Hypothyroidism and gastric bypass surgery

[sabney18 0]

I was diagnosed hypo back in 2014 when my daughter turned 3 months old. I haven’t had my 100mcg of Levo since surgery 11/16/20. I struggled to eat and drink for the first 6 weeks or so, and adding ground up pills was even worse. It made me so sick. So when i asked my doctor for a thyroid panel around 9w post op (since my surgeon didn’t) they discovered that i most likely have hashimoto’s. I had an ultrasound done and it showed that i was riddled with nodules, goiters on both sides, and possibly an adenemoa on my left side. I’m finally seeing an endocrinologist but it will be the end of March before i get in. We are limited in specialists in my area so i have to wait or go to the bigger town 2 hours away.

my TSH has gotten much better since surgery, though. So I’m just thankful for that because it could be way worse! I’m down exactly 40lbs today and an 12w post op. Hopefully things get better for me. Oddly i feel normal. I used to be so tired before surgery so I’m happy that I’m not exhausted 24/7. 🤣

[MSWDiet 64]

On 1/16/2021 at 4:54 PM, Castrad01 said:

Hello I am looking to connect with people who has hypothyroidism and have had the gastric bypass surgery.

I share this issue. The formal diagnosis and treatment for hypothyroidism came over 25 years after a goiter was first noted. Fat people are often un treated or under treated for this condition.

You can absolutely have long term success. It will take longer. The myth of rapid weight loss immediately after surgery will be dispelled.

However, at an average weight loss of 0.34lbs per week, I reached my goal over 17 frustrating months. You may gain weight while being faithful to your program then start losing weight again. The metabolically challenged (my surgeons term) will be successful over time.

With multiple metabolic complications, I've lost the fat and maintained my desired weight. Twelve years post op I've been able to beat down each incidence of re gain.

Stay on program and research healthy alternatives to boosting your metabolism. While your doctor's plan is your primary guide, a little tweaking may be needed over time.

You Can succeed. You WILL succeed.

EDIT: After reading all replies written before mine, I have a suggestion for everyone.

-Make a chart of all medications and supplements with their interactions. Apps and web sites with this information are abundant.

-Prepare a doseing plan to ensure each item is taken timely and correctly. Include each dose for anything taken multiple times daily. Include the strength and form for every medication be it Rx or OTC. Include the brand and form for all supplements. Include items taken only as needed and those on a schedule other than daily.

WHY?

-You will maximize the benefits from your thyroid medications and avoid cancelling the effects of your supplements.

-You will learn how best to take everything you use. Your goal is to minimize side effects and maximize benefits.

-You will have details at your fingertips for your weight loss support team to review if needed.

-In case of a medical emergency, you have this vital information on hand.

While it seems like a lot to do, you already have the information. It is likely your pharmacy's app can do this for you with its doseing reminder service.

(My intention is to be helpful based on the original post. Therefore, I've supplied no backgroud. Castrad01 posted for support not my autobiography.)

Edited February 13, 2021 by MSWDiet
additional information

[Pkump 47]

I have hypothyroidism and had bypass surgery Feb 2. My surgeon suggested I see an endocrinologist but still waiting for the referral. Down 8 since surgery but stalled. I am not sure if that is my thyroid or normal. Still plugging along.

[outofusernames 8]

I was diagnosed with hypo at 10 years old. Weight has been a struggle all my life. I've been on Synthyroid (levo), Cytomel (lio), Armour and a combo of Synthyroid and Cytomel (best imo). In 2019, I had been on only Cytomel for 3 years and had heart, liver and kidney failure caused by Cytomel (lio) toxicity. It had been eating away muscle including my heart. When I was taken to the ER, my heart rate was 20 and they couldn't get a temperature because I had hypothermia. I was in my 30's, btw with no prior health concerns other than hypothyroidism. I believe it was made worse because I thought I had a virus for 3 days but my heart was failing. I went into a myxadema coma.

After 11 days in ICU and 3 weeks in the hospital, I couldn't lose weight to save my life. After trying to lose for 8 months, my Endocrinologist recommend sleeve surgery.

My loss has not been as fast as many on this board. I had surgery in July and my pre-surgery weight was 208 at 5'5". Pre-surgery diet was only a week long and I may have lost a few pounds. Since surgery I have lost about 56 pounds.

My surgeon is fine with my loss. He says to hit Protein and Water goals but don't go below 1200 calories and eat whatever you want (after post-surgery diet, of course). I suppose I feel that surgery is pointless if I have to starve and restrict. I've done that most my life. I know many don't agree with that and I understand why. I found my tastebuds changed and sweets aren't as important as they were pre-surgery.

