The Unique Role of Fiber in Weight Loss With Hypothyroidism: Is Fiber the Key to A Successful Diet?
Saturday April 30, 2005
Getting a good amount of fiber is one of the basic tactics things you can do as a thyroid patient if you want to lose weight. Fiber has so many benefits for those of us with hypothyroidism who are trying to lose weight. Find out about the benefits of fiber, the linkage of fiber to weight loss, how much fiber is actually involved, and what sorts of fiber supplements you might want to consider. Read the article now
Comments
I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Before now, I exceeded the recommended daily allowance for fiber. But, after being treated for the last 4 weeks with Synthroid, I’ve stopped eating as much fiber. The precautions on the insert for this medication say that fiber can lower the efficacy of this medication. How then are we supposed to stay healthy and have a high-fiber diet?
As a reply to Alison G- You ask a good question which is foremost to be answered specifically for your situation by your Endocrinologist or the physician who is directing the treatment of your Hashimoto’s with your Synthroid medication. That said, I have Hashimoto’s and I am taking Synthroid, and in my own experience, it is best for me to take it first thing in the morning far before eating any foods, as recommended.
Your health professional may or may not want you to continue a reasonable (not excessive) fiber diet. If they do, I would expect you should simply consume your fiber supplements at the opposite time of day from when you choose to take your Synthroid. Without getting specific here, you should generally take your Synthroid medication at least +/- 1hr. without any food because of the potential for almost anything to interfere with how well it is absorbed in your body.
Unfortunately, it isn’t black and white, and Hashimoto’s is somewhat unique to every individual. You must now balance your medication with a well-balanced diet. In this case, it involves actually managing the time of day you choose to take you medication, and the time of day you take you supplements, and the time of day you eat.
Best of luck!
Hi, I was diagnosed with papillary/follicular thyroid carcinoma in November 2006, since then i have had two surgeries to remove both sides of my thyroid gland. I am currently on 137mg of Synthroid. Since the removal of my thyroid gland I have gained approximately 60 pounds and i have tried limiting my calory intake and doing some exercise but I still don’t have the energy to do vigorous exercises. Do you have any suggestions that I could try??
Kim….if you keep gaining weight eating normally then your Synthroid meds are not at the right dose! Your doctor needs to check your TSH levels and adjust that dosage. I had a total thyroidectomy last December/2007. My specialist just lowered my dose of Synthroid because it was too high, and I had started to gain weight, I was tired, I was hot/then cold…I felt better right away. I was at the 137 too, and now am on the 125. Have it checked, you may be surprised. I am now running a mile a day and have never done that.
hi:) my mum has hypotyroid but she dont know what she can eat due to hypotyroid ? which foods are avaliable for hypotyroid ? thanks
hi:) my mum has hypotyroid but she dont know what she can eat due to hypotyroid ? which foods are available for hypotyroid ? thanks a lot
please answer my question it is too important for me
I would like to hear from Judith. I went to my regular md because I couldn’t lose weight and found my thyroid was under active. My regular doctor put me on synthroid and I still couldn’t lose weight. I was sent to an Endocrinologist and she changed my meds to levothyroxine. I am up to 125mcg and I feel worse than I did before. My energy bottoms out in the afternoon and I feel like I need to take a nap and my eyes burn because I’m so tired.
I also have type 2 diabeties. I’ve been told to lose weight I would have to get the lap band surgery and I should exercise. I’ve been going to a class at a gym and they make us run. At least once a week we run 3 miles. My energy still hasn’t improved and I’ve not lost any weight.
Is my Endocrinologist over medicating me or should I ask to be switched back to Synthroid?
Any suggestions of what I can ask my doctor because I have no quality of life now. I can barely make it through the day and I also can go from hot to cold in a few seconds.
Hello–
For Derya: have your mum start with protein rich foods. My doctor has me on a 120g carb diet a day (I may eat up to 120g in total) and it has made quite a difference with my digestion/quality of life.
