WLS and thyroid #s

Does anyone know whether WLS helps thyroid functioning?  I know it can often get people off their diabetes meds, hypertensives, CPAPs etc., but what about the thyroid meds?  Does the surgery have any effect on this at all?

And on a different topic, I was talking with my SIL over Easter wknd about WLS and she was saying that her sister was 'offered' WLS 'right away' because her thyroid was so low.  She said she knew of others as well who had bad thyroids who seemed to circumvent the usual waiting lists and procedures to get the surgery very quickly.  Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?  Of people getting the surgery faster/immediately because of thyroid problems?

Hi There!  I've got thyroid problems where I'm on supplements.  The amount of supplement I take has not changed since well before surgery.  If you take supplements, you will probably stay the same, and still be tested annually for it.  If your thyroid condition is not controlled, they may want to control it before surgery.

As for going quicker because of thyroid, I haven't heard of this, and I know I wasn't any quicker because of it.  I was still about 18 months from first appointment to surgery.

Others may have had different experiences.

Cathy

I have never heard of anyone being rushed through in Ontario. Maybe years ago but certainly not now. You can be desperate and you still have to go through the testing and diet to ensure the safest surgery

Thanks Ladies, I figured SIL was wrong or just misunderstood things from heresay but since I hadn't read much on the forums yet re: thyroids, thought I'd ask.

And thanks Cathy for the details on the thyroid meds.  I guess if your meds haven't changed then the WLS doesn't effect those hormones.  Too bad.

I have hypothyroidism and have been taking synthroid (or its equivalent) for years before I had WLS. After my WLS, for a long time, my synthroid prescription stayed the same. However, in the last month or so, my TSH levels have risen slightly (enough for me to notice a difference) and so my prescription was increased ever so slightly to compensate. We usually check my levels every 3 months so my doc was comfortable with my knowledge of my body, levels and the fact that I am diligent about bloodwork that she was okay upping my prescription. To the best of my knowledge, WLS does not affect thyroid conditions whatsoever. (Totally BOO on that one.)

No, I have never heard of anyone being pushed through the process because of thyroid issues. There are reasons to push people through for revisions (with severe complications and all) but for the initial surgery, there is a definite process and each aspect of our health needs to be taken into account prior to getting on that table. That all takes time, and thyroid problems aren't usually something that would necessitate having WLS more quickly than anyone else. It would however, necessitate getting that thyroid condition under control ASAP with testing and meds!!

Thanks for the info Jill. Totally Boo on that one.  I have taken synthroid in the past when I was having fertility issues, but when we finally gave up trying, I went back off the synthroid because we couldn't seem to find a happy dosage for me.  It either gave me incredible anxiety, or didn't affect the numbers, there seemed to be no happy medium.  But back then my numbers were not too awful... too high for fertility, but still within normal range for non-fertility.  Now I guess they've climbed even more and the GP wants me to go back on synthroid. I'm not looking forward to the ups and downs again while trying to figure out the right dose and I was hoping that WLS might help me avoid synthroid going forward, I really don't like that drug :(