I hope to meet my goal by 1 year. My periods have been lasting 2+ weeks and are super heavy so now I'm anemic and I'm sure it hasn't helped my weight loss. I am having a DNC soon to see if there is an underlying reason for all the blood. I can't be on normal birth control due to my heart. I went for an echocardiogram this past week and it came back normal! Considering I had cardiomyopathy, a temporary pacemaker, kidney dialysis, and liver failure less than 2 years ago (in my 30s lol), I am happy with my progress. I think having surgery with hypothyroidism is worth it.

Edited February 13, 2021 by outofusernames
Needed paragraphs for this novella

[HealthyLifeStyle 351]

On 1/16/2021 at 4:54 PM, Castrad01 said:

Hello I am looking to connect with people who has hypothyroidism and have had the gastric bypass surgery.

I had the surgery on 8/24/20, and its the best thing I could have done. I am still hypothyroid, and on levothyroxine. Pre op I was taking 150mcg, and my doc lowered it 137 mcg 2 weeks ago.

[TreeTrunks 108]

On 2/13/2021 at 7:52 AM, MSWDiet said:

I share this issue. The formal diagnosis and treatment for hypothyroidism came over 25 years after a goiter was first noted. Fat people are often un treated or under treated for this condition.

You can absolutely have long term success. It will take longer. The myth of rapid weight loss immediately after surgery will be dispelled.

However, at an average weight loss of 0.34lbs per week, I reached my goal over 17 frustrating months. You may gain weight while being faithful to your program then start losing weight again. The metabolically challenged (my surgeons term) will be successful over time.

With multiple metabolic complications, I've lost the fat and maintained my desired weight. Twelve years post op I've been able to beat down each incidence of re gain.

Stay on program and research healthy alternatives to boosting your metabolism. While your doctor's plan is your primary guide, a little tweaking may be needed over time.

You Can succeed. You WILL succeed.

EDIT: After reading all replies written before mine, I have a suggestion for everyone.

-Make a chart of all medications and supplements with their interactions. Apps and web sites with this information are abundant.

-Prepare a doseing plan to ensure each item is taken timely and correctly. Include each dose for anything taken multiple times daily. Include the strength and form for every medication be it Rx or OTC. Include the brand and form for all supplements. Include items taken only as needed and those on a schedule other than daily.

WHY?

-You will maximize the benefits from your thyroid medications and avoid cancelling the effects of your supplements.

-You will learn how best to take everything you use. Your goal is to minimize side effects and maximize benefits.

-You will have details at your fingertips for your weight loss support team to review if needed.

-In case of a medical emergency, you have this vital information on hand.

While it seems like a lot to do, you already have the information. It is likely your pharmacy's app can do this for you with its doseing reminder service.

(My intention is to be helpful based on the original post. Therefore, I've supplied no backgroud. Castrad01 posted for support not my autobiography.)

Thank you for posting this. It is really reassuring to hear of long term results, especially those with hypothyroidism. I plan on making a chart and plan this weekend to help me after surgery.

[linnea29 0]

I have hypothyroidism and pcos . i am scheduled to have gastric bypass with lapband removal april 19. i recently was on weight watchers for a YEAR and lost 5lbs.! hypothyroidism was definitely a motivating factor for me to have the surgery.

[linnea29 0]

I have hypothyroidism and pcos . i am scheduled to have gastric bypass with lapband removal april 19. i recently was on weight watchers for a YEAR and lost 5lbs.! hypothyroidism was definitely a motivating factor for me to have the surgery.

[linnea29 0]

I have hypothyroidism and pcos . i am scheduled to have gastric bypass with lapband removal april 19. i recently was on weight watchers for a YEAR and lost 5lbs.! hypothyroidism was definitely a motivating factor for me to have the surgery.

[HealthyLifeStyle 351]

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, which I think is the same thing as hypothyroid, years before my surgery. I literally gained over 60 lbs. in about a year and a half because of it. I just kept gaining weight. I wasn't eating more, or worse. The docs put me on levothyroxine, and it wasn't helping. I started with 125mcg, then up to 150mcg, and now after the surgery I am down to 137mcg. I see the doc soon, and have to do labs, so we will see what happens. Also, before the surgery the doc found nodules, after doing a biopsy, and now after the surgery, they have disappeared?

