Thyroid & Weight Loss

During the evaluation process for weight loss surgery last year, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism means your body is running really slow and its hard to lose weight, you feel tired all the time, etc. So I was put on medication to help with this. During my first 3 months, I felt my weight loss was slow so at my 3 month exam, I asked that they check my thyroid again to make sure the medication was working correctly. I was told the numbers all looked ok so there was no adjustment to my medication. I still feel that having the thyroid problem is affecting my weight loss. I had surgery on January 11 and to date have lost about 60 pounds and its been really slow. Does anyone else have the same thryoid problem and do you think its been an issue in your weight loss? Debbie

Unfortunately, I don't have any advice to offer as I know nothing about my thyroid, but I wanted to offer my best wishes and congratulate you on your weight loss! Beth

Thanks Beth! I appreciate the best wishes and congrats! I was checking out your profile and I definitely want to offer you the same. You are doing super great! You look great! Debbie P.S. I have no idea how to set up my profile and put in updates and pics. I have found where I can send in pics which I assume will be posted when I send messages, but I can't find any help on how to get cool pages like everyone else!

Hi Debbie: I have low thyroid levels also. I take synthroid. My last checkup was in March. My levels were good. I have lost close to 80 pounds. I think that 66 pounds is great. I don't think I would want to lose the weight any faster if I were you. As long as your levels are good I would not worry about it. Iam in the process of changing my endocrinologist. I really do not care for the one I have now. Anyway i need to get one closer to my home because I do not have a car. The medical center is right down the street and Iam able to walk down there. I take 75 mcg of synthroid. I have heard of some people who have gone off of synthroid all together because of getting down to weightloss goal. Good luck, and remember as long as your levels are normal I would not worry because it's as if you did not have a low thyroid anymore because your levels are where they are supposed to be. Keep the levels checked though about every three or four months because as we lose the weight the levels may actually go up instead of down. That is what my endocirinologist told me. God Bless Denise

Denise, That is interesting. I have never heard of someone with hypothyroidism going off of Synthroid/Levoxyl after losing weight. I know thin people who have hypothyroidism...and was told by my doctor that I would have to be on the meds for the rest of my life. I'm currently on the same dosage that you are on (only Levoxyl). Chele

I too was told I would probably be on Synthroid for the rest of my life. The doctor said there could possibly be time when I would level off and could be off the medicine for some periods, but would probably have to go back on at some time. I don't have a specialist for my thyroid problem. My WLS doctor is the one who diagnosed it and prescibed the medicine. I've been wondering if I should go see my regular doctor for a re-evaluation. Before surgery I was bad about NOT going to the doctor for fear of what he would say. So the WLS doctor diagnosed me with both hypothyroidism as well as high blood pressure and I'm on medication for both now. I do hope I will get off the BP medicine as I lose more weight, but its still a little high for now. Thanks for the responses! Debbie

Debbie, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in the late 80's and have been on thyroid medication since. Do I feel that it has affected my weight loss in the past and perhaps currently? Yes, I do though my numbers are within range and last checked on April 27th. I asked my surgeon if he was absolutely sure that they were ok...and he verified that they were. In the past, I have had symptoms (tiredness, depression, etc) and have had to have an adjustment of my medication and I assumed that with the malabsorption issue with RNY, maybe I would need an increase...but so far that has not been the case. I also have PCOS and I feel that the two of these metabolic disorders really do slow me down in terms of weight loss...but outside of regularly monitoring hormone levels and taking proper medication, there is little that can be done, unfortunately. HTH, Chele

Hi Debbie, I would recommend that you find an Endocrinologist and have him/her evaluate your thyroid. When checking your thyroid levels, a doctor should always check your T3, T4 and TSH. A lot of doctors do not check all three and they are all critical factors in evaluating how your thyroid is working. I take .75 synthroid, I took this dose before I got pregnant in 2004, through my pregnancy. After I gave birth, I went on .5 then .375. When My hormones returned to "normal" after having my daughter I returne dto .75. I was to my endocrin about a month ago and my levels are all within range on my current dose. Like Chele had mentioned, I too have PCOS, this causes insulin resistance which makes it hard to lose weight. This coupled with the thyroid issue probably puts us into a different catergory that "normal" WLS folks but does not mean that we will not be successful. I have lost 70 pounds since 1/16 and had a starting weight of 306. God Bless, Jen