[Thila]

#1018128

I knew what to avoid when I had Graves…too much coffee, too much seafood (iodine), etc. but now I am a little confused since I had a thyroidectomy. I am still hypo after my surgery and my endo is toying around with how much Synthroid I am supposed to be taking.

I was reading articles on vitamins and supplements to take if you are hypothyroid and iodine, selenium, and vitamin E were mentioned numerous times. Well if I have Graves disease with no thyroid (boy is that confusing) then do I still avoid the multi-vitamins with iodine in them? I know iodine was a trigger in the past that made me feel jumpy after I had eaten too much seafood. My endo has added vitamin D to my regimen to help with my low energy level. Thanks in advance and have a great day!

[snelsen]

#1062836

Hi Thila,
I think you have done such a good job figuring out all this stuff. Before you begin to make all kinds of changes to anything, remember that….1. Your thyroid gland is gone now, so the whole subject of iodine and the thyroid gland recedes to being a non-issue. (as you already noted.) 2. You are right on target with your progression after your surgery, and your endo is doing what is exactly right! He will select a Synthroid dose, you will take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with some water. **Wait 4 hours take any supplements. They would interfere with the metabolism of the thyroid hormone Synthroid. To have your labs reflect "where you are" you really need to be sure to be consistent with taking your Synthroid.
I find it helpful to keep the bottle by my bed with a glass of water. The first time I wake up in the early morning, I take it.

Then the waiting, which all of us experinence, BEGINS! We ALL do it! I have " first had Grave’s" " after my surgery, I had frequent labs to establish a good guess on where to begin the Synthroid dose. It was increased a few times, then I felt super good, then had a thyroid lab once a year (I also skipped them now and then, for everything was going fine.) When you get to the "sweet spot"of Synthroid for you, you will be neither hypo or hyper, you will FEEL GOOD AGAIN! Whee. It does take some patience, for you have to wait around two months for the next lab. THe lab results, combined with how you are feeling, ie., noticing if you feel less tired, as you become less hypo because of the synthroid, will govern if the Synthroid dose needs to be increased.

Of course, there are a million other reasons why people (especially women) feel tired, but if we have Graves’ it is reasonable to check labs first.
I am not aware that Vit D will increase your energy, but it sure will help your bones, along with weight bearing excercise.
So check out your questions with your endo as well, but the above has been my experience.
Shirley

We all need iodine, and we get it (as you know) from iodized salt, dairy products, seafood, multi vitamins. The general daily requirement for iodine (called iodide in other forms, same thing) is 150 micrograms. (You should verify this if you are interested, but I remember learning in biochemistry that it amounts to the equivalent of 1 tsp. over a lifetime.)

[Thila]

#1062837

OK. Well I am going to keep on truckin as they say. I am a high school teacher and let me tell you…it is ROUGH the last couple of periods every school day. I keep telling my endo that I need more energy to keep up with my fifteen and sixteen year old students. I become frustrated at times and just about willing to do anything to get my energy levels back. I could kick arse and take names before my surgery. Now I just want to go to sleep on my desk. LOL

I am sure that "this too shall pass." I just want it to pass sooner than later. I was hoping a multi-vitamin or exercise or anything would speed up the process. My endo had me taking 112mcg after the surgery then he upped it to 125mcg. I got a phone call today from the nurse saying that my numbers were nutty again and they reduced it to 100mcg. Sigh. It is always good to hear the opinions and experiences of others because otherwise I would be certifiably crazy!

[Bobbi]

#1062838

Try to keep in mind that while you are hypothyroid — technically, if not literally — you are not hypo in the same way that someone with a full thyroid that doesn’t work is hypothyroid. You no longer need iodine (to make thyroid hormone), but if you ingest it, it is not going to do anything bad to you. Also, while you have had your thyroid surgically removed, you may in fact still have a wee bit of thyroid tissue left that would need a bit of iodine to function properly.

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