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Jusi finished I131 treatment, I feel terrible, gained 20lbs+ in last 2 weeks, will synthroid help me shed lbs?

I recently had a total thyroidectomy and 2 weeks later I131 radiation treatment. I have gained 20 pounds plus since the surgery and I feel terrible. I cannot begin hormone treatment until full body scan here in a few days, but the oncologist that prescribed it will not monitor or regulate how much I need. He prescribed 100 mcq once daily. My metabolism is virtually come to a stand still, I feel fatigued and nauseteous. My endocrinologist can't see until mid December. I've gained a ton of weight and none of these doctors have addressed the issue which I have brought up repeatedly. I guess my question really is will the hormone take the weight off because I have read that it is virtually impossible to lose weight after a total throidectomy. All the doctors like to pass the buck when it comes to my post radiation treatment. My back hurts from the rapid weight gain and I feel uncomfortable in my own body. Is there any hope for weight loss?

Public Comments

1. I have been there and done that recently. I am tired of being told that I am lucky to be alive in a situation that lends no solution. Sometimes I feel like a statistic that everyone wants to parade out as some kind of success story. The weight gain and symptoms can be monitored with some good results. Please, investigate what is causing the weight gain. I abandoned the hormone treatment as I found that the results of the treatment were greater than the possibility of recurrences. I decided that the quality of my life was more important than the length of time which I do not believe any doctor can evaluate. The choice and who and what you decide to do can only be left up to you. Good luck and know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
2. synthroid can help, try taking fish oil pills , they are full of omega 3 and drinking green tea, and stay on a healthy diet. Try to stay around 200 carbs a day, doing these things I lost 80lbs. There is always hope. When you go back to the doctor ask to see a nutritionist. thats what I did, my local hospital offers classes for free.
3. I have also had a total thyroidectomy and 2 rounds of I131 treatment in the last 12 months. The first time I gained about 14 pounds when I was removed from all thyroid medication prior to the radioiodine treatment and the second time I gained about 10 pounds. I have managed to lose the weight fairly easily on both occasions. My doctors put me on tri-iodo thyronine 20mcg twice a day (T3 or Cytomel) for a week starting on the day of the full body scan. T3 has a much quicker, but shorter lasting effect than thyroxine (T4) so it helps you to start feeling normal again much quicker than taking T4 alone. Following that I was put on 200 mcg/day of T4 for six months (In the UK they start everyone off on that dose). I'm now on 175 mcg of T4 daily until I get a blood test. I'd say that you probably will lose the weight you have gained since surgery if you get on the right dose of thyroid replacement but it may take a while. If I were you I'd ask your oncologist to start you off on T3 for a week before switching to T4.