weighty and weary

[sangees]

I had my thyroid killed with radioactive iodine a year ago Jan. This happened at least two years after my endocrynologist told me I was ready. I was unable to afford the treatment and was forced to use my counties program for medically indigent adults, and twice the doctors in charge of my case let my numbers get completely out of control, leaving my only option to double up on the methamazole. All my adult life, I had been 135 lbs. with no eating issues. Each round of methamazole left me 20 to 30 pounds heavier. By the time  I got the treatment to kill my thyroid I was 190 lbs. I had assumed that when I began taking thyroid replacement hormone, the weight would come off. Instead, I'm gaining. I eat like a bird, (a large bird). I 've been on thyroid hormone for about a year and two months. and the weight is wreaking havoc on my exercise, hurting my already painful hips, knees, and ankles. I sometimes want to try doubling my meds , all these extra lbs. on someone who has never been overweight  really hurt. My doctor apparently thinks I'm eating horses when she's not looking. My friends know that I barely eat. None of my clothes fit me, I have underwear that range from size 6 to size 9, (looks more like bed linens),  and everyday I discover new things in my closet that no longer fit me. I've spent the last 19 years recovering from being ran over by a jeep, after not walking for 13 months, and I was doing fantastic, and now this weight is robbing me of my mobility, and making all my aches and pains and old broken bones  start screaming again. Over and over in my life I've had to overcome everything from chronic pneumonia to cancer, all the way to the 'too much fun club' where I sustained many injuries and broken bones. I'm 56 and it's getting harder and harder to recover from too much pain, too much grief, too many operations performed by docs I've never met and who certainly don't love me or care what happens to me.  I have doctors who dole out meds that clash with one another, who are simply not that experienced in the pharmacy, and who never ask and consider the other drugs I'm on. I had an amazing, vital, and truly exceptional life that I loved before the last 5 years, when my health drug me down a dark alley and not only kicked the crap out of me, it stole my love of my wonderful life. Any suggestions?

[Smilerdeb]

What were your last labs?
FT3, FT, TSH?

I had RAI in june 2008 and gained 33lbs with the methimazole.
Prior to this I went from a stick like figure to a beached whale!
It was only when my Ft3 and FT4 started to 'stabilise' that the weight dropped off me....I went from 52kgs and was 71kgs when I had RAI and am now nearly 58 kgs.
Given I still havent got down to the 52kgs...that doesnt worry me. Like you, I had my 'fat' clothes and 'skinny ' clothes.

Its important to get the FT3 and FT4 at a level you are comfortable with.

Prior to RAI, I exersised to the stage that I GAINED weight.
Then the 'ticker' started to play havoc and the treadmill was packed away.
I havent been on it since, I eat healthy (sometimes splurge) but my weight now usually stays within a 2kg range.

Get yr labs done as you shouldve started losing weight by now and the aches and pains starting to disappear.

Good Luck