I currently do not have health insurance. I have money saved back for a gym membership (only $50). I believe that I have hypothyroidism since I have ALL the symptoms. I was wondering if it was still possible to lose weight (I don't have the money to get medicine or go to the doctor). I am 22 years old, am 5'6 and weight around 215-220 (my scale is a little off). So is it possible to lose weight with hypothyroidism? Should I focus on getting a gym membership and getting healthy foods or should I save the money to try and get medicine and go to the doctor (I only have enough money to do one until January, when I get a student loan from my university)?
RN851 - Hello Nik - It is unwise to self diagnose hypothyroidism. If you are in college your student health service should be able to help you get a simple TSH test which will let you know for sure. If they cant help you then look for a free clinic which can help. If you cant do either, then save your money until you can get tested. If you are indeed hypothyroid it will be difficult to lose weight. The medicine which you would take is available as a generic and is very inexpensive. In the mean time there are plenty of ways to increase your activity without joining a gym. Good Luck with this. Maintaining a healthy weight is important to your long term health so stick with it.
ReplyDeleteTarkarri - If you are hypothyroid, then weight is the least of your problems - as you would be aware if you are symptomatic.
ReplyDeleteUntreated hypothyroidism can lead to a range of health issues including (at the extreme level) mental incapacity and death.
It is possible to loose weight if you are hypothyroid, it is not possible to reverse all the possible damage if it is left untreated.
Your first priority should be to get an accurate diagnosis.
Manoj - Hypothyroidism and weight gain go hand in hand because when thyroid function is low, metabolism slows down as well. While not all people with hypothyroidism gain weight, it is very often one of the symptoms of the condition. Thyroid hormones not only play a significant role in metabolism, which in turn affects weight, but insufficient thyroid function can result in fluid retention, further contributing to weight gain. Another reason why hypothyroidism and weight gain are connected is that the condition usually causes fatigue and lethargy, which can result in a decrease in activity that contributes to weight gain.
ReplyDeleteFurther, losing weight with hypothyroidism can be especially challenging if not done correctly because excessive dieting can lower metabolism even further. It is very important, therefore, to follow a healthy weight loss regimen if you are trying to lose weight with hypothyroidism.
A diagnosis of hypothyroidism is made using a simple blood test for thyroid hormones. If levels of the hormone T4 are low or if levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are high, the test is considered positive for hypothyroidism. However, even when blood levels of thyroid hormones fall within normal range, some practitioners still attribute symptoms like fatigue and weight gain to thyroid function, believing the symptoms may be caused by sub-clinical hypothyroidism (sometimes called "sluggish thyroid").
For several reasons, women are especially prone to hypothyroidism and weight gain, though the condition does exist in men as well. Women are more likely to diet, and when they do, they are more likely to "feast and then fast" too often. This yo-yo pattern of dieting interferes with metabolism, especially during perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause that are characterized by hormonal fluctuations.
Even women with regular menstrual cycles are subject to natural hormonal fluctuations that contribute to the challenge of losing weight with hypothyroidism. Further, women tend to internalize stress more than men, which can affect the function of both the adrenal gland and the thyroid gland.
The good news is that, even with the inherent challenges of losing weight with hypothyroidism, there are a number of things that can be done about hypothyroidism and weight gain.........