Insulin Resistant and PCOS - 1st month post surgery and not losing weight

[N.Ahmed 0]

Hello.

I had been looking for forums online to share my experience and get views from people going through similar experiences. I am from Pakistan and weight loss surgeries are not too common here. I was the 60th sleeving patient in 3 years for my Surgeon.

So i am exactly 4 weeks post sleeve and 8 kgs down from the weight on the day of my surgery. I lost 2 kgs in the first week, 5 in the second week and half a kg each in the 3rd and 4th week. We accidentally discovered that i was hypothyroid and had poly cystic ovaries, 3 to 4 days before the surgery(i decided on having the surgery on a very short notice - only a week before and there were 4 of us who had a sleeving surgery on the same date). 2 days post surgery while still hospitalized with TSH level 5.75 i was prescribed 50 mcg of thyroxine everyday.

On my second visit to the surgeon after the surgery, my doctor recommended a Thyroid test follow up to figure why i was not losing weight as rapidly as the other sleeving patients who had the surgery on the same date. They have lost about 15 to 18 kgs and are all about 10 to 14 years older to me. My current TSH level has fallen down to 0.023. I have to meet my endocrinologist day after however i have been quite upset since my TSH reports came. I dont understand how i went to being hyperthyroid from hypothyroid. Also, doesnt hyperthyroidism make you lose weight drastically? Does PCO hinder weight loss?

I would appreciate if any of you could get back. Any suggestions? Opinions?

Edited April 6, 2014 by N.Ahmed

[rodeomom969 39]

Sorry you have been having some problems. Here in the U.S. we are required to have a lot of blood work done before surgery. This includes thyroid tests to make sure our thyroid is working properly. I was prescribed thyroid medicine 2 years ago (I don't remember if I was hypo or hyper) anyway, I hadn't been taking that medication and when I went for my recent test my thyroid was fine. I hope you get leveled out and start seeing the weight loss you are hoping for.

[Dezzie 2]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance as well. Yes, it makes it more difficult to lose weight. From my limited experience the best thing you can do is eat high Protein diet and get lots of exercise. My doctor told me that once my insulin resistance went away my weight will fall off pretty fast. I'm due to have my sleeve done next month. I'm also currently on a diet and have noticed some differences. A large majority of women with pcos can't tolerate gluten well. So if you eat a lot of breads that could make you gain weight rapidly. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Are you on metformin?

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[Sleeveless in seattle 208]

You are also brand new to thyroid meds. I've been on them over 20 years and have learned the hard way that you need to be on a certain dose for 6-8 weeks to see how your body handles it. At first, mine got adjusted every few months until the levels were good. The meds do not really help you lose weight, my dr said basically they may give you a 5-10 lb loss and the rest is up to you. Being hyperthyroid doesn't mean you will lose weight either. My level is currently .01 (we are working on bringing it up) and I lost nothing from that. It's been there about 6 months. My body feels the best at about a 1 so that's where my dr aims for even though some other doctors would call that hyperthyroid.

I also have pros and insulin resistance, those are mostly caused by being overweight and will at least partially resolve themselves just by losing weight. It's kind of a vicious circle!

I don't know kg but I've been sleeved 2-1/2 weeks with a very high starting weight, BMI of 55 and I've only lost 6 lbs so far. We are all so different. Keep your chin up!

[N.Ahmed 0]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance as well. Yes, it makes it more difficult to lose weight. From my limited experience the best thing you can do is eat high Protein diet and get lots of exercise. My doctor told me that once my insulin resistance went away my weight will fall off pretty fast. I'm due to have my sleeve done next month. I'm also currently on a diet and have noticed some differences. A large majority of women with pcos can't tolerate gluten well. So if you eat a lot of breads that could make you gain weight rapidly. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Are you on metformin?

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Yes i have been having 1000 mg of Metformin everyday. My surgeon also prescribed Orlistat recently. Not sure if that has been the reason of anxiety and depression.

[Dezzie 2]

Yes i have been having 1000 mg of Metformin everyday. My surgeon also prescribed Orlistat recently. Not sure if that has been the reason of anxiety and depression.

No, the orlistat shouldn't cause depression. Depression and anxiety are a symptom of pcos. Are you on birth control pills? Spirlactone? Spirlactone blocks androgens, which helps to balance hormones. It's a Fluid pill. Once I started taking it, I noticed my symptoms improved.

[huligoo 75]

I'm 9months post op

Hypothyroid I take 1.0 mcg of levothyroxine

I'm insulin resistant still

I am also a slow loser too! Ugh

Pre surgery I was taking insulin NPH relics a day ; actos pills 4 a day and Metformin 2000 Mgs a day

Now I'm post op I ONLY take Metformin one on am one in pm-- this is awesome!! So glad I got sleeved !

