Hello and welcome – We’re not doctors here, just fellow patients, but here are a few thoughts. First, it’s important to make sure that you are being consistent with taking the meds and with following the time restrictions regarding food and supplements to ensure maximum absorption. The general rule is to take the pills first thing in the a.m. and then wait 30 minutes (60 minutes is better) to have breakfast. Also, calcium/iron supplements should be taken 4 hours apart from Synthroid, to make sure the supplements don’t interfere with absorption.
I don’t know if you have tried alternating doses every other day, but some patients find that their “sweet spot” of medication is somewhere in between the commercially available doses. Also, keep in mind that it takes several weeks to know if a particular dose is right for you, so making changes too soon can also make it more difficult to stabilize.
Another issue you might discuss with your doc is that there is also a new drug on the market called Tirosint that is the same active ingredient as Synthroid, but it comes in liquid form. The *theory* is that absorption should be more consistent with a liquid tab. However, this is so new that I haven’t spoken to any patients who have tried this…and our medical team hasn’t weighed in on this product.
Finally, a study came out a while ago suggesting that some patients might do better by taking their replacement hormone at night, rather than in the morning. The idea is that because metabolism slows down at night, more of the drug is actually absorbed into the system.
Again, I’m a patient, not a doctor (and I’m taking Anti-Thyroid Drugs, not replacement hormone), but these are just a few things to discuss with your own doc.
Definitely keep fighting until you find a doctor who will work with you and get you back on the road to good health!
