Hypothyroidism and WLS

I saw my PCP last week and my thyroid tests are in the tank.  Not even in the normal range.

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this.  I've been on thyroid meds for years, since age 19, and for the last three years since WLS haven't had a problem until now.  My PCP isn't sure why all of a sudden I'm not absorbing the thyroid. We are upping the dosage and she is suggesting dfferent times of day to take it.  In the mean time, I'm experiencing weight gain, (despite good diet and exercise) extreme fatigue, brittle nails, excessively dry skin, coldness and hair loss.  I see my WLS surgeon at the end of the month and hopefully he will have some insight as well. 

In the meantime, if anyone else has had any experience with this, please let me know your experience. Having been hypothyroid nearly all my life, I'm used to the ups and downs, but as I've been so stable for the last three years, this is very frustrating. 

Thanks,

Kim

My thyroid levels dipped about a year after WLS too....they were on the low end of the scale. I didn't know what was going on. I had a few issues all at the same time. My iron level was low, and my hormones were also out-of-whack all at the same time so I'm not sure which symptoms are associated with each problem.

Fatigue - check

moody,depression,PMS - check

irregular periods - check

weight stall - check (even at barely 1,000 calories a day and plenty of exercise!) - check

I didn't have a previous history with thyroid problems. My doctor's solution to my issues were double my iron intake, thyroid meds, and birth control.   Within a month all the issues had cleared up. 

Thank goodness you have a good doctor, I'm sure they will find a solution that works for you....good luck!

Monica,
Thanks for the reply and the support. I'm hoping that this issue will be resolved in the next month or so.  I keep forgetting that not only the outside of my body is different, but the inside is different as well. 

Kim

Kim I have also had thyroid problems all my life. In fact started on thyroid meds the first time at 8 months old...yes you heard me right 8 months old. I was taken off of them later in life....before I was a teen and no doctor would listen to me because my thyroid was supposedly in the normal range.

Nine years ago I went to yet another doctor that dealt with different kinds of hormone issues and yep sure enough with the proper tests, my thyroid tests showed it was way whacked out. For the record your thyroid controls the hormones of your body...it is like the mothershiop hub.

After WLS I was okay for a while, but my meds did have to be increased. I not only take the synthyroid, but I also take a compounded drug for my T-3 levels too.

I know when I am off because of skin changes and I also experience cramps in my legs and ringing in my ears. I have not had it adjusted for a while, but I do know when to do so!!!

I hope they get yours figured out....it doesn't feel very good when you are all whacked out!!!!

Hi Janine,
Wow 8 months old.  How did they figure out at that age that you were hypothyroid?  I was 19 and they only reason I found out then was because I was having issues with my pituitary (or so they thought) it turned out to be thyroid.

I guess I just have to keep remembering that not only outside changes happened with the WLS, but inside changes as well.  I was just surprised that I've been stable for three years and then - bam it's out of whack.  I can handle all the other stuff, but the weight gain is driving me crazy.  Now I'm feeling like a failure and I could just kick myself for not recognizing the symptoms earlier.  I know what they are and I guess I just ignored them or assumed they were WLS related. 

You are right, I don't feel good being out of whack either.  I'm so tired all the time, it's hard to stay awake even for work.

Thanks for the reply - especially when you have surgery coming up.  My thought are with you.  You will breeze though this.

Take care,

Kim

Aloha-
I have Hashimoto's and was on thyroxine for 3 years without improvement until I went and saw an endocrinlogist in SF ( Nathan Becker). He is a little whack, but well respected- he upped my Synthroid  (T4) to 300 mcg/day and also put me on Cytomel (T3) at 50 mcg/day. He does not allow generic drug substitution for the Synthroid. I was normalized within 6 months and have not had a problem since.
You might not be absorbing it well ( do you take your T4  an hour before or 2 hours after a meal- supposed to be on an empty stomach), or need the brand name ( Synthroid only, not generic thyroxine) or be consuming too much soy/soy milk/ etc ( interferes with active T4).
Just a thought. XOLori

Hi Lori,
Thanks.  I'm taking Cytomel as well and yes I take my meds on an empty stomach.  Years ago I was taking 300 mcg/day and then that doctor retired. When I went to my new doctor, he had a fit and took me off of that dosage, said I would have brittle bones and heart palpitations.  Well, neither happened.  My current PCP is willing to go with the higher doses, but in stages. 
I've never thought about the generic vs the brand name. I'll have to check into that.  I also don't use any soy based products either.  Used to all the time prior to WLS and didn't seem to have a problem, but with the malabsorption, I've steered clear of soy because of the thyroid connection since my surgery.
Hopefully, I can find the right combo and get myself straightened out. 

Thanks again for the thoughts. 

Kim

Best of luck, KJ, it sounds as if you are well versed on your meds. My PCP thought 300 mcg/day was excessive as well til she saw how much better I felt- and we are not all cut from the same cloth. My anti thyroid antibodies are so high we considered whacking out my thyroid gland and taking total pharmaceutical control of my thyroid but then I got so much better on the high T4 and supplemental T3 we elected not to. Glad now That I didn't- again, good luck! XOLori

Hi Kim,

Looks like you got plenty of advice...so just hang in there.  I too have problems...and yes, the weight gain sucks.  I still don't have that under control.  I had the last half of my thyroid completely removed 2 years ago and am 250 mcg daily.  I still have problems maintaining a calcium level, but am doing better.  Just keep taking those vits.

Take Care

Josie
thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate any input that I can get. I've been so frustrated with this whole thing.

Take care,

Kim