Hi - I no longer have my thyroid and my last bloods were in the normal range. I just bought some multi vitamins which have 100% RDA of iodine from kelp. Is this OK to take??
Thyroxine/iodine: Hi - I no longer have my... - Thyroid UK
Thyroxine/iodine
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Claripops
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No. Iodine should only be taken if you have been tested and found to be deficient. Even then it needs to be carefully monitored.Multivitamins are not partic effective. They often contain very little of what we need and some of things we don't need. The vitamins tend to be of lower quality too
Some vitamins need to be taken separately as they block the uptake of the other. Again this isn't possible with a multi.
Best to get vitamin levels tested and then target deficiencies with single products.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... replies to this post are worth reading re multivitamins.
Thank you, I'll take a look. I'm not treating any known deficiencies with the multivits. I dont have any problems with the amount of thyroxine Ive been prescribed and I am checked every 3-6 months by my consultant. I bought the vits along with joint supplements etc for my age/approaching menopause as wanting to help achey joints, ageing skin/mood and thinning hair etc. I noticed iodine was included and had happened to read something recently about kelp and thyroxine on the NHS website. It doesn't say anything about it on the paperwork with my thyroxine tablets, so thought I'd better check!
Aching joints suggests low vitamin D
Thinning hair often low ferritin
Thank you! I will contact my consultant and see what he advises too and look into having bloods taken to see if I have specific vitamin deficiencies. I really want to take something to help re my hair thinning and dry skin, my main joint issues are in my shoulders (bursitis/frozen shoulder) which I've suffered with for over 2 years (coincidentally since my thyroid removal op but apparently they're not connected!?)...really hoping joint/collagen supplements can help with that!
You will learn on here that low vitamin levels are directly linked to being under medicated and hypothyroid
Being under medicated results in low stomach acid, leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels as direct result…..many medics unaware of gut and thyroid connections
Thousands upon thousands of U.K. members forced to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done privately to make progress
Vast majority of endocrinologists are diabetes specialists
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists
...NHS and Private
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
I already see an endocrinologist privately (he did my partial then full thyroidectomy) and continues to monitor my bloods/medication. I have always trusted his judgment, he's well respected in what he does. I have contacted him as well regarding the vitamins/supplements but await his response.
I appreciate you have confidence in your Endo but am sure others would agree that leaving you with a raised TSH is not the route to wellness or good practice. Also drinking coffee 30 mins after Levo will affect absorption and could explain the high TSH result as mentioned by greygoose Again if you were told this by your consultant I am afraid he is not helping ....
Many of us who have replied to you have been on this forum for many years - reading and sharing experiences. Patient to patient knowledge is invaluable. For good supplement knowledge you can click onto SeasideSusie and read her excellent replies to many 100's of posts on the topic. Testing can be done on-line through the Thyroid UK website
🌻
I think frozen shoulder and hypo are connected. Frozen shoulder is a hypo symptom.
I understand why you're taking a multivit, it would appear logical. But it isn't. More isn't better - ever. And can be dangerous, with things like iodine, calcium, iron and vit D. You should only ever take what you need, menopause or no menopause. Multi-vits are never, ever a good idea. You're just throwing money down the drain.
I have read before that the thyroid and frozen shoulder are linked although my consultant said it isn't....but it's odd I got it a month after my surgery...
I am going to do more research on the vits and supplements. To be honest, it's not something I have ever done, I'm just conscious that my body is changing as I'm getting older and perhaps, as well as a healthy diet, there are other things I can do to help. I feel perfectly fine and don't think my thyroid condition is causing any issues right now. I just don't know what I can/can't take with the thyroxine.
Well, you can't take anything at the same time as the levo. Supplements should be taken at least two hours away from it, and some of them four hours away. But, most things are ok to take otherwise.
as well as a healthy diet, there are other things I can do to help.
When you are hypo, nutritional deficiencies have little to do with how good or bad your diet is. It's more to do with low stomach acid - which most hypos have - making it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients. Which is why we should get tested to find out if we have nutritional deficiencies just how bad they are. But, even if everything is low, a mult-vit is not the way to correct the situation.
I'm afraid doctors know little about hypos symptoms - not even endos - they just don't learn about them in med school. They might know the four most common ones: weight-gain, fatigue, depression and hair-loss. But, they know nothing about the other 300 odd. Nor do they understand that just about anything can be - and probably is - a symptom of low thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is needed by just about every single cell you your body - and that's a lot of cells! So, if thyroid hormone is in short supply, symptoms can pop up just about anywhere in the body. 
I had a frozen shoulder for about 9 months tried everything and nothing helped. I then found out I had an under active thyroid so I put on medication and gradually the frozen shoulder did ease
Cold shoulder definitely is associated with thyroid problems. I once went to a thyroid support group (in someone’s house ...good old pre internet days.!) We asked if people got weird symptoms? EVERYONE had experienced frozen shoulder! It took osteopathy, acupuncture and an increase in thyroxine to fix mine. Another weird one was feeling like you had rubber bands round your wrists!? That was a few decades ago and not had it since. Re vitamins I feel it’s best to get most from diet rather than prop up a multimillion pound industry! (Though I take vitamin D if haven’t spent enough time outdoors). All the best!
