Having a hard time since my cancer surgery

[wild_wild_wes]

I'm 47 years old, and in February of this year I had surgery to remove my thyroid gland, followed by radioactive iodine. In two months I gained almost 30 pounds, and I've been trying without much success to reduce.

A few years ago I started a lifestyle make-over; at the start I weighed 350 pounds. Right before the surgery I was at 190, and now after two months of strenuous effort I'm still at 214.

I had pretty much stopped working out, because I had absolutely no energy, and thought I should give my body time to recover from the surgery. In March I worked out at an easy pace, but in April I decided I needed to kick-start my program, so I commuted to work on my bicycle, 18 miles each way, and went from 220 to 214.

Last month I decided to repeat the routine I did in May of last year: 45 minute cardio workout before work, 45 minutes cardio at lunch, and 45 minutes (approx.) of weight lifting when I got home. When I did that last year I lost 6 pounds over the month. When I did the same thing last month...I lost no weight at all. My bodyfat % stayed the same too.

Can anyone explain that, or have any advice for me to get back on the path of reduction? My goal weight is 175, which is what I was when I finished Marine boot camp.

[Grizzly16]

Have you been tested for thyroid and hormone levels?

[TehLlama]

Fluctuating T3/T4 can resemble Hashimoto's, one of those symptoms is irregular weight gain/inability to effectively lose, as I remember.

[Wiggity]

OP how tall are you?

[wild_wild_wes]

OP how tall are you?

I'm 5'8"

[wild_wild_wes]

Have you been tested for thyroid and hormone levels?

I've taken one blood test since being put on the replacement thyroid hormone Thyronine. Based on that test they cut my dosage from 200 to 175 mcg. They were checking to see how much my TSH was suppressed- and the TSH was way too far down they said, which is why they cut the dose. The doc did not make any remark about other thyroid and hormone levels...I'm not sure how that works now that I don't have a thyroid gland; I guess the Thyronine is supplying all I have, and as I understand it, it's T4 and I have no T3 in my system.

[Zhurdan]

I've taken one blood test since being put on the replacement thyroid hormone Thyronine. Based on that test they cut my dosage from 200 to 175 mcg. They were checking to see how much my TSH was suppressed- and the TSH was way too far down they said, which is why they cut the dose. The doc did not make any remark about other thyroid and hormone levels...I'm not sure how that works now that I don't have a thyroid gland; I guess the Thyronine is supplying all I have, and as I understand it, it's T4 and I have no T3 in my system.

WWW, we had a few back and forth's in a previous thread about this. I'm no doctor, but my doctor has me run a panel every 6 months to keep a better eye on it. Perhaps a second opinion is in order?

I still have my screwed up thyroid, but my sister in law had hers removed and they got her balanced out.

Quick question, do your eyes look like they're bugging out? May sound silly, but if they are, I'll ask her what the docs told her about that as her's were seriously bugging out due to pressure behind the eyes.

[wild_wild_wes]

Isn't the "bulging eyes" caused by hyperthyroidism? But no, I don't have that symptom.

I don't think the last blood test I did was a full panel; I think they were just monitoring the TSH supression. I think the full panel is supposed to be every six months, like yours, Zhurdan.

[WillBrink]

I'm 47 years old, and in February of this year I had surgery to remove my thyroid gland, followed by radioactive iodine. In two months I gained almost 30 pounds, and I've been trying without much success to reduce.

A few years ago I started a lifestyle make-over; at the start I weighed 350 pounds. Right before the surgery I was at 190, and now after two months of strenuous effort I'm still at 214.

I had pretty much stopped working out, because I had absolutely no energy, and thought I should give my body time to recover from the surgery. In March I worked out at an easy pace, but in April I decided I needed to kick-start my program, so I commuted to work on my bicycle, 18 miles each way, and went from 220 to 214.

Last month I decided to repeat the routine I did in May of last year: 45 minute cardio workout before work, 45 minutes cardio at lunch, and 45 minutes (approx.) of weight lifting when I got home. When I did that last year I lost 6 pounds over the month. When I did the same thing last month...I lost no weight at all. My bodyfat % stayed the same too.

Can anyone explain that, or have any advice for me to get back on the path of reduction? My goal weight is 175, which is what I was when I finished Marine boot camp.

Regarding thyroid, read:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...hlight=thyroid

You have to be on top of that and leaving it to doc may = feeling and or looking like sh%$ if you are not actively discussing with doc.

Having other hormones checked, especially after 40 (such as testosterone) always a good idea in my view.

Start actually tracking your total cals and macro nutrient (carbs, fats, proteins) for a while. It's a PITA at first, but there's tons of free sites these days to do it all for you and help you track such things.

When I did it, had to use a pencil and paper, book that listed cals of foods, and calculator. Now that was a PITA.

Take a good multi.

Track actual bodyfat (vs weight) using cheap calipers like Accumeasure.

That's where I'd start. sounds like you have the exercise component GTG for now.

[Zhurdan]

Isn't the "bulging eyes" caused by hyperthyroidism? But no, I don't have that symptom.

I don't think the last blood test I did was a full panel; I think they were just monitoring the TSH supression. I think the full panel is supposed to be every six months, like yours, Zhurdan.

You are correct. I had my timeline off a bit as I don't see her that often. Had my wife call her last night to verify.