How do I PM Gimel?

[Despratehowsewife]

I have a GREAT Thyroid Dr in Morgan Hill California(Northern California) and I would love to give you the information for him. How do I do this? I have been Hypo for over 30 years and have struggled to the point I couldnt get out of bed 6 years ago and thats when I found this Dr. He listened, took saliva tests and Blood work, gave me vitamins and changed me from T4 only Synthroid to NatureThyroid and then onto Compounding Thyroid with Baking soda as my filler (cant digest the Microcrystaline cellulose filler).  This Dr SAVED my life and I finally have my life back and the VERY least I can do is pass on his name and information!

[gimel]

Here's some further info I found.

"The hypothyroid patient also needs to pay particular attention to diet. Molasses, egg yolks, parsley, apricots, dates, prunes, fish, chicken and raw milk and cheeses can supply nutrients necessary for proper thyroid function(3). On the other hand vegetables from the cabbage family should be limited and include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, mustard greens, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, rutabagas, horseradish, radish and white mustard(3,5). These vegetables are often called goitrogens because they have been shown to decrease thyroid hormone production as effectively as prescription anti-thyroid drugs such as thiouracil. (5) Because these foods are antioxidant-rich, supplying other vegetables or even nutritional supplements is advisable."

[gimel]

Goitrogens do have a detrimental effect on thyroid, when eaten raw.  When cooked they are okay and nutritionally beneficial.

You can get some good info on foods/vitamins/minerals that are beneficial, in the link I sent by PM.  

[sournnot]

Thanks for splitting the dosage suggestion!  I am now doing that!

How about the goiterous foods as cabbage, etc?  I read that cooking them helps reduce their suppression effect on the thyroid.

Do you have a list of some food that help the thyroid function?

Thanks!

[gimel]

The reason given for taking thyroid med on an empty stomach is that food, along with some other things, interferes with absorption of T4.  T3 is not affected like that.  I hate to wait around after taking meds, and I sure am not going to get up any earlier to provide adequate time, so I just go ahead and take my meds and eat as normal.  Even if it reduces absorption of T4 somewhat, I figure that it only means that I have to take a bit more.  So I figure whatever works best with your schedule is best, as long as it is done in a consistent manner.  

The effect of T3 does ramp up over about 4 hours and then diminishes, as I mentioned.  So taking the second 1/2 of your Armour around 2 in the afternoon keeps you fairly level during waking hours, and then it is easier to go to sleep.  

When you have additional test results, please post them and members can help interpret and advise further.  

[sournnot]

Thanks for your reply!  I did have tests taken of TSH, free T4, and free T3, Vit D, and serum FE…..I feel pretty well…. skin is still dry but hair isn't falling out so much and I stay awake all day; usually get around 7 hours of sleep.

All after being on 120 of Armour for several months, tests were fine (I can't find the stats!) except my iron was too high so I quit taking iron supplements.

I was taking the Armour in the p.m. so I could have coffee first thing in the morning but read on the Stop the Thyroid Madness  website conflicting reports that Armour wears off at night and then that it doesn't!  So I will believe your findings that it's better taken in the a.m.  I could take half in the a.m. and half in the afternoon.

It was suggested to take in the evening on an empty stomach so that I wouldn't have to wait an hour for coffee and an hr. before breakfast, esp. avoiding CA and multivitamins…… which would mean no cereal w milk or enriched orange juice….but I can do that.  Maybe some fruit or fruit juice that has no CA?

I would need to wait 2? hours after lunch and 2 or 3 hours before dinner, the source said, to take the afternoon dose as it is to be taken on an empty stomach.

Also, I'm to cook the goiter…. type veggies like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale….and restrict greens bc they interfere w absorption…..I didn't know that and really don't like that but can cook the veggies…. I was already not eating any soy.

Correct any of my statements that I have been reading that you find faulty…. I never knew any of this!  And had just taken the thyroid med (synthroid generic) for years and years w whatever in the a.m.

Thank you!

[gimel]

Why did you choose to take your meds at night?  People who are successful doing that are usually only taking T4 med.  T4 is much slower acting than T3.  T3 has a very quick effect, and reaches max effect in about 4 hours, then diminishes over the next 4 hours.  So taking it right before bedtime would most likely be part of your difficulty in going to sleep.  

It usually is recommended to split your dose of Armour Thyroid and take half in the morning and half in the afternoon.  This tends to even out the effect of the T3 over the whole day and tapers off before bedtime.  

What are your latest thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report?  Also, have you been tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  If so, please post those and ranges as well.

[sournnot]

I wrote the wrong name and changed it; it should be sournot!

[sournnot]

Hello!  I was on as oneofme but I changed email so now I am sour not!  (One word.)

I bugged you quite a bit months ago.  I can't find my old history so here goes:
I was diagnosed with a "burned out/too much stress" thyroid, hypothyroid; my dad had hyperthyroidism.  It was discovered after delivering a baby tho I had some trace of the ailment beforehand.  That was over 30 years ago!  I was on generic Synthroid .125 all those years, still dry hair/skin/tired/though not overweight.

I read about Cytomel.  (I am on Buproprion/Clonazepam for prevention of more depression and it works) along w Estrodiol (had a hysterectomy and Atenolol for stress induced high blood pressure. Also on NItrofur Mac daily bc of a lot of UTIs.  Otherwise healthy, exercise, eat well.

My psychiatrist had me tested and put me on Cytomel (he understood free and reverse T3 whereas my gp did not.)  I tended to get too hyper on it….

So he prescribed (along w a new gp) Armour Thyroid 120 mg and I am doing pretty well on it.  I don't have as much hair as before ((expected at my age)) and still dry skin/hair but I think the med is good for me as it doesn't make me ill or dizzy or hyper or tired.

I've been reading the Thyroid Madness website and have recently learned there are NO warnings about food and drink and timing of the medications!  And drs. don't know either.  I have learned not to take soy and to not take CA or iron or a multivitamin or coffee w the medication and that mean so breakfast or coffee for an hour or more…..

Some people take the thyroid medication on an empty stomach 2 hrs after supper….. and not w vitamins and such.  I tend to be a night snacker but I could stop that.

I take herbal medications and Clonazepam to help me sleep at night as I am a light sleeper and just don't get sleepy w/o them!  

Do these herbal meds and clonazepam (a benzo) that I take an hr. before bedtime interfere w the Armour absorption if I take the Armour at bedtime?  

If so, should I take the Armour first, wait, then take the sleep meds, or vice versa?  

Any advice on this I would really thank you for!

[gimel]

Great.  Thanks very much.  Just click on my name, and a blue outlined rectangle will show up.  Then in the right top corner area you will see message.  Just click on that and post the info.  

Good thyroid doctors are like discovering gold.  I'll make sure to pass it on to other members in your area.