I am gaining weight like crazy from a thyroid condition.  What can I do?
132315
well, first I hate to gaining weight like anyone else but consult your doctor first-see if s/he has any ideas or a fitness plan that could help-since it is cause by your condition it is probably not the first time s/he has been approached by someone about but you should without a doubt check for any restriction on diet and exercise in case you come you with your own plan.  \n        I would think using any pills would be out of the question-google some of the leading diet products out there and read the reviews.  Healthy woman have had horrible experiences using these things, so don't risk it. Try the old and true methods-Eat in smaller portions more a day as opposed to 3 heavy meals, do whatever cardo is safe 3x a week & 3 simple tips that I think work more than people give it credit for but it's so cliche they don't try them-\n       1) Eat Breakfast\n       2) drink at least 10 glasses of water per day( no soda!) and \n       3) Have a cut off time at the end of the night that you won't eat afterwards.  I set mine at 8:00 and and lost almost 9Lbs in a month doing nothing else but that. My co-worker who sugessted it to me had a cut off time of 6:30 and she lost almost 6 in less than two weeks.  Take Care.
280870
I too have IRS, it can be treated by taking certain medicines for Diabetics. I take Fortamet. Insuline Resistance Syndrome (IRS) can also cause uncontrollable weight gain. The medicines will allow your cells to take the insulin and you will lose weight if you've gained any. Don't worry though, everything will be fine. Just see a specialist of internal medicine. If there are any metabolic centers where you live that wouild be the best place to start. Good luck honey.
261478
I had a similar problem, so I will tell you my story(hope it helps and doesn't bore you to death).  This all happened after I had my daughter...I don't know if pregnancy caused it or if it was just coincidental.  I first found out about my enlarged thyroid when I was sick.  I went to the doctor for being sick, and she told me my thyroid was enlarged and wanted to run tests.  I had felt it, but it wasn't that large at the time, so I just thought it was a swollen gland from infection.  I had my thyroid levels checked, and they were normal.  I went to an endocrinologist and he checked my levels again...normal.  At that time, he told me that my only option was to have it removed because he couldn't treat it with medicine if my levels were fine.  It wasn't very noticeable then, and I couldn't bare the thought of having my throat cut(he also told me insurance would not cover it because they would consider it 'cosmetic').  Anyway, over the course of the next 2-3 yrs, it gradually grew bigger and bigger.  I had my levels checked several more times and they were always normal.  I finally went to a new doctor, and she immediately referred me to a surgeon.  The first time I saw him, he said it needed to come out.  He said the larger it gets, the more chance there is of getting cancer in it.  He measured my thyroid and my left nodule was 6cm wide.  In January of last year, I had my entire thyroid removed leaving nothing but my parathyroid glands.  My thyroid had grown so large that it wrapped around my esophogus and surgery lasted 6 hrs.  I now take thyroid replacement hormones daily.  If it does not go down, I would highly recommend seeing a specialist.  The scar is barely noticeable.  They make the incision so that it fits right in with the wrinkles in your neck.  I hope this gave you a little insight. By the way, I was never diagnosed with anything other than a simple 'goiter'.
653237
Hypothyroid is NOT the way to go!! I would say anything but that! Have you consulted your physician with all the alternatives, as well as the pros & cons of each?\nI have given several links below to read & perhaps you can read through & understand the different thyroid symptoms & problems.\nHere is some information about myself, plus some symptoms in case anyone coming upon your question may be interested:\nI have low thyroid. If you have low thyroid...here's a great question to answer: Can you see the floor of your house? That was what was asked of me at one point, and to my amazement, the answer was no! I would give just about anything up to not have thyroid problems! It sucks, and the time I skip a day or two, I really get knocked out!\nAnyway, the signs are:fatigue and lack of energy. Women suffering from underactive thyroid experience heavier menstrual periods. Sluggishness and forgetfulness are symptoms of underactive thyroid problem. Other symptoms of this thyroid disorder are dry skin and hair and constipation.\nIf you have high thyroid, or an overactive one, the signs are: increased body metabolism. This is followed by weight loss and excessive warmth and sweating. Persons suffering from overactive thyroid experience trembling hands, irritability and rapid heartbeat or palpitations. Women with overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism may experience shorter or lighter menstrual periods.\nI take medication, and sadly will have to take 1 pill everyday for the rest of my life. There's a blood check that they will do to see if you have low or high. I hope i've helped you!!
