Search the Community

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.

Ms. Dee your honesty is nothing short of inspirational! Just amazing. Soooo, time to step up and share embarrassing stories. This one is a beaut! I seldom dump but when I do it's late stage dumping - aka reactive hypoglycemia. Too much simple carbs (white rice) or too much sugar (I dumped once on grapes for Pete's sake) and two to three hours after eating my sugars drop like a rock in a pond. I mean REALLY drops. First time it happened I checked my blood sugar and it was 37. Now I know this. I know the symptoms. I know the cause. I even know the "cure" - I eat just about anything with sugar in it and in 15 minutes I'm absolutely fine. So a couple of weeks ago my wife and I had been running some post holiday errands. We finally get home and I'm thinking "I am so going to have a glass of wine". But we have some leftover eggnog and my wife says she'd love an eggnog with a little Captain Morgan's spiced rum and a dash of nutmeg. Wow. Why didn't I think of that? I think I'll join you! So I have my rum laced glass of eggnog and guys I have to tell you, it was like the nectar of life. I knocked down that first eggnog in about a minute and a half. Honey, you ready for another one? I go to make us a second round and I'm thinking the only problem with this plan is that my glass just isn't big enough for "the nectar of life". No problem! We've got some of those Dixie plastic cups. You guys know the ones, bright red, hold 16oz. Perfect size for the nectar of life right? Eggnog, check. Rum, check. Can't forget the dash of nutmeg, check. About an hour to an hour and a half later I fell asleep watching TV. Another hour or so later my wife wakes me up - "time for bed." Right behind you Honey! So I stand up and right away I'm thinking I don't feel so good. Cold sweats, my whole body has the shakes - you dumb a** you're dumping! On the nectar of life no less. Bummer. But hey, I'm on my way to bed. I'll just grab my Vitamins and hit the sack. So I get my vitamins down and... The next thing I remember I'm sitting (sort of) on the floor of our kitchen. My little plastic box that used to have my vitamins in it is sitting on the floor in my general vicinity. The vitamins that used to be in my little plastic box are - well, everywhere. It looked like my little plastic box had exploded in a shower of Vitamin shrapnel. My black lab is sniffing her way through the carnage to see if there's anything that would appeal to her meat-o-saurus taste buds. Fortunately, she apparently is not a vitamin kind of girl. Then she realizes that Dad is awake and on "her floor" so of course it's time for black lab kisses. LOTS of black lab kisses. So I'm sitting there trying to breathe while avoiding lab tongue in my mouth. I'm thinking. If I tell my wife about this, I'm dead. No, I'm worse than dead. She is not going to be amused. Then it comes to me - she's already upstairs in bed. Probably asleep already. You dummy, don't tell her! Pick up the vitamins, swear the lab to secrecy, life is good. Good plan! And it would have worked too. Except for one little detail. Apparently on my way to my unscheduled meeting with the floor, the kitchen trash can got in my way. The metal, kitchen, trash can. The one that now looks surprisingly like I drove my car into it. Wonder if she'll notice? Maybe I could blame it on the dog (sorry Libbi!)? She noticed. And sure enough, she was not amused. I survived. But it was touch and go there for a while. And the nectar of life? Never, ever again. Hey, I ain't no fool! Come on you guys. You know you want to. Dee shared her's. I shared mine. Let's hear some of those embarrassing stories!

I'm fortunate to work at a hospital so I just had my hemoglobin checked. My HGB was 14.5. I'm going Monday for a bigger gamut of lab tests for my 5/1 appointment with my primary. Not really sure what's going on but I did read about something that is making me think I am experiencing this. Reactive hypoglycemia. Happens in 15% of people that have some kind of stomach surgery. We shall see. I will post about what they say.

It's funny... I've always wished I was hyper rather than hypo.. That way, the weight would just fall off... make it a great day Hope you get stable soon, krakow! make it a great day

I'm 16 months post op and I have baked a few things here and there...I have reactive hypoglycemia (aka "late dumping") so I know better than to have more than a bite or two or I'll end up face planting on the kitchen floor again. It's an excellent deterrent from overindulgence, as much as it sucks.

I am and have been since 6 weeks before surgery.I had half of my thyroid removed in 2010 for a nodule and when I had my pre surgery labs they came back hypo I am on 0.05 mg synthroid .