[sassy pantz 13]

I am hypothyroid and losing slowly as well. RNY 1/21/21 and am down 22.2 since surgery. I average 1.5-3 pounds per week and wondered why it was so slow. Also had no idea about spacing out my Synthroid so thank you for sharing!

[Highly.undermedicated 13]

I have hypothyroidism. Im on 75mg levothyroxine. I am 13 months post RNY. Im down 130 lbs. I lose about 7-11 pounds a month. First and 2nd months were biggest losses at 26 and 21 lbs but i was also not able to keep anything down due to strictures and had to have an EGD with balloon dilation to widen the opening to my pouch 3 mos post op. And then again a 2nd time at 5 months post op.

Be careful with Biotin supplements. They can cause false readings on your lab work. I was taken off of my levothyroxine as they stated my levels were perfect. Then months later they were sky high. I stopped taking biotin and got back on levothyroxine and levels were back on track pre surgery numbers. And it does nothing for preventing Hair loss. If its going to thin out or fall out, thats what its gonna do. So get your Protein and liquids in and that will help tremendously.

[ZZinBC 9]

I am glad I stumbled on this.
I had sleeve surgery on March 10th.
I have hypothyroidism as well as PCOS.
What I did not know is that pre surgery I was in a state of hyperthyroidism. The combination of the thyroid toxicity and anesthesia created what is known as a thyroid storm. I went into a hypertensive crisis, with tachycardia and AFib.
Ultimately, I should not have been operated on without due care however, like many have already said, in one way or another, the thyroid is not taken seriously when it should be. That little gland is responsible for so much of our overall wellbeing.
Learning what I learned through my post surgery experience, I am doing my due diligence to do as much educating as possible surrounding surgery and the thyroid. I had zero idea that being in the hyperthyroid state that I was (I had no symptoms) was as dangerous as it was when combined with anesthesia. I should have been a better advocate for myself.

On the note of weight loss, it has been frustratingly slow. The first 3 weeks post surgery I did not lose anything. In hindsight, this is most likely because all thyroid medication was stopped, but it just goes to show you how much affect it has. I was consuming 300-400 calories (tracked) and it did not move the scale.< br /> My heart was broken. I am averaging about 1/2 pound a week of loss right now and that is at 700 calories.
It is incredibly frustrating however I really think ultimately this is my chance to get my weight down albeit painfully slow.
I hang onto the words of the people on here that talk about how slow their loss was but that they lost it over a year / a year and a half. This is important because my surgeon talks about how the weight has to come off in the first 6 months or it won’t.
Those mentioned above are my hope! And thanks for posting about this topic too - I have found hope here!

[Highly.undermedicated 13]

Ok. So keep this in mind always. Don't compare yourself to others as we are all different, surgeries are all different and programs are all different. We all lose weight at different rates and at different times . what is slow for one might be fast for someone else and what one's highest weight is might be someone's goal weight. With that being said, some may lose their weight in 6 months, some in a year, some in 2 years or longer. Its not a race. No one to compete against. No timer to beat. And do not listen to any surgeon or medical professional that tells you that if you havent lost it all in 6 months then you probably wont. Because that is not true. Back in December (the 20th to be exact) I reached 100 pounds lost. Which eas at 9 1/2 months. My physicians assistant told me that eas not good enough, was beneath what was in line with their expectations and killed all positive vibes and any kind of victory I felt in what I had accomplished. I went from feeling on top of the world to feeling like the biggest failure. My depression deepened, anxiety kicked in and i went on a binge. January rolled around and I had a telehealth appt with my surgeon. I was down 110 lbs and he said i was doing great and on target. Totally opposite than what his PA said to me. February I was hospitalized for stomach pain then had to go see the PA for follow up. She said i was doing good but on low end of what they would like to see me at. My weight was slowing down and actually started gaining. I called for help and the nurse advised that the PA said nothing we can do, we did the surgery, go on a liquid diet. I did. 2 weeks. Gained. Called back. They said nothing we can do. Call your primary. Good luck. So I did. Now Im on Contrave for a month now and losing again. Sorry for the long message. My point is, dont let them get into your head, dont let anyone tell you that you arent doing good enough. Do what you can. Follow your program. Get your Vitamins and Protein and hydration in. Exercise. And dont let anyone sabotage or crush your progress. Whats standard for one isnt going to work for the next. Do what works for you. Tweak it til you find what works the best.

[RobinRN 3]

Because... with every since my thyroid removed!!! Virtually IMPOSSIBLE to move the scale for me.