone hormone function.

Thank you for the information. I ran into a friend who told me she'd had a normal test, but still felt tired. She went to a different doctor who checked other levels and she ended up on Armor (sp?). She feels a lot better.

Not to rant about HMOs, but I feel I get the bare minimum of care. Recently I went for a gyn. and I raised this issue with my nurse practitioner, but she said I was in range. My primary care doctor didn't flag my TSH result, just my cholesterol. The lesson is follow through, follow through, follow through.

I'm going to get some Vitamin D today. I live in a temperate area, not Canada, but it can't hurt.

Thanks again for the lead.

Jae Rae

[targo]

Hmm, who makes it? Does it say cholecalciferol (D3) or maybe ergocalciferol (D2)?


it doesn't say... it's made by Bayer Standard

[Natrushka]

Thank you for the information. I ran into a friend who told me she'd had a normal test, but still felt tired. She went to a different doctor who checked other levels and she ended up on Armor (sp?). She feels a lot better.

Not to rant about HMOs, but I feel I get the bare minimum of care. Recently I went for a gyn. and I raised this issue with my nurse practitioner, but she said I was in range. My primary care doctor didn't flag my TSH result, just my cholesterol. The lesson is follow through, follow through, follow through.

I'm going to get some Vitamin D today. I live in a temperate area, not Canada, but it can't hurt.

Thanks again for the lead.

Jae Rae

You're fortunate to live in California, there are a number of very good doctors in CA.

A prime example of how much better off a thyroid patient was 50 years ago. The first sign you might be hypothyroid? High cholesterol.

P.S. To find your latitude you can punch your city in at the USGS. (http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq)

[targo]

well I just did a rough guesstimate of my caloric intake and it's about 1600 cals/day with my rough guesstimation of calories expelled in a day at 2800 that leaves 1200 excess calories a day doing nothing. Now of course there are days where I will consume more than 1600 calories and days when I don't exercise as hard b/c I am out and about doing other things.

[Natrushka]

That, if it is a real deficit, is far too much. The longer you diet, the more of a deficit you create, the more your metabolism will compensate and slow. Typically that slow down is temporary, the body adjusts, figures there really isn't a famine on the way, and upregulates again. However, this isn't always the case for hypothyroids, and it certainly takes a lot longer to get back to normal maintenance (if you ever do).

Worse still, 'starvation' sends messages to the brain, which lowers TSH, to slow metabolism, which results in FT4 rising and FT3 lowering (because it doesn't get converted from T4 to T3). You go see a doctor because you're tired and you can't lose weight and he tests your TSH and maybe looks at your FT4 / T4 and 'poof' - you're normal.

[Athenian200]

I am just curious if anyone around here know and thing about underactive thyroids? I ask b/c for some reason I have it in my mind that I may have a thyroid issue. My doctor had questioned it a few years ago but dismissed it at that time as being nothing, I didn't bring it up at all she did. That had to have been 4yrs ago now.

My biggest stumbling block has been because i have been working so hard to lose weight, harder than most people do and have lost only a fraction of the weight that many others do... so it just makes me wonder that is all. I have done limited research online and have found some more things about me that seem to fit, but realize that only a DR can and should diagnose such a thing

so I was checking to see what people know

I don't know much first hand, but this article talks about it in-depth... have a look.

Losing Weight with Hypothyroidism: How an Underactive Thyroid Can Affect Weight Loss (http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/losingweight.htm)

EDIT: Nevermind, it sounds like other people responded already... I really shouldn't have just responded to the first post, huh? Sorry, I tend to do that sometimes.

[Natrushka]

It's an informative article, Athenian.

[Sandy]

My Mom has hypothyroidism - however her first tests came out within normal ranges. After her doctor got her a second round of more in-depth tests, they found it. She chose not to take any more medications to control it, mainly because she is taking so many other medications, she doesn't want to take more (she's schizophrenic and takes a LOT of meds). I think she is just trying to control her intake.

[Natrushka]

Sandy, do you think is someone were able to explain to her that thyroid hormones aren't medications it might help?

Even synthetic thyroid brands / formulations (synthroid, eltroxin, levothyroid, etc) are bioidentical to what the body makes. You're not taking a medication, you're taking what your body can't make (and needs).

