Atkins and thyroid disease

[emerald]

I have had thyroid cancer and have no thyroid. Since the surgery, four years ago, I have gained over 30 pounds. My doctor has worked with me to find a correct dose of thyroid replacement hormone, but the weight keeps piling on. My doctor finally told me that there is nothing that can be done to stop the weight gain. I am fast approaching type 2 diabetes and his best advice is that it happens! Has anyone out there been in my situation and had success losing weight on the Atkins diet. In his book even Dr. Atkins is not reassuring about people in my sistuation loosing weight.

Please help!

E

Report

[Atriana]

First off - what thyroid replacement are you taking? I had Graves and had my thyroid treated with radioactive iodine. This of course causes the thyroid to function very little. When they started my replacement, they put me on Synthroid. The weight kept piling on. The thyroid makes several hormones - Synthroid only replaces one of them. After several years I got the doctor to also include Cytomel - only after bringing a New England Journal of Medicine article with me. That showed some improvement. In the last couple of months, I finally got switched to Armour Thyroid. This is created from the thyroid gland of pigs and contains ALL the hormones that a normal healthy thyroid creates. There has been a big improvement since I made the switch. I am not as tired, my hair isn't falling out anymore, I'm not cold all the time, etc.
Most doctors are anti Armour - the Synthroid people have had lots of illegal marketing tactics (there is even a class action suit) and have poisoned the minds of most med students against using a "natural" product.
There is all sorts of information about this on about.com's thyroid site.

[emerald]

I too had to convince my doctor to include Cytomel in my thyroid hormone replacemment protocol. It took me two years to convince him. I now take Levoxyl and Cytomel. Except for the weight and the depression I am fairly symptom free. Did the Armour lead to a reduction in weight? Has the atkins diet been effective for you?

Thanks for your time. I appreciate your input!

E

[Atriana]

I really believe that the Armour is much better for me than the Synthroid/Cytomel combo. Plus, it is a lot cheaper :)
I started Atkins at 170 and got down to about 140. The weight came off slowly, but came off. Then I got married, went on a 10 day honeymoon cruise and started traveling with my husband on his very frequent business trips. In the last 6 months, Costa Rica, France, New Orleans, Montreal, Japan, and one 3 day cruise get-a-way. Most of these trips were at least 2 weeks, Costa Rica was 5 weeks. I tried to avoid bread whenever possible, but other than that, whatever was the local food was what I was eating. Japan was the worst - I like fish, but not for every meal of the day. In the year or so that I was off Atkins, I gained all of 3 pounds. Not too bad. Then Japan, with its lovely odon noodles, well that added 5 in 18 days. So now here I am back on induction. I have lost 4.5 of those 5 pounds in the last 5 days. So, yes, I definately think the Armour helps - I didn't lose weight that quickly the first time around.
BTW - I was taking wellbutrin for depression and with the Armour I don't need it anymore. :)

[emerald]

Atriana, thanks so much for the encouragement. I am going to ask my doctor about Armour. I am at 198, the most I have ever weighed and hope to get down to 140. I am trying the induction, today was my first day. I bought keto sticks and have not yet gone into ketosis. How long did it take you the first time to go into ketosis?

Congratulations on your marriage! I think may the travelling was worth a few pounds!

Please keep in touch through this board.

All the best,

E