Synthroid and Breakfast Concerns

[michelleee71]

Today was my second dose of Synthroid that I ever took.  I came home from the hospital yesterday after a completion thryoidectomy and now I'm thinking about how I should be eating when I go back to work next week.

In the past, it was so easy to just pack a can of Ensure (30% of your daily calcium), grab a yogurt, or take a long "Breakstones Cottage Cheese Double" to eat when I got to work.  These things were so EASY to eat for breakfast!  From what I've read, it seems that these options will be out of the question until 4 hours after taking my new pill due to their calcium.

What other options are out there? I don't think I can eat eggs every morning to avoid the calcium, but I do need a fairly substantial breakfast to function well.  Are these foods things that I should avoid until lunchtime now, or is it an amount of calcium that won't do any harm in terms of absorption?  Do I even have the option of eating cereal with milk in it anymore before I leave for work?

Although I have no problem waking up to take medicine and waiting an hour to eat while I get ready for work, I'm starting to panic a little about how I will handle my breakfasts.  Any suggestions would be welcome!  Thank you!

[Barb135]

You've attached to a very old thread and most of the previous posters are no longer active on the forum.  While I totally agree that soy is a no no, cruciferous veggies are fine to eat if they are cooked and even eating them raw isn't going to do a lot of damage if you aren't eating them at the same time you're taking you're taking your thyroid med, which most of us aren't.  

Additionally, calcium is very necessary for strong bones and teeth... You just shouldn't take calcium supplements at the same time you take your thyroid medication - separate them by, at least, 4 hours.  My doctors recommend that I take calcium supplements (1000 mg/day), along with eating various food that contain calcium in order to prevent osteoporosis and with a regimen of calcium, magnesium and exercise, I have actually rebuilt lost bone.  I just have to space my supplements and certain foods throughout the day.

Taking thyroid med at night is fine for some, but doesn't work for everyone, as some of us have other meds to take at night that also interfere with the thyroid med.

[WindyCat]

@ Roller22 Calm down...youre very high strung.  Anyway, to the original poster (OP): Calcium, soy, cruciferous vegetables, and anything really is bad right before and right after synthroid medication.  Calcium and soy is a no no, im afraid.  I don't eat past 8pm and end up taking my Synthroid at 11pm.  If you can take it before bed, its better. Flourise toothpaste also interferes with Synthroid.  

[Roller22]

Any calcium will block this med. where did you get this info? I'm about to stop reading this blog since most here don't have a clue about the bad advice they are giving out. This is my first time and probably my last! More nerve than brains, find another place to get the attention you seem to require and stop trying to be doctors.

[Roller22]

Where did you get this? It isn't true.

[Barb135]

The little bit of milk that one uses in a bowl of cereal isn't going to hurt anyone.

Soy (in any form) is not recommended for anyone on thyroid medication as it inhibits absorption of thyroid hormone medication.

[summerluvr]

you can still eat your cereal in the morning.  just need to switch out the milk.  I prefer unsweetened almond milk, but you could try any soy, almond, or coconut milk as a sub. I'm a huge coffee addict, so I can't function without my coffee.  I also do the oatmeal thing, or make a dairy free smoothie, or baked goods. I do penut butter sometimes.  

[Barb135]

That's not a given.  I know a lot of people who sweets or fruit, toast (carbs) first thing in the morning and don't have diabetes.  I had an aunt who lived to be 93 yrs old and ate fruit or drank OJ nearly every morning.  She died of breast cancer, but did not have diabetes.  

We're all different and very things happen "across the board".

[ResearchNut]

Anytime you eat fruit first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, whether you have diabetes in the family or not,  you WILL develope diabetes. The worst thing you can do is eat a sweet sugary food (or drink juice) first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.  Research shows that you must have protein first, like a boiled egg etc., BEFORE eating any type of fruit or carbohydrates...  PLEASE, do proper research.

[LazyMoose]

If you dont have a glucose problem, fruit is an easy on the go breakfast. If you work in an office, can you make instant oatmeal in a cup? Really, who has time to cook in the AM during the week?.

You can bring that one hour time frame down to 45 minutes. If you are consistent about this shortened time it will reflect in needing a little more med per day, no big deal - and that will be tested and increased soon since you just started on thy med. The key is consistency. Your med levels are partially based on how you absorb the med. The longer you wait, the more is absorbed. So if you eat within an hour you must try to do so everyday, for the same amount of absorption, not too much, not to little.

[FTB4]

Being on replacement thyroid meds, you should wait an hour after taking medication and do not eat any foods with fiber for four hours prior to or after taking the meds. There is also a list of other foods that screw up your absorption of the medication, like brocolli, cauliflour, soy, You can look them up on line, there are several. Good Luck FTB4