[Sue_Conard]

#1068463

Hello mama 44…how long have you been diagnosed with GD? I’ve gained a lot of weight too with this disease…mostly from the fatigue and steroids, I believe. It’s a struggle, no doubt, but I know there’s a "weight gain" chain that is on this site you might want to sign up for…lots and lots of support here!!

[mama_44]

#1019011

since i found out i have graves and taking meds for it, i have gained so much weight. I normally weigh about 130lbs, now im around 209lbs. I try to keep a reg a diet, slipping sometimes, i walk with my kids every day, nothing seems to help. I feel so bad about the way i look, my husband is really supportive though. I remember all the weight lose before the meds. im miserable.

[Ski]

#1068464

There are several elements that play into the weight gain, but I want to make note of the fact that it is *not* the meds ~ it just feels that way because you start taking the meds, and the weight comes on. The fact is that it’s a function of getting well, and we need to understand why it happens so we can minimize it ~ and also accept it, JUST for a little while, until our thyroid hormone levels are normal and stable.

When we are hyperthyroid, we lose muscle mass in our largest muscles (upper arms, upper legs, chest and back), which is weight loss, but is BAD weight loss. Muscle mass helps our body burn up calories, even while we’re sitting still, so in losing muscle mass, we also lose the ability to burn as many calories as we used to. That’s while we’re hyperthyroid. Then we take meds to bring our thyroid hormone levels back into normal range, and not only have we got that loss of muscle mass, we’ve also got a lowered metabolism to deal with ~ even if we’ve only been hyper a short time, it’s easy to get used to a body that can eat as much as it wants and keep losing, so after that metabolism comes down, again, we’re at a disadvantage.

The muscle mass begins to return as we get our thyroid hormone levels under control, but it’s "baby" muscle, and it needs to be carefully toned and strengthened to return to the state it was in before you lost it. Bobbi had to begin doing arm lifts with two thin paperback books in order to bring the strength back and not hurt herself.

You’d be well advised to go see a physical therapist. Have your strength and stamina evaluated, and come up with a plan to return your body to its former health ~ safely. It will go far in helping you control your weight. In the meantime, keep doing what you’re doing ~ eat healthy, no wasted calories, and do whatever exercise you are COMFORTABLE with (no pushing yourself, you’ll pay too dearly). If you must, go to the local Goodwill and pick up some nice clothes that fit your "current" body, so you’re not straining at the waistline everytime you need to move your body. Believe it or not, that will encourage you to MOVE, and that will help bring the weight down as well.

[mama_44]

#1068465

Ski wrote:There are several elements that play into the weight gain, but I want to make note of the fact that it is *not* the meds ~ it just feels that way because you start taking the meds, and the weight comes on. The fact is that it’s a function of getting well, and we need to understand why it happens so we can minimize it ~ and also accept it, JUST for a little while, until our thyroid hormone levels are normal and stable.

When we are hyperthyroid, we lose muscle mass in our largest muscles (upper arms, upper legs, chest and back), which is weight loss, but is BAD weight loss. Muscle mass helps our body burn up calories, even while we’re sitting still, so in losing muscle mass, we also lose the ability to burn as many calories as we used to. That’s while we’re hyperthyroid. Then we take meds to bring our thyroid hormone levels back into normal range, and not only have we got that loss of muscle mass, we’ve also got a lowered metabolism to deal with ~ even if we’ve only been hyper a short time, it’s easy to get used to a body that can eat as much as it wants and keep losing, so after that metabolism comes down, again, we’re at a disadvantage.

The muscle mass begins to return as we get our thyroid hormone levels under control, but it’s "baby" muscle, and it needs to be carefully toned and strengthened to return to the state it was in before you lost it. Bobbi had to begin doing arm lifts with two thin paperback books in order to bring the strength back and not hurt herself.

You’d be well advised to go see a physical therapist. Have your strength and stamina evaluated, and come up with a plan to return your body to its former health ~ safely. It will go far in helping you control your weight. In the meantime, keep doing what you’re doing ~ eat healthy, no wasted calories, and do whatever exercise you are COMFORTABLE with (no pushing yourself, you’ll pay too dearly). If you must, go to the local Goodwill and pick up some nice clothes that fit your "current" body, so you’re not straining at the waistline everytime you need to move your body. Believe it or not, that will encourage you to MOVE, and that will help bring the weight down as well.

thank you for the advice, i will try that,

[mama_44]

#1068466

Sue Conard wrote:Hello mama 44…how long have you been diagnosed with GD? I’ve gained a lot of weight too with this disease…mostly from the fatigue and steroids, I believe. It’s a struggle, no doubt, but I know there’s a "weight gain" chain that is on this site you might want to sign up for…lots and lots of support here!!

i was diagnosed with graves 5 months ago. although ive had it for years, just overlooked the systems, telling myself it was stress. one night, 5 months ago, my heart starting beating really fast & i passed out. my husband called the ambulance. when i come to, i was at the hospital on monitors. they said my heart rate was 226 beats a min. they run all sorts of tests, come back four weeks later and i have graves. thank you, Karen

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