Hashimotos and PCOS

[herself]

So I was wondering why I wasnt losing weight and finally saw an.endocrinologist who diagnosed me with both of these and both affect metabolism.

I did get on Synthroid but seem to be gaining when normally synthroid makes you lose weight?

I am a die hard gym person but since getting on synthroid I have felt exhausted and depressed and have only been going to the gym about 3 to 4 days a week as opposed to daily.

Am I destined to be fat then?

[genuinelyloverly7]

Hello herself- I want to offer you some support and empathy. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago, and it answered a lot of questions about the issues I was having, but left me with a ton of questions about what I could do about it. And as I am a huge foodie (chef/baker) and health foodie, I looked there first. This was/is supported by the fact that even conventional medical doctors will tell you that the best way to deal with PCOS is to pursue a low carb diet- the sugars from refined carbs are a killer to insulin and other hormone production and regulation. But the traditional low carb (see high fat) diets aren't balanced enough to provide long term live-ability, IMO.

 

So how did I/do I maintain health and wellness with this predilection to hormone malfunction in my body, my temple? I eat a mainly raw vegan diet. NOT 100%, not extreme. But I eat a ton of seeds, nuts, and quinoa as my staple grain-type thing (quinoa is not a grain- it is a seed like sesame), and fresh fruits and salads and green smoothies, and do a lot of cardio- co-ed soccer, and Bikram Yoga being some of my favorites- I got the Bikram CD and do it in my bathroom as I am an hour away from a studio. And when I do eat meat or grain, or even dairy (I shouldn't because I am lactose intolerant, but sometimes life just happens that way... or I am weak in the face of feta), I try to make sure it is either a) sustainably raised and processed, and/or b) in minimal amounts. AND I realized that to choose this lifestyle and choice is a process, not a final goal.

 

Stay strong, and try to wean off the meds. They always come with nasty side effects, both known and unknown. I am not a doctor, so I am not trying to tell you what to do with your health (not really anyway; just giving a suggestion), but I encourage you to look at the more natural, easier to sustain way of dealing with it. I have been eating a mostly raw vegan diet for almost 7 years, and can immediately tell the effects of slipping into eating my favorite SAD (Standard American Diet) foods. My energy and overall feeling of wellness drops quickly, and my thoughts and emotions get all fuzzy...

 

As a response to Hashimoto's, I don't know as much about it, other than it is a thyroid issue also relating to hormonal function. Look into seaweeds as a natural source of iodine, after you find out if you need more or less, of course.

 

You will get so many other benefits from it (eating and dealing with your illness naturally) that it is just my personal choice as a response to illness. And because I love it, and believe in it, I tell everyone.

 

You don't have to be a 'vegan' to do this. You don't have to be a 'hippie' to do this. You just have to want better health. The rest is just side effects.

Edited October 6, 2014 by genuinelyloverly7
spelling/added a line

[FitChick]

There is so much bad advice in the previous post that I don't know where to begin.

 

I have Hashimoto's and take Nature-throid, a natural pig thyroid hormone. Sadly, most doctors don't know how to prescribe it. Armour is another brand. Natural thyroid gives you both T3 and T4. Your endo should know what your free T3 and free T4 levels are. You might need to supplement with Cytomel for T3 since Synthroid is only T4.

 

As far as being vegan, you cannot eat raw cruciferous veg like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale. You can eat them cooked, however.

 

Is your endo starting you on a very low dose and building up? It can take several months to find your optimal dose and you need to keep getting blood drawn monthly to test your levels.

 

Also, just taking pills won't make you lose weight. You still have to diet. Before I took my meds, I lost one pound per week cutting calories and workout out. Nothing extreme. When I was optimally dosed with my thyroid meds, doing exactly the same thing I lost two pounds per week. No miracles!

 

PCOS is another story. I don't know much about it beyond you needing your hormones balanced, perhaps adding natural progesterone? An endo should know.

Edited October 6, 2014 by FitChick

[Hope Shimmers]

I presume that you are having your T3, T4, and TSH levels monitored to make sure that your thyroid supplement dose is appropriate. It can take awhile to get it there.

 

You have a double whammy with PCOS too. Are you aware of the hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance physiology behind PCOS and how to control that with diet? Carbohydrates are the enemy in this disorder - especially simple carbs but also complex carbs to an extent - because they spike glucose, thus raising insulin levels and ultimately further contributing to insulin resistance. This is a physically exhausting process because of how glucose is inappropriately stored and utilized. Stick to foods with low glycemic index (do a google search - lots of info on it). Cardio/exercise also helps combat hyperinsulinemia and increases metabolism. This is really the only way to lose weight with PCOS.

