Obesity Not Caused by Thyroid, Claims Uninformed Green Bay Health Company Executive

Thank you! I read Mason’s piece yesterday and it nearly ruined my morning. Mr. Mason’s complete lack of empathy combined with his ignorant dismissal of thyroid disease made me so angry.

As the author of the article, I can assure you that I fully support the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thyroid problems. I’m simply saying that it is not the major cause of obesity in the U.S. today.

Jeff Mason:

You can’t “fully support the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thyroid problems” and at the same time cavalierly dismiss the idea that undiagnosed/undertreated thyroid problems have to do in part with weight gain and obesity in the U.S.

Mary, your last paragraph said it all so well. We can only hope that Mr. Mason becomes “enlightened” from your blog post and stops blaming the patient; and perhaps even becomes one who starts helping people get better. I wonder if he even knows about thyroid antibodies and Free T4 and Free T3.

I do not have much thyroid function because I had three doses of ratioactive iodine in the early 90s to get my thyroid under control. In fact they destroyed it. I have to take thyroxine to function nowadays. Three days forgetting to take my pill means I can hardly get out of bed. But I have never put on weight due to my condition. I continue to be the same clothing size as 20 years ago, so for me the two never seemed to be connected. But,what I have learned is that medicine is never an obsolute and things are much more complicated than a single study.

Mr. Mason,

With all due respect you can’t go around assuming you know every persons situation and lean toward your opinion without facts…and respect.

Fact of the matter is, the only ones who can tell you the most about a disease are the ones living with it. Patients note the changes to their bodies, minds and otherwise because they live it everyday; and they, not you, are the experts.

The backlash you’ll receive, and have thus far, is due to your blatant finger-pointing arrogance in this situation where you come across as someone who has all of the answers. Are you even a doctor? Have you ever studied thyroid disease? What basis do you have to formulate such an opinion? It is mindsets much like yours as well as an unprofessional attitude & unethical theories that make it difficult for patients to get the medical attention that they deserve. Or make those who should be seeking professional medical treatment not do so in fear that they will run into someone who simply believes they are fat because they are lazy, eat too much, etc.

Never judge a man unless you have walked in his shoes; Not just because you feel your professionally entitled. And IMHO, you’re obviously not.

Furthermore, until you have scientific data to back up your supposed professional opinion, I would recommend not putting it out in the public. You never know whose reading it…

I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2005 and every time before my dose needs adjusting I gain weight. Lucky for me I was very slim to begin with and I only gained about 10 kgs in total (four dose changes) but even so I haven’t been able to get them off allthough I eat healthy and excercise ! People who have no thyroid problems can’t even imagine how frustrating that is !
Awareness in my own country (Belgium – Europe) is practically zero ! So we need the bigger countries to take the lead in supporting us. Articles like Mr. Mason’s who is not even a specialist (?!)do more harm than good. Get correct information ! You are entitled to your OPINION just don’t formulate it as FACT !

I see nothing wrong with this article. I do agree when one person will not take steps to be healthy, slams junk down their throat, smokes like a chimney, drinks alcohol without limit, drives reckless etc. they should pay for the cost of the bad result from their actions. I have no problem paying for people who, out of no fault of their own, have health issues. I have hypthyroidism which did not cause my weight gain. Obesity is much more complicated. Fortunately I am working closely with my Dr on keeping my thyroid levels balanced (and getting my weight back down to normal). Armour threw them out of whack so I have switched to Westhroid and all low thyroid symptoms have abated. If my blood work still shows a high T-3 and a low T-4 I will switch to bioidenticals. All this is coming out of my pocket since it’s considered alternative care (holistic Dr treating) and insurance will not cover these costs. So, yes, I’m paying for my own bad choices in life

Most likely 100% of obesity is caused by the thyroid or thyroid associated disorders such as adrenal problems or mental problems. This man doesn’t have a clue what hes talking about.

There is a very good possibility that very close to 100% of obesity is caused by the thyroid. It wrecks your metabolism, affects your adrenals, and can affect the brain causing eating problems. It affects everyone differently so those not so affected should count themselves lucky and knock on wood. This man doesn’t have a clue what hes talking about.

