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Hi Everyone, Love the posts, I too have hypo and am on levothyroxine. I am very curious about the Armour and will ask my doctor. I'm scheduled for my surgery on the 26th, can't wait. Finally, some help! It's comforting to hear other's stories ... Serifa

I'm on Synthroid .075 daily. I got diagnosed officially about 5 months ago, although my level has been elevated for years but hadn't tipped over into the danger zone until recently. I take it every morning and literally count the minutes down until I can eat! I wake up starving! Glad to find a thread with hypo folks.

In the first couple of months, I had an aversion to anything sweet. If I had a little something with real sugar in it, I was instantly queasy and it tasted terrible. OK, so I have been having terrible cravings for the last couple of days (hormones?) and I had 2 peices of smores candy. It went down OK, tasted pretty good. Then it hit me. First, I nearly passed out and had to lay on the couch for 2 hours. Then the shaking started. My hands were shaking terribly. My best guess is some sort of hypo-glycemic reaction I have never felt anything like it. I ate pure Protein after that - just chicken - and I started to feel better. Lesson learned: just because I can fit it in my stomach, and it tastes good, and it doesn't make me vomit DOES NOT MEAN that it is a free for all and I can eat it. I am not eating enough food to waste even one bite on something that isn't nutritious. Maybe later on, but not now. Living and learning...

Have your Thyroid checked.....ask for a TSH test! Could be underlying health issues! I was banded 12-7-10 and am only down 50 pounds! I have Hypo thyroid,stage 3 Adrenal Fatigue among other issues and it is harder to lose the weight compared to someone with out thyroid issues!

When I ran out of diets to try! I had been thru the gambit of diets (insert what ever name you like) twice and I was to the point that with extreme effort I could only lose 15 lbs. It used to be I would only gain back to my starting weight but the last few go rounds it gain back to start and pack on more. After being on Jenny Craig all of last year and losing only 14lbs I gave up. I could not afford to keep spending my money on failed diets. So I decided to just not worry about my weight anymore. Well, that lasted about 3 months and I could not stand it anymore and reseached wls. I was to the point that I did not want to participate in anything cuz I was so tired all the time. I have Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, hypo thyroid, and high blood pressure. It was time. Started out thinking lapband and then found out about all the problems and switched to sleeve. Hoping to surgery in 6 weeks. Good luck!

I'm the crazy one who actually gives people radioactive iodine for a living . Its not as bad as it sounds. A lot of times the "anti" thyroid medicines don't cut it and eventually the thyroid will work so hard it actually goes hypo, sometimes inactive. So, by giving the radioactive iodine, we just speed up the process and it typically makes people feel a whole lot better, sooner. I'm a thyroid patient myself. YES, the stereotypical hyperthyroid patients are skinny, but we see many many people with the opposite. One iodine treatment isn't going to impact fertility. Especially for hyperthyroid. Our cancer patients get 15-20 times the amount and there still isn't much of a risk. There's ALWAYS a slight risk with any kind of medical procedure. Its just radiation sounds so terrible, people are usually afraid of it. Most people don't think twice about traveling on an airplane, going to the mountains, spending a day out in the sun, etc. You get more radiation doing some of those things than what you would get with a treatment. I'm thinking the doctor wants it under control before surgery because the thyroid controls so many things. Its probably best this way, even though it puts your surgery off, which stinks!!!

I'm 18.5 weeks pregnant. I won't have any issues losing the pregnancy weight. I'll just low carb it again until I get the weight off. I gained a few pounds over the holidays and dropped those pounds in a little over a week just by cutting alcohol and carb consumption. As for the breakdown of weight gain with a pregnancy, this is what they've outlined for my weight gain: Maternal Fat- 7lbs Baby- 6-8lbs (average is 7.5lbs) Increases Fluid (blood volume)-2-4 ( a mother's blood volume typically doubles during pregnancy) Amniotic Fluid- 1-1.5lbs Placenta- 2lbs Breast tissue/mammary system weight increase - 1-2lbs Watch out for the ROSE procedure, it has an 85% failure rate. This is also discussed heavily on the obesityhelp.com Revision forum. ERNY (extended RNY, where they remove more intestine to start malabsorption again since intestinal adaptation has taken over at this point for you) is also an option. They will shorten your common channel by another 50-100cm. You definitely want to know before you agree to a revision if you have a pouch or stoma dilation because if you have actual mechanical failure with your RNY even a band over the pouch isn't going to do much because once the food passes through the band pouch into your RNY pouch, you will still be able to more food, and your malabsorption is gone. As for Jerusalem clinic, honestly, out of over 3 years on weight loss forums, I have never read of one patient having a RNY take down and revision to the VSG being performed there and honestly that is possibly why they are recommending the band over the bypass pouch to give you restriction again. Seriously, I can name 4 surgeons worldwide that are experienced with these surgeries, and with self-pay patients the cost just for the surgeon run upwards of 20-30k because it is such a complicated and exhausting surgery to take down an old RNY. I promise I researched revisions for months once I knew my band had to come out. The risks for complications especially leaks from scar tissue and adhesions literally quadruples with revisions vs. a virgin, unaltered stomach/intestinal tract. I had a leak with a band revision to VSG after only having the band for 8 months, and actually lost more stomach tissue because of the damage the band had done. My surgeon was experienced with revisions, and I happen to be a statistic of his that I'd like to take back. I was his first and only VSG leak so it can happen even with really experienced surgeons. I'm not slamming Jerusalem Clinic, but revisions are super tricky, complicated, and I would hate to see you fork out the money, get a surgery that is as high maintenance as the BOB procedure and then continue to struggle with your weight and be looking at or for another surgery. There have been RNY to VSG revisions performed due to reactive hypoglycemia symptoms and diagnosis after RNY, but again, it's a very complicated surgery with high risks. Just choose carefully, and continue to research your options.

I have hypo-thyroidism, too, and have lost about 26 lbs since surgery 8 weeks go. I can't complain a bit. I haven't started truly working out yet either, so I don't even think about my thyroid slowing things down at all. My surgery group explained that this surgery would help rev everything up!

I am getting sleeved on June 22. I am 51, strong family history of heart disease (my mom has had triple bypass, two uncles have had quadruple bypass, aunt had double bypass, two uncles have died of heart attacks, my grandmother had a few heart attacks), currently take daily 81 mg of aspirin per my cardiologist for prevention. I know you are not supposed to take NSAIDS once you have VSG. What does one do for prevention? I will be seeing my surgeon for my 2 week pre op on Thursday the 9th, I will ask him. Anyone else with this problem? I have had blood tests for C-reactive protein which is an indicator of future heart attack and my level was fairly high. This is one the my reasons for this surgery, to get rid of excess weight and changing eating habits and exercise to prevent heart disease. My cardiologist happily cleared me for this surgery. I did a 10 month weight management program through my cardiologist, and I lost 8-10 lbs. I did not think about this until this morning when I decided not to take the aspirin since I want to reduce bleeding risk from surgery. Any answers will be helpful for when I talk to my surgeon and cardiologist.

I'm also Hypo-thyroid... I'm glad I found this post. I realized that I am not alone. Few people really understand the challenges and frustrations we face.

I found the post you were talking about and read it, it is so nice to hear other hypo-thyroid people having positive things to share with us. Thanks for sharing the information. I am like you when I see the huge losses in the same time when I am following my doctors orders exactly and am losing so slowly, but like you I am thankful for what I have lost. Good luck on your journey!

I had a post-op appointment today and my doc decided I was ready for a small fill. He seemed please with my 12pd weight loss in the last 8 weeks and commented his hypo-thyroid patients are slower in weight loss. It has been so hot here in Eastern, NC these last few days. Heat index has been 110 degrees this week and to be honest, I have not felt much like eating nor riding my bike or walking. Have any of you noticed weather affects the band? Just realized what the word Diet stands for, "Do I Eat Today?" Just kidding!

Fessie, I am hypo-thyroid also and I definitely feel your pain in how slow our weight loss can be. I have lost abt the same amount as you and am 8 weeks post op. I am just thankful to finally be losing weight. What was getting me was seeing people post 25-35 pds lost that were banded around the same time as myself. These same people were posting about eating oreo Cookies and pizza, while I was staying strictly to the band diet, portion sizes and excersing. Even in the early stages on a liquid diet I lost very little. I am over being bothered by that now and will just be thankful for my pound here and there. I started a post last week for hypothyroid bandsters you should read. Shirley54 had some very encouraging things to say and shared her slow weight loss as well.

Hello to All, I will be 6 weeks post-op tomorrow and have only lost 12 lbs. I know that averages out to the 2 lbs per week that my doctor wants me to lose, but it just seems like for the past week since I got my first fill that things have slowed way down. I am losing inches and that is a good thing, but would love to see some more lbs go away forever. I am measuring my food, eating between 800-1000 calories with lots of Protein, drinking almost a gallon of Water a day and working out in some way everyday. I go back to the doctor on June 14th, I assume for a 2nd fill. I am also hypo-thyroid and realize that this will affect my weight loss so my PCP is keeping a very good check on my levels and dosages to try and minimize my thyroid destroying this weight loss effort like it has so many others. Would greatly appreciate any suggestions on what I might be needing to change or add. Thanks in advance and thanks for all the great people on this forum for sharing their ideas and experiences with all of us newbies.

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease 19 years ago. Instead of having the surgery to remove my gland I had the radioactive iodine treatment. It did not work the first time so I had to go through a second time but with a higher dose. So now I have my gland but it is a dead. When I first went on thyroid medicine they gave me synthroid. It just was not controlling my thyroid levels. Then they switched me to Armour Thyroid which was great. I did so well everything even'd out. But now for the last couple years I can no longer get Armour. They say that the manufacture no longer produces it. So I am back on synthroid trying to get my thryroid level under control but they are still really high. I was told that due to my hypo thyroidism that if I lost 1 pound a week that was doing really good. I was banded on 4-28-11. So far so good but they tell me that it is probably alot of Water weight. Well I will take all the water weight loss I can get. We all know this process is really hard but the people that do not have a thyroid problem have no idea how much harder it is for us folks with a thyroid problem. So good luck to all of the other hypo thyroid bandsters. We will get there just may takes us twice as long.

My weight loss is so slow. I can't help but get discouraged. I am excerising, eating the recommended foods and drinking my water. I was banded 03/30/2011, my pre-op weight was 215 pds. I had a fill 04/30/2011 (not sure how much fill). My current weight is 205 pds. I am petite, so I need to lose about 90-100 pds. I know I did not gain it overnight, but hoped for more progress by now.

YES. HYPERthyroid. NOT HYPO. I know what I have(believe me-I've been dealing with this for over 4 years..lol..) and what I'm talking about. I realize that hypothyrodism is usually associated with the obese, yet there are more people than you think who are overweight and have hyperthyroidism.I REFUSE to take irraidiated iodine(which my doc NOW understands why I will not..) just to "kill" my thyroid and make me dependent on Synthroid for the rest of my life(also, I've seen and heard what can happen to a person with hypothyroid, who doesn't take their medication. I'll pass..) So, TRUST me guys, I KNOW what I have. I just wanted to know if anyone is dealing with it and what they've had to do to get their band. *sorry about the rather cranky tone, but it's frustrating that people assume I don't know my own diagnosis(and this happens ALOT..)just because they've never met an overweight person with hyper before.. tamp='1305766138' post='1615359'] HYPER? That is not normally associated with obesity, HYPOthyroidism or Hashimoto's disease is...are you sure that's not what you're talking about? I do have hypothyroidism, have the band, lost 30 lbs, and still have hypothyroidism....did you know you can take iodine for thyroid dysfunction? I think it's sold as potassium iodine....

Synthroid for me won't absorb into the system at all. With Blood Tests I would be asked if I was even taking the Medication... Of course I was, but, it did not show up. So they put me on Generic Synthroid, and I felt terrible. So with the blood work, they now said I have both Hyper, and Hypo Thyroid. So I put it in the hands of a specialist, because it didn't sound good to me. He seems to be a good Dr., but if this up and down keeps up, then I have a feeling that this Thyroid will someday come out.

hi, i have been both hyper and hypo,i actually gained weight being hyper also.the Dr said there was a small chance that could happen and i was one of the lucky ones lol. i had thyroid cancer when i was in my early 20's and will be on meds the rest of my life.As long as they can regulate your levels,it shouldnt be a problem at all. I have always been on sythroid and havent had a problem other than some Dr's over the years not knowing what theyre doing.

I have been hypo since i was 13, that is 26 years! Since my sleeve, my level of synthroid has been adjusted 1 time, in 6 months! Prior to the sleeve, it was being adjusted every 3 months. We could just not get it right. I have to say, that losing the initial weight was really easy, a lot easier than with the band, but I am stuck at the last 15 to go for about 2 1/2 months now. But that has NOTHING to do with my thyroid, it has to do with my carb monster and my inability to follow the rules. I have so much energy, it is sick sometimes, my husband doesn't know what to do with me anymore, i am always on the go instead of always on the couch! Life is so much better, and I am now down from 150mcg to 118mcg. It is amazing!!! And my PCP is very happy with my numbers now.