447738
It sounds like you're doing what you need to do.  You're eating well, you're exercising and you're taking care of your body (I hope!), getting proper rest and so on.  You may have just hit a wall and in time you'll start losing weight again.\n\nAsk your doctor to check your cortisol levels, to make sure your body isn't overproducing steroids in response to coming off the drug.  \n\nOther hormonal problems like a low thyroid and polycystic ovaries can cause weight gain despite proper diet and exercise.  The best thing for you to do is talk to your doctor, ask his/her opinion and have these other hormones tested.  If all comes back normal, you've probably either hit a plateau or are going through a growth spurt (which in girls also means adding a bit of fat in the breast an dhip area), which will balance out in a few months.
630575
Call your doctor, and have them check your thyroid function.
277079
Write down EVERYTHING you eat and look up the caloric intake. You have to walk fast enough to get your heart rate up to an aerobic level. Good luck! Also, go to the Dr. and have your thyroid checked!
28330
Weight gain and depression --- oh, yes!  But it is better than being dead, so I keep trying.  KEEP talking to your doctor or ask his/her nurse.  Also, make sure you are getting your thyroid levels checked.  The problem with just going to a heart doctor is that you may have more than just heart problems.  You might also need to see an endocrinologist (they take care of thyroid and diabetes problems).  The best way to find good doctors is to ask a nurse for names---especially hospital nurses in your area.  Good luck!!
320276
No, you are probably active and have a high metabolism. Try cutting out an activity each day and adding one full meal to your schedule instead. You'll gain weight.
94545
Just be honest.  Tell the doctor that you are concerned about your weight.  He/she will then ask specific questions that you should answer truthfully.  Also, expect the doctor to run a battery of blood tests to determine if you have a thyroid function issue.\n\nDoctor may not be willing to prescribe any appetite control meds until the results are back...if even then, since many doctors don't believe in "helping" you lose weight.  He also may not give you any specific advice until the results come back.\n\nHowever, eventually, he may recommend visits to a dietician (to learn how to eat a proper diet) and that you exercise (provided he finds nothing detrimental in your health).\n\nGood luck!
543799
OMG, my good friend is going through the exact same thing, however she went to a specialist for her "weight gain" issue in San Diego, Ca.  She now has a rare fatty liver  disease.  They took a bunch of blood work and that is what they found.  She keeps gaining weight a few pounds a month over a 9 month period, bad head aches, no energy, the tingling in her hands and slept all the time.  The local doctors here did not find it.  The specialist told her that it is because the doctors were only looking for certain things and the test he ran checked for everything.  You might want to find a specialist in your area.
238086
OK... visit your doctor, you could have a overactive thyroids gland. I was the same problem ten years ago... I was thin like a stick, but I have curves now ;)
676077
You need to consult a doctor.  There are too many possibilities here & no one will be able to diagnose the problem without tests & an examination. \nSleep Apthnia (spelling?) is one possibility & can be corrected with medication.  Another more common disorder deals with the Thyroid & fatigue is usually accompanied by weight gain & other symtoms.  The need to sleep is also associated with depression, which in itself is often misunderstood by patients. Depression is a real physical disorder that adversly affects body chemesrty.  Probably one of the most dangerous possibilities is Hypertension, which can effect many areas of the body including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys etc.\nYour doctor must first determine if your fatigue is a disorder or a symptom. You can't do that on these pages. Go see a doctor!\nIt could also be as simple as changing your diet.
465530
Hi Redlox\n\nIf it ends up being true then here is how to heal your condition.\n\nCause: Hypothyroidism can be caused by food allergies, excess stress, environmental toxins, insufficient exercise, B vitamin deficiencies, lack of iron, lack of digestive enzymes, liver disease, hormone imbalances, and/or parasites. All of these factors need to be screened for and addressed before lasting relief can be achieved. \n\nSulfa drugs, lithium, synthetic estrogen, and antihistamines can exacerbate hypothyroidism symptoms. In addition, if you are on thyroid medication, increase calcium supplementation to reduce the risk of bone loss. \n\nLow thyroid function may also be due to Hashimoto`s disease, a condition in which the body becomes allergic to its own thyroid gland and forms antibodies that attack it, thus lowering thyroid hormone output. \n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nNatural Cures\n\nBroda Barnes Home Thyroid Test: The following simple test was developed by Broda Barnes, one of the first physicians to recognize the widespread incidence of hypothyroidism. Place a thermometer by the side of your bed before you go to sleep. In the morning before getting out of bed, lie still and place the thermometer under your armpit for 15 minutes, then check your temperature. A temperature below 97.5° F may indicate a problem with the thyroid gland. Take the temperature in this manner for three days, except for the first few days of the menstrual cycle and the middle day of the cycle, and