I am Hypothyroid and have gained about 35 pounds since I was diagnosed in 2007 after having my second child. I know that MY weight gain is due to my thyroid. My TSH was a 50 when I was diagnosed. BUT my husband is overweight, obese even and this is also in the last few years, but he has no thyroid issue, not even sub-clinical. I think it is unfair to say that EVERY over-weight person has an adrenal or thyroid issue and it allows people who are honestly just lazy to not take responsibility for their poor choices. I can not stand behind the fact that people whos main diet consists of soda and McDonalds are victims of health issues that they have no control over, except maybe a food addiction which they can get help for.

“Debby”,

Your post is convenient… and transparent.

You can not generalize. Just because “you” made bad choices doesn’t mean those who are overweight did. You missed the point so everything you mentioned is moot. I find it extremely difficult to believe that a thyroid condition did not cause “your weight gain”.

Obesity is not complex; only mind-sets. It is based off of genetics, metabolism and a persons body chemistry. Each person is different and their daily requirements vary. There are standard guidelines too follow that must be adjusted accordingly. And, even then, if a person is battling with an uncontrollable thyroid (and a mass majority are) it WILL cause weight gain, obesity and otherwise. Those people should not be penalized because of their genetic make-up; bottom line.

I would also not suggest that because a human being made a mistake in regard to their health that they should be denied health care; I refuse to play God with people’s lives because they didn’t live up to my expectations – nor should anyone else. We should help where needed. You don’t contribute enough taxes to make the decision on a human beings life…or death.

If you make the conscious decision to penalize yourself then that is your choice. It certainly does not require that others follow suit to appease you. A persons moral rights are by far more important to me than a persons financial status; including my own.

What a hot button topic. I,too, am obese. I have gained over 50 pounds since my diagnosis 14 years ago. The funny thing is, the weight gain was not what pushed me to push my doctor to check for hypothyroid-it was the fatigue. Previously, I had been on every diet out there-lost next to nothing-and was working out 1-2 hours, 5 days a week with not only no weight loss but no muscle building, either. I NEVER connected the dots until I began taking 3 naps a day.
Mr. Mason, you are in a position to do great harm to thyroid sufferers. Yes, there is a large population out there who is doing its own damage but don’t dismiss the very large group of us who have hypothyroid, do all the right things and still are obese. This is a type of mind-set neither we nor the medical community needs! We’re not asking you to overlook our obesity but to understand at least a large part of what causes it and help us with that!

When are the doctors and others going to come to grips with the thyroid and how it works??? Why is it so easy for some doctors to simply blame your symptoms on everything else BUT the thyroid when it’s clear it IS the thyroid???? It is soooo frustrating being a thyroid patient and not getting the correct help, then to read these articles and some comments too that are way off base.

I have hypothyroidism and I gained 30 pounds almost overnight before I was diagnosed. I was on a diet when the weight gain started and continued. I wasn’t ‘cheating’ on my diet and for anyone to think so is very insulting, why would I cheat myself??? I am so tired of people judging others when they have no clue. I’m tired of reading these misinformed people standing on a soapbox spouting out nonsense. I can’t wait for the day when ALL people take the thyroid seriously and more important take the thyroid patient seriously!! I don’t want to be told to take anti-depressants or join weight watchers when I clearly know my thyroid is bad…my tests proved it!!!

While I’ll agree not all weight gain is caused by a bad thyroid, I am proof that thyroid patients weight gain IS caused by a bad thyroid.

It is very comforting to know that it is NOT my imagination that I have a lot of difficulty losing weight. I readily packed on 15 extra pounds in a relatively short amount of time. I have never been overweight and now I am for my height and frame. This didn’t begin until I started experiencing symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Although I take my medicine faithfully and exactly when I am supposed to take it, I struggle every day just trying to shed a pound or two a week. I even work out 4-5 days a week –it is very discouraging.

Why are there so many “doctors” out there that refuse to see the light? I was hyper and weighed 124 lbs. about 12 years ago. I had the radioactive iodine and have been living thru complete hell ever since. I’ve gained 80 lbs. I’ve been to all the “doctors” that say that my weight gain has nothing to do with being hypo. The classic line is “I have plenty of patients with your problems that haven’t had the weight gain!” And it isn’t only the weight gain. I have had so many other health issues that I have had to deal with since the “death” of my thyroid. Horrible dental issues, arthritis, unhealthy nails and hair . . . I’m sick to death of all of the uninformed idiots? I haven’t had a healthy day since. I know my body, I know what caused all of this. Is there not one single intelligent person out there that can devote their time to help people like me? What is it going to take?!