My life is now so much better having learnt from this forum. Had TT myself 2016 and even though I am over 70 yrs of age I have never been so well ! I have times when I get so sad at having missed so much life before getting advice from here .
The knowledge here is second to none !
SlowDragonAdministrator
Welcome to the forum
Do you have the actual thyroid results and ranges to add
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription?
Do you always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Multivitamins never recommended on here…far better to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 BEFORE starting on any vitamin supplements
Do you have vitamin results to add?
Hi! I take 125mcg per day. Same time each morning 30 mins before coffee etc. Same brand of thyroxine all the time.
I haven't had any tests re vits. I'm not treating any deficiency - only wanting to tackle getting older/achey joints etc.
🙂
Results
TSH is far too high for someone on levothyroxine, especially for someone after RAI
Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate
Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
gponline.com/endocrinology-...
Replacement therapy with levothyroxine should be initiated in all patients to achieve a TSH level of 0.5-2.0pmol/L.
NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019 clearly state on page 13 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when OPTIMALLY treated with just Levothyroxine
Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking levothyroxine
Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...
Graph showing TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5
web.archive.org/web/2004060...
Aim is to bring a TSH under 2.5
UK guidance suggests aiming for a TSH of 0.5–2.5
Given your results, it would probably be better to wait the full hour before drinking your coffee. You're blocking your absorption of levo and you're still hypo with a TSH over 3. It should come down to around 1, at least.
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning,
delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning.
Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning.
Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Thank you, I will make sure I always leave longer until I have my coffee. I'll also take any other supplements in the evening so they are far apart from the thyroxine. I appreciate your time responding, I have a lot to read and speak to my consultant about.
Some of the B supplements can be stimulating so best taken in the day rather than the evening. Which brand of multi-vit are you taking ?
SlowDragonAdministrator
Low vitamin levels likely when under medicated
Being under treated frequently causes low stomach acid, this leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels as direct result
Ft4 is only 61% through range
No Ft3 result…..the most important result
Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
SlowDragonAdministrator
Examples of test results
Medichecks
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Blue horizon
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Thriva
Hello Claripops and welcome to the forum :
The fact that you have posted on here means you have some questions about your treatment and recovery from having had a thyroidectomy.
I too haven't a thyroid but I had RAI thyroid ablation for Graves Disease in 2005 and became unwell around 8 years later and found myself on here, looking for answers, but didn't feel I could write anything for over a year and just kept reading of other peoples situations.
There is a general thread running throughout and that is that " normal " is not optimal :
It is " not normal " not to have a thyroid - and if you haven't a fully functioning working thyroid you need optimal levels of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D in order to help in the conversion of T4 Levothyroxine.
T4 is inert and a storage hormone and your body needs to convert the T4 into T3 which is the active hormone that runs the body and gives you your wellness.
Your T3 and T4 need to be balanced within the ranges at around a 1/4 ratio - T3/ T4 for wellness.
If you go into the Thyroid uk website, who are the charity who support this forum you will find a list of symptoms for hypothyroidism and for hyperthyroidism and it can get a little confusing as some symptoms can be experienced when either under or over medicated.
Too low a level of T3 for you and you will have symptoms of hypothyroidism just as too high a level of T3 for you and you will have symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
You might like to read a book : Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy is written by a doctor Barry Durrant-Peatfield for patients and so relatively easy read and so relevant whether one has a thyroid or not.
If your surgery was for Graves Disease can I suggest the Elaine Moore Graves Disease Foundation website so to read around this poorly understood and badly treated auto immune disease.
I didn't come on with a problem, merely to see if it was OK to take a multivitan with my meds. I am left feeling like to DO have a problem though!!
Well, I'm sorry about that as that's not what we are all about.
So, as already written multi vitamins are not recommended as generally speaking it's better to take vitamins and minerals independently and monitor your progress where your are deficient and adjust each accordingly.
If you read on here a bit you'll see that it's " a given " that some counter the effect of others, and need to be spaced out in the day for optimal benefit.
Also to benefit best, top graded supplements should be taken rather than assorted batches of less potent mixes.
I have only been on this forum a few months however I have found the information and support invaluable . Without the advice from the members I would be at a loss. I am still struggling with my thyroid issues but there have been improvements since following the advice on here. It is an ongoing journey and sadly endocrinologist no matter how good they seem offer the same solutions which do not address the issues related such as deficiencies etc.You may have felt poorly and got used to the feeling that way however you can make improvements if you follow the advice on here. It is not an easy fix it will take time but this is the place for support and help. Stick with it it can be unnerving realising doctor does not always know best. The members here have your best interests and health at heart.
Hi Claripops, I am assuming you are on thyroxine? I was born with only a partial non working gland, so no function at all. Later in life, I developed a B12 deficiency, pernicious anaemia and vitamin D deficiency, so am on medication and B12 shots for these conditions for life. They are often linked to a thyroid condition and have similar symptoms. If you have fatigue and or aching joints, then you need to have your folate and ferritin levels checked to see if you need supplementation. Most of our vitamins should come from good food. In the last year, I have been following a Keto lifestyle and it has helped me no end. Hope this helps.
How can your bloods be 'normal' without a thyroid ?
Hi Claripops, in my experience aching joints, frozen shoulder, a TSH higher than 2 when on hormone replacment and midrange FT4 mean you are undermedicate but you don't need any more Levo. You need T3 instead!!!
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