Breakfast

[GirlWonder]

"Breakfast" is quickly becoming a bad word to me. I just got diagnosed, and I know there are restrictions around what you can eat because certain things affect absorption. The problem is, there is a lot of conflicting data out there, and no real solutions that I can find.

I know you can't have calcium or iron supplements within 4 hours of taking levothyroxine. Some information states this applies to foods containing iron and calcium as well, which includes eggs, milk, meats, cereals....basically everything you would ever consider eating for breakfast. Some websites say it is only milk in coffee that affects absorption others claim it is coffee itself. Dietary fiber is another issue...you're supposed to wait four hours. So even "thyroid-friendly" breakfast foods I've found online like muesli won't work because they have dietary fiber.

Taking the meds at night isn't an option for me...my night schedule is more erratic, and I can't guarantee my stomach would be empty, so morning works best. But...I am going to have a hard time getting on a healthy diet and exercise routine if I can't eat anything until noon. I just can't find anything online that offers a solution? I read something about Egg Beaters instead of eggs, but those still have iron and calcium. Most fruits have iron, calcium AND fiber.

I used to either eat eggs or drink a protein shake, but obviously those are out.  

Does anyone have any ideas for breakfast foods that have worked for them? It seems like the alternative is to just eat what you want and have them up the dose, but I'm not historically a pill person, and don't really want to take any more of this stuff than absolutely necessary.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[MrsJones712]

Oh, thanks!  I usually don't have anything during the first half hour, but that's good to know!

[LazyMoose]

The key is at least one half hour minimal before anything but water. Coffee and juice will effect the absorbency of thyroid med in the stomach.

If someone does this all the time , then they are continually but consistently lowering the amount of usable hormone that goes into their blood stream. But if someone is consistent that will reflect in the amount of thyroid med need per the lab tests.

So if you suddenly and consistently stopped coffee or anything else but water in the 1/2 hour time frame, you will to some extent raise your thyroxine levels in your blood, thus a 'free T4' lab test will show this 6 weeks later, and you could feel a little hyper.

[MrsJones712]

I just wait half an hour after my thyroid in the morning, before I have anything with calcium (e.g., cereal), but I may have juice or coffee while I wait.  I've been on it for years and years this way, always fine.

[LazyMoose]

You really dont need to space the time 4 hours! Unless you like waking at 3. One hour is sufficient to wait for food before thyroid med. The key is to be consistent.

Some people even take a T4 med before bed - those that don't snack before sleep. Since T4 is the storage hormone, it builds in the body, and does not directly affect you the same or the next day, unlike a T3 med. More info on the thyroid forum.

[GirlWonder]

Thanks, Jen...good advice. I took it, and now I wake up at 3 am to take meds, then go back to bed until about 6. By the time I'm done getting ready, it's 7 and I'm in the clear. I am getting used to it...my husband is not.  :)

Take care!

[JenB12]

Hi,

Don't skip breakfast.

I just usually wait 30 mins to an hour after taking the levothyroxine before I eat.  The reason why no iron etc. is that it can block some absorption of the hormone. It doesn't take long though for it to absorb from what I've been told. The rules my Dr. and Pharmacists gave me were wait at least 30 mins after taking it to eat, and 1 hour before drinking or eating anything acidic like orange juice. Aside from that you should be fine. If you are really worried take all your vitamins/supplements in the afternoon. I don't think the content of iron or calcium etc. in food will be an issue.

If you are truly worried then you can do what some others on this site do which is to set your alarm to go off about 1.5 hours before you normally would, take the pill and then go back to sleep again until your normal wake-up time. Might seem like an annoyance but apparently you get used to it quickly.

Personally i've been on Levothyroxine for almost 3 years now and have never had any issues with eating whatever I want 30 mins after taking my pill and my hormone levels have been perfect.  Don't starve yourself in the AM worrying about how much hormone is being absorbed. If you have a bunch of iron one day and as a result a fraction of a mircogram of hormone does not get absorbed it's most likely not going to effect you in anyway.