thyroid
WaltMaley
Posts: 1 Member
I take Levothyroxine for a thyroid issue. I take it as soon as I get up in the morning. Then I cant eat anything for an hour. Anybody else have this? How do you go about diet and exercise?
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Replies
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I've been on this for 18 years now. I take it first thing in the morning with 16 oz water, then I eat breakfast around 3 hours later after a run. Other than that I space my meals around workouts, but nothing unusual.
My diary is open.3 -
I've been taking synthroid for almost 30 years.
I'm not naturally hungry first thing in the morning, so it's not much of a problem for me to take it, exercise (a very long brisk walk every morning), and then either have something to eat if I'm hungry, or just make some tea with milk when I'm done.
On days I lift, I space my meals around it because I don't want to lift on either a completely full or completely empty stomach. I lift in the afternoon.
I don't have any special diet, save for the fact that I have celiac disease and need to avoid gluten. I am by choice a vegetarian, but that has nothing to do with my thyroid.1 -
I was diagnosed hypothyroid this year. I often spend the hour after I take my pill walking. I get some exercise in and it helps pass the time.
I have not been instructed by my doctor to follow any special diet or exercise so I just watch my calorie intake and exercise moderately. It seems like for me based on my results that I now need to eat about 100-200 calories less than MFP would recommend. I don't think that is something everyone with a thyroid issue experiences so start with the recommended calories and see how it goes for a few weeks.1 -
levo for 6 years - take around 5am when i wake up - workout or drive to work and eat about 1.5-2hrs later...on mornings of events (marathons etc) - i take it around 2am and then go back to sleep2
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I’m the same, 25 years old and diagnosed with Hashimotos hypothyroid when I was 10 years old. On days I do short runs I just wake up early, drink my pill with a large glass of water and go. I eat breakfast when I get home. On days I’m running 15 miles or more I wake up at 3 am, eat a snack, go back to bed and then wake up at the normal time and take my pill with water. You get used to it, but it has discouraged me from being much of a coffee drinker. By the time im allowed to drink coffee I’m already awake 😒. No special diet here, and I’ve never been over weight.1
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I take my synthroid first thing in the morning. As a pp said, I'm usually not hungry for a while in the morning. I think you'll get used to not eating anything for an hour after taking your pill0
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Same as everyone else. I take it as soon as I get up and by the time I have a walk and get to work I can eat anytime after that. Never a problem and lost weight with no issues.0
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Same, Levothyroxine for around 18 years, various dosage changes along the way, now at 175mcg. Around 3 years ago, I lost weight just like anyone else does: Reduced calorie intake below my demonstrated calorie expenditure.
My diet is pretty much what it's been for decades, just smaller portions and different proportions of some foods. My exercise is pretty much what it was before weight loss, when I was obese (I was already quite active).
My levo-related routine is to weigh myself, take my levo, then go about whatever I need to do to get ready for the day. If I'm going somewhere right away, I eat about the time I leave the house, which gives me an adequate interval. Otherwise, if staying home, I muddle about with chores or stretching or something until it's time to eat. (Unlike some people, I don't do well exercising vigorously before I eat, but that has nothing to do with my thyroid, AFAIK.)0 -
I used to take my levo whilst on nocturnal bathroom visit around just before sunrise because taking on getting up got to be a pain in regards to waiting for breakfast and a coffee (especially the coffee, it's known to have an inhibiting effect on levo absorption). However I seem to be sleeping right through at the moment so I take mine when I go to bed now. Just make sure I have left 2-3 hours after food.0
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I used to take levothyroxine. I think it’s a pretty standard starting drug for hypothyroidism. I still had symptoms on it (brain fog, inability to lose weight, feeling sluggish, fatigue, etc.) so I did some research and talked to my endocrinologist about starting Armour thyroid (which is porcine-derived thyroid replacement hormone and has a better balance of T3 and T4, not just the T4). I felt way better on it and have been on the same dose (90 mg) for maybe 4-5 years now? I actually don’t take it first thing in the morning (I know that’s what they say). I’m always hungry when I wake up and want to eat right away. I take it right before bed. Because of my thyroid (I have Hashimoto’s), I’m gluten free, try to avoid processed soy (soy oil, soy protein, etc.) and try to eat pretty “clean”. I’m far from perfect though. My coffee addiction is real. It’s kind of something you need to explore with trial and error - what works for one person might not work for the next person. The most important thing for me was finding an endocrinologist who believed my symptoms and treated me beyond just looking at my lab values. It took time and patience, that’s for sure.
