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My son, Aman, was born in April 2004 in Chicago, USA. I thought the demands of having a newborn was taking a toll on my energy levels as I was feeling totally exhausted all the time. I knew motherhood was not going to be easy, but this exhaustion did not feel right. As my baby started sleeping through the night, and I got my 7-8 hours of beauty sleep, I expected my exhaustion to go away.
Nonetheless, I continued to feel tired, and exhausted with lots of mood swings even after a full night sleep. I remember telling my husband, “I feel like a truck hit me!” Finally, when I investigated why I was feeling this way, the doctors told me that I had ‘Hypothyroidism’. Interestingly, thyroid problems often occur after childbirth and yes, I was a victim of that.
Hypothyroidism is a medical condition where the thyroid gland, located in your throat, makes insufficient quantities of the essential thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Common symptoms for hypothyroidism include fatigue, dry hair and skin, hair loss, intolerance to cold temperatures, swelling of limbs and facial puffiness, swelling in the throat (goiter), sluggishness, depression, memory loss, irritability, and some weight gain (mind you just SOME weight gain).
Thyroid problems are extremely common, but often go undetected. They mostly affect women, with the risk increasing during pregnancy and with age. Hypothyroidism can also result from an insufficient intake of the thyroid-friendly mineral, iodine. The recommended daily intake of iodine for women is 150 micrograms and 200 micrograms per day during pregnancy.
If you suspect you may have a thyroid problem, your first step is to check with your doctor. The doctor will ask you to do a blood test. The standard diagnostic test is to check the thyroid stimulating-hormone (TSH) in your blood. If it is above the normal range, your thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone and the pituitary gland in your brain is sending it messages to produce more. In this case, you will have some or all the above mentioned symptoms of hypothyroidism, including the sluggish metabolism. If TSH is low, the reverse is true, and you might have hyperthyroidism.
Treatment for hypothyroidism includes thyroid hormone replacement, normally given in the form of Eltroxin or Euthyrox, or in some cases by simply supplementing your iodine intake. The key to your treatment is to be on the right dosage of the hormone, based on your height, weight and age. I would advise you to see an endocrinologist to make sure you are on the right dosage of medication. An endocrinologist is a medical specialist who deals with the glands and hormones of the body and their related disorders. Endocrinologists are trained to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances and problems by helping to restore the normal balance of hormones in your system. Once on thyroid medication, your hormones will return to normal levels and all your symptoms will disappear, including your susceptibility to weight gain.
As part of the treatment, it is also important to have the right amount of iodine in your diet to ensure that your thyroid gland is in good working order. Seaweed such as nori used in sushi, shellfish, and salt water fish are all good sources of iodine.
Dairy products (milk, cheese – especially mozzarella cheese), eggs, strawberries, potatoes and eggplants also contain iodine. You can also replace your usual salt with iodized salt. It tastes the same and is an easy way to increase your iodine intake. Do not make the mistake of increasing your salt intake though as this can cause other health problems such as high blood pressure or fluid retention.
People wrongly believe that if you have hypothyroidism, your metabolism is non-existent and you will be obese. I get asked all the time how I manage to stay slim with hypothyroidism. However, having hypothyroidism is not a life sentence to obesity (contrary to most popular beliefs). The following statement is copied directly from the American Thyroid Association’s Website: “Hypothyroidism can cause a mild weight gain of 2 to 8 kilos, but does not cause obesity. People who have gained a lot of weight should find the real cause.”
Once you have identified whether you have a thyroid problem and taken steps to address it, you can follow a sensible workout program and a healthy low-fat diet and be confident that you will be rewarded for your efforts.
- Nivedita Dempo is a fitness expert and the owner of Studio 101, Goa’s premier fitness centre
