Problem not absorbing synthroid - need ideas

I am also having trouble with my thyroid meds.  I have had it increased but am still loosing ground. My TSH is up to 66 now and needless to say I feel misserable.  Did you start chewing your thyroid meds and if so did it help?

betterhealth58,   Yes, I do chew my thyroid meds and it has made ALL the difference for me. Also, be sure to take them first thing in the morning.. as soon as you get out of bed. Once I started doing this faithfully I lost 50 lbs in 8 months without changing anything about my diet.  It really, really helped me!  Also, just an FYI about women and thyroid.. most women feel best  (and I can attest that this is true) when their TSH levels are between 2 and 3. Work with your doctor to get your levels down to that level.

I had gastric bypass 4 mos ago.  My first TSH test was just in May and then again in July.  My Dr wants to increase the meds to .2 then check my T4 in 2 weeks.  I'm not optimistic about this but its worth a try.  I had told his nurse about the the chewing but when she called back he hadn't addressed that with her.  Would you mind telling me which medication your'e on and how much?

Hi, I was just checking out this site and came across this post.  I have always put the synthroid under my tongue in the morning and let it disolve.  This way it absorbes through your "skin" and does not pass through your stomach.  I was told that this was the way to take it so that it would be readily absorbed.

I had GB in March 2006. I had total thyroidectomy in August 2006. As of yesterday, the doctor still has not got my thyroid levels to regular. I am currently taking .225mcg of Synthroid. I think it is because of the GB but my doctor disagrees. I take Synthroid in the morning well before meals and I take my vitamins late afternoon, so it does not interfere with the absorbtion, however, something is preventing it from entering into my system. Any suggestions? After reading some of the blogs, I am going to try taking it under my tongue, the pill is sweet like candy. I go for another blood test in February, so I hope this under the tongue tecnique works. Please respond if you have any ideas. Thank you!

I am SOOOO Glad to see this thread!  I am having my thyroid nuked next Friday and someone mentioned to me today that my GB might affect my absorbtion of synthroid.  I appreciate reading all the good advice.

Also, I've been a member of OH for something like six years and this is the first time I've seen the WLS Grads section - I hope I belong here and it's ok to post!  I will have to check, but wanted to say "thanks" either way.  I actually found this thread by Google-ing the subject !

Lisa

It's now 5 years after my initial post.  Here's what has helped me most: 

Synthroid - name brand only. The generic is not effective for me at all. Dr had to write "name brand medically necessary" on the Rx for my insurance to pay it.

I take first thing in the AM. Literally as soon as my feet hit the floor.

I chew the tablets and drink a full glass of water.

No coffee or food for 3 hours (1 hour minimum) 

Don't miss a day!


Once I got all these in place I lost 65 lbs without changing my diet, and my energy has increased tremendously. My hair and nails and skin are healthy again. I feel good!

 Make sure you aren't consuming any calcium of any kind for 2 hours before or after taking the synthroid.

Drinking coffee in the morning stopped my absorbsion.  I had just regulated my medication and was feeling great.  my symptoms were going away and I was starting to lose weight with the same efforts I was putting out before, then all of a sudden, my medication stopped working.  I had never been a coffee or tea drinker, but started, thinking that the caffine would help curb my appetite.  I then found out that caffine can decrease you medication intake by as much as 51%.  I stopped drinking coffee and my symptoms started to disappear.