Hi there,
I’ve just been reading through the posts here and it’s encouraging to find others who know what it’s like to go through Graves’ Disease and the problems of weight gain after treatement. I was diagnosed with Graves’ a little over a year ago and since starting medication (Thiamazol), my weight has been climbing steadily – despite a sustained effort to exericse more and eat less food but healthy food (fruit, veg, pulses etc). In the past this would work to keep off the kilos/pounds but now I just seem to put on more weight and my body seems to do whatever it wants. I can suddenly gain several kilos in one weekend but it doesn’t drop off as easily. I have gained 16 kilos (35lbs) since I was a healthy, slim, active pre-Graves person. Probably the most frustrating thing of all is the response from my doctors who tell me that my thyroid levels are normal and that everyone has trouble losing weight. I know, however, that my body does not react in the same way to diet and exercise as it did when I was pre-Graves – and it’s comforting at least to find a forum where there are others expressing similar sentiments (it can be a terribly isolating experience). The weight gain is scarey, yes, because I don’t fit into my clothes and I can’t think of myself as "big and beautiful" – but it’s also scarey because I don’t feel healthy and I’m carrying around all this weight everyday, which is exhausting and hard on my heart. And mostly, I seem unable to control it effectively. I’ve read some good tips here (like exercise in the morning and do a little everyday rather than heavy workouts – which I tend to do out of frustrating and determination) and I wish my doctors would offer more recovery support, but as they don’t, it’s good to find it here. Thank you.
Jennie
