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Unexplainable Weight Gain and GI Symptoms with Hashimoto's
After 10 years of struggling to find answers for my GI symptoms and sudden consistent weight gain (100+ lbs), my Dr and I have run out of ideas to explore...
Personal Info:
22 year old female. Currently taking 125 Mcg levothyroxine (Hashimoto's) , 100 mg Zoloft (Anxiety)
Medical Background:
At age 1 I was diagnosed with several severe food allergies (peanuts, tree nuts, bees, dairy, barley) and eventually outgrew all but the peanut and tree nut allergies. Diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease at age 10. Started Synthroid . Have always had irregular menstrual cycles +/- severe cramping and heavy bleeding, in 6th grade was diagnosed with PCOS (at age 16 I was undiagnosed with PCOS by a different Dr.). Around 6th grade severe GI issues began to emerge leading to cramping and severe diarrhea after meals, sometimes not even allowing me to finish eating. I absolutely cannot "hold it". At age 17 I had a colonoscopy and biopsies taken which revealed no obvious causes for the GI symptoms. During college (sophomore-senior year) I gained over 100 lbs even while maintaining an active lifestyle walking/biking and working a manual labor type farm job and occasionally going to the gym. This weight gain was initially blamed on starting antidepressant medication (Prozac) but did not subside when medication was switched and/or no longer used. 2 nutritionists stated my diet was not to blame for the weight gain either. In addition, GI symptoms are now even more prominent and include frequent heartburn. I have gone through several elimination diets to narrow down possible food causes of these symptoms, none so far have brought much (if any) relief. So far I have avoided gluten, dairy, cane sugar, processed sugars with no success. I have been tested several times for Cushing's (negative results) and my thyroid panel is within my normal range.
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Where on your neck was the lump?
Weight gain can also happen with inflammation in your body- such as autoimmune diseases.
Were you tested for Cushing’s? Can cause massive weight gain.
Where on your neck was the lump? Collar bone area.
Were you tested for Cushing’s? No I have never heard of this. I will as my doctor to run test.
Thank you
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1 ReactionTo be sure of your food intolerances, have a food sensitivity test done. Ask your doctor to run a complete food allergy test to see what you’re actually allergic to. I did that at my chiropractor’s office. She drew the blood and sent it to a lab. I too have Hashimoto’s and I control that by diet. I’ve eliminated gluten, dairy and soy from my diet and I also sporadically eat nightshades, tomatoes, peppers etc. because I also lost my taste and smell with Covid about 3 years ago and can at least taste the heat of the peppers! I also have with Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism for which I take Synthroid 75 mcg’s. I really can’t stress how important the food sensitivity tests are. This way, you’ll know what not to eat. I began gaining a lot of weight as well with Hashimoto’s, but it seems that when I started on the Synthroid for my Hypothyroidism, I dropped the weight and also from the diet I eat, which is pretty healthy. Good luck!
My daughter has Hashimoto's, POTS, Mast Cell Activation, and Ehlers Danlos. She had recurring SIBO until she was diagnosed at Mayo Scottsdale about 5 years ago. Once she got meds for mast cell, no more SIBO. The challenge with Mast cell is finding a doctor who knows anything about it. There is a FB page for mast cell that may now be inactive. If it still up, there is a file that has the info on physicians that people who have mast have found to be knowledgeable.