Question:
Thyroid Issues
I was reading through and someone mentioned that she has been having an issue with something that stopped me cold... Thyroid. I've been very seriously thinking that I have an issue with mine over the last year or 2. I've been doing some reading online, and I have an appt w/my regular Doc and plan to ask her to run a complete metobolic panel. From being in the medical field myself, I know that they sometimes just run the basic, then kind of blow it off, as the "normal" range is pretty vast. Do you think the weight loss can effect the thyroid? I'm 7 yrs out, 5'10" and at about 189 right now. I was down to 168 at my skinniest, which is REALLY skinny on my big ol' frame. I have been putting it back on and have not been AT ALL able to take it off, not matter what I do... also there is the condition of my hair being dry and falling out (not growing back), my usually awesome nails peeling crumbling and splitting, my skin being so dry that all I can do is scratch. Has anyone else had any thyroid issues since WLS...or at all, for that matter? — CharlieGirl (posted on May 16, 2007)
May 16, 2007
good question! i have always thought i had a thyroid issue, because i have
ALL the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but when the doctors check me they just
say it is borderline and nothing to worry about. i'm in healthcare too and
it seems to me that if someone is borderline with all the symptoms they
should be treated with low dose and closely monitored,but that has not been
an option from my doctor. as far as your hair and nails go, have you tried
silica or biotin? i have heard both of those are great for hair and nails
and especially after wls. i should be having my surgery in aug or sept and
i have already ordered me some silica and biotin, because my hair is
currently falling out more than normal and i want to start on the vitamins
now to hopefully minimize the loss after surgery. hope this helps, holly.
— RNlvnCARSON
May 16, 2007
I'm a nurse, too, and had a hemithyroidectomy in 2000. In the six months
after surgery, I dropped into hypothyroid hell, since the other half didn't
take over as expected. Trying to get someone to believe me was more than
half the battle. Most docs go by TSH, which is one small piece of the
overall thyroid picture. You need a T4, a T3 and a free T3 (and good luck
trying to get that free T3 ordered.) When I was hypothyroid, I put on 25 of
the 35 pounds I had struggled to lose on my own (this was pre-WLS). I had
profound, overwhelming fatigue. I would be counting the minutes that I
could leave my desk job to get home to the couch! I developed exercise
intolerance - my feet hurt so bad, I was unable to walk as far as I had
been. I tried different inserts in my shoes and nothing worked. I found
myself literally putting one foot in front of the other, just to get home
from walking, which previously I had enjoyed! I developed pain in weird
places - like my elbows and shins. The outer portions of my eyebrows
disappeared. I did not want to be around other people. My PCP gave me
anti-inflammatory meds and anti depressants. I was so very fortunate that I
found a female endocrinologist who listened to me! She started me on 3
times the amount of thyroid replacement medication that my primary care
doc was willing to try! In two weeks, I was already feeling so much better.
My TSH topped out 2.98. But, my pre-op, normal-for-me TSH was 1.17. Not a
big change, and still in the "normal" range, but not normal for
me! In my self-education about thyroid issues, I found that most women
should have a TSH between 1-2 to feel their best. Hypothyroidism is very,
very hard to have treated! Most docs will write it off as
"typical" female complaints - tired, joints aching, depression,
etc., and treat the symptoms. Or they want to "sort of" treat it.
As for the dry hair and nails, that may not be related to thyroid
issues.Since WLS, I have remained on thyroid replacement medication with
the dosage being adjusted as I lost weight. My remaining thyroid is
suppressed, as I have some "spots" that they don't want to get
any larger, necessitating removal of the rest of my thyroid. My normal TSH
is now <0.5, which would technically make me hyperthyroid, except the
rest of the numbers are right where they need to be, and I have no symptoms
of hyperthyroidism!
— koogy
May 16, 2007
Can you see a naturopath (ND)? They have a narrower range for thryoid than
MD's do. The normal range is quite broad, mine showing .35 to 5.5. MD's
will accept anything in that range. My ND, though, wants it closer to 1.0.
So, you could have symptoms even if you are right 5.4 (high number, low
thyroid). The other things to look at is how much protein in supplement
you are doing, and how much dry form vit E (and is it d-alpha). Those
would be my first leap vs thryoid, but good luck finding your answer.
— vitalady
May 16, 2007
Dear Charlene: I've had an underactive thyroid condition for over 27 years.
Once your doctor puts you on meds, you'll be just fine. The hair loss is
one of the symptoms along with very dry skin. You also become very
fatigued and will put on some weight if your thryoid is underactive. If you
go online and do some research, you'll find that there is a long list of
symptoms. Just don't worry, your doctor will get you back on track to
losing weight.
Chris Olney
Just approved today for WLS
— olney1952
May 16, 2007
yes, I have hypothyroid as well and have been on synthroid for about 2
years. My dosage hasn't changed yet since surgery (5 months post-op on the
27th of this month and down 130 lbs!!) and my thyroid has been wacky since
surgery. I go in Friday to get my blood work done to see if my medicine is
kicking in yet. My first clues that something was up with my thyroid was my
hair was falling out and really dry and brittle, I was so tired all the
time and just kept gaining and gaining weight. My advice to you would be
that if your Dr says "borderline" is fine--- ask to see an
endocrinologist (sp?) because what determines "borderline" is
constantly changing and I don't think that one set level is right for
everybody. I will tell you that within 2 weeks of being diagnosed and put
on medicine I started to feel better and more energetic. I've also heard
that it's genetic. My mom, grandfather, and sister all have hypothyroidism.
So ask your family members too. You definitely want to get it taken care of
as it can cause all kinds of problems (weight gain, temperature
intolerance, being lethargic, heart problems, and infertility. )
— airbear762000
May 16, 2007
I have Graves Disease, which was diagnosed before WLS. I had an overactive
thyroid and then had my thyroid ablated and it went WAY underactive. I know
take thyroid supplements and will for the rest of my life. I had all the
same symptoms you have.
I rarely check here so email me at [email protected] if you
have more questions
— newslady72712
May 17, 2007
Charlotte - I would definitely see an endocrinologist or ask for a
referral rather than have your regular doc run tests.
— promises2keep
May 17, 2007
Being in the medical field you should know that thyroid problems are
hereditary not from the result of weight loss. I developed Grave's disease
in 2005 not from having RNY, but I have a family history of hypo and hyper
thryroid conditions. You should touch base with your medical professionals
about your name and hair issues. Yes it could be thyroid and then again it
might be a result of too little protein and fat in your diet. Your body
does need a small amount of fat in its diet to be healthy.
— ChristineB
May 17, 2007
I had a typo in my previous message - it should read NAIL (not name) and
hair conditions
— ChristineB
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