My weight loss is so slow. I can't help but get discouraged. I am excerising, eating the recommended foods and drinking my water. I was banded 03/30/2011, my pre-op weight was 215 pds. I had a fill 04/30/2011 (not sure how much fill). My current weight is 205 pds. I am petite, so I need to lose about 90-100 pds. I know I did not gain it overnight, but hoped for more progress by now.

I had my Blood drawn the other day, and yesterday my specialist got the results.

For the first time I am in Normal Range. Were talking y e a r s stretched out here.

It took him not even 6months, and on this ARMOUR THYROID I feel Great, and it got the job done.

So just sharing the good news with you Bandsters, because yes ! weight loss is much harder.

But,,,, it sure feels good, to feel good.

I'm even out walking around more. So this is a very good thing.

I'm also a hypothyroid bandster (and I have PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). My hypothyroidism is specifically Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which my father and his sister also have, so I suspect it comes from his side of the family. I got diagnosed when I was 17; and I take a HUGE dose (300 mcg/day), I used to take twice as much. I think because my levels have been regulated for a long time I'm not having much trouble with weight loss at this point; but I have been considering getting my TSH tested again because I'm curious if my weight loss will mean that I will need to take a smaller amount...

It's nice to read this thread from other folks with hypothyroidism. I've considered it a stumbling block, and have gone through all the emotions of it not being fair because my metabolism SO sucks. Also, I was concerned that I just wouldn't lose anything, but surprisingly it's been going well. I think that drinking A LOT of Water and moving a lot really helps.

Any of you have problems with your hair? Mine is so dry and breaks easily. BTW, I am getting close to 70-80 grams of Protein a day.

Melonie

Sometimes I do... it's sort of my wake up call to re-examine my diet.

Sounds like you listen to your body, "THAT'S GOOD !" and that your doing O.K....

Welcome to the other side of us Hypothyroid Bandsters.

It's certainly nice to get in touch with other hypothyroid folks, I think we face a different set of challenges for sure.

It's certainly nice to get in touch with other hypothyroid folks, I think we face a different set of challenges for sure.

You said a mouthful !

That is so True, and it's not easy. A lot of people get depressed, and that doesn't help either.

I told my PCP, that I want to go to a Endocrinologist. She looked at me,,,,, and said your right !

This is not my field, and you should be seen by someone who understands this.

For the first time in my life I opened my mouth, and it pd. of......

I'll keep that in mind.....

I'm on Synthroid .075 daily. I got diagnosed officially about 5 months ago, although my level has been elevated for years but hadn't tipped over into the danger zone until recently. I take it every morning and literally count the minutes down until I can eat! I wake up starving! Glad to find a thread with hypo folks.

I also am hypothyroid (also Hashimotos) and when I was tested in 2008 my TSH was up to 207!!!!! My doctor didn't know how I wasn't comotose. She said I could run a marathon and not lose a pound. Once I got my medication regulated, I dropped about 40 pounds. Hard work pre-surgery took off another 10. Now I'm on 200mcg of levothyroxine a day, and I had surgery a week and a half ago, and am down 22.5 lbs.

It was my hypothyroidism that really clued me in that I couldn't shirk this weight by myself. Thankfully my general practitioner is amazing, and she has been with me every step of the way. She saved my life, really. The symptoms from such a high TSH were being diagnosed as depression, bipolar disorder... you name it. I was so thrilled when she saved me.

I do what the above poster does - as long as my TSH levels are in the .1-4 range, I find I do better actually getting weight off (with effort, diet and exercise being the same). I'm going to keep taking my meds, and keep getting the bloodwork done, and hopefully it will not be a massive factor in weight loss.

I've heard the Armour is great stuff - it's a different type of thyroid hormone, isn't it? Like pig instead of something else? I don't remember exactly. I know it also has T3 & T4 in it. I would go through mail order - does your insurance offer a mail order option?

I posted the Pharmacy Checker.com Just click on it "the wording" and look it up. Costcos comes in at the cheapest.

Its classified as Natural Thyroid Medication.

It can come from a Porcupine, or Pig from what I know of.

But it is made from their Thyroid.

All I can tell you is for me,,, it works ! I haven't felt this good,

I can't remember since when.

I have been sluggish all my life, and starving in the morning too.

Now I found out what causes that. I was told it's all in my head.

Different Location !

He told me mine was so bad, it was pulling of the pituitary Gland.

Any Headaches, YES, Muscles in the face or neck pull? YES.

It all made sense. So he said we will start from scratch. Forget

the Past, this is all new, and I promise you, that I can fix this.

Well the medication has me in a normal range.

I may not be cured of this, but I sure feel a lot better, alert, and awake.