[herself]

I was only diagnosed with both a month ago.

Ive been reading and have a follow up with endo this week where I have plenty more questions. It can be overwhelming it seems I can eat nothing.

I am going to be doing well though.

Just 50mg of synthroid and she will take more blood to check levels. She seemed very good and knowledgeable.

Thank you so much for your feedback everyone.

[Els]

Stay strong, and try to wean off the meds. They always come with nasty side effects, both known and unknown.

 

This is terrible advice. OP, do NOT do this. If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's and found to need thyroid hormone replacement, it's not something that you can 'wean yourself off of'. Seaweed is only a supplement, NOT a replacement - it does have iodine in it but if your thyroid gland is already dysfunctional due to Hashimoto's disease, extra iodine is not going to make much difference unless you were severely lacking in iodine before. Which would be unlikely, as most of the salt sold in the developed world is iodized.

 

It is odd that your synthroid is causing you to be depressed and lethargic - usually it works the opposite way. Could it be a symptom of PCOS instead? Regardless, if the medicine is a concern to you, then talk to your doctor the next time you see her about it.

 

Also, while exercise is important for health, diet affects your weight much more than exercise does. It isn't ideal, but if you absolutely have to, it's still possible to maintain your weight through a good diet without exercising.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Elswyth

[writergal]

For goodness sake, STAY on your medication! You can't cure yourself of thyroid disease and PCOS with a vegan diet. I'm so anti-vegan it's not even funny. Do not go vegan. That is the WORST thing you can do because the base of all vegan food is soy. And soy is poison to the functionality of the thyroid gland.

 

I've had thyroid disease and PCOS for years and I have never been advised to follow a raw vegan or vegan diet to cure my thyroid. Also, do not eat mini meals. That's bad advice too.

 

The idea of mini meals throughout the day is that it boosts the metabolism but that couldn't be further from the truth. Your metabolism either works or doesn't work, based on the hormones leptin and reverse T3. Leptin is what regulates your metabolism -- not 6 meals a day.

 

From the article I link to below:

 

The hormone leptin has been found to be a major regulator of body weight and metabolism. Leptin is secreted by fat cells and the levels of leptin increase with the accumulation of fat. The increased leptin secretion that occurs with increased weight normally feeds-back to the hypothalamus as a signal that there are adequate energy (fat) stores. This stimulates the body to burn fat rather than continue to store excess fat, and stimulates thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) to increase thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid production.

 

Studies are finding, however, that the majority of overweight individuals who are having difficulty losing weight have varying degrees of leptin resistance, where leptin has a diminished ability to affect the hypothalamus and regulate metabolism. This leptin resistance results in the hypothalamus sensing starvation, so multiple mechanisms are activated to increase fat stores, as the body tries to reverse the perceived state of starvation.

 

Obviously, you want to eat a high fiber diet (thyroid disease causes constipation), meat, dairy for the calcium, and also make sure your Vitamin D levels are normal. If you have a low Vitamin D level, that impacts how well your metabolism works and how your body absorbs other nutrients and calcium.

 

Vegan diets rely on "goitrogenic foods." Big no-no!! You don't want to eat "goitrogenic foods" which are foods that cause the thyroid gland to enlarge or cause a 'goiter' or lump on the thyroid. Goitrogenic foods include: all cruciferous vegetables like broccolli, califlower, kale, and cabbage and soy. Soy is bad for the thyroid, even in healthy people. You definitely don't want to eat those foods raw either.

 

I suggest you read everything by Mary Shomon. She's an advocate for thyroid and PCOS sufferers. She has a newsletter you can subscribe to and she interviews a lot of doctors and experts about thyroid related matters.

 

PCOS Support - Overcome Your PCOS Symptoms | PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

 

Long-Term Weight-Loss for Thyroid Patients

[herself]

For goodness sake, STAY on your medication! You can't cure yourself of thyroid disease and PCOS with a vegan diet. I'm so anti-vegan it's not even funny. Do not go vegan. That is the WORST thing you can do because the base of all vegan food is soy. And soy is poison to the functionality of the thyroid gland.

 

I've had thyroid disease and PCOS for years and I have never been advised to follow a raw vegan or vegan diet to cure my thyroid. Also, do not eat mini meals. That's bad advice too.

