Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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Dietary fiber and vegan diet

itecblogger
itecblogger
Before this whole thyroid nightmare, I used to be a part-time vegan. I really like that diet, felt so happy and good (putting thyroid issues aside). Back when I first went on Armour Thyroid in September, I had read that dietary fiber can hurt absorption of med, so I stopped being so vegan and getting so much fiber. I'm finally at a really good spot (knock on wood!!!) with my meds after 4 months and I'd really like to go back to part-time veganism (which will bump up fiber again). I'm scared it's going to hurt med absorption. Does anybody else notice a change with this or pay attention to fiber intake? Thanks
cd3764
cd3764
Happy to hear you're already in a good place with your meds after only 4 months! It usually takes people much longer so it sounds like your doctor is doing things right (and your body is cooperating :)

The thing with dietary fiber intake and success with thyroid treatment is to maintain the same level of intake from day-to-day.

I get about 35-40 grams of fiber daily....it doesn't affect my T3 meds but, to play things safe with my T4 meds, I make sure I don't have high-fiber foods within 4 hours of the time I take my T4 (usually around 11 PM)
keeska
keeska
cd gives good advice. If you can take your thyroid meds in the middle of the night and go back to sleep, the meds are better absorbed. I usually have to get up at night to pee anyway, so that's not a problem for me.

As stingy as docs can be with the thyroid meds they prescribe for you, you need to do everything you can to maximize absorption.

I hope this helps.
itecblogger
itecblogger
I like taking my meds around 7am because I feel like there is a bump of energy that helps me get through the day starting shortly after they are absorbed. Don't want to waste the bump for the night and would find it hard to make it to the afternoon pill.

I fooled around with this yesterday eating more fiber than normal for breakfast and lunch. I don't think the afternoon pill absorbed as well as normal because I didn't feel very good when normally I do.
keeska
keeska
I guess everyone's different. My endo tells her thyroid patients to set their alarm for 3AM, take their meds, then go back to sleep so their stomach is sure to be empty. She said the thyroid hormone binds to foods in the gut, so if the stomach isn't empty for 4 hours before and 4 hours after I take my meds, I won't get the full benefit of the meds.

Since I've been taking them in the middle of the night, my dry, scratchy eyes have not bothered me. It was so bad, waking me up at least every hour to use eye drops. Very painful.

I'm glad you're feeling better after only 4 months. It took me 18 months. But then I had my thyroid removed, so I didn't have any thyroid hormones added by my own body.

My younger son is vegan, but he doesn't like vegetables. Go figure.