Thyroid Health Lottery ..

[Elina]

I've come to the conclusion optimum thyroid health is a lottery for most people. Having visited the very informative 'Thyroid U.K. website, there's so many things that can interfere with your chances of medication being successful. I appreciate a doctor will initially check for interactions when first prescribing & that a lot of medicines contained in the link I will shortly post are 'prescribed' .. but some are over the counter that you wouldn't think would do. Firstly drug & chemicals .. http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatment/drugs_chemicals.html

[Elina]

.... & a list of foods that can interact .. http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatment/foods.html

[cazzz1975]

very true it is a lottery, I am not sure if this is relieving but I have spoken to an endocrinologist about goitrogenic foods in the past and he was very dismissive about how much of an effect these foods would have, you would have to eat vast amounts of these foods for it to have an effect. I wonder if a study has ever been done to measure the amounts of goitrogenic foods a person would need to eat to bring about an affect.

I can vouch for PPI's though, My TSH soared after one month of Omeprazole, same has happened with H2 Antagonists like Zantac!

[Elina]

Also, borderline results. I haven't felt great for a while. I have put on half a stone in weight and suffered a period of low mood .. also have 'fog' brain. Doctors aren't happy to alter prescription dose when it's 'borderline'

[Elina]

Hi cazzz, I've noted in the past you understand thyroid results. I can't get my head round them so I never ask for the readings.

[Elina]

Might it be possible cazzz that if you eat these pathogenic foods 'often' enough however small the quantity, it would have adverse effect?

[Elina]

Sorry, predictive text! Goitrogenic.

[Elina]

Also, did anyone know to not take thyroxine with a coffee? Coffee affects the absorbtion! http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2013/02/21/how-does-coffee-affect-thyroid-medicine/

[cazzz1975]

Borderline is a result I would not be happy with on a personal level, I am a bit like a dog with a bone if I am not happy, I cant see why they would not increase you a little, maybe 25mcg just to bring you into mid range, I realise everyone is different but I cant see 25mcg putting you over, I suppose it depends what your results are, maybe cost cutting or just fear of your levels going out of control.

I am a pain in the backside as a patient, I would probably want the exact results and ask for a slight increase to see if it helped my symptoms and have another blood test in 6 weeks to check levels again, my doctors are quite a patient bunch ;)

[cazzz1975]

I eat a lot of those foods regularly and the consultant just said "good!" ;)

[Elina]

I have to go back in July cazzz, being monitored. Can't say I'm happy with it though, especially the weight gain.

[Elina]

I'm inclined to be cautious with the drugs/ food interactions list cazzz as it's a very good website.

[Elina]

I've started leaving taking my thyroxine till an hour after a coffee as advised.

[Sqad]

Drug interaction "may" exist, but in my opinion the incidence is overstated to such an extent that it is verging on paranoia.
If one has an underactive thyroid it is likely that they may well also be a Type 2 diabetic and also hypertensive and these additional disorders need treating.If one looks at the list of drug interactions mentioned in that list given, then BP medication and oral ant-diabetic tablets are on that list.
What do you do? Leave your hypertension and diabetes untreated?

Drug interaction "may " be a factor.......it doesn't mean that it is.

"Borderline hypothyroidism" is a laboratory diagnosis and doesn't necessarily mean that you need thyroid replacement. Many disorders including mental disorders present with the same symptoms as an under-active thyroid.

[Elina]

I'm feeling pretty mental sqad :0? ... and 'Anusol'?? Not that I need it you understand. Thank you for your always informative reply by the way. And cazzs .. a fellow sufferer x

[Elina]

Oops! .. & Sqad ... a fellow sufferer!

[Elina]

By the way Sqad .. are you saying then I'm just naturally foggy & fat? ;0)

[Sqad]

LOL..."foggy?".....that interests me.

[Elina]

Foggy = dozy!