RNY-to-sleeve revisions happen, but it's apparently mostly because of severe reactive hypoglycemia and other really weirdly specific complications. Sleeve-to-RNY is more common in part because the sleeve was eventually conceived as a safer surgery to give people with much higher BMIs, with the intention of converting them to RNY once they lost enough weight that that was a safe option for them. They started doing it as a standalone procedure when many of those patients opted not to come in for the second surgery, being successful with just the sleeve. But sleeve-to-RNY absolutely does happen, still, especially for people who have uncontrolled GERD or who can't lose enough weight with the sleeve alone. In my pre-op testing they found some small lesions in my esophagus, which might have been esophagitis or might have been a small amount of GERD. I went with the sleeve despite that, because I also have arthritis and might need to take ibuprofen and other NSAIDs again, ever, in my life. (Also, I had been taking large amounts of NSAIDs over a long period of time, and they may have been responsible for some of the damage they found.) I can't tell you how that turned out for me, since I'm only a week post-op, but I will say my doctor didn't try to sway me toward RNY at all, and given that I also had a hernia repaired, I'm pretty hopeful that it'll all turn out OK.

I do not have reactive hypoglycemia . . . I am a full-blown diabetic . . . and for that reason alone, I should not have tried drinking chocolate milk (I had a serious moment of weakness!). My blood sugar was high for a couple of hours after that episode . . . But it's interesting that what some people mistake for dumping does have another possible cause.

Dumping is really rare with the sleeve even though some report it. Considering only 30% of RNY'ers dump, the % is even lower for VSG'ers. However, I developed lactose intolerance and your symptoms sound more like lactose issue rather than dumping. I was able to eat cheese and yogurt, but milk would do me in every time. Reactive hypoglycemia can also be common with the sleeve especially further out, when you have heavy fat or sugar foods after months of not consuming those foods. The lactose intolerance lasted for about a year for me post-op, and I still couldn't drink a lot of milk, but at least I could have some. Around the 3rd month of my pregnancy, it's back in full swing.

At least 20 yrs. ago, they finally discovered that I had Hypothyroidism . I had been tested as far as 37 yrs. ago, and even though the Dr. said it was, when I saw a specialist, and had die shot in me, with X-RAYS in a Leaded Walled Room.... They said I was fine. Turns out mine fluctuates from Hypo to Hyper says the PCP. The Endro. says no its Hypo. So I went through synthroid, it does not absorb into me. I was asked time, and time again if I even take the Medication ? Yes why do you think I'm here for a blood test, if I'm not taking them. Anyway it never worked. So I moved, and I explained it to a new PCP, and she say's she has heard of this happening, so she prescribed the Generic. Fast Forward in time I started to feel Terrible, and she told me I was at a good level. Well it got worse, so I stopped taking them. I seen her and told her, and she flipped ! Don't you know you could DIE ? NO! No one ever told me about this. So she said I'm putting you back on, and don't stop taking them ! ! ! I told her why do I want to take something, that makes me feel terrible ? I want to see a Endocrinologist... She looked at me and said your right ! I'm not qualified to deal with a problem, if its that complex. So i will send you to one. He said we start fresh, forget the past, and I guarantee you will feel better... So he put me on Armour Thyroid "a natural medication" It works ! My levels are Normal "for the first time in my life" I agree that it tastes terrible, but what are you going to do about it..... So I see him next month, and see how I am doing. But I can't complain about it. Not when it works.

CHART 1 Correlation of nutrient deficiency and its cutaneous repercussions NUTRIENT Biotin Alopecia, glossitis, keratosis pilaris, periorificial dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and erythroderma Copper Depigmented and thinning hair, alopecia, delayed wound healing Iron Pallor, koilonychia, glossitis, alopecia Selenium Delayed wound healing, psoriasis, skin cancer Vitamin A or Retinol Xeroderma, acne, brittle hair, and keratotic follicular papules most commonly in the anterolateral surface of thighs and arms, which may spread to the extensor areas of the upper and lower limbs, shoulders, abdomen, dorsal region, buttocks and neck; phrynoderma Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin Mucositis, lip and angular cheilitis, glossitis, xerosis, seborrheic dermatitis, scrotal and vulvar eczema, erythroderma and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Vitamin B3 or Niacin Pellagra, photosensitive dermatitis in symmetric areas, cheilitis, glossitis. Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid Purpura, leukotrichia, seborrheic dermatitis, angular stomatitis and glossitis. Burning feet syndrome. Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine Seborrheic dermatitis, glossitis, oral mucosa ulceration, lip and angular cheilitis, photosensitive pellagra-like lesions Vitamin B9 or Folic acid and B12 or Cobalamin Lip or angular cheilitis, Hunter's glossitis; diffuse, symmetric hair and mucocutaneous hypo-and hyperpigmentation Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid Poor wound healing, keratosis pilaris, perifollicular petechiae, ecchymosis, purpura, brittle hair, scurvy (gingivitis, bleeding gums, keratosis pilaris), Sjogren-like syndrome Vitamin D Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, skin infections, acne, autoimmune cutaneous diseases and skin cancer. Vitamin E Atopic dermatitis, acne. Vitamin K Purpura, petechiae, ecchymosis, hematoma Zinc Acrodermatitis enteropathica (alopecia, acral and periorificial symmetric, erosive and eczematous rash), dry, brittle and thinning hair, delayed wound healing, paronychia, stomatitis, psoriasiform dermatitis, blepharitis, angular cheilitis, vitiligo-like lesions Protein Aged appearance, erythematous or hypopigmented lesions most evident in flexure areas; hyperchromic lesions with smooth, fissured or erosive surface; brittle, slow growing nails, onychomadesis; follicular hyperkeratosis, pale extremities accompanied by edema; dry, brittle, dull, and thin hair, with brownish-red color before becoming grayish-white, flag signal with alternating dark and light stripes in the hair; angular cheilitis, xerophthalmia, stomatitis, vulvovaginitis

From my research, reactive hypoglycemia is pretty common about 18-24 months after WLS. I have it and noticed it mainly at night when I would have a carb snack with my evening meds. I have to have a small amount of protein with every snack and meal.

@@Killian I am 8 weeks post op, and I am steadily losing weight. Lost 12kg (26.4 Ibs) so far. When is your surgery, and what type of surgery are you having? Sleeve or Bypass? I am finding that the more weight I lose, my Thyroxine (Synthroid) levels get too high, and I am swinging back to Hyper thyroid again .... I am glad to learn that you also skip Sunday dose. I will start this Sunday, and see what happens. I had RAI in August last year (2015), and went Hypo in December last year, 2015 On Thyroxine since January 2016, so this is a new learning curve for me. I have to have 6 weekly blood tests post surgery, seeing my Endo every 3 months, unless I get issues ..... I take my Thyroxine early in the morning, when I first wake up, on empty stomach, then go back to sleep. This way I can have my coffee and Breakfast when I get up. Calcium, I take it in the evening. With weight loss, the Synthroid levels can be affected, and doses need to be monitored and adjusted, if needed. Good luck with your surgery Cheers, Margo

I found out I was hypo in 1976 and have been on thyroid medicine since. Before banding, the weight was so hard to lose. I was banded 09022010 and have lost 24 pounds, which doesn't seem like a lot to me but hey at least I am losing and that is the main goal here. I just had my 2nd fill so hopefully it will go faster but because I do have a thyroid problem if I plateau or it is just slow I don't sweat it. But by all means take your medicine, because it not only messes with your weight but with so many other parts of the body especially the nerve center. Losing weight is already a depressing process but if you are on thyroid medication and don't take it you will get depressed and it will make matters worse. Take it from an old pro. LOL

I dont have a thyroid at all anymore, so im hypo. Its wht made me go for the gs. I couldn't budge it. My bmi was 35. 10/24/18 sw 219 Current weight 180 Goal is 150. I only had about 70 to lose at the start, maybe thts y its going slower. But its coming off n no skin sagging...just want to keep on Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

This is my first post. I had Roux-en-y (RNY) in September 2009 by Mr Date in The Luton & Dunstable Hospital in England. Have gone from 26-stone to around 16-stone. All seems pretty well except I suffer from Hypoglycemic events even though I am not Diabetic. Anybody else get this? Also I have Terrible-Tinnitus and my life (day and night) is becoming a living hell. Anyhow that's enough from me, any replies GREATLY appreciated. Bye-4-now - Neil :-)

Year three was brutal - not for the reasons I have seen from any other sleever out there. In my third year I was taken off my b12 injections and moved to oral b12 - it turns out I don't absorb oral b12 even at high doses. I do not fully understand why, but the method of testing for b12 deficiency is highly inaccurate (if you are getting sufficient dietary b12 you get a falsely high reading, the test itself is accurate 40% +/- which is a huge variation, and it when your b12 level dramatically changes the test somehow "reads" the b12 in your body 6 months previously rather than the current level). Due to my undiagnosed deficiency I spent three months in a wheelchair, saw 9 doctors in numerous specialties, and was ultimately hospitalized for a week before a doctor figured out the correct test to order. The result didn't come back until I was home from the hospital because it takes two weeks to process, and during that time I was incorrectly diagnosed and told I would never walk again. For anyone wondering, the truly useful b12 test looks at MMA levels! I have permanent nerve damage to my hands and feet, have some level of constant pain, but am walking up to a couple miles on good days. The other development was constant fatigue, nearly fainting on a regular basis, and becoming underweight (of all bizarre things!!). I saw doctor after doctor, was in the ER a few times , and couldn't figure it out. Finally the nutritionist recommended monitoring my blood sugar based on the stats about sleever complications. It turns out I have very severe hypoglycemia. It isn't the typical reactive hypoglycemia that sleeves are prone to - where in response to food the pancreas overproduces insulin. Instead, my pancreas overproduces insulin day and night. My blood sugar never gets very high, and randomly drops low - in my sleep, watching TV, in response to exercise, etcetera. I spent a week on a 24 hour blood glucose monitor and found that my blood glucose drops below 55 every day repeatedly, and often drops below 45 and even into the 30's. I am still figuring out why. The important point for other sleevers is to be aware that reactive hypoglycemia occurs around 18 months post-sleeve in 18% of us. I am here to say that hypoglycemia can be a HUGE problem! My research says that most sleevers will have hypoglycemia unawareness, which means won't realize they have low blood sugar until there is a true medical emergency. I recommend to be on the lookout - that is 1 out of 5 of us, and the effects can be pretty severe. As sick as I have been in the third year I would still get the sleeve again. I am happily remarried. My relationships have improved with both friends and family. I know that I can conquer things that I never though possible, and where I would have given up in the past I have the confidence to continue today. I hold my head high, no longer look away when I see someone, and have stopped the negative inner dialogue that followed me everywhere. My preference is that year four is a year of health and healing - and if I could put on some muscle and gain a little weight I would be thrilled.

Thanks everyone for your fantastic suggestions! We went with these Mantras to start: SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD SO SHE DID STRIVE FOR PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION EVERY JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP Inspire Hand Stamped Stackable Bracelets are a personal reminder of the commitment you’ve made to yourself and your weight loss surgery journey. When you glance down and see those meaningful words on your wrist, you’ll be reminding yourself of what you want for yourself and your journey. Feel the empowerment and motivation of the choices you’re making for your life, inspire yourself today and every day! These cuffs are 1/4" wide and 6in. in length. Perfect for most wrist sizes. These stunning bracelets were custom designed and handcrafted for BariatricPal by artist Miranda Semmerling. Proudly made in the USA! Silver Bracelet Details: The Silver Inspire Hand Stamped Stackable Bracelet is crafted from 12 gauge Aluminum, lightweight & sturdy along with a great alternative to silver. We used 1100-0 commercially pure food safe aluminum. This is pure aluminum & is less reactive to one's skin than sterling silver. The aluminum is smooth on the ends so it won't cut your wrists when putting on & each is tumbled for a shiny finish. Hypoallergenic will never tarnish or turn the skin green. Very low maintenance. The supplier we use gets the aluminum from mills ONLY found in the USA and he's a Veteran! Rose Gold and Gold Bracelet Details: Our Rose Gold Inspire Hand Stamped Stackable Bracelet is crafted from Copper. Our Gold Inspire Hand Stamped Stackable Bracelet is crafted from Brass. Copper and Brass are warm metals that will naturally tarnish over time. Individuals can either let the natural patina take over or they can keep it shiny by using any polishing cloth. The Copper and Brass is 16 gauge, very sturdy, rounded smooth ends so it won't cut your wrists & tumbled for a shiny finish. You can purchase these gorgeous hand stamped stackable bracelets in the BariatricPal Store at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/inspire-hand-stamped-stackable-bracelets . Use the following coupon code at checkout to save $5 off your Inspire Hand Stamped Stackable Bracelet: INSPIRE5OFF (Expires in 30 days!)