&$*% )$(@ (*^&#@.

Now that I have that off my chest, what a great spokesperson he would be for the furthering of illegal health insurance rescission!

Big question of semantics here, and the question of ’some” vs “most” I’ve been severely hypo, post I131 treatment for Graves, and know that to lose weight under those conditions requires virtual anorexia. The body just won’t work right if it is hypo. BUT…………………

There are a lot of other reasons for weight gain, and probably the two biggest ones at a societal level are poor eating habits and a sedentary life. No disrespect here to folks who really work hard at eating right and getting proper exercise. But for me, I have to face the fact that I have an eating disorder AND I have thyroid problems. The thyroid issues are pretty much resolved at this point, the eating disorder requires on going maintainence to address not only dysfunctional eating patterns but the emotional stuff that seems to have precipiated it. Not to mention a typical American lifestyle which is made to order for obesity. I have to make a conscious decision every day to eat right and get proper exercise, it doesn’t just happen like it did 40 years ago when I was an active teenage boy. Currently I am at what the doctor says is a good weight, and I agree with her. It can be done!

To blame all my weight problems on my thyroid is a serious amount of denial which will just perpetuate my problems. And I think that there are an awul lot of people out there who are obese who probably don’t have a thyroid problem at all.

Curt

Thinking about this further, I am actually pretty upset about your take on this Mary. Although I have learned first hand how thyroid problems can cause obesity, I don’t have a problem with what this man said. I really don’t think undetected thryoid issues are the primary cause of obesity in America (the place where the rich are thin and the poor are fat). The primary causes are lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Cast my vote for saying this man spoke the truth.

Of course for those who are hypothyroid, trying to fix our weight problems without addressing our thyroid problems is not an adequate approach. But I need to remember I actually managed to gain weight while suffering from Graves disease. The half a box of ice cream with 4 big spoonfuls of peanut butter every night had a lot to do with that, and my belief that I could cancel it out at the gym just led to a bunch of injuries at the gym.

Okay

I can see both sides to this issue — Mr. Mason definitely pushed some buttons of hypothyroid women struggling to lose weight. I have severe hypothyroidism. Fortunately I never became obese; however I struggle to lose 15-20 pounds. I eat healthy and am now increasing exercise to work off the pounds — but they still seem glued. (I refuse to do extreme dieting, since it leaves me feeling hypoglycemic and sick).

However, I’ve run into some people who blame their thyroid for weight problems, even though they’ve never been to a doctor for diagnosis. I shake their warm hand (my hands are ususally colder), observe their consumption of sodas, very GOOD appetite and energy and chuckle inside. I know it’s NOT their thyroid.

Yes — I totally understand the frustration of hypothyroid women. At one point (before I was medicated) I ate like an anorexic (due to severe loss of appetite), GAINED weight and felt like the walking dead. I don’t ever want to feel like that again.

YET — you have to admit our culture OVEREATS as a rule of thumb. Last time I went to buy everday china online I was shocked by the size of the plates and bowls, which were HUGE! The company explained to me that over the last decade or so, Americans were demanding the larger sized china. Oh! So it’s no wonder we have an obesity epidemic. The young and the “metabolically blessed” may hold their weight closer to normal, but the overeating catches up with most! At least Kirsty Ally admits a few too many cookies and falling off the exercise treadmill.

I hope that this next year all of us struggling hypo’s will regain their health, lose the extra pounds and be FULL of energy. And hoping for a civil discussion with Mr. Mason about how frustrated some of us are due to the lackluster treatment we’ve received from doctors.

No–Mr. Mason isn’t a doctor; worse–he doesn’t even play one on t.v. He’s just a corporate suit, speaking out of his abyssmal ignorance. Unfortunately, unless he ever suffers from thyroid disease as we do (or has a loved one struggling with it), I doubt that even educating himself more thoroughly on the topic would help. It is sad that people like this get a forum to air their ignorance, especially because it affirms ignorance in others (many doctors included).

