Thyroid problem

This topic contains 9 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by CAnnbewarra 9 years ago.

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haryc

1:53 pm
14 Nov 15
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Hi

Was just wondering if anyone else had had this reaction.

I had to see the heart specialist and when I told him I was doing this diet (my doctor had recommended it, (to lose some weight and help reduce my cholestrol) he told me to stop.
‘It wont’ help your cholestrol and only muck up your thyroid were his words’.

Trouble is I had a blood test and my thyroid reading was high.

I left off doing the diet and the next blood test had reduced to 6 (was 8) then started the diet again and now the blood test has shot up to 10.

Now they have got me on thyroxine for life.

Not amused.

Cinque

11:39 pm
18 Nov 15
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Did he explain why it would have mucked up your thyroid?

haryc

7:28 am
19 Nov 15
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No. Wasn’t a very pleasant doctor at all. No bedside manner. Very abrupt.
Took me by surprise really as I have a lovely doctor. He was surprised by his remarks as well. He is doing the fast diet himself.

HappyNow

7:39 am
19 Nov 15
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haryc,

Sorry to hear about your thyroid problem.

I lost weight (only 30lbs) with 5:2 early in 2014 and have maintained that by (very) intermittent fasting since then. I had blood tests earlier this year and everything, including thyroid, was in the normal range.

having said that, I wasn’t very overweight and didn’t have any weight-related diseases before I started 5:2. It sounds like that might not be the case for you?

I understand that there is a link between thyroid and cholesterol, and also that cholesterol can go up temporarily as you lose weight. So perhaps what you were seeing was a temporary effect of fat mobilization?

I’m not medically trained, but if you are very overweight and suffering from weight-related conditions and ‘at risk’ because of your weight, then losing weight can only help.

I would go back to your specialist and ask him for the evidence that 5:2 mucks up thyroid if I was you and, if he can’t provide any, I’d carry on with 5:2 and get my weight down into the healthy range.

HappyNow

7:40 am
19 Nov 15
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Sorry haryc,

I see you answered my question while I was typing my post!

haryc

8:43 am
19 Nov 15
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I didn’t really have any weight problems (5’2″ 140lbs) Still a size 12 trousers although a bit bigger on the top and nearing 65.
The doctor just thought losing a bit of weight would help with the cholestrol as I refused to go on statins.
They only found out about the arrythmia because I had (I believe) a bout of vertigo.

It is still early days yet with the thyroid because I am only on 25mg and have to go back for more blood tests in Dec.

It’s the diet I can easily do so I am quite annoyed really. Maybe next summer when my thyroid problem is stable I will try again and see whay happens.

Cinque

9:40 am
19 Nov 15
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It is a difficult situation. Best wishes, I hope everything improves!

HappyNow

10:10 am
19 Nov 15
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haryc,

If your high cholesterol is caused by thyroid problems, then the specialist will be right about losing weight not reducing your cholesterol. I’d still be interested to know why he says fasting would muck up your thyroid though.

And if your cholesterol is caused by your thyroid function then I guess you were right to refuse statins since that would be treating the symptom and not the cause?

My Mum suffered hypothyroidism (and high cholesterol) in later years, so I have a personal reason for being interested!

Good luck anyway.

haryc

10:42 am
19 Nov 15
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Right then, I’ll report back when I’ve had some more tests.

Thank you very much for your input.

CAnnbewarra

12:50 am
21 Nov 15
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Interesting! I’m very new to this (today, in fact) but have had low thyroid issues for about 25 years, and replaced for about 23. Apparently, it is ‘familial’ ie possibly genetic, although I also wonder if it is ‘environmental’ in that I learnt to eat with my family so we’re (to some extent) eating similar diets. Having said that, if you can see past the sugar binges, for several years now I have been eating a high-fibre diet with plenty of emphasis on vegetables, fruit and fish. I have moved a lot through my life so have had many doctors in many different (Australian) states but haven’t ever had a doctor tell me that fasting was bad for me, so that seems surprising advice. I have also been advised to lose weight (quite challenging for an uncontrolled low-thyroid person!) because it would reduce other health risk numbers. I agree that a 2nd opinion is the very least you should do, as reducing weight/cholesterol/blood pressure is better for your overall health. Just thought I’d also suggest meditation/counselling/mental health strategies, as I have found these helpful, as is regular exercise (my idea of Hell includes a gym, so please know I am not an exercise fanatic, but I do see the value of moving as constantly as possible). Good luck!