B complex

[haggisplant]

Can anyone recommend a good b complex? I was looking at cytoplan’s B extra

I’m taking zinc and magnesium and vit d separately. Iron when I can. I have some folate too.

[LiliAmsterdam]

why do you have a vitamin B deficiency? be careful of taking vit B when you arent deficient. I know everyone on here are promoting taking vitamins but not all vitamins are harmless if you take too many. I saw a patient during my Neurology rotation that follwed adivce from a hollictic medical person and took vitamins for years. She had vit B6 toxicity that caused irriversible peripheral neuropathy

[haggisplant in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

Mainly as I’m breastfeeding and the one from boots is unavailable! It’s basically a b complex.

The b6 at 10mg is within safe limits I believe. I don’t remember every day anyway! B6 and magnesium have been very helpful for peri menopause symptoms as I’m 43.

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to haggisplant]

Good! Awww how’s the babs doing? I am having my thyroid removed so I can start a family in the next year.

[haggisplant in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

He’s actually 28 months... yes still breastfeeding!

And as it stops me menstruating very easily I’m seed cycling and taking some supplements to help balance hormones. Which works! B6, Folate and magnesium and calcium especially. It’s been hard though as has affected thyroxine dosage (the fluctuating hormones.)

Good Luck with starting your family!

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to haggisplant]

Your body, your baby your choice my dear! No need to say anything about it! I hope your thyroid hormones gets more balanced soon! Enjoy your bubs (they always stay your baby!) I’m 33 and my mom still calls me het baby!

[Lora7again in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

Why are you having your thyroid removed if you don't mind me asking?

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to Lora7again]

I don't mind you asking at all! My thyroid still isn't under control and my medication can't be increased anymore (I'm on the max dose at 90mg and I'm only 5ft4). My thyroid just grows larger and more active every time my dose was increased. The medication side effects are also starting to take it's toll. On my current dose I am not allowed to have a baby as it's too toxic and will garanteed cause congenital defects (heart, urinary system and brain).

As I want to start a family relatively soon radioactive iodine isn't the best option as one dose often isn't enough. After the first dose you have to wait 6 months until the full effects are seen then you have to have it again then you're a year later and you still can't have a baby yet....

With surgery I can stop the anti-thyroid medication and don't have to wait until the radioactive part of the radioactive iodine completely becomes harmless to an unborn foetus. The other problem is becoming pregnant is also a massive trigger for Graves and Graves is far worse when you're pregnant then when you're hypo. Of course you need a good amount of T3 and 4 for the baby's brain/nervous system development but it's much easier to supplement T3 and T4 then to blocking too high T3 and T4.

[Lora7again in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

I would put this on your profile page so people know your history. A lot of people struggle after they have had their thryoid removed to get their levels right. I would have a look at Elaine Moore's site it is full of useful information.

elaine-moore.com/

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to Lora7again]

yeah I know the risks. 7 months is more then enough. Sure I can continue for another year, childless only to have a relapse and need the surgery anyway.

But honestly at 33 I also want a healthy, happy baby. Sure other people have healthy babies with Graves but my whole profile and the non-responsiveness to the anti-thyroid drugs unfortunately makes the prognosis for having a relapse during pregnancy too high. If I relapsed while pregnant the only option would be surgery. I don't want to take that risk. At the dose of AT I am at right now I could never safely have a child.

Luckily we live in the 20th century where we have the right to choose. I actually know a few people that have had thyroidectomies. 3 out of the 4 ladies are super happy and are living happy, successful lives. The fourth is a bit more tired but still not super unhappy (she had thyroid cancer though so she had no choice and had to have a thyroidectomy). With the amount of meds available I am sure I will find a combination. My insurance covers most of the medications, even T3. But even if it doesn't I am happy to pay whatever.

[Lora7again in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

It is good to hear some positive stories about women who have had their thyroid removed. Over the last 10 years I have only come across women who are struggling to get the right treatment. Good luck and I hope everything goes well for you.

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to Lora7again]

it is important to note on the internet it is often the unhappy people that join chat/ support groups. I have come across plenty of hypo patients that are very happy with their treatment. I will report back and will keep everyone updated! Maybe I am one of the unlucky ones, or maybe not!

[Lora7again in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

I wouldn't call them unhappy myself I would call them ill and wanting help to feel well again. This isn't really a chat site it is a support site for people with thyroid disease.

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to Lora7again]

yes I understand. It is often the case though. It's a very well known confounding variable in research for instance that if you ask a bunch of people questions, the people that respond aren't very representible of the population as a whole. Support groups are often scewed in that way too. I know it's a support group, I wasn't trying to be demeaning.

I also joined this group to get support and see what people are doing to feel better. After I was diagnosed I slept for 3months straight I was so tired (for me corona came at just the right time. I had to take 160mg of propranolol just to have a heart rate of 90 while I slept. Initially I was still busy in med school so sometimes I would have to see a patient and I would get nauseous from such a high heart rate out of nowhere. I was so glad when I was diagnosed as I thought I was losing my marbles. I nearly failed one of my modules, even burst out crying once in full blown few of a surgeon! (Some specialities are more forgiving then others). I understand feeling miserable.

I am unhappy, miserable and have been getting shitty grades, feeling very dumb and useless.

[Lora7again in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

Are you a doctor?

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to Lora7again]

Nearly, (I have a PhD in medicine but I did that the wrong way around- hence why I am a mature student). I have a 6 months left before I am a junior doctor (in Dutch, basisarts)

[Lora7again in reply to LiliAmsterdam]

I think you will find that sites like these are full of people wanting help and advice because they are not getting it from their doctor. I myself went 2 years of being fobbed off and being told my blood results were normal when infact I had a suppressed TSH. After 2 years of no treatment I looked dreadful I had a balding head, some of my nails had dropped off and I was very thin. Usually people who are doing well and are getting the correct treatment don't need a support site. I myself didn't log into some of my thyroid sites for several years because I didn't need any help because I felt well. I do realise a lot of people do well after having their thyroid removed but you rarely come across them on sites like these unfortunately.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

haggisplant

Which B Extra - Super B Extra or Multi B Extra?

No to the Super B Extra, it contains iodine and we don't want to supplement with that unless we've tested and know we have a deficiency.

The Multi B Extra has only 1 mcg B12, which is fine if you have a good B12 level, but wont do anything if you need to boost a low B12 level. The B6 is 2mg which is well within the upper limit for regular daily use (it's recommended no more than 10mg when taking B6 regularly).

Have you recently tested your nutrient levels?

[haggisplant in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, no I haven’t. I always used to take berocca before pregnancy so I suppose I’m used to taking a b vit. I’ve been unhappy with a multi vit for a while.

The multi b looks quite reasonable. It’s advisable to take 10 mg for perimenopause issues but I could add half a b6 tablet. I don’t think b12 is an issue in me; I was tested a year ago.

[haggisplant in reply to haggisplant]

Susie, just seen this in boots and I think it’s quite good? Would prefer the natural b6 though.

boots.com/together-b-comple...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to haggisplant]

haggisplant

It looks OK. I tried a wholefood based B Complex once and my folate dropped quite a lot so I went back to my usual Thorne Basic B. I've run out today and come to buy some more and it's gone mega expensive. I've ordered Igennus Super B instead (another one recommended here) and that contains the better form of B6 like Thorne - the p5p version - at a dose of 10mg per 1 x tablet.

[haggisplant in reply to SeasideSusie]

Gosh Even though it’s folate?

Ok thanks, I’ll muse on it all and compare. I like the cytoplan but will do some costings with the others too!