calculate the average temperature. If it is consistently low, it is an indicator that your have hypothyroidism. The lower your body temperature is, the greater your degree of hypothyroidism. \n\nDiet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet, emphasizing foods that are naturally high in iodine such as fish, kelp, vegetables, and root vegetables (such as potatoes). Also, increase your daily consumption of foods rich in vitamin B complex, such as whole grains and raw nuts and seeds, and foods rich in vitamin A, such as dark green and yellow vegetables. But avoid foods that slow down production of thyroid hormone, such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, broccoli, turnips, kale, spinach, peaches, and pears. \n\nHerbs: Mild cases of hypothyroidism can be helped by herbal bitters such as gentian or mugwort, while constipation due to low thyroid function can be improved by yellowdock, butternut, or cascara sagrada. St. John`s wort can also be helpful. \n\nHomeopathy: Calc carb. in a dose of 1M once a day is very useful for treating hypothyroidism and improving overall thyroid function. \n\nHydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. \n\nLifestyle: Regular aerobic exercise can play an important role in helping to regulate thyroid hormone production.\n\nNutritional Supplementation: Organic thyroid glandular extracts can help restore normal thyroid function, but should only be used under the supervision of your physician. Other useful nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin B complex, essential fatty acids, iodine, kelp, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.\n\nAlternative Professional Care: If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating hypothyroidism include: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Training, Cell Therapy, Detoxification Therapy, Environmental Medicine, Homeopathy, Magnetic Fiel
662976
Do you have a copy of your blood work? If you do, look at it and see if you were TSH, T-3 and T-4 levels were tested. These are tests used to determine how well your thyroid is functioning. The symptoms that you're describing remind me of how I first felt when I developed hypothyroidism. I doubt it is your blood sugar because people tend to lose weight, not gain weight, during the onset of diabetes. On top of feeling sluggish, poor thyroid function can make you depressed, anxious, physically and mentally exhausted, constipated, and can affect your mood in general. I didn't want to hang out with my friends, talk on the phone, go to work or school, or do anything that required any effort. Also caffeine and sugar had adverse effects on me. If you're experiencing any symptoms similar to these, and you TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone ) wasn't already tested, I suggest ruling hypothyroidism out as a first step. Good luck, and remember, if diseases are caught early enough, more than likely they can be cured ( or at least treated ).
16617
I'm assuming you're hypothyroid? That's the most common thyroid condition resulting in weight gain.  First off it takes a couple months for thyroid levels to even out after you start taking synthetic thyroid hormone.  Secondly, you'll need to start an exercise program in order to boost your metabolic rate.  You'll also need to consume enough calories to fuel your body, and vary the sources from which you're getting your proteins.  Are you vegan, or will you eat lacto/ovo?  Following a vegetarian diet can be dangerous with a thyroid condition - there may be certain nutrients that you cannot metabolize due to your thyroid - for example, you may not be able to convert betacarotene into Vit A.(the only sources of true Vit A are animal).  The previous poster was correct in stating that you should seek the advice of a nutritionist; I would also suggest a visit to an endocrinologist.
623495
If you suspect that you have hyperthyroidism, you should really see a doctor.  You shouldn't depend on the looney-tunes here on Yahoo! Answers.  But if you just want background information:\n\nHyperthyroidism:\n\nCauses:  Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis occurs when the thyroid releases too many of its hormones over a short (acute) or long (chronic) period of time. Many diseases and conditions can cause this problem, including:\n\n    * Graves' disease\n    * Non-cancerous growths of the thyroid gland or pituitary gland\n    * Tumors of the testes or ovaries\n    * Inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the thyroid due to viral infections or other causes\n    * Ingestion of excessive amounts of thyroid hormone\n    * Ingestion of excessive iodine\n\nGraves' disease accounts for 85% of all cases of hyperthyroidism.\n\nSymptoms:\n    * Weight loss\n    * Increased appetite\n    * Nervousness\n    * Restlessness\n    * Heat intolerance\n    * Increased sweating\n    * Fatigue\n    * Frequent bowel movements\n    * Menstrual irregularities in women\n    * Goiter (visibly enlarged thyroid) may be present\n\nTreatment:  Treatment varies depending on the cause of the condition and the severity of symptoms. Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine (which destroys the thyroid and thus stops the excess production of hormones), or surgery to remove the thyroid.\n\nIf the thyroid must be removed with radiation or surgery, replacement thyroid hormones must be taken for the rest of the person's life.\n\nBeta-blockers like propranolol are used to treat some of the symptoms including rapid heart rate, sweating, and anxiety until the hyperthyroidism can be controlled.\n\nP.S.  I'm not a doctor.  All of this information is from publicly available sources on the internet.