No one is saying that thyroid problems are the primary cause of obesity in America. But what Jeff Mason said: “…very little obesity in the U.S. is actually caused by thyroid or other medical problems” is equally untrue.

Just ask the marathon runner I talked to who was running 8-10 miles daily, and eating less than 1,000 calories a week, and was GAINING WEIGHT every week — what was causing her weight problem.

Or ask the personal trainer who was working out with 6-8 clients every day, for an hour a client, and eating an ultra-healthy, calorie controlled diet (after all, she was advising others on health weight loss and diet) .

Or ask the hundreds of people who write to me each and every week, who were maintaining a perfectly normal weight, on a healthy diet and exercise program, until their thyroid problem began, and even after treatment, find themselves gaining 20, 30, 40 or more pounds, and no manner of diet or exercise will budge it.

Or ask me, who until I got proper thyroid treatment, was gaining 2 pounds a week while I followed Weight Watchers TO THE LETTER, and exercised 4-5 hours a week.

Sorry. PATIENT-evidence based medicine says that Jeff Mason, and the coterie of no-name trolls who are commenting on the article over at the Green Bay site, do not have the knowledge to really weigh in (pun intended!) on this issue!

Don’t mean to be disrespectful, Curt, but if you are eating ice cream and peanut butter every nite then you do have an eating disorder. I’m not sure why you are even commenting on this issue. Most of us here with thyroid weight issues wouldn’t touch ice cream or peanut butter. We watch what we eat and work out without any results because our systems are all out of whack.

This may sound terrible but I hope Mr. mason becomes hypothyroid, and his Dr. doesnt listen to him, and takes his time with changing his meds, while HE gains weight thru no fault of his own. Then and only then will this man understand.

When I was a young married, my doctor put me on Armour Thyroid to see if it would help me get pregnant. Apparently it did. I had 3 children. Somewhere along the way I was switched to Synthroid without explanation. Over the years I gained 40 pounds.
In the last few years, I have switched to naturopaths, which my insurance doesn’t cover. I read a book called “Hypothyroidism Type II” by Mark Starr MD and visited him in his office in Phoenix. I have switched to NaturThroid at an increased dose, lost 23 lbs. and no longer have the need for daily naps.
Mainstream medicine has much to learn about thyroid disease.

I’ll start out by giving my “thyroid creds” by stating that I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and have not had a functioning thyroid for at least a decade. I am also a medical scientist.
I find the negative reaction to Mr. Mason’s article by other people with thyroid problems to be over the top. He simply said that most obesity is not caused by hypothyroidism but by poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. That is a fact.

I have pituitary damage and as the hashimoto’s destroyed my thyroid my TSH did not go up so my ever increasing hypo symptoms were termed “all in my head”. Over the years I controlled my weight on 1200, then 1000 calorie diets. In the end I was gaining on 800 calories a day. The hashi’s caused a goiter and hurthle cells. Still I was watched and watched and watched because of that “perfect” TSH that never went up. Finally a homeopathic DO tested beyond my TSH. My FT4 was subnormal and my FT3 was over a point subnormal.
Is this the end? After the thyroidectomy I was diagnosed with hurthle cell carcinoma with capsular and vascular invasion. This is a very rare and aggressive type of thyroid cancer with a poor prognosis. Had the endless doctors and endo’s I saw over the years diagnosed me sooner I am sure I would not have ended up with this cancer. And this guy blames the patient?

You caught me at a bad time. I am extremely angry at Doctors. I had gone to 5 doctors in the past. the first three ignored me even when I told him I fell asleep on the parkway while driving. I self diagnosed and insisted he test me. I left him since he would not prescribed the naturals. I went to a specialist and he proceeded to overmedicate me, I went from mild, but real, hypothyroidism to extreme hyperthyroid, he kept increasing my dose without the benefit of a blood test, he also gave me 200 mg of progesterone without a test, that is extremely high. He also told me to cut my calories in half or skip a meal. I am 155 lbs 5′5″, not obese.
I felt something was wrong so I stopped and found another doctor who was very upset with my condition. So much so that he ordered many tests to get to the bottom of it. He promptly sold me over $300.00 worth of useless vitamins.
Most of them do not give a darn about us anymore they worship the almighty dollar. They do not understand the anguish that we suffer when we start to gain weight and cannot stop. I am lucky in that I dieted so heartily that I only gained 30 lbs.
Now that I am hyper I am still battling the weight, I thought I am supposed to lose weight being hyper
I think the only way they will learn is to get this hideous condition themselves they will start singing a different tune.

