Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group

Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.

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imcshe 02/02/2011

For anyone else on thyroid medication...have you had any problems with malabsorbtion?

I was told at my one-month post-op that my thyroid was testing a little high, but just to check when I next saw my Primary Care Manager. So, today is when I saw him about my Synthroid renewal, and my test results from last week were crazy high! I guess normal levels (TSH, I think) are around a 5, I was up to 9 in December, and today it showed 38! He said it was a miracle I've still been able to lose weight with my metabolism that slow! I said I haven't really noticed any problems and actually feel better than ever. Well, my skin is so dry that it looks like I have Crypt-Keeper hands (lol), but that's often been the case.

So, my dose has been raised, and I'll have to keep getting tested every six weeks to see how it's going. I was under the impression that the thyroid hormone wasn't going to be affected by the bypass, but apparently not!

deleted_user 02/02/2011

I'm hypo as well and having trouble with dry skin again as well as the outer third of my eyebrows have all but disappeared! I've been having these crazy chest stresses lately too - not pain, not racing...just feels like trouble breathing but in my heart. Wonder if it's thyroid related. Anyway, please post if you have any information... I am going to get my blood checked and re-do a saliva test soon...

deleted_user 02/02/2011

I am on synthroid as well.
Be sure not to take it with your mulitvitamin and especially do not take it with your calcium. Those two will cause malabsorption.
At 3 months out, my levels came back perfect. FYI: I'm on 125mcg of synthroid.

imcshe 02/02/2011

Thanks Patricia, I think I need to look into the possibility of problems taking it with my morning multivitamin. That could be part of it.

deleted_user 02/02/2011

Thanks for the post patricia - My endo told me to take my thyroid pill away from anything else, multi, calcium, iron, even coffee. i used to take it first thing in the am before my feet hit the floor.... guess gbs has got me all discombobulated cause i put it in my pill box with all of my other supplements. Will have to separate it again. Thanks!!!!

deleted_user 02/02/2011

I take mine last thing before I go to bed.
Oh, and no drinking milk after you take it either. I found all this out the hard way. You would think your PCP might tell you these things.

deleted_user 02/03/2011

Do you have an endrocrinologist?

deleted_user 02/03/2011

bump

deleted_user 02/03/2011

bump...same experience as PatriciaG

deleted_user 02/03/2011

I'm pre-op and hypo too. I hope it doesn't give me problems. It does all kinds of weird things when it goes haywire. I take mine first thing in the morning with my blood pressure meds and I haven't had any problems. However, I don't take my vitamin at the same time. I take it with breakfast.

imcshe 02/03/2011

Well, in reading the accompanying drug info again today, it does say to take the Synthroid on an empty stomach (which I always do, right in the morning), and to take it 30-60 minutes before food. I do this, but I bet the multi-vitamin has the nutrients to make it count as food. So starting this morning I'm waiting a while to do the multi-vitamin and calcium.

Darn, and I thought I had this pill-taking down to a science! I always took my multi-vitamin at the end of the day, then after the surgery when I started on the different kind needing a second one in the day I assumed it would be easiest to take it right away in the morning with my Synthroid! I still find it hard to remember the couple extra calciums in the day.

Thanks again, Patricia!

imcshe 02/03/2011

Ricky...Army TRICARE system; not much chance of me getting to see an actual endocrinologist. But until now everything has been fine. Thanks for the suggestion if things don't get straightened out, though.

deleted_user 02/03/2011

bump

deleted_user 02/03/2011

I take my synthroid first thing, with a cup of coffe, or water, and then sit down at the computer, or anything that will force me to sit still for 30 minutes. I learned the hard way that it is a med that must be babied or strange things seem to happen. I was sick a number of times when I first started taking this. It was so bad one morning, that I got really sick to my stomach, just from laying back down. Doc said I must sit up and be still..it is not as bad now, as I have been on it for a good long time now, but if something happens and I run out while waiting on a script or something...anything more than a few days, and I have to start over with this med. Vitamins MUST NOT be taken within FOUR hours of taking synthroid. so it is usually lunchtime before I take my first vitamin...I had to make a chart. for all the different things I have to take now...but..oh I feel like a first grader doing this, but it helps.

imcshe 02/03/2011

Four hours, huh? Well, that will take getting used to! Time for more research! Thanks for the hint, Elizabeth.

deleted_user 02/03/2011

I was also told 4 hours before taking any other meds or vitamins. Oops, I must have forgotten to say that in my original post.
Trust me when I tell you that between vitamins, calcium, synthroid, and D12, it feels like I'm taking a pill every hour. Such is the life of this new, healthy woman.

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