For Jean: yikes…synthetics are NOT working for you. You must be vocal and get the help you deserve, no one should suffer like that! Speak to you GP/Endo about switching to Armour to regain your strength & retake your life. Once you feel better you can tackle the other issues, but get your well-being back first!
i have been on levothyroxine @100mcg for about 3 months and have been having what i assumed were hot flashes. while i am of premenapausal age could the hot flashes also be caused by the med?
interesting question in regard to synthroid and the lexo whatever the name is. my dr switched my perscription from synthroid to the other brand and i went back to feeling horrible. the pharmasist suggested that the binders in the drugs are actually different and will effect you. switch sooner rather than later, it takes you back to square one if it goes on too long
In 1994 after I had my first child I had noticed a bump on my thyroid which turned out to be a goiter. After seeing and dealing with doctors and being on medication, the goiter had become too large and I had it removed in 1998, 4 years after I found it. When I went in for surgery they found a total of 3 goiters. So most of the right side of my thyroid has been removed. I was back on medication, and feeling good and at my ideal weight. Finally I was feeling good. I am not exactly sure in what year they decided I didnt need the meds and took me off & since then I have never felt the same. I am now tired all of the time, I cant seem to lose any weight, and most of all I have trouble remembering things and feel my memory is just fading away, it wasnt until recently that I read up on how people start to have brain fog. I feel like maybe this could have all been avoided if I would have been on meds & if the doctors would have based how I have been feeling instead of what my blood work shows. Within the past year I have had 3 ultrasounds done on my thyroid and they have found two more nodules growing and getting bigger each time I go. I am now waiting to go back to the Dr for the result of my last ultrasound, which she told me before the ultrasound that if the size increase she would do a biopsy. I am tired of feeling tired all of the time, I am tired of working out and tryin to eat right and no success, and Im just tired of not remembering things and on most days not being able to function. What other test can I ask the Dr. to do? And most of all what can I say that will make them give me the medication that I really need? My fear right now is that they will want to start me on a low dosage which I know will not help at all and I already feel like I have wasting so many years already of not being well that I dont want to waste anymore. What can I say or do to get my life back? I am 34 years old, I want to have another child but how can I have a baby when Im too tired to take care of myself.
To Melissa:
I too have experienced the severe “Brain Fog” and being excessively tired to the point I could not even lift my own arms…this was quite frightening.After finding my Endo Dr. who actually listens to me I am currently taking 112 mcg Synthroid along with Cytomel 5mcg to combat the symptoms of hypothyroidism.It has helped tremendously.I still have symptoms but the brain fog has just about disappeared…thank goodness!
After reading these post I am scared – I was found to be hypo 2 years ago. I went on Lexvi… at 175 mg – still continued to gain weight – the doc changed it to 150 – still felt bad and gained weight just a little more slowly.
Begged to go to an endo – which my insurance would pay for – the endo claims to only work on a referral basis – I changed docs – same thing – will not refer me and now – I am on 200 mg of synthroid – I feel better – and it has only been a week – no weight change but no gain is good…. this seems excessive amount when I read what others are taking.
I know that you shouldn’t change meds w/o drs. approval but I went back to 75mcg of levo and the hot flashes have disappeared. (I had some left over from when they changed my dosage.) I am a little more tired but I’d rather be a little tired and not gain weight(like I was with 100mcg) and no more hot flashes. They were unbearable.
I have been diagnosed with hashimoto, for several years, I was taking levo 100mcg for several years., I have been gaining weight and feeling tired all the time, brain fog and muscle aches. Two months ago, I was put on armourthyroid 3grams a day, my condition has not improved. What should I do?
iv had thyroid problem since 1990 or before that, i did how ever did the iodine radiation,but since my injury 1 1/2 yrs ago, i had surgery on my r shoulder,also with this injury i had head trama,and ended up with cervical dystonia,but it seems like the last 4or 5 monthes i have gained weight.i would say a total of 15 to 20 pds is what i have gained,like many others that have this problem i cant seem to lose the weight now matter what i do or try.idont have a credit card for me to try the acuberry diet,so i have to struggle.but one question i do have,is that since all of the meds i take along with levothyroxine is that making me gain weight as well,im really frustrated i look and feel terrible,my boyfriend says i look fine,but i see myself and its not fine…im glad someone finally came out with a book about dieting with thyroid,before my last surgery on my right shoulder my thyroid was -4 that is right -4 ….im up to 175mcg i was 200mcg then we redused it,2monthes ago..i still have no will power to really do anything.i just wish that the acciberry was available for people that dont have credit cards.and will this help me…and in 4 weeks i can get back into my skinny jean? i would like to have a few answers….oh and yes i was diagnosed with graves diease….and its been up and down since then, i get my tsh tested evry 3 monthes….ccould someone help me ..thank you
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis twelve years ago. I was on Levoxy .10 for seven years. It stopped working and my Internist switched it to Synthroid, and upped the dose. I stayed on it for a year and gained twenty pounds. I went off of it in frustration, found a new doc and went on the lowest dose of Armour. This worked the first couple of months, the weight began to drop and I lost about 10 pounds. Then I started to gain weight. I went off of it and have been off for over a year. I am not exceptionally tired, but my hair has thinned a great deal and my skin is very, very dry, but I have not gained or lost any weight. I tried to go back on it two weeks ago, and gained five pounds in the second week. I did have more energy, (less trouble getting up in the morning etc.) and my eyebrows stopped falling out. My Paternal grandmother was on thyroid meds from her thirties until her death at 85, she died frow weight related complications, she was over 300 pounds at 5′4″. She tried her whole life to try and lose weight but nothing worked and she continually gained without effort. Could it be a pituitary, or hypothalmus problem not a thyroid problem?
