Weight gain prevention just after total thyroidectomy?

I'm a 23 year old female with a pretty high metabolism and a genetically petite build. I also work out regularly. I just had a total thyroidectomy a week ago and I've started reading all about how people have gained weight from this. I'm just wondering how badly a person like me would be affected by it. I'm also wondering if there is anything significant that I could do from now, to prevent me from gaining too much weight. Thanks.

Hi,
As I was reading your post, it was as if I was reading about myself. I am 28 and had a total Thyroidectomy two months ago. I have also been very petite and exercised regularly. My only concern after the op was weight gain as I was reading all about this on the Web, and honestly, as long as you eat healthy, excercise as you did before the op, you should not put the weight on-I know because my weight has not changed as yet and my Dr has assured me as long as I am on the right dose (Thyroxine) I will be just fine. I know that you had your procedure before mine, but have you gained weight since?

Hi,
I read the posts about the concern of weight gain after total thyroidectomy. I am a 34 year old petite female and had a total thyroidectomy almost two months ago. I have actually lost weight since then, maybe due to the whole anxiety of it all, but...my doctor assures me that as long as you are on the correct dosage of synthroid and eat and excercise as you did before, weight gain should not be a problem.

I am a 23 year old female....i have already undergone a partial thyroidectomy where they found my cancer spread to my lymph nodes...so now i have to undergo another surgery to remove them and the other half of my thyroid gland....just what i was trying to avoid!!! i have heard so many horror stories of weight gain post thyroidectomy and would love to hear more assuring news that it wont happen to me!! I am very petite and exercise..weight has never been an issue for me, and it's not something that i want to be an issue...any comments would be appreciated!!

weight gains is almost always caused by a combination of the Poor diet(high in calories and simple carbohydrates) and inactivity. Side deffects of pharmaceutical medications, Hormone imbalance (particularly thyroid)also the factors taking into account.


Your best bet for health and weight loss is to focus on eating foods that fresh, whole, and nutritionally dense. Make sure you get enough protein every day. Otherwise, you’ll feel deprived and downright hungry. Whole, complex carbohydrate, like brown rice, whole-grain bread, and oats are necessary for a healthful eating plan. They’re also high in fiber, which helps you feel full and keeps you free of toxins. Essential fatty acids are good for you, use EFAs in moderation. Eat food that are high in tryptophan－turkey, chicken, tuna, soymilk and live unsweetened yogurt. This chemical encourages the production of serotonin and may stave off cravings. Vegetable juice is healthful and filling. Water also takes the edge off your hunger. Eat a balanced ratio of the major food groups. Eat more small, regular meals. Do not skip meals, particularly breakfast.
If you’re trying to lose weight, you first priority should be to reduce or, better to eliminate refined sugar from your diet. Avoid processed and junk food. Refined flours are leaving you with nothing but a plate full of calories. You must radically cut back on your consumption of “bad” fats.

If possible, get regular moderate exercise. Walking and similar activies are good. Moderate exercise helps in the assimilation of nutrients and in increasing the appetite. Avoid strenuous exercise


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I too was wondering if anyone gained weight. I had my total thyroidectomy 2 weeks ago. I haven't gained weight yet. I was was started on my full replacement dose of synthroid 175 mg. Next week I start my dose of Armour 1/2 grain/Synthroid 125 mg combo. I didn't want to start Armour too soon after surgery ( I wanted to wait a bit for my levels to fall before I took t4/t3.

Laluna579 wrote:

I'm a 23 year old female with a pretty high metabolism and a genetically petite build. I also work out regularly. I just had a total thyroidectomy a week ago and I've started reading all about how people have gained weight from this. I'm just wondering how badly a person like me would be affected by it. I'm also wondering if there is anything significant that I could do from now, to prevent me from gaining too much weight. Thanks.

I'm just curious....now that it has been almost 8 months since your surgery...have you gained any weight??? I have a hemi-thyroidectomy in two days and have the same concern. I am 22, petite build, high metabolism, work out regularly...and I am a female which means I worry about gaining weight!!! How have you been since your surgery?

Hi! I had a partial thyroidectomy about 2 months ago, then a total thyroidectomy completion (this had to be done when the nodule was actually cancer) about a month ago.

Two months ago I weighed 135 lbs (27 years old, 5"3, moderately active), now a month after a total thyroidectomy I weigh 125 lbs. I am not on hormone replacement therapy yet because I need to have the radioiodine pills about a week from now. I am very concerned about weight gain after total thyroidectomy so I have completely altered my diet to less than 2000 calories a day and I now jog on my treadmill 3.5 mph for 30-40 mins, then take an after dinner stroll for 30 mins. I do this every day!

I am not complaining about my weight (still at 125 lbs.), but I sense now that I am not losing any more weight, it has been steady for about 3 weeks now. Hopefully when I start the thyroid pills 2-3 weeks from now I don't have to fight weight off this much.

I am a 39 year old woman who had a total thyroidectomy 5 years ago due to cancer. I wasn't in very good shape then, but have been excercising (sp?) regularly and watching what I eat for the last year. Instead of losing weight, I have GAINED ten pounds. My endocrinologist assures my I am taking the right level of medication, in fact he wants to reduce it. I am really frustrated because I am doing all the right things with no results. The only good news is my cholesterol and blood pressure are low (healthy levels), so at least my insides are healthy, I just hate how I look on the outside. Any body else having similar problems? Any suggestions?

I am currently 3 weeks post op total thyroidectomy. The reason for the procedure was sever hyperthyroidism and Grave's Disease. In the 6 months prior to the surgery waiting for my T3 ( or T4 ) to be at a safe level to do the surgery, I lost 40 pounds effortlessly (have always been overweight) due to my extremely high metabolism. 10 days after my surgery I went to Doctor and had gained 10 pounds! YES 10 POUNDS IN 10 DAYS. Just the day before my husband had made a comment about how much less I've been eating since the surgery. After I got through the tears she informed me that it was normal and I would most definately gain it ALL back since the reason for the loss was the illness. Of course I knew that I would have to eat more wisely from now on but it would have been nice to know I was gonna have to start all over BTW as of today...day 21 i have gained back 19 pounds...So my advice to all is ASK ASK ASK.