Question:
Stopped COLD TURKEY off my pre-op medications!!!
Help! I was stopped Cold Turkey off my pre-op medications of my Thyroid medication, my Blood pressure medication and my antidepressant. My blood pressure has been okay, sometimes too low for me. I feel weak, want to sleep all the time and have not energy. I really think my thyroid medication needs to be started back since I was hypothyroid already before surgery. I am 6 weeks post-op now. I started out at 272 and I'm only at 258. My scale hasn't moved in a week. I'm unable to eat any meats yet as they feel like they get hung in my esophogus. I have a 25cc Pouch and 150cm were bypassed. I stay dehydrated because I'm so full all the time. HELP! — glensjtarr (posted on January 27, 2004)
January 26, 2004
I think I would get myself to the doctor ASAP. (Not necessarily the surgeon
but your medical doctor). There is really no reason to stop your thyroid
medication or antidepressant. Stopping both abruptly is not a good idea any
time! I actually had to go back up a little on my thyroid medication, most
likely due to malabsorbtion. Sounds like you are faling back into
hypothyroid hell. (Been there and never want to go back!)
— koogy
January 26, 2004
I'm pre op, surgery 2/17/04. I'm 276# 49 BMI and 5'4".
My doc is keeping me on my heart meds., I have CHF, my asthma meds and my
pain pills - I have 3 kinds of arthritis.
He said I will take them till I've lost about 50#'s. He siad I need my pain
meds so I can get past the pain and exercise.
Every doc has his own formula - call him. =)
The thing is he's your doctor so you should call him and talk to him, tell
your corcerns he'll listen and will adjust meds accordingly. If he won't
listen on the phone make an appointment and see him in person. =)
You know the old adage "a squeeky wheel gets the grease..."
excuse the poor spelling please.
We are all differnet and our bodies react differently.
You should call your dietition too with your concerns.
Take care and God bless.
— Carol S.
January 26, 2004
Did your Doc take you off all the meds pre-op? Why? The lack of thyroid
meds can cause the weakness, but frankly the surgery can also cuase you to
be exhausted. Did the surgeon stop your meds or your PCP/Endocrinologist? I
was on thyroid meds before surgery and continue on them even today, 11mos
post op. Sounds like you need to see your PCP.
— M B.
January 26, 2004
I am 5 1/2 months post-op, and before surgery I was on insulin, Blood
pressure medication, Thyroid meds, chols meds, and since the day after
surgery, I was taken off all of my medications except for my Thyroid
medication. My surgeon and my pcp both told me that the thyroid medication
is not really controlled by the gastric bypass like for instance, the
diabetes, not needing insulin the day after surgery. I am still on my
thyroid medications, and that is about it, every three months my pcp takes
a blood test and checks my thyroid level to see if the medication needs to
be adjusted, so please contact your pcp and find out if you should still be
on your thyroid medication, this is your new life, TAKE CHARGE.
— cindy
January 27, 2004
You really do need to talk to your medical Dr. When you take hormone
replacement for thyroid your body quits making the hormone altogether. This
is not to say later your Dr may taper you off to see if your body is making
it again after the weight loss but if you stopped abruptly then you are
probalby not getting enough.
— jenafwife
January 27, 2004
Like the others have said. check with your doctor. My doctor told me that
I would probably be off all meds the day after surgery. My surgeon said he
can get me off all my meds but the antidepressants, I was on my own for
that!!(Not alone, pdoc is there to help me!) I realize I will have to
change the type of AD but I know I will need to maintain something. Since
you are now 6 weeks out w/o meds, you may need to start up slow again. You
body probably is just clearing the ADs out. Now that you don't have
anything in your body, you are feeling the effects. If your primary dr is
handling the ADs, you may want to see a psychiatrist (pdoc) to handle the
med. Pdocs are better at how the meds react in your body. Good luck.
— jeh
January 28, 2004
I don't claim to be an expert, but from my understanding once you've begun
taking thyroid meds your thyroid is no longer functional. The medication
fuctions as your thyroid starting with pill #1. I would definitely see
someone about this. God Bless!
— Tamela W.
January 28, 2004
Had the same problems more acute than yours w/ respect to hormone
replacement therapy - my weakness had nothing to do with my medications -
it was related to protein - which is hard to get in still (I'm 9 weeks
Post-Op) I sipped water all day - except 30-40 min prior to a very watery
meal - i.e., mashed potatos, creamed soups - calories were of no concern
(my nutritionist advised) since you won't come near 500 calories a day. I
got the important things in multivitamins, calcium or (TUMS) protein. And
all the weakness went away - Sleeping is "normal" a lot of it -
not only because of less food, but it seems to be the side effect of the
surgery - and morphine. I was like a newborn slept every 2 hours. Of
course, checking with the doctor is always the best advice.
— Anna M.
January 28, 2004
thyroid meds may be the only thing that you will never be able to stop. If
you're hypothyroid, that means you need the replacement to properly
function. If your thyroid levels are down it can cause fatigue, weight
gain/or no loss, depression, hair loss, dry skin, sleepyness and
constipation. None of these things do any of us want or need especially
post-op. I had thyroid cancer, had my thyroid gland removed 2 years ago
and will need to take thyroid replacement for the rest of my life.
— Keri P.
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