Help!!! Please. Trying to work out when to take split dose along with food and other tablets.

[Everdean]

I've tried doing my own research but now I'm totally confused and stressed over trying to incorporate another dose of thyroid meds in the day.

Up to now I've taken my NDT at 7am and water an hour before caffeine and food and 4 hrs before half of my vitamins and paracetamol for fibro. I wanted to try a very small amount of t3 later in the day as I thought I might b able to tolerate an inc. later in the day. But!!! When I try and work out when I can take calcium, protein, iron, paracetamol and more, along with foods containing these things I'm totally bamboozled.

I can't take before bed after a 4hr fast as I can't sleep if I'm hungry. Also I need to take paracetamol for fibro before sleep.

I can't eat large meals all at once so I usually have smaller meals throughout the day and evening to keep my calorie intake up. I'm not overweight.

Breakfast isn't easy either as I can't tolerate eggs or dairy.

Please !!!!! Anyone who has a better brain than me, can you give me some idea how I can work this out?

Thank you

[greygoose]

You don't need to wait four hours after a meal to take thyroid hormone. Two hours will usually do - especially if you're only having small meals.

However, thyroid hormone is best taken four hours away from calcium, vit D, magnesium and iron (and iron should be taken two hours away from everything else). What time to you have your last meal of the day?

Any particular reason you're taking calcium?

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for that greygoose . I'm taking calcium for osteoporosis. I've been prescribed 2tablets per day but I've been taking just one lately.

My last main meal is usually between 5-7pm depending on what I have to do or how well I am. I go to bed about 9 but sometimes have to get up to eat something because I'm so hungry. What about paracetamol?

Also I read that we shouldn't eat protein, calcium containing foods and drinks such as fortified nut milks. They've also got b12 in. I'm totally stressed out trying to work it all out. I'm desperate to feel better and to be doing everything I can to get the full benefit of the NDT/T3.

[greygoose in reply to Everdean]

OK, so you go to bed early, which complicates things. And, paracetamol should be taken two hours away from thyroid hormone.

But, I think people who fret about protein, calcium, etc in food are being a little over-cautious and just a tad fanatical. The amount of these nutrients found in food is not going to make that much difference after an hour. I take my hormone in the morning. And hour later, I sometimes have cheese for breakfast, sometimes cereal with milk. But, I never feel any difference on those days to the way I feel when I just have toast. Thyroid hormone taken one hour before food or two hours after should be sufficient. Otherwise, we'd never be able to eat anything, would we! lol

If you give a list of everything you take, and the time you have your meals, it should be possible to work out a timetable.

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much greygoose. I'm shattered now so I will try and give a list as soon as I can get my head round it. Thanks again.

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

Forgot to say, calcium is not a cure, nor a treatment for osteoporosis. I think you need to do some research. Or post on the osteoporosis forum on HU for advice:

healthunlocked.com/bonehealth

Calcium supplements are very difficult to absorb and can lead to all sorts of other problems. Did you at least have your calcium tested before supplementing? Do you take vit K2 to help it get into the bones, and not build up in the soft tissues?

Magnesium is actually more important for bones than calcium.

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

Yes I take K2/7. Thanks I will research calcium.my bloods show its high in normal range.

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

My list of suppliments and meds.:-

Vit C

Magnesium

Iron

B complex

5htp

VitD

Selenium

Milkthistle

Prednisolone

Zinc

Fish oil

K2 Mk7

2 3/4 NDT split dose with 5mg T3

First thyroid meds at 7am

Breakfast 8-9:30

Lunch 12-1 ish

Dinner between 5-7pm

Thank you for your help.

[greygoose in reply to Everdean]

The problem is here that your meals are very close together. That doesn't leave much time for taking iron 2 hours away from everything. But, I need more information:

1. Are all the supplements tablets? No soft-gels or sprays?

2. Is there any special time when you need to take your prednisolone? I don't know much about that.

3. Didn't you say you had to take some medication before bed?

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

The fish oils are soft gels.I usually take the Prednisalone in the morning some time .

As for the night time ones it's usually 5htp magnesium zinc because I thought they would help me sleep. But I can change things around if you think it's better.

Thank you.

[greygoose in reply to Everdean]

No, magnesium, zinc and 5htp at night are fine. It's trying to fit the iron and the second dose of NDT in that is difficult.

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

The only consolation is that it's not just me finding it hard.

Thank you for trying greygoose. I really appreciate it. It seems that the iron is the problem too. Maybe I could leave that out for a while . Till I get my T3 incorporated then maybe take that with my morning dose of NDT when my body is used to it. Thanks again.

[Nico101 in reply to Everdean]

Not just you. I tried to split my dose, and I think for the short time I did it that I did feel a little better, but I gave up in the end. I have lots of small meals, too, plus a gazillion supplements. It was just too hard. It was stressing me out, so not worth the hassle.

I've just read a book about bone health and the current consensus is to take both MK4 and 7 - more K2 MK4 seems to be more beneficial than the other way round, according to the book and the studies it refers to. And, as well as D3, vitamin A seems to be highly necessary to the process. Calcium, not so much.

I'm just about to embark on a program of remineralising my bones, as years of prednisone has ruined them. I will be taking some calcium, so I've given up on splitting doses for thyroid meds.

[Everdean in reply to Nico101]

Yes I may have to take the thyroid meds all together. Nico101.

Thanks for replying as at least I know I'm not on my own with these problems. Thank you.

[greygoose in reply to Everdean]

Yes, I know, it's a problem for a lot of people. I take my T3 all in one go, in the morning. And, I only eat twice a day - breakfast and dinner - so it's easier to fit it all in. I don't think there are enough hours in the day, otherwise.

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

I wish I could cope with just 2 meals a day but I feel faint and dizzy if I don't eat at regular intervals and if I have a large meal I feel really uncomfortable.

Oh well back to the drawing board.

Thank you for all your help. One thing I learnt from looking up about calcium supplements was that they can cause colon polyps. And thats what I get and have to have a colonoscopy every 18 months. So I've stopped taking them.

So thank you for getting me to check. I really appreciate it.

[greygoose in reply to Everdean]

Glad to be of help. Sorry I couldn't work out a timetable for you, though. I hadn't heard that about the polyps before, so I've learnt something new, too! And, another good reason not to take calcium.

I can't cope with more than two meals a day, normally. Although they're not large meals. If I eat breakfast, I can't eat lunch. So, if I'm going out for lunch, I don't have breakfast. I just don't have much appetite. And, I agree, it's horrible to feel too full!

[Everdean in reply to greygoose]

Could I ask one more thing please? With the iron, is that two hours away from food and thyroid meds?

[greygoose in reply to Everdean]

It two hours away from everything except vit C - food and all other supplements. It's four hours away from thyroid hormone.