The thyroid gland is very important to many bodily functions. It is responsible for metabolism control, heart function, digestion, brain development and muscle control. There are many symptoms of thyroid disease that can be mistaken for something else.
When I started gaining weight at an alarming rate, felt so fatigued and depressed, my thyroid was the last thing I thought would be the problem. Since getting a blood test at the doctor was the only way to diagnose this and I always put off going to the doctor, I suffered needlessly for way too long. In this article I will explain why the thyroid is so important, some symptoms you should look for and how thyroid disease and weight gain go hand in hand, as well as what you should do about it.
What Is The Thyroid
Our thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland located in the base of your neck. It releases hormones that control and regulate important bodily functions. This includes heart rate, metabolism, menstrual cycle, cholesterol, and brain function.
Our thyroid gland is part of our endocrine system which has many glands that store and produce and release hormones into our cells. It makes two main hormones, T3 and T4. If these levels are too low or high, then that causes serious side effects and you could even die. Having too little of these hormones is called hypothyroidism, if too much hormone is released, it is called hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid disease is often due to autoimmune problem, which is basically the body attacking itself. It is also hereditary. Graves disease causes increased production of thyroid hormone and Hashimotos causes the thyroid to produce dangerously low amounts of hormones. Next I will list the most common symptoms for both of these issues, so you can be better informed and see a doctor if you feel you need to.
Hypothyroidism Symptoms
- Feeling tired and fatigued
- Feeling cold when you shouldn’t be
- Gaining weight when you shouldn’t be
- Muscle weakness
- Achy joints
- Dry itchy skin
- Hair loss
- Depression, feeling low
- Constipation
- Brain fog
- Irregular periods
Hyperthyroidism Symptoms
- Increased heart rate and breath rate
- Anxiety and nervousness
- Tremors
- Rapid weight loss when not trying
- Irregular periods
- Feeling hot when you shouldn’t be
- Feeling weak
Is It Possible To Lose Weight Gained From Thyroid Disease?
I am here as living proof to tell you YES it is possible. The first thing you have to do is go to your doctor and get a blood lab done. If your doctor finds that your thyroid levels are off, the next step they would take is most likely putting you on a dose of synthetic or natural thyroid hormone.
You will have to get tested about every 3 months to see if it is the correct dose and it works for you. You may not be able to tell right away, it takes awhile for your body to adjust, about 3 months or so. As soon as you find out that you do have hypothyroidism, you are going to want to start to eat more healthy. For me, lower carbohydrate meal plans work, and drink plenty of fluids.
You are going to feel better and so you will have more energy to start some physical activity. Start slow just taking walks or doing housework, Its amazing how much better you’re going to feel. Make sure you’re taking your medicine every day preferably in the morning on an empty stomach, then don’t eat for an hour after taking it so your body can absorb it.
I had some hair loss also, and that eventually started to subside. Sometimes the dose that is working for you may need to be changed so it is super important that you keep getting your levels checked.
Conclusion
Your health is important and weight gain from thyroid disease can be stopped. Getting older our metabolism slows down significantly and having thyroid disease on top of that, you would think, makes losing weight that much harder. It doesn’t have to be that way. I take supplements daily along with my medicine and that really does make a difference. It just takes time and a little research to find out what best works for you. You will feel better so don’t lose hope. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below, as always I would love to hear your thoughts!