Great advice regarding the medication, many still have symptoms on levothyroxine. I take Synthroid and Cytomel (T3 & T4) and feel much better now. I also have hashimotos and have never had a doctor tell me to be gluten free.1 -
I used to take levothyroxine. I think it’s a pretty standard starting drug for hypothyroidism. I still had symptoms on it (brain fog, inability to lose weight, feeling sluggish, fatigue, etc.) so I did some research and talked to my endocrinologist about starting Armour thyroid (which is porcine-derived thyroid replacement hormone and has a better balance of T3 and T4, not just the T4). I felt way better on it and have been on the same dose (90 mg) for maybe 4-5 years now? I actually don’t take it first thing in the morning (I know that’s what they say). I’m always hungry when I wake up and want to eat right away. I take it right before bed. Because of my thyroid (I have Hashimoto’s), I’m gluten free, try to avoid processed soy (soy oil, soy protein, etc.) and try to eat pretty “clean”. I’m far from perfect though. My coffee addiction is real. It’s kind of something you need to explore with trial and error - what works for one person might not work for the next person. The most important thing for me was finding an endocrinologist who believed my symptoms and treated me beyond just looking at my lab values. It took time and patience, that’s for sure.
Great advice regarding the medication, many still have symptoms on levothyroxine. I take Synthroid and Cytomel (T3 & T4) and feel much better now. I also have hashimotos and have never had a doctor tell me to be gluten free.
My doctor told me some patients with hashis see an improvement in symptoms when doing gluten and dairy free. I’m already pretty much gluten free due to a wheat germ allergy, wheat is harder to avoid than barley or rye in my experience. And no way am I giving up cheese.
As for meds in the morning I find it easy. I’ve never been a breakfast eater though.2 -
I used to take levothyroxine. I think it’s a pretty standard starting drug for hypothyroidism. I still had symptoms on it (brain fog, inability to lose weight, feeling sluggish, fatigue, etc.) so I did some research and talked to my endocrinologist about starting Armour thyroid (which is porcine-derived thyroid replacement hormone and has a better balance of T3 and T4, not just the T4). I felt way better on it and have been on the same dose (90 mg) for maybe 4-5 years now? I actually don’t take it first thing in the morning (I know that’s what they say). I’m always hungry when I wake up and want to eat right away. I take it right before bed. Because of my thyroid (I have Hashimoto’s), I’m gluten free, try to avoid processed soy (soy oil, soy protein, etc.) and try to eat pretty “clean”. I’m far from perfect though. My coffee addiction is real. It’s kind of something you need to explore with trial and error - what works for one person might not work for the next person. The most important thing for me was finding an endocrinologist who believed my symptoms and treated me beyond just looking at my lab values. It took time and patience, that’s for sure.
Great advice regarding the medication, many still have symptoms on levothyroxine. I take Synthroid and Cytomel (T3 & T4) and feel much better now. I also have hashimotos and have never had a doctor tell me to be gluten free.
I was recently also put on cytomel in addition to my synthroid while still having symptoms at a pretty low normal TSH number (which is where I need to be to feel good). It made me feel much better.
My endo and I have discussed food. She told me I don't need to avoid anything. I do avoid processed soy like tofu because it gives me gastric distress, but I can and do still eat edamame. I'm gluten free because I have celiac, otherwise it would be fine.
I really love my endo.2 -
The only thing any of my endos have told me over years is avoid soy within 4hrs of meds and no calcium supplements within 2-4hrs; if you take any other prescriptions separate them out too4
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try a more natural approach...here is advice from the world's foremost Naturopathic Doctor, Andrew Weil. He has written several books and has appeared on many talk shows including several apperances on the Oprah Winfrey show and the Dr. Oz show...
https://drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/autoimmune-disorders/hypothyroidism/16 -
deannalfisher wrote: »The only thing any of my endos have told me over years is avoid soy within 4hrs of meds and no calcium supplements within 2-4hrs; if you take any other prescriptions separate them out too
Yup same.0 -
Also hypothyroid/Hashimoto's. My thyroid endo (I see a separate one for type 1 diabetes management) has said only one thing about eating, and that's to make sure I have at least 30 minutes between taking it, and having something to eat.
I also used to be horrible about remembering to actually take it, so now the pill bottle lives next to my deodorant. I get up, shower and do all that, put deodorant on, take my Synthroid, and get dressed. I've then got about a 30-minute commute, so I eat at my desk.
I am gluten free, but it's because I'm NCGS/seronegative celiac. Both endos are aware, and have no opinions on it, beyond "If it makes your gut feel better, do it."0 -
I've been taking Levo for almost 2 years now, I take it as soon as I get up. My challenge is waiting to drink coffee! I see where you all are saying to wait one hour before coffee or food? My pharmacist told me 20-30 minutes before drinking coffee or eating. I'll have to ask my doctor (new one) when I go see him next week.0
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I've been taking Levo for almost 2 years now, I take it as soon as I get up. My challenge is waiting to drink coffee! I see where you all are saying to wait one hour before coffee or food? My pharmacist told me 20-30 minutes before drinking coffee or eating. I'll have to ask my doctor (new one) when I go see him next week.
My pill bottle label says to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach and wait 30 minutes to an hour to eat.0 -
I've been taking Levo for almost 2 years now, I take it as soon as I get up. My challenge is waiting to drink coffee! I see where you all are saying to wait one hour before coffee or food? My pharmacist told me 20-30 minutes before drinking coffee or eating. I'll have to ask my doctor (new one) when I go see him next week.