My Sw was 283 I am now 237

I only take levothyroxine and Metformin that's it

I do have pcos - I don't ovulate on my own at all

That's why I had surgery bcuz I want a baby!

Been married 10 years and no luck! My ob/gym suggested I get the surgery

Here I am!

I'm a work in progress but I'm content with my progress I need 60 more lbs to go

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

hashimotos disease can case your thyroid levels to cycle high and low.

[Justicenga 31]

I have hypothyroid and pros. I'm insulin resistant as well. I was sleeved 3/31. My tsh levels have been pretty stable until about a month before surgery. It shot up to 11. I'm not sure when it has ever been so high. I could tell that it came down though because of the way I was feeling.

[MizzouFan1 88]

Hi Ladies,

I haven't been sleeved yet but do suffer from Hoshimoto's disease, PCOS and insulin resistance. I just want to throw out my two cents. I have been dealing with it for about 14 years and was Levothyroxine and Synthroid...metformin....you name it. I never felt good. The thyroid symptoms were unbearable even though my labs were within "normal range". I finally was fed up with 'umpteen' Endocrinologist s and even my original PCP. I researched everything and came across Stop the Thyroid Madness http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/. They mentioned T3 and T4 and all this stuff I had never been tested for. Then they mentioned Armour Thyroid as a medication. It is made from pig thyroid and had to be perscribed. My PCP refuse to prescribe anything other than the two main name brands so I fired him. I have since be on Armour for almost 3 years and it changed my life. I have the occasional flare but it has been the difference between night and day. Before I was sooooooo fatigued I slept through my 1 year old crying in his crib in the morning...I would wake up at 11am when he had been awake since 8....it was the last straw. I also found a doctor that treats based on SYMPTOMS not blood test alone. NOT EVERYONE feels great at 3.5 even though its within " normal range". Be your best advocate. I went through 4 docs until I landed on my current PCP of 3 years.

Another big contributor....processed food of any kind. Whole organic foods have made a HUGE difference. I've lost about 13lbs without changing anything but quality of food. If you would like more info PM me....I don't want it to seem like I am pushing websites or anything...just information.

Best of luck gals!

[N.Ahmed 0]

Hello girls. Logged in after 2 weeks today and glad to see all your replies.. i stopped taking thyroxine to balance my insulin level.. will probably run another tsh test in 2 weeks after which my endocrinologist will decide if i really need thyroxine artificially. My doctor however increased my metformin dosage to 1.5g per day.

I lost another 5 kgs in 2 weeks. So glad the scale finally started moving. Ive been brisk walking 1 hour a day and swimming 30 mins, 3 days a week... totally looking forward to a better and healthier life

[N.Ahmed 0]

I'm 9months post op

Hypothyroid I take 1.0 mcg of levothyroxine

I'm insulin resistant still

I am also a slow loser too! Ugh

Pre surgery I was taking insulin NPH relics a day ; actos pills 4 a day and Metformin 2000 Mgs a day

Now I'm post op I ONLY take Metformin one on am one in pm-- this is awesome!! So glad I got sleeved !

My Sw was 283 I am now 237

I only take levothyroxine and Metformin that's it

I do have pcos - I don't ovulate on my own at all

That's why I had surgery bcuz I want a baby!

Been married 10 years and no luck! My ob/gym suggested I get the surgery

Here I am!

I'm a work in progress but I'm content with my progress I need 60 more lbs to go

Goodluck... i hope u reach ur target and have a baby soon

[Pamalamb 72]

I have had hypothyroidism for about 20 years. I recall that it took some time to get the right dosage for me. Also, after any major medical event (childbirth, endometriosis, hysterectomy), we would have to zero in on a new dosage which just takes time. I wonder if the depression is part of the thyroid issue and will resolve itself when the dosage is correct. I find that when the dosage is off I feel fatigued, depressed, dry skin, lots of stuff you would not think was related to that little fella.

Hang in there. You are doing everything you can and it will work its way out. However, it will probably take more time. Good Luck!

[chriskre 5]

I'm 9months post op

Hypothyroid I take 1.0 mcg of levothyroxine

I'm insulin resistant still

I am also a slow loser too! Ugh

Pre surgery I was taking insulin NPH relics a day ; actos pills 4 a day and Metformin 2000 Mgs a day

Now I'm post op I ONLY take Metformin one on am one in pm-- this is awesome!! So glad I got sleeved !

My Sw was 283 I am now 237

I only take levothyroxine and Metformin that's it

I do have pcos - I don't ovulate on my own at all

That's why I had surgery bcuz I want a baby!

Been married 10 years and no luck! My ob/gym suggested I get the surgery

Here I am!

I'm a work in progress but I'm content with my progress I need 60 more lbs to go

You look great!

Time to get some skinny shorts and show off your nice shape.