I recently discovered that I have a growth on the left side of the little bit of my thyroid left after my first surgery 10 years ago! They are going to do a biopsy by sticking a needle in and retrieving a sample. Has anyone every had experience with this procedure? The endocrinologists said they are not expecting anything but a benign tumor that they will monitor. I am concerned. Any thoughts?
Hi everyone.
I just wanted to say Melissa when I read your post it was like reading my life. I had the right side of my thyroid removed due to goiter 3 years ago. I have been on a roller coaster ride ever since. I have gained 20 pounds in those 3 years. My Dr. tells me that Synthroid does not make you gain weight. I feel like the Dr.’s just don’t care. I also now have high cholesterol which is a first for me in my life. I eat healthy at all times and exercise 3-4 days a week. How is this even possible? To top all of this off they diagnosed me with osteopenia and want to start me on Fosamax… have you ever read about Fosamax. I refuse to take it. I am just telling all of you that if you have hypothyroidism and are taking meds, get your bone density checked and get your cholesterol checked. The nurse at my Dr.’s office non-chalantly told me oh yea those are all side effects of thyroid disease. So we get to gain weight, probably get osteoporosis at some point and have high cholesterol which will turn into…. lets see early heart disease. I cannot believe how little they tell you about what your thyroid really does for you and how important that tiny organ is to have a healthy life. Melissa I have the brain fog as well and some days wonder how I am suppose to keep doing my job. I am sure they wonder what is wrong with me. I wonder what is wrong with me. I feel all of your pain. It makes me angry that we are all going through this. I am also tired of feeling sick and tired.
When reading all your comments I feel like I wrote them all. I tried to tell my doctors about my nails growing weird, my hair falling out, sweats day and night, (I am passed meno), short term memory loss, warts growing on my face and other private places. I saw doctors and endo for over 4 years and finally after testing and retesting and trying different doses and alternating doses of generic thyroid; I said WAIT! I remembered a pharmacist telling my that for some people generic wouldn’t work as good as the name brand thyroid; like Synthyroid. So they prescribed it and my hair isn’t falling out, the warts are almost gone, my nails after years of thickening and crooked and being tested for yeasts and fungus are growing fine. No more sweats and hot flashes. But I still have the memory loss. I told her I would like to try to up the dose but she won’t do it. I thought they took an oath “Do no harm” is it doing no harm when the patient thinks they feel better but the doctor thinks they are God. What could it hurt to try a higher dose for a short period to see if it helps. No one is the same and all doctors know is what worked for the majority. We are all guinie pigs it is trail and error. They look at you like you are a nut especially if you are a woman. I have written letters to a few of these doctors telling them they may be good doctors but not for me. I see my husband get better care from the same doctors I have and they never look at him like he is imagining his problems. We are just hysterical women. Yeah right!
Hi Janalyn
I had this procedure done a couple of years ago after having my thyroid removed also, it is not at all painful, the results were negative. Good luck
Please read Potatos not prozac.
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s this week. At the end of September I made significant changes for a healthier lifestyle and to lose the 30 pounds I have struggled to keep off for the past 3 years. I started exercising after being sedentary for ten years and noticed with eating healthier and exercising 5 times a week my joints/muscles hurt and I was not able to lose weight. I kept at it until my symptoms got worse. I made it to my Family Physician and by the second visit she called with the results of a second blood test. “Hashimoto” I realize, I as well as my doctor play a significant roll in my treatment. Should I find an endoc from jump street or stick with family physician? Thanks!
