Yes, most definitely, some people gain weight with hyperthyroidism. And then they lose it when they are stabilized back at normal levels of hormone.
Weight is a very complicated issue when it comes to hyperthyroidism, and I would strongly urge you to focus on getting your thyroid levels stabilized in the normal range (and this includes the TSH), rather than worrying about weight. For an example of the complexity, some of the weight we lose while hyperthyroid comes from the loss of muscle mass — especially the large muscles of the legs, upper arms, and chest. This is HORRIBLE weight loss because it LOWERS our metabolism, in addition to making us weaker (so that our stamina goes down and we cannot “do” as much, stay as active as we would like). Muscle, even at rest, burns more calories than do other tissues. So, if you have lost muscle, and are doing less, but are still eating your normal amount, you might experience weight gain. When our thyroid hormone levels are normalized, stabilized in the normal zone, muscle starts to return (yes, we see weight gain when that happens). But this is GOOD weight gain. I regained 15 pounds and did not change dress size.
Anyway, the only healthy way to approach these difficult days is to focus on health, and a healthy diet, and to ignore temporary fluctuations in weight.
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator