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!!!

JennyJ, I too am very allergic to metals. I decided not to get banded because of the titanium and stainless steel component in the Band. Even though you can get lapbands that just have titanium and silicone, and even though everyone keeps swearing to me that titanium is an inert, non-reactive metal, I do not believe it for a second. Titanium is an amalgam (composite) of metals that ARE reactive, and therefore i believe it itself is reactive too. Anyway, in the past, when i've had metal poisoning issues, I underwent Chelation IV therapy. This helped a great deal. You can find out about this from most naturopathic doctors. If you live in Toronto, I could give you more details about where to find chelation doctors. All the best.

I choose to look at it a different way. I look at it like I have accountability partners to help me keep from rationalizing poor behaviors and dubious choices. It helps me stay firm and convicted. If I know all eyes (pretend--cuz most people aren't watching) are on me, then I'm not gonna allow the laxness of the moment to take control and allow me to slide. Or to slide "too much." And as for banana, sure your doc says you can eat it. And in limited amounts it's not too high in sugars for a lot of people. But we are each individual, and I'm extremely carb sensitive. So if it doesn't give me reactive hypoglycemia, or high blood sugars, it will absolutely make me hungry within an hour or two. So bananas are on my "no fly" list. I do use banana flavored protein powder though.

I don't understand it myself and it's very frustrating to put so much effort and work into it and not see any results. It makes me break down and cry sometimes but I keep going. But I will tell you that I stick to 700-860-some calories a day. Sometimes I'll make it to 900. I write EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth in a food journal and I mean EVERYTHING. Ever since I stalled back in July I have become extremely strict with my diet and sometimes have to force myself to work out as much as I do but I get it in.You have a right to be suspicious if what I'm saying is true but let me tell you that I'm being completely honest with you and completely honest with myself. Even in the liquid phase and mushy phase of my first few months with lap band I was unable to lose weight. Back then I was eating nothing but chicken broth, cream of chicken Soup, sugar free Jello, then moved on too mushy foods such as re-fried Beans, mashed potatoes, etc and was still unable to lose a pound with that kind of diet. I kept my portions to half a cup and 1 cup. I have had my thyroid checked because my grandmother had hypothyroid as well as two of my aunts on my mother's side. My thyroid workup always comes back normal. The only thing that the doctor has told me is that I have metabolic syndrome. But a funny thing did happen one time at my doctor's office. My doctor divides his time between his private practice and the hospitals around my city and he had hired a nurse practitioner. I went one day and he wasn't there so I saw this nurse practitioner and based what I told her about not being able to lose weight she prescribed thyroid medication and I picked it up at the pharmacy and I was happy that I finally had the answer to all my weight problems, but 2 weeks later while on that medication, my doctor called all of his patients that the nurse practitioner saw during that time and asked them to come in to re-evaluate her work and he told me I wasn't even hypo thyroid according to any of my blood workups. I asked him about the nurse practitioner and he told me he had to fire her because in his absence she was diagnosing people with illnesses and conditions that they didn't even have and prescribing medications they didn't even need that could also be harmful to them. So he took me off the thyroid medication and explained my numbers to me and told me I had no thyroid problems. But maybe I should see a specialist such as an endocrinologist just in case.

Wow, so I have been on Insulin for 25 years and we share the same Gastric by pass Day! I also had mine done on 12 Jan, I'm having tons of hypo's and adjusting my insulin pump daily! I had a bad complication after the op and had ketoacidosis, was really scary, spent 7 days in ICU! Still in hospital now and just starting to hold down liquids without an IV bag! So feeling much improved, you sound like it's going really well for you! So happy for you, I'm sure I'll be following in your footsteps soon ...

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.