The THYROID Thread

[luvmarypoppins]

Micayla, glad to hear your visit went well. Just curious as to why you have to have another test in 6 weeks?

 

[mrsklamc]

Micayla, glad to hear your visit went well. Just curious as to why you have to have another test in 6 weeks?

She's just monitoring it closely b/c of TTC.

 

[1Grumpy9]

I got my bloodwork done a week ago and my endo called me with the results. My TSH levels are a little high, but she didn't want to change my meds thinking that if she lowers it any more, it will throw it back to low. My calcium is still low, but I am getting a little more continuous number at 6.9. She just tells me that if I feel bad to push some more Tums or my calcium carbonate when I feel crappy from low blood calcium (which is the tingling face).

I go to her new office on May 16th for my next appointment. As you all know it is very hard for those of us with Hypo to lose weight. Well, since I have finally got my meds straightened out, I am down 15lbs!!! That is a big accomplishment for me!!!

 

[kimmie]

1Grumpy9 So glad to hear things are getting under control! I am jealous of your weight loss! lol I am losing my extra weight very slowly. I have to watch everything I eat. My endo is keeping my levels a bit above normal (go figure). I am tired sometimes, but I keep going!
I am starting to feel like my old self again. I do not like waking up early to take my meds, but I need coffee when I get out of bed. Am I right in thinking I have to take meds 1 hour before eating or drinking? Does it really have an effect on things? Does anyone take it at night?

 

[Christine]

Am I right in thinking I have to take meds 1 hour before eating or drinking? Does it really have an effect on things? Does anyone take it at night?

I take mine right when I get out of the shower (about 4:30 a.m.). I don't have my tea/coffee until I get to work at 6:00 a.m. so it's never an issue for me.

On the weekends, I take it right when I get up but I have my tea within about 15 minutes.

I think as long as your not using loads of creamer or milk, it's probably fine to take it close enough to your coffee.

I don't know about you but I take Levoxyl and that stuff starts disintegrating right on my tongue. I seriously doubt that it lays around in my stomach for more than another 10 minutes. Once it's absorbed through into bloodstream, I would think coffee would be fine. Coffee does not bind to T4 (however, calcium does). So, stay away from the dairy products for a bit.

 

[kimmie]

Thanks Christine. I am taking Synthroid. I figured that even 30 minutes would be fine. I do take non dairy creamer but it has soy in it. That's not good either, right?

I think the pill gets stuck on the way down! I hate drinking water when I am not even awake! lol

 

[Christine]

Thanks Christine. I am taking Synthroid. I figured that even 30 minutes would be fine. I do take non dairy creamer but it has soy in it. That's not good either, right?

I think the pill gets stuck on the way down! I hate drinking water when I am not even awake! lol

Correct--soy also interferes with T4 absorption into the bloodstream but it is not really at the "stomach" level but more in the "bloodstream" level. It binds to the T4 in your bloodstream so you would definitely want to space out the soy creamer from your T4 ingestion.

HOWEVER, having said that, if you know you are going to have soy/calcium/whatever every day and you can't space it 2 hours apart, you can just do what you do but realize that you will probably need to take a higher dose of T4 to compensate for that. Many people just do that.

 

[1Grumpy9]

I am one that once I get out of the shower in the morning I take my meds (around 5:45am) and then don't eat anything until 7am. Of course this is during the work week and on the weekends, usually I take it when I get up to go to the bathroom and then back to sleep I go...LOL!!! I like to sleep in on the weekends a little bit more than during the week.

I have been still dealing with not going to sleep at a reasonable time during the week. It is usually around 11:30 or midnight until I finally fall asleep. It sucks during the work week because I have to get up at 5:15 for work.

 

[kimmie]

I have been still dealing with not going to sleep at a reasonable time during the week. It is usually around 11:30 or midnight until I finally fall asleep. It sucks during the work week because I have to get up at 5:15 for work.[/QUOTE]

I know what you mean. I take some melatonin at night. It does help me settle in and fall asleep.

 

[mrsklamc]

Stupid thyroid cancer.

I've practiced good oral care over the past year but my teeth have still really gone downhill. Dentist says my saliva 'is not working at all.'

 

[luvmarypoppins]

1 Grumpy9 - Congrats on the weight loss

Micayla - my dentist said to rinse with Act. I know some people use Biotene too. I make sure I floss alot. My salivary glands are fried too.

kimmie - glad you are doing well too.

Christine - I hear you on the college stuff. (Saw your other posts). We are doing stuff with ds20. He got accepted into 2 nursing schools so far and we are waiting for 2 more.

