Starting treatment!: First - thanks to the lovely... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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Starting treatment!

Oatsforlife profile image
12 Replies

First - thanks to the lovely people who helped before!

After a year or so of poor health & trying to get answers, during which I got a Hashimoto diagnosis from histology, I eventually got a TSH & T4 result that triggered Endocrinology reviewing my case & recommendating treatment for hypothyroidism. I don’t know the level of treatment yet & hope to hear from the GP soon!

I’ve been researching to make sure I know what to do & seen that it needs to be taken on an empty stomach & not within 30mins of caffeine and 4hours for calcium? Does that mean any calcium (in oat milk for example) or calcium supplements?

During the last year, I started treatment for high blood pressure, high cholesterol (but stopped because of side effects) and was warned about pre-diabetes. Is it possible that taking thyroid treatment will help with these other issues?

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Oatsforlife profile image
Oatsforlife
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12 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

You'd probably be better off leaving an hour between your levo and breakfast - including coffee. And by that time, a little calcium containing milk shouldn't be a problem. But certainly four hours for calcium supplements - also vit D, iron, magnesium and oestrogen.

There is a strong possibility that taking the right dose of levo with lower your blood pressure and cholesterol - they are both very often hypo symptoms. I don't know about the pre-diabetes though. :)

Calceolaria profile image
Calceolaria in reply togreygoose

Sorry to piggy-back but would that 4hr advice include vit B also? So hard to fit that in ‘in the morning’.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toCalceolaria

B vitamins about 2 hours later is fine

Calceolaria profile image
Calceolaria in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you.

Oatsforlife profile image
Oatsforlife in reply togreygoose

Thank You 😀

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toOatsforlife

You're welcome. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You should see HBA1C reduce

thyroid.org/patient-thyroid...

and cholesterol

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

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...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

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

Oatsforlife profile image
Oatsforlife in reply toSlowDragon

That’s so helpful - thank you 😀

Nitchy23 profile image
Nitchy23

Hi,

I read a thyroid Dr's post recently that said don't take calcium until at least four hours after you take your medication but that it was OK to have some in tea or coffee but don't drink caffeine or eat until 30 minutes to an hour after taking meds anyway. This is what I do and I feel better for it. I eat porridge with water now which is better than it sounds especially when you add fruit or nuts to it but I also take Calcium and Vitamin D3. Best not to take any supplements until four hours have lapsed but B12 can also help you. I'm not sure if treatment can help with diabetes but you may lose weight on Levothyroxine.

Oatsforlife profile image
Oatsforlife

Thank you 🙏 From all I’ve read since posting, there’s a good chance that getting treated reduces blood pressure & cholesterol & possibly the pre-diabetes 😀

Sleepman profile image
Sleepman

My cholesterol and pre diabetes ressolved once thyroid levels sorted. Pre diabetes recently came back with low T4 levels trying to get TSH levels up to satisfy doctor.

Do not know about blood pressure.

Oatsforlife profile image
Oatsforlife in reply toSleepman

Thank you 😀

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