Graves Disease and being overweight
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Graves Disease and being overweight
| Tue, 04-04-2006 - 4:36pm |
Hi
I have Graves Disease and I'm overweight. I've been told that is unusual because my thyroid is hyperactive and therefore, I should be underweight. Has that happened to any of you? I've been overweight most of my life and I was diagnosed with hyperactive thyroid over 10 years ago. I finally had my first RAI treatment in January. I had my first follow up a week ago and I'm still hyper! How long can it take to get to normal levels? Is there anyone else that has had either surgery or RAI and eventually LOST weight? I have PCOS too. Does anyone else have this double whammy? Is it common to have both? Does anyone know if I will ever have normal hair again? My hair has been falling out since I was about 15. It's very distressing.
Sorry about all the questions. I hope some of you have some answeres or advice!
Thanks!
I have Graves Disease and I'm overweight. I've been told that is unusual because my thyroid is hyperactive and therefore, I should be underweight. Has that happened to any of you? I've been overweight most of my life and I was diagnosed with hyperactive thyroid over 10 years ago. I finally had my first RAI treatment in January. I had my first follow up a week ago and I'm still hyper! How long can it take to get to normal levels? Is there anyone else that has had either surgery or RAI and eventually LOST weight? I have PCOS too. Does anyone else have this double whammy? Is it common to have both? Does anyone know if I will ever have normal hair again? My hair has been falling out since I was about 15. It's very distressing.
Sorry about all the questions. I hope some of you have some answeres or advice!
Thanks!

Hi there:
I can't answer all your questions, but I wanted to say that I have Hashimoto's and my mother had Grave's, then later Hashimoto's. My mother has had several autoimmune diseases and when she had Grave's disease, weight loss was not one of her symptoms (she was not overweight at the time, but she did not lose weight but did have other horrible symptoms).
So maybe you have a plate full of autoimmune disease and there could be multiple system interactions that are leading to your metabolism being slow despite the speed up that's caused by the Grave's. I know of at least one person who had both types of thyroid antibodies at once making her essentially Grave's and Hashimoto's at the same time! I'm not saying that's what you have, but perhaps your other hormone systems are interacting in a way that promotes the storage of extra fat?
Do you monitor your blood glucose levels?
Do you have other symptoms of Grave's disease? Or are you diagnosed on the basis of antibodies and TSH levels?
Are you seeing an endocrinologist? Have you asked him/her your question?
There is a book entitled "Living Well with Autoimmune Disease" by M. Shomon (that I have yet to read, but it's on my list!) ---others have recommmended it and I would encourage you to check it out becuase it might have some clues.
Good luck!
Dee.
I am seeing an Endo. I've been diagnosed with Graves Disease by 2 different drs. My blood glucose levels are within the normal range. Weight gain is a symptom of PCOS so you may be right, my hormones may be counteracting each other.
Hi Candy_land2004,
I have heard that sometimes these autoimmune disorders do go together so it may not be surprising that you have both.
Hi candy_land,
Candy,
First off, I am so sorry about your hair loss. I am experiencing that right now and it's VERY distressing!
I also wanted to tell you a little about my sister. Both of us have always been thin, athletic but when she turned 22 she suddenly out of nowhere had a "Thyroid storm" and her heart rate was way high. They told her if she would have been any older she would have died from a heart attack, but because she was so healthy and young she made it! Anyway they gave her a beta blocker to slow her heart rate down until they could figure out what to do. She also had all the other symptoms, got to 100 lbs (that was scary, she was sooo tiny!) and lost some hair but her hair was so thick before you couldn't really tell (her hair is exactly like jennifer annistons). anyway, she had insomnia, trembling hands, increased bowel movements, etc. None of us knew what was going on or what to do. The doctor told her that the best thing was to poison her gland with raidoactive iodine and so she did it (It was a very distressing day for her and she sorta regrets doing it). Anyway, so now she is considered HYPOthyroid. To answer your question it took her about 6 months before she went HYPO thyroid. It will take awhile for your thyroid cells to die off. Give it half a year at least. You will know when you turn HYPO. As far as your weight...not sure. My sister gained weight when she went HYPO. But then she is able to maintain a healthy weight and look skinny. But some people gain weight. I just spoke with my sister on the phone and she said when you go hypo you usually gain weight but that it can be controlled if you can normalize your hormones and if you exercise and stay away from animal fats.
Hope this helps,
I am overweight and always have been "soft around the edges". I also believe I have PCOS; I had a few ovarian systs rupture over the years and was prone to facial hair until I started taking Diane35/Diana BCPs about five years ago. Two years ago I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. They found a lump on my thyroid. Originally I was misdiangosed with an anxiety disorder. I have heart palpatations, insomnia and frequent bowel movements. My hair is still very thick and isn't falling out. Frankly, I am TICKED that I'm not loosing weight. If I must put up with the heart palpatations and the insomnia, then why can't I be thin, too? The internist who saw me says I'm not loosing because I'm too tired from the insomnia. She also chose not to treat my hyperthyroidism with drugs because, based on blood tests, my levels do balance out on their own eventually before flaring up again. In two days I go to see an endocrinologist; my GP isn't convinced that we should leave this alone. There was an assumption that this lump isn't cancer, but I'm not sure how they know that.
Hi, my name is jessica. I too have been diagnosed with Graves' disease I have a goitre in my neck and also have pcos. So quite a lot going on hence the reason Iv been feeling so un well I'm seeing an endocrinologists and have been put on 30mg of carbimazole. I am very over weight which was quite a shock when I was told I have an over active thyroid. At the moment I have discovered my eyes feel very gritty. I'm using artificial tears for this. I really hope I start feeling back to normal and my energy levels are back up. Are you feeling better and has any weight come off? I hope so because I know how uncomfortable this really is. Iv done lots of research but it would be nice to hear from someone who has the same as me.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Hi my name is jessica , I two have been diagnosed with Graves' disease and I also have a goitre in my neck. I was diagnosed with pcos when I was around 19. I am very overweight and its making me miserable. The feeling of having no energy, muscle weakness tremors, no tolerance to heat, sickness and diahorreha was really interfering with everyday life. We didn't know what was wrong with me until bloods was taken. It came back with over active thyroid which was quite a shock because I'd gained weight rather than lost it Iv seen an endocronologist and he prescribed me 30 mg of carbimazole I alsI take 20mg of propananol three times a day. Iv been on the carbimazole now for three weeks and in some ways I am starting to feel little changes on my body which I can't describe but changes in a good way. I really hope this is the start of my body coming back to normal and I really hope the weight loss will happen for me. I'm sorry to hear you have the same as me because I know how in pleasant it really is. Is like to know how you are feeling now and how's the weight ? Have you gained or lost any ? Would really appreciate some information iv dome lots of research but would just like to hear how it's been for you.. Someone who knows what it's like to have Graves' disease. Thank you look forward to hear from you.