thyroid dropping...coincidence or something else?

I am 2 1/2 years out from proximal RNY lost to my goal...total loss of 85 pounds ( I know I'm considered a lightweight) but the problem especially the last 6 months is my thyroid. It had been stable until I had the surgery then my T4 just gradually started dropping. The T4 had always been the culprit but now I despite increasing my Armour Thryoid the T4 is at .93 and the range is .93-1.70 . At one point my TSH was increasing but now with the increase of my Thyroid meds it went back down but the T4 is barely making it. At one point my T4 was down to 81, my doctor upped my meds and it finally reached .93 and then dropped back down to 84. My doctor has me holding at what I'm taking now and retesting in 3 months instead of 6 weeks. I have to tell you, I wish I had a little more energy and I think it's directly related to my thyroid. My question is anyone else have this problem? All my other bloodwork for everything else has been fine since my surgery. So I can't believe this is an absorption issue with my meds. My vitamins seem to absorb just fine according to my tests and I just take the Optisource Vitamins 4X daily. I work out 3 times a weeks at the gym with weights and a little cardio and am in the best shape I've been in since I was in my teens so I should have more energy. Some days I'm o.k. but other days about half way through the day I could just lay down and sleep and I'm not a nappy kind of person. Lora

I am actually at my wits end with the whole energy thing.  I eat really well making sure I choose really good foods with lots of vitamins.  Plus I take a prenatal vitamin daily.  I exercise 5 to 6 days per week incorporating both cardio and weight training.  I should feel great, right?  Well, I don't.  I just had bloodwork done 3 weeks ago because of my lack of energy.  And when I listed my symptoms, my doctor said he felt like the test would come back telling us my thyroid was off.  But all of my bloodwork came back absolutely perfect.  My thyroid was .97 which he says is in the normal range.  He took 3 vials of blood and ran every test you can think of and tells me I am as healthy as a horse.  He checked everything liver, kidneys, blood count, all levels, thyroid, cholesterol, etc, etc.  So, I wonder what gives?  But several people that I have talked to that have also had WLS and perfect bloodwork are also very tired.  So, I wonder what it is that the docs could be missing with us?  Good luck to you. Melissa

Melissa When did you start feeling low energy after your WLS? Actually mine didn't start until the last 4-6 months( about the low T4 time) Before that I was like the energizer rabbit. I know for those of us that do serious training or weight lifting it is very draining and we require alot of protein to help build the muscle so maybe I'm not getting enough protein because I noticed on my workout days (especially leg day) I feel drained the better part of the day afterward even though I do a post workout meal. If somehow I can get this thyroid back up and my energy doesn't return then it has to be something else. Thanks for your input Melissa. It does seem strange that WLS'ers that test good everywhere have a low energy problem. Mine comes and goes, it's not constant or severe. Lora

I felt absolutely wonderful the first 2 to 2.5 years out.  It has just been in the last 6 months or so that I have felt drained.  So, I thought that maybe I needed my bloodwork done because maybe I had some deficiency somewhere.  But, mine comes and goes too.  Some days I will feel like my normal self (not quite as much energy like before but pretty normal).  And  then some days I don't even want to get out of the bed and after lunch find myself having a hard time keeping my eyes open.  Strange.

Wow! That's how I am with the exception of not wanting to get out of bed, I'm not that bad yet. It seems it happened the same for you and I at the same time frame 2- 2.5 years out. I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor and get all my bloodwork done again it hasn't been done (with the exception of the thyroid every 6 weeks lately) since December but at that time everything except thyroid was fine. Hopefully someone else will chime in here with their experience and we can pick their brain! :) Lora

Do you consume soy?  I know it can have an effect on the thyroid.   Sally

No. virtually no soy in my diet. Thanks though.... Lora

you know the thyroid is a really important gland that I never really understood till I recently had mine removed, due to nodules. Does your doctor check your neck for size and possible nodules that could be effecting you.. and your blood work would not reflect. any differences... mine was always great but I had nodules... they turned out to be cancerous but benign.... thankfully... but you know a nurse said to me it is not unusual for RNY patients to wind up with thyroid issues... althought I haven't found any prove of.... but her explanation was that the body lymphmatic system doesn;t know what to do with its garbage... it seems to make some sense it you read up about Lymph system..... I don't know...  Have your neck checked... it doesn't hurt and may help

I have have been hypothyroid for several years, even before my WLS. That's probably why I had the weight gain problem to begin with. It has alot to do with a person's metabolism. Before I went hypothyroid I didn't have a weight problem or any other thing associated with hypothyroidism such as hair loss. My doctor checked my thyroid intially went I started going to him last year but I need to have a followup with him and ask him some more questions since I can't get my T4 right. I'm even considering a endocrinologist if it doesn't straighten out. These nodules can you feel them easily? I feel my thyroid but I don't feel anything bumpy, but then I'm not a doctor either. Thanks DJ Lora