4 months post-op RNY thyroid issues

I had my RNY at the end of October and have lost 75lbs. Still not really able to tolerate "real" food. Every type of meat that I have tried causes me to have massive nausea and throwing up. I still get my protein from supplements. My loss has come to a complete stand still and getting anxious because I have reached this block. Had routine blood levels drawn about 2 weeks ago and endochronologist office called me that they were concerned that I now have a hyperactive thyroid. After all the years of being told my obesity was "not" caused by my thyroid. Has anyone suddenly developed thyroid problems after your surgery. Have not heard back from them on second labs they drew. Any answers appreciated!

Hi Susan,

Seven months after RNY, a modest thyroid nodule suddenly exploded into three huge tumors, with suspicious "follicular architecture."  Long story short, they could not tell from the biopsy whether it was malignant, so I had a total thyroidectomy.  The labs came back negative for cancer, but not having a thyroid really set back my weight loss.  I hit a 4-month plateau while the doctors tweaked my Synthroid dosage.  Then started to lose again, but at a much slower rate.  Now I'm only 5 lbs away from goal, but those 5 lbs are just glued to me and won't budge.

Hope you are able to manage your thyroid issues soon.  Don't give up.

Best wishes,

Maria

Thank you Maria for your response to my post. It would set my mind at rest if I could at least to get one of my doctor's offices to respond to my phone calls about the results from the second set of labwork. Feel like I'm on a ticking bomb that will cause me to implode if I don't hear from them soon. Yes I could be more active and sure they would greatly help my weight loss, but if the thyroid is an issue as well.... that could be a whole other ballgame as you know. Funny how one's body reacts to a massive weight loss. Maybe it makes issues that were never clear, step up and take lead in the line of other health problems that we deal with.

Anyway thanks again for your reply. And I really hope that your weight loss will start up again and you get to your goal. Congratulations thus far.

Susan

first off losing 75 pounds since October is fabulous so dont cut yourself short.

Everyone hits stalls and this is normal.  If you are suffering from terrible nausea, try getting some prescription zofran - you can get zofran ODT - this is  a sublingual so it works faster and if nausous, you dont' have to worry about throwing it up.  If meats bother you, dont' eat them for awhile there are other ways to get protein - eggs, fish, cheeses - cottage, ricotta, string, beans, protein drinks, khashi cereals, milk, yogurt = especially greek,  = try adding some meats small amounts at a time - soft ones first like deli meats, chopped meat, turkey, chicken and make sure you chew really well.  Some find if you put sauces on they go down easier.

as far as your thyroid goes - this has nothing to do with your lack of weight loss - what you call "hyperactive" thyroid - is actually hyperthyroid or an overactive thyroid and this would actually make you lose weight faster not slower.  You need to follow up with her because if this is the case it mean one of 2 things - people that have been on thyroid meds are taking too much - so are you on synthroid or armour thyroid?  From what you wrote it sound like you have never been on any.  If this is the case and you have never been on any and you are now hyper thyroid then you need to talk to your endocrinologist because hyperthyroid is very rare and is usually caused by some type of tumor - doesn't have to be cancerous but most times the thyroid has to be either radioactively zapped or removed and then thyroid meds have to be taken for life.

Please make sure to follow up with them - I am glad that they did a follow draw, I am guessing they wanted to make sure the test was correct and not a mistake.

Hypothyroid is the type of thyroid that slows down your weight loss - most people with hyperthyroid are very thin because it is overactive  = do you have heart palpitations at all?  that is one of the symptoms

Finally heard back from the doctor's office, the labs are still abnormal. I am scheduled for a nuclear thyroid scan this coming Thursday and Friday. The nurse that called initally said "hyper" active. From the research I have been doing on my own the symptoms sound like "hypo" active. I have palpitations all the time to the point of getting very light headed, I see spots and feel as if I'm on the verge of fainting. I have a hard time staying comfortable as far as temperature. I freeze but thought that was probably from the weight loss, and am lossing hair at a frighnening pace. And my skin has become very dry. Again thought it was from the weight loss. But probably from both issues. Hopefully I will have an answer soon. Would like to get this health issue taken care of before I go totally bald. I had to go through chemo a couple of years ago because of breast cancer and lost all my hair. Don't want to be bald again if that's not the case.

Thank you for your response. It helps to get others input and a different perspective from someone else.

Take care,
Susan

 am glad you are having the nuclear - your symptoms are almost all from hyperthyroid, an overactive thyroid - heart palpitations are the number 1 symptom, being cold is another one and weight loss is hard to tell after the surgery but hyper thyroid, you often lose weight with hypothyroid - you wouldnt' be losing weight.

The hair loss can just be from the rapid weight loss or not getting enough protein, there can be alot of reasons we lose our hair.  The nuclear test is the best test to know what is going on - so please keep me posted on how things turn out.

good luck

I have Grave's Disease (hyperactive thryoid) and had radioactive ablation many, many years ago and have since struggled with hypoactive thyroid. About a month ago my thyroid was again too hyper. My dosage of synthroid was lowered and I gained 4lbs and have not lost anything since. I'm thinking my body is in adjustment.

Just for clarification to the second post...feeling cold is usually a symptom of HYPOthyroid not Hyper. However, I am feeling more cold than hot but I think it's due to the weight loss? When I was hyper before, I could sweat in Siberia!

It's great they are doing the uptake and follow up. An ENDO is the best for thyroid issues. Keep us posted.