Has WLS Helped your autoimmune and endocrine issues?

[norcaligirl 4]

Has your WLS helped with autoimmune disease or endocrine issues? I am asking specifically about Hashimotos, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroid?

[mylighthouse 782]

Hello,

I am almost 5 months post op. I have hypothyroidism and have been on medication to treat it for over 35 years.

In October I weighed in at 324 and I'm now down to 244. So with a loss of 80 pounds, I thought that perhaps my doctor would have to make an adjustment on my levothyroxine and possibly go down on the dosage. I just assumed that as I lost weight, the lower the dosage of medication I would need.

However, I just spent a couple of nights in the hospital for other issues, and while I was there, they did bloodwork. The results showed that my TSH level was high, which really surprised me. I have two follow up appointments with my doctors this week, and one will be with my thyroid doc. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually ups the dosage of my thyroid medication. I am currently taking 175mcgs a day and have been at the current dosage for over 2 years.

As far as how I feel.... tired, most of the time. Worn out and a great lack of energy. But, I am having other health issues too that aren't related to my thyroid.

Edited April 3, 2017 by mylighthouse

[norcaligirl 4]

Are still on just Levo? Have you looked at NDT? I do both. I don't have the energy like I did from several years ago but a million times better than my crash three years ago. It's a struggle to think you go through this big surgery and then still feel lousy. Would you do it again? I just don't want regrets,.

[mylighthouse 782]

Yes, I'm still on levo. I imagine when I see my thyroid doctor this week he will go up on the dosage.

I have not felt the lack of energy, etc the entire 5 months post op. From about post op months 2 and 3 I had energy and was exercising regularly. I think that maybe after the doctor makes a change in my thyroid dosage I will start to feel better.

I have absolutely NO REGRETS that I had this surgery. I have lost a lot of weight and can do things now that I couldn't do before. And the weight just keeps coming off. I am getting healthier and feeling very happy that I had the surgery.

[norcaligirl 4]

Thank you for your comments. It's been something I have considered for about ten years. I have the healthy diet under control so maybe this will reset my system if I go through it. How many calories do you eat? What type of foods? I see so many chemicals things on the lists like sugar free Jello and pudding cups. That stuff makes my endocrine issues worse. I still want to eat organic whole food.

[mdjovigirl 6]

Has your WLS helped with autoimmune disease or endocrine issues? I am asking specifically about Hashimotos, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroid?

I have hashimottos, the surgery does nothing for it. I think the hashimottos inhibits is from losing as much as others.

[norcaligirl 4]

1 minute ago, mdjovigirl said:

On 4/2/2017 at 10:23 AM, norcaligirl said:

I have hashimottos, the surgery does nothing for it. I think the hashimottos inhibits is from losing as much as others.

Have you lost anything? Do you still eat AIP like? Tell me what has WLS done for your endocrine health even if it's something small.

[mylighthouse 782]

That's great that you already have the healthy diet under control. I changed the way I ate before surgery.... had a meeting with my nutritionist a couple of months before surgery and she helped me so much. I started cutting back on the amount of carbs that I was eating (cut out all starchy veggies) and focused on high Protein foods and healthy veggies. I was able to drop 20 pounds a month and a half before my surgery (my surgery was on November 14).

Now at almost 5 months out, I focus on a high protein, low carb diet. As you probably know, they want you to get at least 60 grams of protein a day after surgery. I am getting 90-100 grams of protein a day, which has really helped me to drop the weight.

I eat about a 3 ounce portion of protein (sometimes less) for lunch and dinner. Starting with my meat first, and then I am only able to eat a few bites of non-starchy veggies before I get full. I eat mostly chicken, sometimes fish or boiled plain shrimp, and sometimes steak or even the occasional piece of pork loin. I have never been a big Breakfast eater, so I usually just have a few almonds and part of a Premier chocolate Protein Shake for breakfast. Eating high protein helps you stay full longer and low carbs keep you from really getting hungry. I also use Isopure non flavored Protein Powder to get my extra protein in. That stuff is awesome!

When I first had my surgery, I was on full liquids for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks of pureed food, then 2 weeks of "soft" food. Then after that, I went to regular food. During the liquid, pureed and soft food, I used to eat cottage cheese, plain lowfat low carb/low sugar yogurt and a piece of string cheese everyday. I don't really eat those foods anymore, and because I've had such terrible Constipation problems, I've had to cut all cheese out of my diet.

[clc9 644]

I'm one of those rare unicorns: a fat hyperthyroid person (I could eat more than the increase in metabolism thanks to the increase in appetite). I'm 6 weeks out and my TSH dropped like a stone. After years of being stable on my anti-thyroid meds, they are being increased.

[_Kate_ 2,224]

I have Hashimoto's and had psoriasis.

Its the only time I have been able to lose weight and keep it off.

Also the psoriasis has gone.

Hurrah !!

[songsmith 334]

I had my thyroid removed (cancer) about a year before my surgery, so I can't give you a direct answer. However, I am on synthroid to replace the thyroid hormones. My dosage keeps getting smaller and smaller as my weight declines, so your meds will change.

I don't believe Hashimoto's (sp?) is something you get over like you can from high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. I could be wrong, though. Best person to ask is your endocrinologist next time you check in. (And make sure you do. Like I said, your dosage will change.)

[mylighthouse 782]

I replied to this topic a few days ago, but since then I have seen my thyroid doctor.

He had to increase my dosage of Levothyroxine from 175 mcgs to 200 mcgs. I have to go back in for more bloodwork and a follow up in 6 weeks.

I had been on 175 mcgs for I think at least a couple of years. My sleeve surgery was 11-14-16 and since October, I have lost over 80 pounds. I had thought that as I lost weight, my dosage would decrease, but that is not true in my case.

[Introversion 1,876]

I have been hypothyroid for more than a decade. Once you are hypothyroid, you typically have the disease for life. As far as the results of my weight loss surgery are concerned, I have more energy than ever. I no longer feel sluggish or overly tired. By the way, I also suffered from autoimmune idiopathic hives for many years, but the problem resolved within months after bariatric surgery.