If Mr. Mason ever gets thyroid disease like me he would change his opinion, but I don’t wish this on even him. I would say he is writing his opinion out of ignorance and misiformation rather than actually proper studies and real people with real conditions. I have part of my thryoid removed due to possible cancer nodule after 15 years of undiagnosed Hasimotos Thyroiditis discovering this nodule and watching it for many years and have been gaining weight since. Eventually I hope to find a balance and lose what was gained having never been obese before. My heart goes out to all Thyroid disease patients who have not been believed, myself included.

After gaining 80 pounds in 4 months, I asked my Dr. for testing. I was told that I needed to eat less and exercise more. A few months later a Dr. finally tested my thyroid. What a coincidence…Hashimotos…hmmm…
I have not lost more than 5 pounds since..with great difficulty. Jeff Mason seems to be making a name for himself by denegrating one of the last groups that it is ok to pick on…the obese.
One should not wish bad things to happen to another…but wouldn’t the justice be sweet.

A good friend of mine has blamed her thyroid for years on her enormous size. She has been diagnosed as hypothyroid and takes Synthroid. She eats enormous meals and snacks, drinks huge amounts of soda and does no exercise. Yes, she has a thyroid issue, but she is one of the ones who give ALL hypothyroid people a bad name. I know there are many who do everything they can to control the weight and stay healthy, and also many who keep getting fatter because they use their diagnosis as a excuse. Let’s be honest, there are many who have an excuse and just as many who have no excuse. I am horrified by the bad food choices and huge portions Americans think are “normal.” Those things have nothing to do with thyroid issues and I think that is point this guy was trying to make.

My heart goes out to every one of the thyroid patients who are truly fighting a daily battle with weight and fatigue through good diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle. You are the true heros and your stories break my heart. Yes, you should be heard and cared for!

Though to say that all obesity is caused by thyroid disease is silly, to say that little of it is so-aided is almost equally absurd. Thank God I’ve always been naturally slender and preferred healthy foods and eschewed soda, because my weight has been stuck at a place I personally consider too high for the last 5 years while my levels have been continually out of whack for just about the same period. This is despite exercising, eating well, paying careful attention to portion sizes, and so forth.

Indeed, over the summer an illness kept me from eating solid food for over a month, and I didn’t lose a POUND. Not a pound, despite very carefully (and, at times, frustratedly) measuring calories in the tiny amounts I could ingest, usually around 600-800 a day, while still exercising as usual, if not more. Meantime, of course, my TSH was skyrocketing and my doctor telling me to ’stop eating so much’. Please explain to me how this was happening.

Again, I watch some family members suck down cola (diet or not!), eat plates full of processed or ‘fake’ foods and fast food in servings so large it would take me 2-3 meals to finish them, have second and third helpings of dessert (!!!!), and spend all day on the sofa, never so much as walking the dog even to the corner or cleaning their dirty houses. They’re nearly all overweight, and some are quite obese indeed. Some might have thyroid problems, but clearly, there are other issues involved as well. But at the same time, remarks like this from men like this one are frustrating, because many doctors and others will read it and just figure that thyroid has nothing whatsoever to do with weight issues.

Grrr.

It took several years to get diagnosed with Hypothyroid. I was overweight at the time of diagnosis, but had maintained that weight for several years. When I started treatment for hypothyroid, within a matter of weeks, I gained 25 pounds, then again gained another 15 plus pounds on another med change. This weight will not budge. So please don’t say that obesity and hypothyroid do go hand in hand. I went from simply being overweight to obese. Please walk in others shoes before such statements. Yes, there are a lot of lazy people out there and are obese for that reason. I am not one of them.