I have been on Synthroid for 7mths. I have pain
in my neck and swelling of the upper arms and face. My doctor has tested me for EVERY thing possible. but all comes back negative. all my thyroid readings, t3,t4 etc are in the normal range. could I benefit from another med? also I exercise 1hour 5times a week and watch everything I eat, still gaining total now 30 lbs !! thanks.
I have fibromyalgia and hashimoto what are some things I should eat what kind of diet should I be on I am on weight watchers also. help thanks
Wow….reading all this makes me so sad. It’s like I wrote every comment. And none of us are getting the answers we want. I am going to try and see a doctor that believes in natural hormone replacement. This is all so very upsetting. It’s as if we’re just supposed to “deal with it”.
I am 41 years old, I am on 375 mcg of levothyroxine to keep my tsh where it is supposed to be. I am tired all the time, cant lose weight, by 2 p.m. I can’t keep my eyes open and need a nap. I have type 2 diabetes which I keep under control with diet. I feel bad all the time. I am a nursing assistant trying to return to college to be a physical therapy assistant and live in fear of falling asleep in class. What do I do?
HI, I’VE HAD THYROID CANCER PAPILLARY. 2 SURGERYS AND RAI TREATMENT IN MARCH 08. I’M 48 YEARS OLD. I’M TAKING SYNTHYOID 100MCG IN THE MORNING ON A EMPTY STOMACH. MY ENDO HAS CHANGE IT 4 TIMES TO LOWER DOSE, STARTED OUT TAKING 135MCG. I’VE GAINED 20LBS. I GO BACK AND HAVE A SCAN IN APRIL OF 09. I FEEL GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE WEIGHT GAIN. I HAVE HOT FLASHES AND MY JOINTS HURTS. I ALSO TAKE CALCIUM AND MUTI V.EVERY NIGHT. THIS HELPS
MY ENERGY LEVEL.
I must say this website makes me feel like there are people to talk to. I was diagnosed 7 mo ago with a hypothyroid. I’ve been exercising and barely losing weight, I run at least 10 to 15 miles per work and include 5 hrs of weight training each week. I get the hot flashes and night sweats, my energy bottoms out in the afternoon. My meds have changed 3 times and now that my tsh is at 1.6 the doc doesn’t want to change it. I am using the levo and from what I’m seeing, I may try the synthroid to see if the symptoms go away. Any advice????
I’ve had hyperthyroidism as a child up until I was 22 when I had children it reversed to hypothroidism. I’ve been on synthroid for the past 15 years, and no synthroid does not make you gain weight, eating does, stay away from carbs, especially for hypothroidism, it sticks to your middle. Eat higher in fiber to help you feel fuller, but only at lunch and dinner because you will take your medicine in the morning on an empty stomach. I’ve tried levothyroxine once, and hated it and never went back. My grandfather had it, my father had it, my sister has it and so do I, both my father and grandfather were never treated for it and died of heart disease very young. Stay on your medication and eat healthy and try if you can to exercise. Good Luck to all.
I’m dealing with weight gain with my hypothyroidism after being thin my whole life (I’m 41). I read about the role of fiber in weight loss and about 2 wks ago decided to add more high fiber foods to my diet as well as use fiber supplements. I want to share with everyone that if you go this route, you have to do it slowly. I have been experiencing lots of gas, bloating and cramping and finally found a note online about not introducing a higher level of fiber (about 35 grams recommended)all at once. Just thought I’d save someone the pain and discomfort I’ve experienced. By the way, I have not lost an ounce during this time.
Hi Tamara here! I’m a twentyfour year women with thyroid cancer. Who went from weighing a 127 pounds until I turned 19 and stop eating and I had no appetite. I exercised everyday for three hours every other day and I do a thousand crunches a day or more and still gain weight. I now weigh 300 and my weight will drop up in down between 295 and 300. I’m taking 224 mcg of levo and thats the only dose thats gives me the energy to move. I had a whole lot of energy before they removed my thyroid and I’ve noticed when I didn’t care about what I ate. I was droping ten pounds a week. Now I have no appetitte at all. Bones hurt, neck hurts,and my legs just give out when they want. Is there anybody with these problems. The bad thing is I was a nurse and had a second job driving a forklift. Now that my body has no thyroid. I’m in and out the hostpital simply my head swells up like a melon. The doctors dont know why. There’s no job willing to take the risk of my legs giving out and possibly injuring myself. So now I have no job and can’t collect ssi cause they dont think thyroid cancer is life threating. The weird thing is my mothers mothers had thyroid cancer and live to be 53 years old. She got ssi when she was told she had only less than 6 months to live. Oh yeah I’m really frustrated! My life insurance cancled out and to decided to give my money back that I paid into the policy because it doesn’t covers folks with cancer. I cant find an life insurance that will take me. I feel my family shouldn’t have to scrape up money for my funeral. All this weight gain and side effects from not having a thyroid is very stressful.
