RNY or DS?? Need permanent solution

After my lap-band was placed I lived happily between 160-170 for 7 years.  Almost two years ago I was diagnosed with Graves disease (hyperthyroidism), and no it did not make me lose weight (of course I wouldn't be that lucky).  To treat this, I had the radiation ablation treatment to kill my thyroid gland, effectively making me hypothyroid.  Now 19 months later I've gained nearly 40lbs!!  And I have yet to have a normal thyroid function level, so I'm still hypothyroid...grrrrr. 

With the weight gain, I started having severe heartburn. So I had an upper GI and found a new gastric surgeon (Sayeed Ikramudin, MD) to find out what I needed to do.  He removed the 1.5cc of fluid in my band, which cured the heartburn.  However, I'm still gaining weight and freaking out!!

My gastric surgeon is referring me to a weight loss specialist who is also an Endocrinologist to find out the best way to treat my situation.  This Endocrinologist (Charles Billington, MD) also treats patients who have weight gain after a weight loss surgery.  Still freaking out.............

Once my thyroid is functioning normally, it will not make me lose the weight I've gained.  Now I'm contemplating a different weight loss surgery, but my darn BMI is only 33..............

What to do, what to do, what to do?  Still freaking out...................and I'm already taking antidepressants since depression is a major side effect from hypothyroidism.

Conclusion...........hypothyroidism has ruined my life :(

I developed severe heartburn at three years with the band.  I had gained some weight but in the last 9 months as they kept removing fluid every month as it tightened, I was able to lose 60 and the re-flux just kept getting worse.

I chose the sleeve as a permanent WLS.  I wanted to keep a normally functioning stomach, just eating less.  If some where down the road I need more I can have the DS switch.  If choosing between the two, DS and RNY, I would chose the DS to keep my pyloric valve in place.  It has the best long term wight lose success.

I was on antidepressants for the first year after surgery as the internist doesn't want you to stop them during that time due to the changes WLS produces.

I had a band also and just had it removed but unfortunately because of lung issues can't revise to anything else. Anyway here is my thinking on the options between RNY adm DS. I would go with the DS because with either one you have to commit to vitamin supplementation but with the DS I believe there are fewer problems like reactive hypoglycemia that often comes with the RNY. While there can be regain with any surgery it seems the DS has less chance of that happening plus it continues to have malabsorbtion where the RNY has a 12-18 month honeymoon period where you are malabsorbing but then the body starts to absorb again after that honeymoon period.

So for my way of thinking if I have to take vitamins I may as well get the DS where I keep a fully functioning stomach (intact pylorus valve),just smaller as opposed to the RNY where that is bypassed. Hopefully MsBatt will see this as she is the go to gal for DS and can tell you far more than I can! Good luck!

This is great advice! Thank you for the feedback!

you should know that since your thyroid gland was killed with radiation,mine was also, 20 years ago, that. You will always be hypothyroid now. You will always have to take thyroid supplementation and there is never going to bE  any normally functioning thyroid. Your thyroid gland is totally gone, not even there anymore. That is why you will always have to supplement the thyroid hormone and will always have to find the fine line between under and over active thyroid.

i have lost and maintained 118 # since Wls with an under active thyroid soit is possible. 

I think the problems lie more with your band than with hypothyroidism. 

GL 

Are you on thyroid replacement, like synthroid? You will HAVE to take something to replace it. I take a form of synthroid and have had DS. It is the only prescription I take now, as the DS cured all the co-morbiditeis that I had to medicate before, but this thyroid issue is not curable, and will always need to be supplemented.

Lots of post ops were/are hypo thyroid, and for many of us it was a contributing factor to our getting fat.