Insurance approved, but other health issues make me want to wait?

[44North 0]

(Sorry- long story!) So through last winter, i went through all of the pre-op requirements for education and all appointments with surgical team and psychologists, lost the proper amount of weight and everything.. then in my final meeting with the surgeon, she ordered a set of labs that showed that my thyroid was off, so postponed the surgery until that could be treated (this was in March). In April, My primary provider also ran another set of labs and found that I was also low in Iron, Calcium, Vitamin D and C, AND that I have blood in my stool. So he has me on Levothyroxine, and a colonoscopy scheduled for AUGUST (no appointments available sooner). In the first 6 weeks I was on Levo, my TSH numbers went UP higher than they were at my initial testing and so PCP doubled my dosage and we will check them again in another 6 weeks. My surgeon's office assistant just called me to say that she had found a normal TSH reading (I don't know where, because there hasn't been a normal one since it was first discovered to be off) and wanted to schedule the surgery.

Am I wrong with thinking we should wait to get the thyroid thing truly under control AND get the source of the blood in the stool identified BEFORE proceeding with any gastrointestinal surgery?

[MarinaGirl 608]

I don't know that not having your thyroid levels at optimal level is a contraindication for WLS. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and get my levels tested every 3 months and medication adjusted as necessary. This was the case pre-surgery and is still the case post-surgery.

I suggest you talk to your clinicians (PCP, Endocrinologist, Surgeon) about this and find out what their recommendation is for you with regards to the timing of your surgery. We're not the right people to make that determination. Good luck!

Edited May 31, 2017 by MarinaGirl

[MSinger 348]

Talk to your PCP about this normal TSH level the surgeon's office is talking about. Have you had any recent labs drawn? Maybe they checked your level then, but it seems like you would know since you're pretty knowledgeable of your levels. As far as the colonoscopy/bleeding, I agree with what you're saying and wouldn't feel comfortable with going through surgery without that issue being figured out first. Again, I think you should talk to your PCP and see what they have to say. Good luck!

[44North 0]

My most recent labs were on May 10th, and a follow up appt with PCP on May 17th (which showed the TSH even more elevated than it had been previously). I think I will call the surgeon back and explain what is going on.