I am 4 months post VSG tomorrow. I have been treated for hypothyroidism for nearly 15 years, under control with meds, most recently synthroid for past 18 months. I also have moderate sleep apnea and use a CPAP mask regularly.

Pre surgery my TSH was 0.5 (normal range is 0.4 - 4.8).

First post surgery blood test showed my TSH has skyrocketed to 25.5! As my doctor says - it's as if I stopped taking the meds, which I definitely have not!

The rest of the tests were great - HBA1c 5.6, cholesterol and triglycerides all in normal range.

My weight loss has slowed down to almost nothing, first two months 20 lb, since then only 6 lb, and after I received the test results, I realized that the symptoms I developed in the past few weeks, leg cramps, icy cold feet and hands, hair loss (which I attributed just to the surgery) are connected to the high TSH.

I have seen some articles that VSG affects the absorption of synthroid because of the decreased stomach size and changes in PH, which is made worse by the PPI I was taking at the same time as the synthroid. I now separate them.

Has this happened to anybody else, or have you heard about it? Besides being very tired and hard to focus and concentrate at work, I am really discouraged that it is basically stopping my weight loss. I know that I am in the time frame when it is easiest to lose, and am so worried about my lack of success.

I should know more about TSH numbers since I've had hypothyroidism for the past six years, but I don't. Usually, I just pay attention to the words "low, normal, high" on my thyroid blood test. Have you thought about switching to a different thyroid med? Some people find that Armour thyroid works wonders.

My last test at 5 months post op showed my TSH in a normal range. Which means that I have to stay on my medicine. I was actually hyperthyroid for three years before I became hypothyroid. It's crazy to go from weighing 110 pounds to 240 in a three year time frame.

Do you have some of the more severe symptoms of hypothyroidism?

I had my thyroid removed several years ago. Since my surgery in June....mine has been like a rollercoaster. I have been on three different kinds of thyroid medicine to try to find the one that works for me. One thing I was told (and it seems to work better).....take your thyroid medication the first thing in the morning on a empty stomach. Wait at least thirty minutes before you eat or take anyother medication. Hope this helps you. I go back to the doctor tomorrow to see if mine has leveled out.