Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

[Mama Spike 144]

Has anyone undergone a sleeve that has Hashimoto's thyroiditis? I have been diagnosed for 7years. Never fully under control. How did you weight loss journey go? I don't eat serious amounts of food and concerned weight loss will be marginal.

[QueenCityGal 76]

I have it too, but I am also still pre-surgery. I have two weeks to go. I have wondered the same thing, and have asked around, but I cannot get a definitive answer. My doc seems to think the sleeve will help. I, am not so sure. I do not eat horribly or consume copious amounts of food either, but the weight crept up due to the thyroid issue - and being less active and in pain because of the weight, has led to the weight staying on. Ugh.

I do not expect to be one of the fast losers. I'm keeping my expectations low and sticking to the plan though. Maybe then if things go well I will be pleasantly surprised

I am hoping someone in the same shoes can chime in here with their experience.

[cherbear33 288]

I have no thyroid at all & am on medication & I have been losing very well, at least I feel I am anyway. I am 4 mths po & down 64 lbs so far. I was sleeved on july 18th 2013. I hooe this helps some.

[Fluffnomore 1,235]

I have it, take synthroid, and have had no issues.

[gamergirl 4,610]

I don't have Hashimotos, but I am hypothyroid and I too was very worried that I wouldn't lose weight even with the surgery. I'm happy to report that hasn't been true.

By and large, the following categories of people seem to lose "slower" than their counterparts (and this is World According to Gamergirl after reading these forums a lot, not gospel)

1. women

2. menopausal

3. thyroid, pcos, or other Autoimmune diseases

4. have had children

5. those who don't have as much to lose (i.e., under 100 lbs)

So I am female, 47, not yet menopausal, have underactive thyroid and RA, have birthed a child and had under 100 lbs to lose. By all counts except menopause, I am in the slow loser category.

And yet, I'm down between 48-50 lbs in less than 4 months, which I never could have achieved on my own. I know because I tried for years to lose anything and was not successful.

Perhaps what we need to focus on is that losing slow is still better than not losing at all, and I think if you didn't lose at all, they'd be featuring you in every news article in town as a medical marvel

I hope that helps.

[Mama Spike 144]

Thanks all! I have hit the tipping point where exercise was becoming hard due to my weight. If I can get 40 off, then I think that I can get back to doing sprint triathlons and get the other 50 off. Just hope my thyroid cooperates.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Oh and to answer your question about food.. I was definitely NOT eating enough to justify my weight of 230 lbs. Our metabolisms are definitely slower than those who do not have it but at 600-900 calories, even we lose weight.

I will also say that I found what doctors were telling me to be true--that I am very carb sensitive, which many with AI diseases such as Hashimoto's are. So when you do get sleeved, please consider doing a diet that has 40% protein/40%fat/20%carbs and see if that doesn't help you.

[Mama Spike 144]

I am definitely carb sensitive. Actually gluten intolerant. When I tell people that carbs are evil, they laugh at me.

[gamergirl 4,610]

I am definitely carb sensitive. Actually gluten intolerant. When I tell people that carbs are evil, they laugh at me.

oh girl, none of us are laughing now, I can tell you that. I hated having to give them up. But honestly I feel so much better and I am losing weight, which is the best thing ever.

So you used to do triathlons? I'm impressed

[Mama Spike 144]

Sprint distance. I did my first to lose weight. I said I wasn't going to hit 40 fat. Well, 9 months of training with a trainer, eating 1500-1800 calories and I gained 10 lbs. that's when I decided to start looking at WLS.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Sprint distance. I did my first to lose weight. I said I wasn't going to hit 40 fat. Well, 9 months of training with a trainer, eating 1500-1800 calories and I gained 10 lbs. that's when I decided to start looking at WLS.

gah you sound like me. I think my trainer was ready to cry when after 6 months of working out I had lost one pound.

Well the surgery is the only thing that's worked for me so far, but of course, it's early yet, maintenance, life-long commitment, only a tool...you know the drill I'm guessing.

[Sydney Susan 333]

I have had Hashimoto's for 30 plus years, am post menopausal, female, have a child, had about 80lbs to lose. I've had good success but my thyroid did go "off" after 2 months, stopping weight loss for another 2 months until I got a new thyroxine dosage sorted out. I'm losing again now but not super fast, but frankly I could eat less and exercise more.

I lost 22kg in 2 months, nothing for more than 2 months and 5kg in the last 2 months. I'm only 5kg from my goal (BMI of 24) so expect my loss to be slow at this stage.

As others have said, I was not a junk food eater though my portion sizes were too large. I've now found that eating more than 1000 cal a day causes me to gain weight... So I either need to exercise a lot more or eat about half a normal / average adult intake.

I originally assumed I was just in a stall and took ages to get around to having my thyroid function tested - only did it when my concentration went really wacky. I usually have dry skin and hair anyway (since menopause), so those signs are not so reliable for me. I strongly recommend getting your thyroid function checked after a couple of months, as the stress of surgery may have triggered my thyroid to slow further... Don't really know, but wish I'd been more prudent. The first 6 months of being sleeved is apparently the most valuable for weight loss, and I'm annoyed with myself for wasting half that time.

Good luck with your sleeve journey.

[Sydney Susan 333]

I also agree with the "carb sensitive" statements. I used to think it was bunkham, but avoiding all grains and cereals has a massive effect on reducing my hunger and increasing my weight loss. I have some other big health issues going on, but all things considered I'm feeling really well.

[SassyTink 78]

I too, am hypothyroid and was not a huge eater. I would eat 1200 a day, walk a mile a day, not drink any alcohol and was only able to maintain being morbidly obese. If I went down to 500 calories a day, starving myself, I could lose weight. That is an unrealistic plan for anyone.

My nickname was Olive Oyl as a little girl, so weight was never an issue until the last 10 years. This surgery has given me a chance to regain me. I am 9 days out, from surgery, and down 12.5 pounds. Does it work?? You betcha!!! Thyroid or not.

[Sydney Susan 333]

I don't have Hashimotos, but I am hypothyroid ..... I am female, 47, not yet menopausal, have underactive thyroid and RA.

Gamergirl, are you sure you don't have Hashimoto's? It just means autoimmune disease of the thyroid, rather than some other cause of thyroid failure. As you are diagnosed with one AI condition (RA), it's highly likely you'd have more, and Hashimoto's is the most common one. I believe Hashimoto's, Coeliac disease, Diabetes and RA share a genetic profile... Involve the same gene/s.

You need to have a biopsy of the thyroid to confirm there are auto antibodies in the thyroid tissue.

I don't think it makes a jot of difference to the way your thyroid function is treated, but can be useful for doctors to know if you have a single AI condition or a "systemic" one.