 

The idea of mini meals throughout the day is that it boosts the metabolism but that couldn't be further from the truth. Your metabolism either works or doesn't work, based on the hormones leptin and reverse T3. Leptin is what regulates your metabolism -- not 6 meals a day.

 

From the article I link to below:

 

 

 

Obviously, you want to eat a high fiber diet (thyroid disease causes constipation), meat, dairy for the calcium, and also make sure your Vitamin D levels are normal. If you have a low Vitamin D level, that impacts how well your metabolism works and how your body absorbs other nutrients and calcium.

 

Vegan diets rely on "goitrogenic foods." Big no-no!! You don't want to eat "goitrogenic foods" which are foods that cause the thyroid gland to enlarge or cause a 'goiter' or lump on the thyroid. Goitrogenic foods include: all cruciferous vegetables like broccolli, califlower, kale, and cabbage and soy. Soy is bad for the thyroid, even in healthy people. You definitely don't want to eat those foods raw either.

 

I suggest you read everything by Mary Shomon. She's an advocate for thyroid and PCOS sufferers. She has a newsletter you can subscribe to and she interviews a lot of doctors and experts about thyroid related matters.

 

PCOS Support - Overcome Your PCOS Symptoms | PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

 

Long-Term Weight-Loss for Thyroid Patients

 

Thank you so much for this advice, already started reading the recommended articles and author

[FitChick]

My endocrinologist said that many of his patients go gluten free and feel better. I am not willing to make that sacrifice. Life without a butter croissant wouldn't be worth living.

[writergal]

My endocrinologist said that many of his patients go gluten free and feel better. I am not willing to make that sacrifice. Life without a butter croissant wouldn't be worth living.

 

I worship butter croissants every chance I get. Long live GLUTEN!

 

There's so much misinformation out there about thyroid care it astounds me. You know? Even some endocrinologists give out bad medical advice. But I've found quite a few books on thyroid disease and nutrition that have helped me deal with the weight and fatigue issues.

[herself]

Kinda confused why I am on metformin.

I dont have pain in ovaries or trouble with periods no female trouble at all and tubes are tied so not trying to conceive so will metformin just help the insulin resistance?

[pureinheart]

So I was wondering why I wasnt losing weight and finally saw an.endocrinologist who diagnosed me with both of these and both affect metabolism.

I did get on Synthroid but seem to be gaining when normally synthroid makes you lose weight?

I am a die hard gym person but since getting on synthroid I have felt exhausted and depressed and have only been going to the gym about 3 to 4 days a week as opposed to daily.

Am I destined to be fat then?

 

Thyroid issues are a trip. I'm the opposite of you (Graves Disease hyperthyroid) and have been back and forth most of my life (from hyper to hypo) which can be common.

 

All I can tell you is, it takes time. When they first started me on the meds for 'hyper' I hated them, they made me pass out (literally). This made it hard to work, or do anything for that matter. I searched for alternatives and eventually found what worked for me...we are all different, what works for one may not be as effective for another. It's basically trial and error.

 

I know you like to work out, but my advice would be to chill on that for a bit, or slow down. With me, hard/heavy workouts made me worse in the beginning.

 

This is more (IMO) than just a metabolism issue, your body is sick right now due to the hormones being all messed up...you don't have enough and I had too much. It takes time for your body to adjust and there is no quick fix.

 

When first being diagnosed I was freaked out to say the least and like with most treatments we start feeling better within days...not with this.

 

Please stay away from soy products because they slow you down and please keep in mind that even natural treatments may be too strong. Our systems are delicate and with this, the doctor does know best...I had a friend with Hashimoto's and she did a lot of research...the Armour brand worked the best for her.

[Hope Shimmers]

Kinda confused why I am on metformin.

I dont have pain in ovaries or trouble with periods no female trouble at all and tubes are tied so not trying to conceive so will metformin just help the insulin resistance?

 

Yes. Insulin resistance is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack, etc) and development of type 2 diabetes over time. Metformin slows the development of hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance which ultimately leads to these other conditions.

 

Even if you are not trying to conceive, getting those insulin levels in check is critical for those reasons.

 

For people who are trying to conceive, metformin alone or metformin with clomiphene (Clomid) can induce ovulation working by the same mechanism.

[FitChick]

I was freaked out when I was diagnosed until my endo said, "The thyroid is the only organ you can replace with a pill."

[Hope Shimmers]

I was freaked out when I was diagnosed until my endo said, "The thyroid is the only organ you can replace with a pill."

 

Yes.

 

The OP's bigger issue by far (health-wise) is her PCOS.