"I've actually had a full battery of hormone testing, thyroid levels, etc., but nothing comes up out of range. "
Mishka - FYI - the "normal" range on thyroid tests keep being revised. Most labs, for instance, have been reporting TSH as normal between 0.5 and 5.5. (TSH goes up as thyroid goes down). However, recent studies show that if you test a large population, and throw out everyone who has thyroid disease, thyroid antibodies, or a first-degree relative with thyroid disease, (so that the remaining people are presumably free of thyroid disease) then 90% of people have a TSH less than 3.
So - take another look at your test results. If your TSH is over 3.0, you may need treatment. Take your basal body temp in the mornings; if low, you may be hypothyroid (or anemic or iron deficient). Check out Mary Shomon's website on about.com.
Also - Cushing's syndrome (high cortisol, usually from a benign growth) causes weight gain and hypothyroid-like symptoms because high cortisol interferes with thyroid hormone. This diagnosis can be missed sometimes if the right tests aren't done.
Thirdly, high insulin levels and insulin resistance is a major factor in weight problems. Have you ever gone on a low-carb Atkins-type diet?