[Wandering]

Ugh, doctors and hypothyroidism :steam:

[rant]

I was 29 when it started. I had given birth to my son 7 months before. There are several cases of thyroid dysfunction in my mom's family. I was much more than just tired, I was exhausted. Doctors do blood tests. "Nope, everything's fine". O-kaaayyyyy.... I go back again, they do blood tests again, everything's fine again... Repeat cycle I don't know how many times... All the time I'm getting steadily worse, up to the point where I'm no longer able to FUNCTION at all! I mean, even sleeping was tiring me. Even the IDEA of sleeping was tiring me!! Finally, I go back in one last time. This time, I pray to God (literally!) that please please PLEASE let the blood tests show something wrong! And finally, they did. Hypothyroidism. DUH!!!! Like I didn't know it already!! So I'm finally allowed to take hormones. But you know, "you start with 25 and then we do blood tests and we see if you need more." Yeah, right! Thanks to an acquaintance of mine who is a doctor (radiologist), I get additional prescriptions, so I can regulate my levels according to what my body is telling me. Basically, every 3 weeks, my body would say "feeling hypo again, let's augment the dose, shall we?" It went on for a few months, and I went very high, but then my body started saying "ah, feeling hyper now, let's reduce", so I started lowering my dosage. Finally I reached a level where I was feeling just fine. But my endocrinologist wasn't happy, because, guess what, my blood levels indicated hyperthyroidism! ARGH!!! Don't they EVER learn???? He even made me lower my dose just a bit, and I did, and sure enough when I came back to see him 6 weeks later, I was a zombie. His conclusion: something else must be wrong. Yeah, like, maybe you should stop treating me according to NUMBERS :17026: !?!? I AM NOT A NUMBER!!!! Can you believe that he went so far as to imply that I was actually taking too much because I was looking for a boosting effect :SaiyanSmilie_anim: !? Yeah, like hyper is SUCH a wonderful feeling, NOT!!!!

I'm angry, I'm really really angry. I missed out on SO many things in my son's first years, and I lost all my strength and stamina, and all of this put an incredible burden on my husband. I KNEW right from the beginning that it was my thyroid, but NO, if the numbers don't say so, then it ain't so. GRR!!

[INTJMom]

I don't blame you for feeling that way. I would be angry, too.

I have been exhausted for 20 years. All my blood test results are in the normal range.

Is it possible the reason Targo is having a harder time losing weight is because of her age? I know that women say it gets really hard to lose weight after age 35, and I've experienced that myself, so I think there's something to it. I know she's only 33, but it could be a contributing factor.

[Wandering]

I have been exhausted for 20 years. All my blood test results are in the normal range.
That's my biggest fear. Right now things are improving again, but I'm scared things might go wrong again and I might not find a way to make them better again. How do you deal with it??

Is it possible the reason Targo is having a harder time losing weight is because of her age? I know that women say it gets really hard to lose weight after age 35, and I've experienced that myself, so I think there's something to it. I know she's only 33, but it could be a contributing factor.
I think so too. Not to mention the 4 pregnancies. And do I remember reading something about gestational diabetes? I would imagine that all of this would limit her "weightloss reactivity", if you see what I mean by that.

[targo]

well what I did realize is that I have a higher muscle mass and I only really had 30lbs to lose not the 40+ that I thought. I realized that i was putting on muscle and am at my last 10lbs. My diet isn't the greatest b/c I don't want to relapse and fail so while i have made a lot of healthier choices and for the most part it's good, it could be better.

[Wandering]

well what I did realize is that I have a higher muscle mass and I only really had 30lbs to lose not the 40+ that I thought. I realized that i was putting on muscle and am at my last 10lbs.
Aha! That explains a lot! If you're muscular, then of course you're going to be heavier, but in a good way. It's always important when going on a diet to remember that weight is not everything.

My diet isn't the greatest b/c I don't want to relapse and fail so while i have made a lot of healthier choices and for the most part it's good, it could be better.
But, in a way, isn't that the best diet for you? If you know that after your weightloss diet is over, you won't stick to a Perfectly Healthy Diet, then isn't it better to learn to lose weight on a less-than-perfect diet? That way, it should be far easier to KEEP the weight OFF, once you've lost all the weight you want, because there won't be any major change in your eating habits, which is usually what ends up getting people to put the weight back on. What do you think? Isn't it better if it takes a bit longer, but also sticks longer?

[INTJMom]

... How do you deal with it??...I used to have to take a nap every afternoon, but I have been better recently. I just try to keep improving my diet and drinking more water. I need to add exercise to my regimen.

[Wandering]

I used to have to take a nap every afternoon, but I have been better recently.
My circadian rhythm is so messed up that any nap in the afternoon is garanteed to prevent me from going to sleep at night. Can you say annoying :D ?

I just try to keep improving my diet and drinking more water. I need to add exercise to my regimen.
But where do you find the *energy* to implement those changes :( ? I mean, even when I know what to do, it tires me so much to actually do it that I just give up. Exercise, in particular, just kills me!

Ah well... Every day is a new day! Maybe I'll manage to do today what I failed to do yesterday. And if not, maybe I'll manage to do it tomorrow :) !

