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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Weight Gain In Case Of Hypothyroidism?

I have been battling a thyroid issue and I can't seem to get a clear grasp around what is best for me. My doctor told me my last level was 6.7, which I know is high and I understand that means my thyroid is underactive, but it's been "high" for the past year or 2 and they've prescribed me synthroid to take (which they keep increasing because I don't take my medicine all the time and the results keep coming back high), but within the last year or so I've also gained a good bit of weight and before they started me on the synthroid I was very thin. So I guess the reason I don't want to take the synthroid is because I thought it was somehow slowing down my metabolisim, but the more reasearch I do it seems like if I have an underactive thyroid that could cause me to gain weight. So I guess I'm just wondering why it seemed like before I started treating my thyroid problem my weight was easily maintained and after I started taking the medicine I seemed to gain weight. And from what I researched it should be the reverse right?!? Like if I started taking the medicine that would help increase my metabolisim. Either way I want to know am I A) doing any kind of "real" harm to my body by not taking my medicine and having a high tsh level (6.7) and B) by not taking the medicine am I actually slowing down my metabolisim instead of keeping it higher. Again I was just going off of the fact that I've gained close to 40+ pounds since I had my thyroid checked and then started the medicine (which they keep increasing, which also probably my fault because I don't take it all the time because I thought it was making me gain weight). I just felt if my thyroid was underactive it would make my body work harder to produce it and that would increase my metabolisim, but from all my research that doesn't seem like that's the case. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you!!!
Thu, 15 Dec 2016
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello
Hypothyroidism indicates that your thyroid is underactive, that is to say is slower than normal. An underactive thyroid makes you feel sluggish, slows your metabolism, increases cholesterol levels, can make your hair and skin dry and can make you gain weight.
Synthroid is a medication commonly used to help supplement the body's T4 production and is used in cases of hypothyroidism. It has to be taken daily on an empty stomach, at approximately the same time every day and wait at least an hour before eating. If you do not take as indicated or take with food or other medications, it is not effective. Taking synthroid for an underactive thyroid will help you lose weight (not gain weight) as it helps to accelerate your metabolism. The body cannot simply work harder and increase its metabolism on its own.
Consequences of not taking the medication can be elevated cholesterol levels, infertility, severe fatigue, muscle pains, hair loss, weight gain and even heart conditions.
The TSH needs to be monitored 4 to 6 weeks after taking the medication consecutively to be able to adjust the level as needed. If you stop taking the medication or skip several days, this wreaks havoc on your metabolism and you can end up gaining much more weight.
Also it is important to eat a balanced diet and perform regular exercise in adiition to drinking pleny of water to help with weight loss.
Best regards
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What Causes Weight Gain In Case Of Hypothyroidism?

Hello Hypothyroidism indicates that your thyroid is underactive, that is to say is slower than normal. An underactive thyroid makes you feel sluggish, slows your metabolism, increases cholesterol levels, can make your hair and skin dry and can make you gain weight. Synthroid is a medication commonly used to help supplement the body s T4 production and is used in cases of hypothyroidism. It has to be taken daily on an empty stomach, at approximately the same time every day and wait at least an hour before eating. If you do not take as indicated or take with food or other medications, it is not effective. Taking synthroid for an underactive thyroid will help you lose weight (not gain weight) as it helps to accelerate your metabolism. The body cannot simply work harder and increase its metabolism on its own. Consequences of not taking the medication can be elevated cholesterol levels, infertility, severe fatigue, muscle pains, hair loss, weight gain and even heart conditions. The TSH needs to be monitored 4 to 6 weeks after taking the medication consecutively to be able to adjust the level as needed. If you stop taking the medication or skip several days, this wreaks havoc on your metabolism and you can end up gaining much more weight. Also it is important to eat a balanced diet and perform regular exercise in adiition to drinking pleny of water to help with weight loss. Best regards