Posted by BryanII on November 15, 2006, at 12:28:12
In reply to Know this is Meds But So Is Synthroid, posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2006, at 14:08:01
I agree. Thyroid-AD interaction is a meds issue for all of us with both conditions. Yours sounds complex.
Some of the treatment changes and responses you describe sound odd given your test levels. I'm no expert, but maybe in your case, managing according to typical TSH/T3/T4 tests isn't working. Symptoms sure sound like hypothyroidism. If I were experiencing your symptoms, I would be freaked about lowering dosage (my GP requested that yesterday and I will try it but am worried.)
There are good discussions about food interactions and general thyroid testing and management at several web sites: Thyroid Disorders Support Forum, thyroid.about.com, thyroidinfo.com. Searching on 'thyroid', 'food', and 'binding' will get other sources. I've found Mary Shomon's book " Living Well with Hypothyroidism" the best all around source of advice. Psycheducation.com has also some useful info (overlaps with Dr Bob's psychopharm tips on thyroid.
For atypical forms of hypothyroidism, I've found some of the "alternative" web sites helpful, if taken with a dose of skepticism (misinformation, anger). drlowe.com has good, though controversial discussions of thyroid hormone resistance and situations where treating according to standard tests does not work. The stopthethyroidmadness.com forum has some fairly sophisticated participants, a bit like this one.
The problem is if you pursue any of these non-standard concepts, you may be fighting your GP and endo.
I was a bit baffled when I read about possible interactions between thyroid pills and foods and supplements. The list of possibly interfering foods is huge, more than I was willing to cut out. Afterall, nutrition matters too.
Aside from following the usual advice to take thyroid pills one hour before eating and two-hours before some specific foods or supplements, it seems that consistency is the main thing. Keep dietary patterns regular(food types and when you eat them) and manage thyroid levels against that background. Maybe you need to switch pill to another time of day to fit with eating habits.
Sorry to be so long-winded. Good luck.
Byran
p.s. I've learned a lot from your posts and those of other regulars. I especially appreciate your supportive and compassionate presence on this forum. Thanks.
poster:BryanII
thread:703400
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061110/msgs/703891.html