So check out the prescription site, and yes my ins. covers it.

He told me mine was so bad, it was pulling of the pituitary Gland.

Any Headaches, YES, Muscles in the face or neck pull? YES.

It all made sense. So he said we will start from scratch. Forget

the Past, this is all new, and I promise you, that I can fix this.

Oh my gosh! Me too! You're the first person I've ever read who had the same experience! I actually got tested for a pituitary problem before I ever got tested for thyroid because of my symptoms.

If I don't have my synthroid every muscle in my face will tighten up, and eventually my entire body will just lock up and it will be so painful to walk I can't even walk to the end of the block, or brush my hair.

It takes about a week for me to get that way. I left my meds at home once several years ago while I was visiting some family in another state... I was SO miserable.

You better keep taking those Meds...

I know what your talking about,, and it hurts !

Is anyone else on this Armour Thyroid ? Just asking...

Hi Everyone,

Love the posts, I too have hypo and am on levothyroxine. I am very curious about the Armour and will ask my doctor. I'm scheduled for my surgery on the 26th, can't wait. Finally, some help!

It's comforting to hear other's stories ...

Serifa

I didn't even think that my hypothyroidism was not helping me when it came to weight loss!! The last few days the scale has been up and down and I get frustrated since I am following what the nutritionist told me to do, now to come read this post and see it may not all be entirely my fault!!! Totally didnt even click!!! I am on levothyroxine and for the first few days after surgery I didn't take my meds as I was afraid to swallow it, but I could really tell it's effect on my hair, felt like straw!!! UGH!!! So now I take it faithfully (it's the size of a tic-tac so I don't see a need to crush it, since I have no fill) ..... I was 209 on surgery date and after a few days, got down to 202.8, and since then, the scale has ranged from 203.0 to 207 and it's killing me!!! Of course 207 was late afternoon and all the others have been first thing in the morning....I know I really should put the scale away!!

Makes me think back, I almost didn't get surgery in time as my TSH levels were off...well, I was having arm pain issues and didn't remember to take my thyroid meds, so I had to go back and get bloodwork redone to prove my levels were off because I was a dummy and didn't take my meds then.

I've only been diagnosed about a year. Started on synthroid but my pcp moved me to levothyroxine....should I go to an endocrinologist like others? My pcp never suggested that...I go see my gyno later this month and will ask her if we need to change meds or take this further.

Thanks for posting everyone!!

kristi

I just did some on line pharmacy shopping, and costco delivers for free, and they were the cheapest.

Type in on line pharmacy, and as you scroll down, I found comparison prices.

Thats where I found it. So there is hope.

I didn't even think that my hypothyroidism was not helping me when it came to weight loss!! The last few days the scale has been up and down and I get frustrated since I am following what the nutritionist told me to do, now to come read this post and see it may not all be entirely my fault!!! Totally didnt even click!!! I am on levothyroxine and for the first few days after surgery I didn't take my meds as I was afraid to swallow it, but I could really tell it's effect on my hair, felt like straw!!! UGH!!! So now I take it faithfully (it's the size of a tic-tac so I don't see a need to crush it, since I have no fill) ..... I was 209 on surgery date and after a few days, got down to 202.8, and since then, the scale has ranged from 203.0 to 207 and it's killing me!!! Of course 207 was late afternoon and all the others have been first thing in the morning....I know I really should put the scale away!!

Makes me think back, I almost didn't get surgery in time as my TSH levels were off...well, I was having arm pain issues and didn't remember to take my thyroid meds, so I had to go back and get bloodwork redone to prove my levels were off because I was a dummy and didn't take my meds then.

I've only been diagnosed about a year. Started on synthroid but my pcp moved me to levothyroxine....should I go to an endocrinologist like others? My pcp never suggested that...I go see my gyno later this month and will ask her if we need to change meds or take this further.

Thanks for posting everyone!!

kristi

Kitty : you should see a Endocrinologist for this condition. Tell your PCP to send you to a good one though.

It took him less then 6 months to get my level in a normal range.

I started out on Synthroid it didn't work for me. They even asked me if I was taking the Medication? It didn't show up in the blood work.

When I moved and got a new Dr.. I told her about the situation, and she put me on the generic brand Levothyroxine or something like that. It got into the blood system, but I felt Terrible. So I stopped taking it. I thought she was going to flip ! So I told her why should I take it if I feel so bad? I feel better without it ! That's when I told her I want to see a Endocrinologist, and she agreed. Best move I ever Made.

See if your ins. will let you go where you want without a referral if you want. But I would ask her if she knows of a good specialist.

You did the band for weight loss, you might as well get this in order too.