WLS and hypothyroid, PCOS meds

[csawesome 181]

Hi. So I will double check with my surgeon during my pre-op on Monday, but how often should I get my thyroid check after surgery? I have hashimoto's, and get my thyroid checked every 6 months assuming my labs are good and I don't feel a change in symptoms, more often when my TSH are up until they adjust meds and regulate. My question is after surgery will I need to get my thyroid levels checked more often, like after I had my children? Any idea how WLS effects (if at all) thyroid function? I assume my hypothyroid although regulated will slow my weightloss (although I am crossing my fingers I am wrong), any one with experience?

Also I take metformin for PCOS not diabetes, they mentioned I might be able to get off it as sometimes PCOS hormones get a little less wacky, anyone experience that?

I am not too worried about the metformin except the first week post surgery, just worried Clear liquids and only two or three hundred calories will make me feel pretty crappy on metformin. Again I will ask my surgeon, but anyone with experience?

Thanks

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[BestDayEver 418]

Well, my pcp said he didn't think my thyroid med (levothyroxine) would be impacted by weight loss but the bariatric office said it should be checked. I insisted it be checked and the dosage was lowered. It hasn't been checked in four months but I think it's ok. It will be checked again soon as I'm due for my annual physical. My loss was very steady even though I have hypothyroid which really amazed me since losing weight pre surgery was super slow. I don't have pcos and I'm post menopause, so a bit hard to compare there in terms of ability to lose weight. Bottom line: get the thyroid levels checked periodically while losing weight.

[glitter eyes 1,398]

I have hypothyroidism and after surgery my weight loss was steady and pretty fast. I went from 271 to 155 in about 6-9 months. I then proceed to lose another ten and I am holding steady at 145 at almost two years post op.

I did have to get my thyroid levels checked about every 6-8 weeks due to I was needing less and less snythroid. I went from taking 300mcg a day to now on 88mcg. My thyroid levels have been fine since my weight loss has stabilized for awhile.

[csawesome 181]

Awesome thanks. Just good to know how it was effected in others.

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[ocgirl15 667]

csawesome I hope you will be pleasantly surprised after surgery like I was! I have hypothyroidism and PCOS too and have been losing very steady. Before surgery I took Metformin, Spironolactone, nuvaring and synthroid. I stopped the Metformin and Spironolactone the day before surgery and never took them again. Metformin can cause low blood sugar. I would be surprised if your doc wants you to take it if you don't have diabetes. So only med for PCOS now is the nuvaring. It keeps me from having the hormone issues that might you hear some talking about. When I am at goal I will see what happens if I stop it. My pcp is very knowledgeable about bariatric surgery and did mentioned that synthroid might need to be lowered as I loose weight. She told me to come in if start having HYPER thyroid symptoms. So far I feel great. She will check at least once a year unless I tell her I am feeling off.

[Kathy812 794]

I have hypothyroidism as well and had my levels checked a few months after surgery and they were fine. Med was not adjusted but I'm scheduled for my annual blood work in May, curious to see if they will adjust. I take armour thyroid, not synthroid.

Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky ones with the weight coming off fast. Mine has been pretty slow. I have been at the same weight since November 2015.

I'm still hopeful that I'll lose the last 20 pounds, but I'm still very pleased with my progress. Before surgery I worked out 3 to 4 days a week and would not lose a pound. So, I know, without a doubt , my thyroid condition has been a huge factor in my slow loss. Remaining hopeful.

Edited March 19, 2016 by Kathy812

[kaitlynm 335]

I also have hypothyroidism. Funny but 2 months after my surgery I did have to lower my dose from 200 mug to 175mcg. Until I read this I had no idea that they were connected, and I guess my gyn didn't know either. At first when it came back high he wanted me to go off of it completely and then start over with figuring out the dose. After a week I was a real mess. Gained 6 pounds in 4 days, got restless leg syndrome, didn't sleep for 4 nights, and got dehydrated. I'm only now starting to get over the restless leg syndrome and this happened back in early Dec. I just got mine checked again a couple of weeks ago and it was fine on the 175 dose. I had been loosing pretty quickly, but I've been pretty slow loosing the past month. Frustrating since I still have 55 pounds to go. I'm not going to make my 6 month goal by a couple of pounds so I guess I will see what the surgeon says.

[cindyw41 761]

You most likely be taken off metformin because it is a time release medicine. My pcp took me off of it prior to surgery.

[AJKMMC15 64]

I have hypothyroidism and Graves disease. I was just sleeved on 3/16/16. Haven't been on the scale yet... but I also hope I am as successful as you other ladies with a fast, yet steady loss. Going into surgery, my pre op blood work put my thyroid in normal range. I am praying as the weight goes down, my levothyroxin (synthyroid) dose will get less.

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[Daisee68 2,493]

I have Graves Disease and had my thyroid ablated with radiation about 4 years ago so I am what they call post-RAI hypo (I have no thyroid function at all on my own.). My endocrinologist said I will need to have it checked fairly often in the beginning because the med will not absorb the same as before (I had RNY). So I actually had to increase my dose twice at first and then have started reducing it slightly. I am able to tell from the symptoms when something isn't right (I get restless leg syndrome and muscle cramps in addition to hair loss when I am hypo). But I was able able to tell when it was a little too much med as I lost weight and had it checked. At 9 1/2 months post-op, I am still taking more Synthroid than I was pre-op. I can tell you it has not hindered my weight loss (I am down 100 pounds since surgery last June and 130 pounds total). My endocrinologist requires me to wait 8 weeks in between dosage changes before testing. He says at my age (48), it can take that long for the body to adjust and as you get older that time increases. It sounds like you know your symptoms pretty well and know when to get tested but I would say to treat it a bit like after your pregnancy for the first year at least until you get it stabilized. I haven't had mine tested since November but I adjusted it slightly on my own about 2 months ago and feel pretty good. I'm having it tested again in a few weeks.

As for metformin, I was taking it pre-op for Type 2 Diabetes and was taken off of it by my endocrinologist during pre-op liquid diet with close monitoring of my blood sugars and then taken completely off by my bariatric surgeon in the hospital day after surgery and haven't taken it since and my blood sugars are perfectly normal and my diabetes is in remission! I know you are taking yours for PCOS but I would think you will need to go off of it at least in the early stages of taking in such little food given it can lower your blood sugar. I would definitely discuss with the prescribing Dr as well as your bariatric surgeon.

Best wishes on your journey!!

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[applejenn 173]

My pcp told me after surgery, I'll have to get labs done to check my levels. He said they may change and may have to adjust my dose

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[Christaneka 0]

I'm on thyroid meds & I have PCOS but I have not had my surgery yet. Sorry I can't help.

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