As someone else noted, my instructions also say 30-60 minutes. I don't remember where, but I remember reading someplace that it's important to wait, and important to be generally consistent, the proposition being that your absorption/utilization depends on the time of delay in eating, so waiting a consistent amount is likely to be correlated with maintaining the consistent hormone levels that will affect your body consistently, and show up in your periodic blood tests.
Note well: "This is just something I read". It makes sense to me, but I don't have actual science to back it up.1 -
I've been taking Levo for almost 2 years now, I take it as soon as I get up. My challenge is waiting to drink coffee! I see where you all are saying to wait one hour before coffee or food? My pharmacist told me 20-30 minutes before drinking coffee or eating. I'll have to ask my doctor (new one) when I go see him next week.
I doubt if coffee would have an impact on absorption/uptake as the molecules involved are not comparative. I've done this a few times with no adverse effects. This is more of an issue with solid foods.4 -
Thanks for the positive and informative responses, a consensus is always a good thing.0
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I was diagnosed 2.5 years ago. Bloodwork didn’t show that I have hypothyroidism but I went to a naturopath and he found the issue. I was surprised my bloodwork couldn’t detect it with how under preforming it was. But I’ve heard of this happening. He put me on a natural thyroid supplement with some other supplements and detox thing and changed my diet around and it did wonders. Rather do it the more natural way. But I got off the wagon. So I’m back on to start tracking my eating again.7
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I've been taking Levo for almost 2 years now, I take it as soon as I get up. My challenge is waiting to drink coffee! I see where you all are saying to wait one hour before coffee or food? My pharmacist told me 20-30 minutes before drinking coffee or eating. I'll have to ask my doctor (new one) when I go see him next week.
I doubt if coffee would have an impact on absorption/uptake as the molecules involved are not comparative. I've done this a few times with no adverse effects. This is more of an issue with solid foods.
To those who "woo"-ed this: If "woo" means pseudo-science to you, you should think twice in this case. Three times, even.
Sometimes, on the internet, you're talking to an expert, and you don't even know it. This case? Well . . . .
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I have been on Oroxine (levothyroxine)50mc for over 20 years now and my pharmacist told me to have it going to bed. We eat around 7pm at night and apart from water I dont have anything till breakfast the next morning and it has worked for me.0
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I've been taking Levothyroxine since I was 15 and diagnosed with Hashimoto's (I'm 30 now). I take it at night right before bed. Always have and always will. My levels have always been great! I didn't do this to be a rebel- but I just don't remember it ever being mentioned to me in the first place to specifically take it in the morning ( I was also a teenager so I may have chosen to ignore). I think the main thing is that it's taken on an empty stomach or at least an hour or two before/after eating (could be wrong on this though).
I remember one time asking my dr about it after seeing "take in morning on empty stomach" on the RX bottle- she said "when do you take it now? I said at night before bed" She said it seems to be working totally fine so just keep doing that.
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I have always been told to take my meds an hour before food, COFFEE, and other meds, so as not to affect absorption. I do this despite the fact that I take desiccated thyroid and all the absorbtion studies I have seen have been done with synthetic. But not taking any risks as they have me undertreated anyway. I need every drop my body will absorb.1
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youngmomtaz wrote: »I have always been told to take my meds an hour before food, COFFEE, and other meds, so as not to affect absorption. I do this despite the fact that I take desiccated thyroid and all the absorbtion studies I have seen have been done with synthetic. But not taking any risks as they have me undertreated anyway. I need every drop my body will absorb.
How do you know you are undertreated? Do you have hypo signs? What does your bloodwork indicate? Have you talked to your doc about changing your dose?0 -
I have been on thyroxine for bit over 2 years now since having half my thyroid removed due to a tumour.
By that stage i was already couple of years into weight maitenance - I continued on with my exact same diet and excercise as before.
I take my med as soon as i get up, then have a shower, some computer and wake up time then have coffee and breakfast.2 -
deannalfisher wrote: »youngmomtaz wrote: »I have always been told to take my meds an hour before food, COFFEE, and other meds, so as not to affect absorption. I do this despite the fact that I take desiccated thyroid and all the absorbtion studies I have seen have been done with synthetic. But not taking any risks as they have me undertreated anyway. I need every drop my body will absorb.
How do you know you are undertreated? Do you have hypo signs? What does your bloodwork indicate? Have you talked to your doc about changing your dose?
I do still have hypo symptoms, fewer than before at least, my free t3 is rarely even in the range(below) and free t4 is very low in range. My primary treats based on tsh alone but won’t refer me to an endo or listen at all because my case seems uncomplicated and we have had results. She is the first person in 15 years to actually listen to me and do anything about this an d some other issues including 13 days/month of migraines that we have down to 1 or two now. I do have high hopes that one day she will learn or read something more that prompts her to try and treat more than just tsh.
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