Thyroid medication

[FlowerGalTX]

I always had "normal" thyroid levels even when I had every textbook hypothryoid symptom in the book AND my levels were still in "normal" range even when I had thyroid cancer. I never had an abnormal reading until after I had my entire thryoid removed.

I have been fortunate to have doctors who treat me like the intelligent gal I am and LISTEN.

I've been on Armour thyroid since a partial thryoidectomy to remove cold nodules on the left side in 2005. November 2010 I had gall bladder surgery that I simply could not "bounce back" from and in March after some tests and we realized that there were now nodules on the right side of my thyroid I had surgery which would turn out to be a blessing because I had Stage 1 papillary thyroid cancer and microcarcinoma cells that were medullary cancer-like or had the beginning characteristics of medullary thyroid cancer.

Had I not insisted that doctors listen to me about my family history of thyroid issues and thyroid cancer, my story today would be very different.
If something "feels" off insist on more tests. For me "normal" was never really normal for me.

[hansieclarke]

If you are taking your thyroid medication properly, here are some guidelines to help:
1. Always check the prescription against what you receive. Don't allow generic substitutions.
2. Most doctors feel that taking thyroid hormone on an empty stomach allows for maximum absorption.
3. Many practitioners advise that you allow at least one hour before eating, because it allows for maximum absorption.
4. Be consistent about a high-fiber diet. If you start or stop eating high-fiber, get your thyroid rechecked, because it may change your absorption.