I did not read the whole article, I know when I was diognosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis I realized I probably had it for a very long time possible in my twenties, I was 52 when I got diognosed. A family member (a RN ) said not big deal, you just take a little pill and your fine. I started to gain weight in my thirtys, I am know 62. I cannot understand why when one of the main affects of hypo thyroidism is your metabolism slows down, Of course it causes weight gain. By the way I read that in the fifties in France floride was used to treat overactive thyroid. We have floride in our water, at the dentist floride treatments to protect teeth from cavities. just kinda of makes me wonder?????

It is just so typical ‘Dumb Man Syndrome’! 8 of 10 women will be diagnosed with some kind of problem with the thyroid in her lifetime. This also affects men. My Husband was diagnosed with Graves Disease, just like myself. He & I both take replacement thyroid hormone. I also have 2 of 3 brothers with low thyroid. Dr. Mason may be a doctor, but he has chosen to be completely ignorant!!

Mr Mason I am glad to see your comment as that means that you are reading the right stuff. Maybe you should have done that before writing the article. As some with hypothyroidism I deal with snide and painful comments every day. From friends, strangers, family and doctors who don’t understand. I don’t think you understand how difficult it is to live with this – to be in a constant struggle against my own body every day. People see me as fat and you are supporting that prejudice against any one overweight! Speaking as someone in the health care field other uninformed people take what you say to heart. No not everyone who is overweight has this problem but you didn’t leave any room for anything else. I eat 600 – 800 calories a day and exercise and what I eat is good and balanced. So what can you do for me! Can you help me when people look at me and make assumptions and comments about me and being overweight? I have seen doctors, I am on medicine, I work with a psychiatrist, I have worked with nutritionists and I am and have worked out with trainers who kick my a**. What am I and they missing – you seem to have the answers so tell me and all those who are in my same situation. I would be so happy if it was just a matter to work out and eat less.
This is so difficult to live with. I am tired all the time and hurt and I have to push my self to do anything let alone go to work and work out. I was healthy and skinny until one day everything changed and I don’t know why.
Mr Mason – stop spreading prejudice against all overweight individuals and do something helpful. Help those that are over eating and help those of us who really need medical help!

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid several years back. Prior to that I was a member of Weight Watchers and had been successful in meeting my goal weight and my Doctor said I was very healthy. Then one day while still following WW plan I couldn’t lose weight, maintain weight and finally started gaining weight. My thyroid was so out of wack that once I was put on medication I lost 15 pounds without changing anything and this all occured in a matter of a few weeks.
I do believe in personal responsibility and have some of the same concerns about smokers and alcoholics. But to make a statement that people with Thyroid problems can control their weight by eating right alone, the man is stupid. Also my health insurance doesn’t pay for WW or any other support group for losing weight.

Take a look at the comments over at the GreenBay site, because it appears that old Dr. Guttler is again becoming unhinged. He’s posting under the pseudonym “0oEo0″ (because he is rarely courageous enough to actually post under his own name) and back to his usual game of attacking me. Want to know more about Thyroid.com’s Dr. Richard Guttler, and why he is so threatened and intimidated by knowledgeable, empowered thyroid patients? Read:
Thyroid.com’s Richard Guttler Becoming Unhinged

Lieza no disrespect taken, you got my point exactly. I DO have an eating disorder.

I was severly hypo following i131 for Graves. And I know how difficult it is to maintain proper weight (or a great many other bodily functions) in that condition. Trying to address my weight and myriad other problems without treating my now dead thyroid gland would have been useless. However once the thyroid problems were addressed there were other problems remaining, and blaming them on my thyroid would have made me unable to see what they were.

Mary is there a typo in there? 1000 calories a week will kill most people, and leave a runner unable to run. Maybe you meant 1000 calories a day, or 10,000 calories a week?

Curt

Wow – this is an example of how some drs think their degree means that other “commoners” know nothing at all, or worse, if they don’t have the problem, have no compassion for it.

I was never treated at all and gained enormous amts of weight after a car accident. It was later found that I had jammed my neck, and somehow the flow of thyroid hormone was cut off. (It was never determined that I know of if the thyroid was damaged or just pressure from the neck.) It took many years before someone tested my thyroid. Prior to that, it was all dieting and exercise as being my answer.

