iron pills and being hypothyroid

[boomerang2007]

i have started taking iron pills at night before bed.  my question is, how long does it take before th iron starts working?  i need energy.. im tired of being tired and i know im not the only one. but i do feel alone.  this hypo has made me fat, exhausted, my hair is falling out, i am moody all the time, i cant focus or concentrate on anything, my eyes are out of wack (meaning i dont see well at all), i dont understand any of this... the anxiety takes over sometimes and i cant stand myself at all. i see all these people in my life enjoying their lives and being happy and entergetic and all i can do is be jealous and sit and cry....  WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME????  what have i done to deserve all this? im seeing my family dr monday and i will discuss this with him first. then in april i will see my endo...   he promised me a better life by saying i would feel better after starting synthroid, HE LIED!!!!!!   sorry this was so long. i need to just vent sometimes..

[boomerang2007]

im sorry i was emotional,  i dont know why i am.  i decided to take iron at night because i take other meds during the day. and i dont want to NOT get the full effect from them.  besides synthroid i take celexa, prevacid, and bystolic. i take them over the course of the day. and sometimes i take allergy meds and antibiotics. anyway that is why i take the iron at night. and its starting to work just a bit, i have a little more energy.  

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

Is there any difference for taking Iron pills at any particular time of day?  Example, bed time as opposed to four hours before bed?  The only thing I know is that we should wait four hours before taking Iron supplements after taking Synthroid or Levothroxin.  Reason for asking, I'm in a similar situation as the original poster, just not quite as bad emotionally (but can relate), however my Iron numbers are very low.

Levothroxine at 7am
65mg Iron at 12pm
65mg Iron at 9pm
Bed at 10pm

  Also take alpha/beta blocker, Ace inhibitor, Statin, Niacin, Vit. D-3, during this span every day as well.  Haven't thought about looking it up if any of these would interfere.

[Barb135]

If I were you, I would make sure that iron is what you need -- in my case, my iron levels are normal, but my b12 levels are off.  There are different kinds of anemia - there's iron deficiency anemia and there's pernicious anemia (b12 deficiency), which both have some of the same symptoms, but require different treatments.  

I've been down all those roads too, and am just now (after almost 3 yrs) getting my b12 and thyroid levels right, so I feel human again........

[beauxdog2]

I had my thyroid removed oct 2007 --- after many treatments and many different levothyroxine levels --- I am feeling normal again --- My doc and pharm advised that different manufactors make a different reaction to different people ---  I had to go to several different pharms before I finally found the one manufactor and level (.175) that makes me work ---  I have been there - been anemic and been frustrated --- give it time (I know that's not what you want to hear) however it does get better!

[Barb135]

It takes about 5-6 weeks to get the full effect of thyroid med.  You could start seeing some minor changes before that, but don't forget hypothyroidism is an illness and that it may take a while for your body to heal and actually become well again.  I was diagnosed almost 2 yrs ago and just in the past few weeks have I been feeling really better.

I think you should ask your endo to test for FT3 and FT4 and if he refuses, you might want to think about getting a different doctor.

[boomerang2007]

i am on .125 of synthroid (for 3 1/2 weeks now), and i have been anemic for a really long time (hence the iron).  i will ask my doc about b12 and all.  my last tsh levels were 8.19 (3 1/2 weeks ago). that's the only thing my endo checked.  

[Barb135]

Did your doctor tell you to take iron or did you do it on your own?  That may not be what you need.  Have you had your vitamin B12 levels checked?

I have pernicious anemia (vitamin b12 deficiency, in which the stomach doesn't absorb the b12 I eat), which causes extreme lack of energy, along with other symptoms.  I'm on b12 shots every 2 weeks and it does wonders for my energy levels.  The shots took approx 2 months for me to feel much of a difference.  Now if I forget to take one -- I know it almost immediately............

If you don't need the iron, it can make matters worse.........

Aside from that, I agree with Sally -- you need to get your thyroid hormone levels to the optimal level "for you"...........

How long have you been on the thyroid med?  What dosage and what were your lab results, including reference ranges?  

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

you will feel better once you are properly treated and your levels are optimal.  BUT it takes some time.  Your doctor didn't lie.  He is correct.  YOu need to be patient.  THis is a process....... considering it takes 4 - 6 weeks to get levels stable after each dose change, you can see it will take some months to get things optimised.

What dose of levothyroxine are you on?  What are your levels TSH, FT3 and FT4 (with ranges)?  Your FT3 and FT4 need to be optimal.  For most people FT4 needs to be mid range or higher, and FT3 needs to be in the upper half.

If you can't get your levels right with levothyroxine then need to look either at adding in a T3 drug or trying a natural thyroid drug.

The iron should help, I guess it will take a few days for that.  Did they also check B12 and Vit D.  Both of these are also critical for feeling well.  Maybe your family doctor can help check these.