Good luck to you, and may the energy be with you! ;) :cheers:

[Sandy]

Sandy, do you think is someone were able to explain to her that thyroid hormones aren't medications it might help?

Even synthetic thyroid brands / formulations (synthroid, eltroxin, levothyroid, etc) are bioidentical to what the body makes. You're not taking a medication, you're taking what your body can't make (and needs).

I'm sorry I missed this, Natrushka! Yes, we all have tried to explain to her about this, however... you gotta know that my Mom is very paranoid (she thinks the govt. is doing awful things to her) and it is a chore for for us to make sure she takes her normal meds for her psychosis. Adding one more "pill" to her already long list of meds is out of the question for her, so I don't argue with her anymore.

[GirlAmerica]

Just wanted to add:

my primary doctor kept me within the 'normal' range also...but I felt like crap all the time (let alone I couldnt add up my checkbook to save my life!) so...he sent me to see an endocrinologist.......she very much understood that everyone's normal was different within that normal range. The range is quiet broad really, in how it made me feel anyhow.

[INTJMom]

My circadian rhythm is so messed up that any nap in the afternoon is guaranteed to prevent me from going to sleep at night. Can you say annoying :D ?Just when I thought I was in the clear, I had to lay down and take a nap this afternoon. I am PMSing though, and sometimes that can really drain me.

The secret is to take a 45 minute power nap. Set a timer. I usually set my timer on 60 minutes.
If I'm tired enough to fall asleep, great. If not, I still feel somewhat rested.
Any more sleep than that, and I too can't get to sleep at night, which of course causes a vicious cycle.

But where do you find the *energy* to implement those changes :( ? I mean, even when I know what to do, it tires me so much to actually do it that I just give up. Exercise, in particular, just kills me! Yeah. I usually give up, too.
It doesn't require too much energy to put frozen broccoli in my grocery cart and microwave it for 7 minutes when I'm making dinner.

Ah well... Every day is a new day! Maybe I'll manage to do today what I failed to do yesterday. And if not, maybe I'll manage to do it tomorrow :) !

Good luck to you, and may the energy be with you! ;) :cheers:And you, too!
I'm going to be 50 in 13 months, and I think I'm getting psyched up to get my life in order by then - that includes my house and my body.

I'm going to try increasing my magnesium intake because of the migraines I get but I was reading that it gives energy, too, so I'm hopeful that it will help.

I'd rather use good nutrition than meds to solve my physical problems.

[Wandering]

The secret is to take a 45 minute power nap.
I really should try that. My husband does it too, and it works wonders for him too.

It doesn't require too much energy to put frozen broccoli in my grocery cart and microwave it for 7 minutes when I'm making dinner.
True :D I see we use the same tricks ;)

I'm going to be 50 in 13 months, and I think I'm getting psyched up to get my life in order by then - that includes my house and my body.
I'm 33... No wait :shock: ! I'm 34! Man, I wrote in my intro post that I'm 33, but I turned 34 a month ago already!! Wow, that's scary, if I can't even keep track of my own age :doh: ... So anyway, I'm 34, and I want *want* WANT another kid, so that's my motivation to get things running more smoothly *soon*.

I'm going to try increasing my magnesium intake because of the migraines I get but I was reading that it gives energy, too, so I'm hopeful that it will help.
Oh yeah, lack of magnesium can definitely make you tired!

I'd rather use good nutrition than meds to solve my physical problems.
I hear you :) !

[Sandy]

And you, too!
I'm going to be 50 in 13 months, and I think I'm getting psyched up to get my life in order by then - that includes my house and my body.
50! Congratulations in advance! =)


I'm going to try increasing my magnesium intake because of the migraines I get but I was reading that it gives energy, too, so I'm hopeful that it will help.

I'd rather use good nutrition than meds to solve my physical problems.
I hear that! For supplements, I am a HUGE fan of potassium/magnesium/calcium combination -- it gives me a lot of energy, and I can sleep like a baby at night.

[Jae Rae]

Is that magnesium/potassium/calcium supplement all in one?

Thanks,

Jae Rae

[INTJMom]

Mag helps Calcium absorption, but for people who need more Mag, they say take the Calcium at a different time of day.

[Jae Rae]

Sandy, is that what you do? Or do you take all together? I'm not much for pills or supplements, so all-in-one sounds better to me.

Jae Rae

[anii]

I take levothyroxine. I was given the runaround for over 15 years on this because the standard, HMO-approved TSH tests always came up *normal*.

IMO, if you really want to get accurate and exhaustive thyroid testing, you need to see a specialist - an endocrinologist. They will test you on at least 3 levels, not just the standard TSH one.

