Yoghurt and thyroxine/NDT

[Spangle15]

I currently take 75mcg thyroxine first thing along with half grain of NDT and then another half grain at midday. Changed from T4/T3 a couple of months ago.

My last bloods were good with T4 at 21 (range 12-22) and T3 at 5.8 (3.5-6.1), And for the week prior to the tests, I felt better than I had done in years. But since then I have started to feel bad again, in particular fatigue and dry eyes. I have to take calcium supplements because my calcium is below range, and I have low bone density. It’s tricky because I can only take the supplement with my evening meal due to T4/NDT timings. The same blood test showed my calcium levels are still low, I can’t and don’t want to increase my calcium supplement so I decided to start having yoghurt at breakfast. I am now wondering if this is why I am feeling so tired again. Can calcium in food form also impact T4 absorption? I don’t eat for an hour after taking my meds.

Thank you for any advice.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Spangle15

Can calcium in food form also impact T4 absorption?

These two articles say yes:

drugs.com/medical-answers/l...

endocrine.org/news-and-advo...

I have cereal with milk for breakfast but I take my thyroid meds around 4-5am normally so that's usually at least 4 hours away from my breakfast.

[Spangle15 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thanks SeasideSusie, getting timings sorted if everything is so tricky.

[Imaaan]

During my 20 plus yrs of being hypo, I've always included dairy in my breakfast in the form of milk, kefir or yogurt. The last few yrs, I've been drinking only goat kefir. I've always waited an hour before consuming breakfast and it's never impacted my thyroid levels.

I frequently eat sardines and salmon with the bones and they are a good source of calcium

[Spangle15 in reply to Imaaan]

Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When was vitamin D last tested

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Vitamin D needs testing twice a year when supplementing

Low calcium levels are linked to low vitamin D

Are you currently taking any magnesium supplements?

Important to regularly retest folate, ferritin and B12 as well

[Spangle15 in reply to SlowDragon]

My vitamin D levels are top of range and I have them tested regularly. They have been good for years now as I supplement.

I was taking magnesium but I’m now not sure if they are impacted negatively on my calcium levels so I’m going to test that theory.

Also get others tested. I might ask advice on folate because the GP did it without me asking last month.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So if you have good vitamin D and are eating reasonable amounts calcium rich foods your low calcium levels should be investigated

Do you eat broccoli,, dairy, fish

healthline.com/nutrition/15...

Have you had parathyroid glands removed

Been tested for hypo parathyroidism?

yourhormones.info/endocrine...

[Spangle15 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I eat all those food. I did have parathyroid surgery but my remaining parathyroid glands are working because my pth is actually high. So I don’t have hypo parathyroidism. I think I actually have secondary hyperparathyroidism but my endo doesn’t seem interested in establishing the underlying cause.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Spangle15]

Suggest you download the calcium pro app

calciumpro.com

Get vitamin D, calcium and Pth tested together

Put results in the app

[Spangle15 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon.

[meme in reply to Spangle15]

My understanding is that if you have secondary HPT you would be very ill with what ever is causing the HPT.

It’s quite common to need more that one operation to remove the HPT glands.

Most people have 4 glands but some have one or two more which can hide in the upper body.

Your Endo/ Dr needs to test calcium , Vitsmin D and PTH from the same blood draw as your PTH is high. It seems you still have HPT.

How long ago was your OP?

[Spangle15 in reply to meme]

Hi. Thank you for replying. My endocrinologist is testing calcium, vitamin D and PTH every time I have a thyroid test.

My op was 4 or 5 years ago, I can't remember exactly. They thought I had one parathyroid tumour but found 2 during surgery.

It is weird because with primary hyperparathyroidism, it is very unlikely I would have low calcium. It does seem as though I am not absorbing it properly, but I spoke to my endocrinologist on Saturday and he said we have already tested for everything that might cause it, and as you say if it was something serious then I would be very unwell.