Well I took a mini nap at like 5 pm yest. I know this is so not right. I feel tired right now too at like 11 am. I have not called the endo back yet. Just too much going on.

I am so stressed out right now. The meeting which was suppose to be tomm is delayed again. Last night dh hit a deer, there goes our new to us van (it is a 2009). The one we got in Sept. after the girl on the cell phone totaled our van. I just thank God we were all o.k. I was int he front and ds22 was in the back. It was on the drivers side. I am sure the deer died. It was actually 2 deer. I know it will need some work to get it fixed. And my dh is leaving on another 9 day trip to the west coast next week, wont be here for easter. Ds22 might go with him.

Well at least I finished all the adrs for our trip. (Chefs,Tutto,Liberty Tree and Kona) I will really need a a vacation after all of this.

 

[kimmie]

luvmarypoppins

 

[SingingMom]

Just found this thread and it is very interesting to know others are/have gone through similar things.

I started with Graves Disease, put on PTU and had a "2 million in one chance side effect" of hepatitis!! Took me off of that and had radioactive idodine, which of course, put me hypothyroid. After a few months of trying to figure out proper synthyroid levels, dr detected a nodule, after fine-needle biopsy, discovered papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Had a total thyroidectomy with 7 out of 10 lymph nodes involved. That was 20 years ago, and I am doing very well. So , hang in there, ladies.
I wish you all good health!

 

[Christine]

Just found this thread and it is very interesting to know others are/have gone through similar things.

I started with Graves Disease, put on PTU and had a "2 million in one chance side effect" of hepatitis!! Took me off of that and had radioactive idodine, which of course, put me hypothyroid. After a few months of trying to figure out proper synthyroid levels, dr detected a nodule, after fine-needle biopsy, discovered papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Had a total thyroidectomy with 7 out of 10 lymph nodes involved. That was 20 years ago, and I am doing very well. So , hang in there, ladies.
I wish you all good health!

YOWZA!!!

You had one heck of a misbehavin' thyroid gland!!

 

[Christine]

LMP--

You are having a rough time of it. My biggest fear in life is to hit a deer. My carpool buddy laughs at me all the time about it. I actually get very anxious when driving during deer season. Uuuugggh.

I think that's awesome that your son is applying to nursing school. I have tried to push my son in that direction as I think he has the smarts and empathy to be in the medical field (he has so many issues himself) but he gets all weird when I mention nursing and thinks it's a "girl" thing. I told him "Think of all the women you'll meet!!"

 

[Pembo]

I was routed to your thread from the CB. Found out today that my 25 yo niece has been dx with thyroid cancer. I don't know much more than that. She sees an oncologist on April 9th. I tried calling her today but haven't heard back.

I've read a little of the thread and have lots of questions for her.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I was routed to your thread from the CB. Found out today that my 25 yo niece has been dx with thyroid cancer. I don't know much more than that. She sees an oncologist on April 9th. I tried calling her today but haven't heard back.

I've read a little of the thread and have lots of questions for her.

Just wondering if you have been able to speak to your niece.

 

[Pembo]

Talked to my niece this weekend. She saw a dr on Monday. She is to have a thyroidectomy with some lymph nodes out as well. She is going on a cruise at the end of June so she wants her surgery asap. Right now she is scheduled for April 27.

I gave her links to this thread as well as to the thyca.org site.

She is worried about the scar and gaining weight after surgery. She gained 15 lbs in 4 months which is the reason she went to the doctor in the first place.

It's hard to be an aunt to a very independent niece.

 

[mrsklamc]

Things vary, but I was in no shape to cruise 8 weeks out from my surgery. As for the scar-- for mine they drew blood prior to the surgery, spun out a certain kind of cell, and injected it into the incision. That helped a lot and the scar on the front of my neck is minimal. The side of my neck is a different story but I just wear my hair over it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Pembo, I am glad you got to speak to your niece too.

My scar is really not the greatest, but then again my case was not normal. I have the normal scar plus a drain hole scar and then I have a jagged scar on the L side due to all my complications and surgeries.

If her surgeon is very experienced he or she should be able to do a good job.

Also I was in no shape to go any where about 2 months post op.

I would be thinking she would be starting to get ready for rai if she is having it, thus med withdrawl, or thyrogen shots and lid diet etc.

Has she told her surgeon of her vacation plans? I think she should and maybe look into postponing the trip etc. Hopefully it will not be a financial hardship to change it or cancel it.

Wishing your niece all the best.