Hashmito's Thyroiditis and Weight Loss Surgery

[notyomamasfro 2]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a newbie here from Texas. I am 35 years old, a full time college student and I work full-time, single mom of two beautiful girls. I have struggled with my weight most of my adult life. I have successfully lost weight twice with the help of Phentermine, but I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2004. In 2011, I found out I actually had Hashmito's Thyroiditis, since 2009 I started to struggle to lose weight and gradually gained more despite diet and exercise. In 2010, I went from 227lbs that summer to being 260lbs at Christmas! Since then, I feel like I've been losing and gaining the same 25lbs over and over again. Most of my relatives were not fat kids, but gained weight to the point of obesity/morbid obesity in their 30's and 40's. I'm not trying to do that and stay there.

I have bought a Fitbit last month and really rededicated myself to exercising and my eating right and all I have lost is 5lbs. The struggle has been real. I made up my mind at the first of the year that I was going to have weight loss surgery. I am in the process of getting my ducks in a row (sleep study, psych eval and etc.). My guess is that if I'm lucky I will have surgery either by the late summer or in the fall if my insurance approves. I didn't go to the doctor much last year, so I'm hoping I do not get denied because of lack of documentation. My BMI is 41!

At any rate, I am wondering if the surgery will help me finally get this weight off! I plan to follow it to the letter, but since I have been having such a difficult time losing the weight on my own I part of me is scared that I will be taking this drastic measure only for it not to work. I am taking Armour Thyroid and my numbers should (TSH) should be fine.

I guess my question is considering that I have hypothyroidism, can I lose and keep the weight off assuming that I follow the rules? Right now I feel like I have the metabolism of a 90 year old--a 90 year old's metabolism might be faster!

[DroppinLikeItsHot 52]

I have hypothyroidism and had my surgery 2/19. I am currently down 27 lbs total (including liquid pre surgery diet) and am doing well. I seem to lose steadily, although slowly. The slow space may be a result of my BMI (somewhat lower than most on here).

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

You should do fine! I also have hypothyroidism, and at 4 months out from surgery, I have lost 52lbs. They will check your thyroid at your follow-up appointments, to see if your numbers have changed, and to adjust meds accordingly (mine went down again, so another adjustment for me!). Make sure they check your Vitamin D level, for hyperparathyroidism (I have that, as well), even though the two are NOT related. After the initial loss from the pre-op and post-op diets, you will probably lose 1-2 pounds a week, which is right on track, according to my surgical team. They also feel because we lose it slower, it will have a better chance of staying off (they can't explain this, though). Just remember to stay on your plan, and plan to stay on it FOR LIFE. WLS is just a tool, NOT the cure. All the best to you...

[TEXASLADY52 264]

I had my thyroid removed. I put on a lot weight after having it removed and over the years kept putting it on. I have been on every diet there is. I would lose and then gain back and more. I had the surgery in June......fell better than I have in years. My TSH has been like a roller coaster. I started out on Armour....have been on three different medications trying to level it out. I am now on Synthyroid. It was still a little low this week but better. I feel have lost slower than most but I am older and no thyroid. The main thing is I am losing. I have gone down three sizes and close to four.

[notyomamasfro 2]

I sure hope I get approved and can lose the weight. If I just lost 50lbs I would feel somewhat "regular" again, but being the overachiever I am if I see that my efforts are actually paying off then I would hope to lose more.

[Msladyt1980 2]

I'm I'm the same boat as well, I have hypothyroid and my surgery is 4/13/2015. I'm afraid I may not lose quickly either. We just have to follow the plan and hope for the best

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

If your medication for the hypothyroidism is on target, you really shouldn't have any trouble losing weight. SPEED of the loss varies from person to person, depending on a lot of factors such as how much you have to lose to begin with, IF you are following the plan religiously, amount and types of exercise, your personal biological make-up.....it goes on and on.

If you think your not losing fast enough, or even enough period, consider this: If you lose what you are losing now (say 2lbs per week), that could be up to over 100lbs in a year - depending on how much you have to lose. My Dr. has said to expect losing UP TO 65 percent of the EXCESS body weight, NOT 100 percent, from the surgery. IF I follow the plan. And this would occur in the first year. He said the first 3 months of weight loss were "FREE", meaning that weight that came off during those 3 months were coming off NOT really because of me, but because of the effects of the surgery. AFTER that weight is the weight I HAVE TO WORK OFF!!! By being diligent in my following the plan set up for me. Good luck to all in your endeavors!