GENERAL: advice on block and replace

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

After nearly 8 months on PTU (now 100 mg/day, in 3 doses) I'm hypo enough that

my endo agreed to give me some Synthroid, and I'm checking for any advice on

taking it effectively.

I'm on 50 mcg/day (started today with only a half). The endo suggested taking it

on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. I remember people mentioning you

should wait before taking any other meds or vitamins, esp. calcium. Anything

else I should know? (I retest in 2 months unless I ask to come in sooner.)

My FT4 and T3 are in the low-middle range and my TSH is up slightly from 2

months ago, from 2.3 to 2.9. I had my documentation and arguments ready as to

why this is hypo for me (proportional changes in my menstrual cycle for one,

where the more hypo I get the shorter btwn. periods, not to mention being

morose, achey, and sleeping all the time). " Clearly this is hypo for you, " said

the endo (yeah!). I told her I was taking the PTU in 3 doses per this group's

recommendation and she said that, though the half-life in the thyroid is longer

than in the bloodstream (maybe 10 hrs.), " Just keep doing whatever you're

doing. " And she felt my thyroid gland was smaller (wonderful hands-on doc who

actually listens to your heart, feels your throat etc.--I got her listed in Top

Docs and recommend her to the numerous people with thyroid problems I've been

meeting lately). I feel really lucky that my idiot GP steered me to this great

endo.

Thanks for any advice,