I am 38years old and diagnosed with hypothyroid disaese in 2001. In 2006 I learned that my antiboties where over a 1000. I was diagnosed with hashimotos and my Endo found a nodule. It was not cancer. The nodule has shrunk but my antiboties are still close to 1000. I am taking levoxyl 175. My other levels seem to be normal but I still feel horrible all the time. I can not lose a pound even with regular trips to the gym. 4-5x a wk and a low fat diet. I have had 2 periods a month for 3 months. With it comes violent mood swings and severe headaches. I could get 8-10 hours sleep and still be tired. My Endo doesn’t seem to care. She says there is nothing she can do at this point.I don’t want to live like this anymore. My children want the fun mommy back.
victoria—get off the levoxyl, the generic is up to 15% less effective than the brand name synthroid. i was on the levoxyl 88-100 for the past 6+ years and my condition was getting worse and i was not aware why, so a few months back i finally went to the dr and my ths reading was 11.12 and was rechecked last month and it was 5.75 on the synthroid 100 so now i am at 112mg, i feel better but still having problems, almost time to be rechecked again. having brain fog and neck,shoulder pain something terrible.good luck!
Hello to all.
The first thing I want to say to eveyone is “dont give up and dont give in…” This is YOUR life and you need to take charge and get your lives back. I have had autoimmune graves disease since 2000. In almost 10 years I have fought long and hard with Mayo doctors and NP’s. I will NEVER give up. Mary Shomon is proof we need to stand up for ourselves. They have no patient education available for this thyroid monster disease. Hypo or Hyper, surgery or ablation, I dont care we are all in this boat together and sick of it. Derva have your mom read ‘the thyroid solution” read ‘Graves disease the practical guide by elaine moore and Lisa Moore’ it has both hypo and hyper stuff in there. Read everything you can and write down questions as you read for your doctor. I was diagnosed by a nurse practioner not my own doctor. She thought I was a pest. You bet I was. I received Iodine solution in a venogram and it went straight to my thyroid and caused it to attack itself. It happens. No one knew I was sensitive to high levels of iodine. I went full blown graves. I weighed in highschool 125lbs I lifted weights for championships and won. I had my daughter and gained 45lbs. I got a clot in my leg and they did a venogram and put stents in it to bypass a clot. They did me good. I could have lost my leg. I lost my thyroid instead. My weight ran up to 220lbs now. I take 0.250mcg of synthroid. My teeth ache so much I scream out at night and have to go in for novocaine injections. However, I am not giving in. My hands are like claws to type this and it is painful. My good leg is now filling with mucin and causing me sharp pains when I walk. I am not giving up. I sleep little do to the pain…but I am still alive and THEY are going to help me. My TSH has been everynumber possible. My magic number is 2.5. It was my greatest six months of my thyroid life at 2.5. Never give up. I am a nurse and I see people fall into dispair and lose what life they ever had. Do not let people who have no idea what it is to maintain a chronic illness make decisons without your knowledge of WHY! Be the biggest PEST you can because if you dont you are just a number. Go to these websites, ithyroid.com, american association of clinical endocrinologists, National graves foundation, american thyroid association. All you people are educated in thyroid diseases because YOU have one. NO ONE tells a diabetic how much insulin to take when they have been diabetic for one month. Why? They know their bodies by then and so do you. Many thyroid problems stem from the fact that we are nutrionally stripped from our marrow out of nutrients we needed. Our bodies are now trying to get more of that back. Go to ‘the lose weight diet’. You calculate your carb/fat/protein ration that you need. Take your multivitamins. Portion control is nothing. The diet will tell YOU how much you need of those food groups not some damn pyramid designed for normal thyroid people. You will have to count grams but they are on the package and the best foods dont have a package so get a diabetic food book that has fats, carbs and proteins for all foods including fast foods. Remember, it took me 2 years to just be able to walk down to my mailbox and lift my baby girl. NEVER GIVE UP>>>NEVER PUT UP>>>and NEVER SETTLE FOR A LIFE THAT IS NOT YOURS>>> I’m not. I lost 4lbs in four weeks and now I am moving on to start some of the stuff I learned from you all on this blog. I am going to go to my doctors appt fully charged, because I am not at my magic number.
