Hello, ladies! It looks like it's time to start our December thread. Christmas is coming just too fast this year...or maybe it's just I'm too tired to get in the mood. Had blood work done last week and am waiting for the results. I think the meds need to be increased yet again.

Getting ready for Christmas parties, 1 on Friday night, next week I have 3 (Tuesday, Friday and Saturday) the the following week I have one on Wednesday and a final one on Saturday. I pray for strength to eat in moderation.

It's very cold for Virginia -- asthma does not do well in the cold. I bundle up like it was 50 below.

Hi everyone,

I have been hypo for over a decade and am learning so much from you all. One question I have that I saw answered somewhere but of course can't find now is that you should take your meds with water and no food or cafeine for about 1 hour is that correct..

Thanks

Can someone please suggest a good multi-vitamin?

Thank you

Hello to all.

Hockeychic I was looking on the Internet for an answer to your multivitamin question. Can't find anything that recommends one brand over another. Did find some good articles in general:

How to select a multivitamin - http://www.epinions.com/content_60672151172?sp=ink

http://www.lifetimefitness.com/magaz...&article_id=52

The following one lists specific vitamins and the benefits they provide.

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hc/reso...,1573,,00.html

As for me, I have tried several different brands - both from the drug store and from health stores. Found that I just could not deal with that "vitamin taste" and eventually I opted to take individual supplements for those that I thought were targeted to my needs. I've been happy with that regime. These articles might point you in the right direction, then it's trial and error on your part to find one that works for you as is the case with most anything.

Regarding your other question about taking your pill with water, as I was skimming over the articles I saw a question about taking a vitamin with coffee or tea. It said that you should take it with water, that caffenine blocks the nutrients up to 45%. I'd have to think that if it works like that for vitamins, it's probably also true with medicine. Guess I'll be changing my routine tomorrow too.

I did go to the doctor on Monday. He changed me over from Synthroid to Armour. Whew that stuff stinks! I can only hope that Mom's old saying of the worse it tastes the better it works is true. He had a hard time finding my thyroid (I've been on meds for 9 years now) and said I'm totally dependent on the medication for thryoid function. Because of this, certain foods (like white flours) would not diminish thyroid activity and just advocated a balanced nutrional diet as I have been following. He also said since my main complaint was being tired and cold that he suspected I might also have sleep apnea and wants me to be tested for that. I do snore loudly (according to my husband). The doctor said he can change the meds to see if something works better for me, but if I was not waking up feeling rested then no amount of medication would make up for a lack of good sleep. I'm scheduled to see the sleep doctor in January.

Your thyroid medication should be taken with water and you should not eat for at least 1 hour after taking it. Do not have calcium within 4 hours, and that includes vitamins with calcium as an ingredient, fortified juices and cereals, etc. as they interfer with the thyroid meds. I take my vitamin (Centrum Silver recommeded by by doctor) right before I go to bed so I don't have a problem.

did any of you have a enlarged gland and had the dr do the blood test and it come back normal? and you still have a problem? My gland is always enlarged however the blood test comes back ok. They now tell me I have the Baby blues and Fibro. I feel so tired all the time and they have given those for the reason. I had my angel boy almost 6 months ago so I have a hard time with the baby blues reason.

My niece had 2 babies a year and a week apart. She came down with pregnacy related thyroid issues AND post partum depression - not related but a double whammy none the less. It took her quite a while to find a good doctor who was familiar with that type of medical situation but she has been under treatment and is doing well. That situation really swings the thyroid from hypo to hyper. Find an endocrinologist or a gyne who is familiar with pregnancy related thyroid and have them examine you. Good luck to you. Don't give up hope.

i think 6 months is the time it takes for thyroid issues to come up after pregnancy; it's when my mom started having problems, and it was also about the time my cousin-in-law had problems.

definitely see a specialist.

i had an enlarged thryroid, but my tests came back in the normal range. however, after i started taking my medication, my symptoms started going away, so it's definitely possible.

the armour pills do stink. i put them in a weekly pill container, and it seems to dissipate the smell a bit. luckily mine are small.

i've been sick all week. i'm finally getting better now, but i'm so exhausted. i wanted to get to the gym this week, but that kinda fell through. maybe tomorrow.

Hi ladies, I've just signed up with 3 fat chicks and found this.
I have hyothryoid. And I like what I'm seeing here. You guys are confirming what I have been reading that my doctor has not told me about.
Mind if I join you.
Jeanette

I wish I could remember the article I read years ago in a magazine i.e., Family Circle or Woman's. It stated that some Dr's were considering doing thyroid profiles on women after delivery.
I was hoping it would be a 'GO', since I had gone through it with my last child. In my case it was immediate, by the time he was 4 months I'd gained 40 pounds. Getting a Dr. to pay attention to the cause was the problem.

I told you guys I went to the Dr. a couple of weeks ago and how good my Dr. looks since her weigh loss. Well she informed me a few days later that my TSH was 17.63, range being [.3 - 5.] she changed my med. from Levoxyl 2.50 to Synthroid 3.00. Is there anyone else out there taking a dose this high or is it just me? Does anyone else feel theres a difference between those two meds? Welp... it explains once again within a year, the weight gain, cold, exhaustion and muscle cramps. Maybe bi-yearly testing would be better for some of us. What say you?

Hi Jeanette and Welcome!
I'm new also, everyone here has made me feel welcomed and at home, believe me these ladies know their stuff!

Couldn't have said it better myself... the info I've gotten here is great. I would also have to agree about finding a good doctor and not being shy about being retested. I just accepted that this was the way I had to be .... WRONG!

It's only been a couple of days but I'm feeling better on the Armour meds already.

My mom was on Synthroid and switched to Levoxyl. Said she didn't notice a difference at all (the doctor switched brands because of the price difference on the prescriptions). I was telling her about the Armour, she said she'd talk to him about it on her next visit. Is waiting to see how it works for me. And just because you asked Calil, I've never heard of anyone with such a high Synthroid dosage or a TSH so high... biggest dosage I know of anyone on is 1.5 mg.

one of the case files in the thyroid book i was reading had levels that high. i think the author got pretty high during her pregnancy also, because of all the hormone fluctuations of pregnancy.

i'm surprised that people are only getting tested once a year. my mom's doctor (and mine) both want us in every 3-4 months for blood testing to make sure everything is okay. i know with armour, you definitely need more frequent testing because the pills are organic instead of synthetic, and are thus prone to more fluctuations.

That's what's trippy to me, the dosages and my out of whack ranges, I take my meds faithfully. I learned to take the thyroid med alone and the others (vitamins etc...) just before bed. All those years I was on Synthroid, then came the Civil law suit and I'm switched to Levoxyl. Now I'm on Synthroid again, which is a higher priced med for not a lot of change in how I feel or gonna feel. I didn't know she changed the brand until my husband picked it up for me, bless his heart

In three days time she went from prescribing (3) 1.0 Levoxyl tablet to (2) 1.50 Synthroid tablets, less drugs, more money? I'll pay for feeling better if this time around it works and label her Dr. Feelgood, but if this doesn't ring true in a minute (which I know will take a couple of months) I'm going to have to speak to her about this. Right now I'm a LOT null and void

If I had a nemesis, I'd rather have a butt kicking contest and get it over with than wish this on them, hmm... well there was this girl in junior high, hahahahahaaaa.

You all have a good weekend!

I have a question for you ladies. How many calories and water are you consuming? Most diets recommend 64 oz of water but my body just can't handle that much water.