Weight gain after chemo...FINALLY some answers!!

Just got back from my weekly Herceptin tx & after months & months of asking my doc, nurses, & anyone willing to listen, why I continue to steadily gain weight since finishing chemo-12 lbs in 8 mos.I just wanted to scream when my doc would say "Are you eating more?" or "Are you exercising enough?"
I FINALLY got an answer!It was like a REVELATION and I had to share the info! HYPOTHYROIDISM!!Specifically a condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.There's some info on SusanLove's website.Another site listed symptoms that I aswered yes,yes,yes,yes,yes to so many of the symptoms.
Like "You feel tired, exhausted, and like you can't get enough sleep, or want to take daytime naps"-I thought that was just low rbc's
"You feel cold when others do not, particularly in hands and feet"- I always said cold hands, warm heart...
"You've gained weight inappropriately, or you are finding it difficult to lose weight, despite proper diet and exercise"- YESYESYESYESYES!!!
"Your nails are breaking and splitting and become brittle"-another topic I've seen discussed here
"You have muscle and joint pains and aches...
or tendonitis in arms and legs"-thought it was just Herceptin.
"You have a heavier than normal menstrual period, or your period is longer than it used to be, or comes more frequently"I was just happy to get my cycle after 49 weeks of chemo.
You find it difficult to concentrate, your memory is not as good as it should be, you feel like your thinking is "slow"-thought that was chemo-brain.
I've already scheduled an appointment w/a new doc at my onc's office who is an oncologist/internist to have a full work up.I'm told treatment is simple, a drug called Synthroid.
I knew that there had to be an answer, I just don't know why it took SO LONG & why I had to ask SO MANY nurses, docs, repeatedly, before one nurse finally said "Oh, yeah, if it's not cardiac problems, it's probably hypothyroidism.Lost of women post chemo develop hypothyroidism & are on Synthroid."
Hope this info is helpful...I'm so glad to share something that I think is going to help many many of us...Run to your doc w/this info!!
Take good care & keep the faith!
Jessica
ps-sorry I don't have a link to the website I found...just do a search for "hypothyroidism & chemotherapy".