When do you take you thyroid med when you ar going for the TSH test…
One endo says NOT to take the med, another plus my internist says it doesnot matter when to take it. My 1st endo is in CT now i am in AZ so HELP is needed. I remember my endo hitting the ceiling when got my labs back, when meds taken pre testing.
I need help.
Thanks,Barbara of Tucson
ive been on 150 mg of levothyroxine for 2-3 years and still feel tired ,weight gain hands and ankles swell im 37years but feel 67years and i have to watch what i eat even on a diet i cant loss any weight but if i have a day of eating out i bloat and feel awful
i also have i very slight lactose which i had tests and then got told ive got to live with it by the hospital this cant be right my doctor says i cant change medication as its the only 1 they do,so i did say i would come off as i feel no different and find being tired all the time and concentration is hard
any advice please as im fed up with being told just live with it
thanks
I am a 32 year old mother of two wonderful children and a wife of 15 years to a wonderful man. I was diagnosed with hypoactive thyroid in October of 08 and at that time, my doctor prescribed me 100mcg of Levothyroxin. I have been taking in ever since but feel worse when I take it. I have gained almost 20 lbs since I started taking it, my energy level is worse now then it was when I started. It takes everything I have to get up and do what I have to for work and my family gets the short end of the stick. I feel like a failure in all areas of my life because I don’t have it in me to give what I need to any area of my life. My skin was always clear but for the past several years I have had oily skin that is broken out all the time. I am miserable but nobody understands unless they have experienced this. I feel unattractive and depressed. I am not who i want to be!
A wonderful book Take contriol of your health and escape the sickness industry – by elaine hollingsworth has helped me. Elaine has a lot to say about the thyroid and how the only safe practise is whole dessicatd thyroid – you are dyeing without it – slowly!
many doctors support this information so check it out, also Maca is excellent for regulating endocrine system, coconut oil, taken daily supports thyroid. Elaine categorically denounces all soy products – stating soy suppresses the thyroid.
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in the late summer of ’08. I let it go on for way too long. Gained 33 lbs, but the time I was diagnosed. Had brain fog, muscle aches, hot and cold flashes, major hair loss. My TSH was 76. My doctor is great. She started me on .50 mcg of Synthroid – testing every 6-8 weeks until we settled on 100 mcg. I continued to gain weight – another 10 lbs. I have also started to have a glucose tolerance issue. I went to see an endo, a referral from my doctor. She tested my TSH and it was right at 1. An optimum level. I have been on Synthroid and Cytomel combo before, but it caused my hair to fall out. So, I opted to get this thing under control. I had tried everything to lose the weight. NOTHING seemed to work. 5-weeks ago, I started on WeightWatchers. (I have been successful 2 years ago on WW). As of Friday, I had lost 10 lbs. You can take control of the disease. Don’t use the disorder as an excuse the way I did. Yes, you will have to watch what you eat – fad diets are not the answer. A good sound nutrition plan will work. It doesn’t come off as fast as it went on, but I am going to get there. So can you! Good luck.
Wow… All of these comments make me feel like there is somebody who understands. My whole life has been a struggle with weight. After struggling with Anorexia as a teen, I put that behind me as an adult. I am comfortable with my body now as a size 10, but the last couple of years I have struggled to stay there even with regular exercise and a good diet. I don’t eat supper most nights. Long story short, I thought that stress was making me feel sluggish after my husband spent a good part of this year off and on in Iraq. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease after going in to the doctor with neck pain, etc.(I have a family history on both sides) He said I was “subclinical” with a TSH of 7.9 but an antibody test of over 600 convinced him to start medication. After 6 weeks on .05 of synthroid, I am still having problems maintaining weight, retaining fluid, and on and on… My husband just gave me a lecture on what he does to drop a few pounds… I didn’t hurt him but I sure wanted to… I told him that he just had no idea what he was talking about… My doctor just got my bloodwork back and my TSH has dropped to 3. He will not raise my dosage, but I still feel crummy… I am happy with my body, but I don’t want to gain any weight. It really does a number on my self-esteem because of the eating disorder history. I am a 36 yr. old mother of two. Help?