Ask your PCP for a referral; if they won't give you one, you may have to pay out of pocket - as I did - to get the initial labs done by the specialist. I was able to negotiate a less frequent check-up schedule in order to save money. Once the doc has found the correct dose needed to stabilize your thyroid levels (it took me about 3 visits over 12 months), you really only have to pay for the refills.

Good luck.

[Sandy]

eGads! I didn't see this question from Jae Rae, however she PMd me and I responded with this:

(re: calcium, magnesium and potassium supplements)... I take each supplement separately. (There may be a supplement out there with all three, but I hadn't checked into it). In fact, I initially had cut each supplement in half and took them in the morning first to see how I felt (I felt so much better after a couple of days), and then I started taking the other half in the evening, and man... I was able to sleep like a baby. Now, I still take a half tab of the potassium and magnesium in the morning and evening but I take a full 500 mg of calcium in the morning AND evening (my family is prone to osteoporosis, so I figured it can't hurt!)

Also, I use to have aches in my bones... I use to attribute it to growing pains, but as I got to be an adult, I found out that I had classic restless leg syndrome. Taking this combination of vitamins stopped the pain cold. I don't take any other vitamin supplement except for vitamin C. Oh, I do take a zinc losenge when I start getting cold symptoms, and that stops the symptoms. That's it!

[INTJMom]

eGads! I didn't see this question from Jae Rae, however she PMd me and I responded with this:

(re: calcium, magnesium and potassium supplements)... I take each supplement separately. (There may be a supplement out there with all three, but I hadn't checked into it). In fact, I initially had cut each supplement in half and took them in the morning first to see how I felt (I felt so much better after a couple of days), and then I started taking the other half in the evening, and man... I was able to sleep like a baby. Now, I still take a half tab of the potassium and magnesium in the morning and evening but I take a full 500 mg of calcium in the morning AND evening (my family is prone to osteoporosis, so I figured it can't hurt!)

Also, I use to have aches in my bones... I use to attribute it to growing pains, but as I got to be an adult, I found out that I had classic restless leg syndrome. Taking this combination of vitamins stopped the pain cold. I don't take any other vitamin supplement except for vitamin C. Oh, I do take a zinc losenge when I start getting cold symptoms, and that stops the symptoms. That's it!How careful are you about the brands you use? Do you go to the health food store, or just get whatever they have at the grocery store?

I guess I'm asking if the expensive supplements appear to work better than the inexpensive ones.

By the way: I'm craving black licorice!
What's up with that?

[Jae Rae]

Licorice supposedly improves the sex drive. [smile.]

Jae Rae

[INTJMom]

Licorice supposedly improves the sex drive. [smile.]

Jae Rae:smile: My husband will be happy about that!

[INTJMom]

Get a look at this!

"Those with experience in licorice root processing have determined that glycyrrhizin exists in licorice root in the form of mixed potassium-magnesium-calcium salts."
Potassium-magnesium-calcium glycyrrhizin - Patent 4176228 (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4176228.html)

[Jae Rae]

Get a look at this!

"Those with experience in licorice root processing have determined that glycyrrhizin exists in licorice root in the form of mixed potassium-magnesium-calcium salts."
Potassium-magnesium-calcium glycyrrhizin - Patent 4176228 (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4176228.html)

Good find.

And licorice is more delicious than supplements. :yes:

Another interesting twist is some forms of licorice are salty.

Jae Rae

[Sandy]

How careful are you about the brands you use? Do you go to the health food store, or just get whatever they have at the grocery store?

I guess I'm asking if the expensive supplements appear to work better than the inexpensive ones.

By the way: I'm craving black licorice!
What's up with that?

I've been using the Spring Valley Natural brand (Wal-Mart or online):

Potassium 99 mg (cut in half)
Magnesium 400 mg (cut in half) this also includes Zinc 15 mg
Oyster Shell Calcium 500+D (Calcium 500 mg + D 400 I.U.) full tab twice-a-day

Now, if you are more into the natural foods, I would suggest eating plenty of potato skins, bananas and cantaloupe for natural potassium (yummy) and plenty of black or red beans as well as tomatoes and tasty spinach for magnesium. Hmm... I'm hungry.

(I've never been a fan of black licorice -- you can have all of mine!) :smile:

[Sandy]

BTW, I eat a wide variety of foods that contain calcium, magnesium and potassium... however I think my body just needs more; I would be huge if I ate the way I wanted to! Supplements, thankfully, seem to work for me.

[Oberon]

My wife once wondered aloud if she was having thyroid problems.

I looked at her legs and said "I think your thigh-roids are fine. It's your butt-roid that's getting out of hand."

I didn't see her for two days after that.

On the third day, the swelling went down a little and I could see her some with my left eye...

[Jae Rae]

She aimed too high.

Jae Rae