At several points, I was put on diets as low as 500 calories a day. Totally unhealthy! I was often in the hospital for asthma-related problems and would always gain weight while in the hospital, even on their restricted diets. Instead of looking further for answers, drs blamed my family, insisting they must be sneaking food into the hospital!

It is truly amazing how arrogant drs have no problem playing with our very lives! We’ve moved to different states three times. Each time, I’ve had to start at the ground floor to get a dr to listen. In CO, my dr told me I had “elbow disease” , not thyroid problems. When I asked for clarification, he said my elbow bent from the table to my mouth too often. What a jerk! He refused to prescribe my thyroid meds, despite having been on them for the previous five years.

When we moved to IL, my dr listened, but still insisted on starting at a minimum supplement amt and re-testing me each month to reach max help. Why? I had already found my perfect dose by my previous doctor! I played the game for a little while, but each month, they were increasing my meds only 25 mcg. I finally said that I was done with it – when the nurse asked why, I said this was a waste of time and harming my health. I either needed to get back to my normal dose, or I’d find a new doc. They finally bumped it up 100 mcg (still below what I was taking, but pretty close). I am still with this doc (for lack of insurance). When I had to go in for a thyroid refill last month, I had a goiter forming. She felt it, acknowledged it, and then wanted me to be on my meds for another month before testing my TSH again. (By the way, they refuse to test for any level but the TSH, claiming T3 and T4 don’t matter!! I can’t get any local docs to test me and can’t afford to go to a bigger hosp for help.) It’s a really long trail!

Meanwhile, during the last year of being out of thyroid meds (I couldn’t afford to get in for an appt to get a refill due to job layoffs), Ii’d put on almost 60 lbs. I am one of those freaks who indeed puts on weight without my thyroid meds. Since I’d been at the same weight for the last four yrs, I think my doc finally realized that the two were connected this time. (At least I hope so!) She tried to give me Synthroid samples, but I declined, explaining that I’d done the Synthroid road, and they were useless on my system. We never could stabilize my TSH on them.

So, now I am in a waiting pattern. I have to wait until early January to go get my blood work done. Meanwhile, the swelling in my throat is still there. I hope it goes down some, but without insurance, they will not be ordering any tests. There are no clinics that help thyroid patients that I’ve found – believe it or not, it is not considered a life-threatening problem. So, I’ll be sittiing here with my newest layer of fat, rolling the dice yet again.

It stinks, and doctors like him continue to spread the ignorance.

To Kristi – I can so relate!
I could work rings around most of my co-workers, yet no matter how hard I worked, I was never considered for promotions, etc etc. It was all appearances. There is still a socially acceptable prejudice against weight in this country.

No one wants to know why you are overweight. It is assumed that you do nothing but eat all the time. Now, of course, there are some who are like that. They have different eating disorders. When I hear stories of people who eat 2 chickens for lunch, I can see why they are overweight. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all, any more than clothing is!

I tire of trying to work twice as hard to be thought of as half as good. That is one reason I love the internet! I am on equal footing and taken seriously for my words, because no one sees me and makes judgment calls first.

I would love to see some place where women can get tested for TSH, T3 and T4 at little cost. My thyroid test last year was $158 just for the TSH. That is too high in this day and age of streamlined testing.

My own sister, who was very thin, pretty much ignored me the entire time we spent together. I was just as thin as she was until the car accident. When I became so heavy, she shunned me like I had a catching disease. I can take a pill, but we don’t seem to be able to fix “stupid”.

I have 1st hand experience with weight problems….i work out 1 to 1 1/2 every day, but until they upped my synthroid i could not lose a pound. Now, I have lost 40 pounds and my doctor thinks I need to reduce my mediation. I only have 2 refills left before I have no choice. AND…I SWEAR THE ACHES IN MY JOINTS WENT AWAY….no more pain mediation and physical therapy. My friends say see another doctor that won’t change the mediation…..my levels are 75

I lived for 46 years without a weight problem. After my 90% thyroidectomy, I put on 50 lbs. over the course of the next 6 months. I have been unable lose more that 5 or 6 lbs. I did not eat differently after the surgery, I don’t over eat or eat junk food all day. The surgery was the only thing that changed.

He can say all he wants, but I know different. It changed my entire life.