I finally had my first fill this past Saturday ~ 2 1/2 CC's. There are a couple of reasons why I wasn't able to gett a fill sooner.... 1) my insurance would only cover it if it was at least 90 days after surgery... and 2) I was going on vacation... and my Dr. didn't want me traveling across the country for my first fill (just in case I would be too tight). So........... this past month I was totally stalled. It was pretty frustrating... plus I found myself to be REALLY hungry. Well, so far the fill seems to be working.. and I'm not hungry. My Dr. has me on liquids for 2 weeks... YES ... 2 weeks. Seems everyone here is only on liquids for a couple of days. Well.... I asked why.. and they told me that they have found it very successful in "jump starting" the weight loss again. I have a hypo-thryroid... so I definately could use a "jump start". I'm gonna give it my best shot. So far.... so good. If a few more days go by and I find myself craving solids... I'll call my Dr. and see what he says. I also have to admit that prior to my fill, I was able to eat everything and anything. On vacation, I found myself going back to "BAD" habits. So, maybe, if nothing else, the 2 weeks on liquids will get me back on the right track.

I'm 54 and have a hypo-thyroid. The band has given me hope to finally loss weight!!! And..... it seems to be working!!! I'm walking 3 -4 times a week; eat 800 - 1200 calories per day. I'm feeling great... but still have a long way to goo. Never tooo old to get healthy and fit. I was banded in December . I found that I wasn't losing for almost a month and finally got my first fill yesterday. (for some reason, my insurance is pretty strict about the timing of fills in order to get it covered) My Doc tells me that I've only just begun by journey and that once I hit the "sweet" spot with the perfect amount of fill, I'll surely be successful!

I'm almost 2 years out, and I can tell you that my sleeve has not stretched that much, and I've been drinking soda for over a year without any ill effects on my weight loss. Also, there is not enough tissue left behind to stretch the stomach back out like there is with the stretchy pouch and stoma. You can easily stretch your pouch and stoma (the opening from the stomach to intestines) Dogg pretty much put out there my reasonings for choosing sleeve over RNY for my revision from the band. If you are on obesityhelp.com, you should check out the revision forum to see just how many RNY patients are seeking revisions from RNY to ERNY or DS because of pouch/stoma issues and major regain. And, now there are 2 (5 years out) RNY patients that are converting to the sleeve because of reactive hypoglycemia and they have to get rid of the bypass.

I am the same I have hypo thyroid and wondering how it is going to affect my weight loss! G

Fair enough. I agree, people do have to eat to live and people don't have to do heroin to live, but eating more food than our bodies need is a choice. That is correct. Unless we choose to live on Artificial Nutrients, or Some other way... As far as being over weight.. Not everyone is a addict, some have Medical Problems. Mine started at the age of 4 months ! I began to get "BLOWN UP". Only to learn later that I had a Fluid RETENTION problem. So they put me on Water pills about 2 yrs. ago, and I am still on them. Also found a extremely HYPO THYROID. I am just now getting on medication for that. So with the band, and the Meds, and control. This will work, and I will do this. Just wanted to add that I had a PARASTIC TWIN inside me, found out with the removal of the gallbladder, and exploratory. It was attached at the intestines, and if it would have been on the outside? We would have been conjoined twins. The problem was no one new about this, and I was for ever sick. As a result parents, and Grandparents were forever stuffing something in my mouth so I would get nutrition, and Vitamins, and be Healthy. Well, it didn't work ! the twin still got it all, and I still got sick. When the surgeon found it in my 30s, I was already stuffing all kinds of stuff in my mouth, because of a learned habit, and everything tasted so fantastic "ADDICTION" I believe. He was shocked, I thought I was pregnant with twins, then even still under Anesthesia, I thought he was crazy, until he brought me the pics with my name on them. I almost threw up. It was terrible. He told me I would be better now. Well he was right. I barely get sick, but the love for food was always there. What to do.... My oldest son was playing catch with a baseball, and he threw when I was not looking, and broke my nose. I can't taste anything, and can barely smell bleach. So the specialist said forget it ! ! ! That's nerve damage. So now my hang up on food is over. I'm just telling my story, but I don't have a thing for it anymore. I do believe in Food Addiction, but I also know that complex medical problems can cause anything to happen. So now I am waiting to see my surgeon next week, and see if my turtle moves. That is a big deal to me...