Vitamin/Supplement Question

[susansmk]

Forgive me for reposting, but I didn't get an answer in the PCOS forum, so I thought I'd try here:

I was diagnosed last week with PCOS and put on met for IR. A couple months prior, I was diagnosed hypothyroid and put on Synthroid. Daily medications are totally new to me, as these are two of three long-term medications I've ever been put on.

After reading about the benefits of green tea and weight loss, I thought I'd add that to my regimine. Then I read that the fluoride in green tea is bad if you're hypothyroid, so I shouldn't drink it. Then I was reading about the benefits of L-Carnitine, but hypothyroid and IR people shouldn't take it.

I'm lost here. First off, what multivitamin do those of you who have hypothyroidism and PCOS take? Second, do you take any supplements to aid in your weight-loss efforts? I'm so paranoid I'll do something to screw up the effectiveness of the medications or worsen the condition that I've stopped taking even a multivitamin.

[mbs]

I don't have an answer for all your questions however, I would say that you should drink teas with care. I can only speak for what I have read and my own experiences but my 2-4cups of green tea and flaxseed oil supplements where killing me! I am still under going testing but in the last two weeks since I have stop those to idea I see a 100% improvement in my memory, attention spam and general over all better health. My temp is still very low so things are still not right but I am on my way. Best of luck....I also take a B50 recommended by my neuro.mb

[Nancy LC]

Frankly, I think people obsess a little too much sometimes. Ideally, if you're taking something that interferes with your thyroid, you just raise your dose of thyroid. I take my thyroid meds in the morning/nood and my vitamins at night to make them less likely to interfere with one another.

What I'd be *more* concerned about is taking a synthetic T4 like synthroid. Frankly, it just doesn't work all that well for a lot of people.

[susansmk]

What I'd be *more* concerned about is taking a synthetic T4 like synthroid. Frankly, it just doesn't work all that well for a lot of people.That's interesting to me...I've been on it 2 1/2 months now, and I still don't entirely understand what my numbers should be. I've been completely overwhelmed by this.

I've suspected hypothyroidism for a long time, had two "borderline, but not hypo" tests, and finally got the diagnosis. Doc called last week and said I'm still not where I should be, so he increased my dosage. My temp is still not normal, though it's better than it has been (97ish up from 95-96ish). I feel a little better, but not as much as I'd hoped.

If Synthroid is a no-no, what's best? And why is Synthroid bad - just not as effective as others?

[Nancy LC]

I think the FAQ goes into that a bit, there's certainly some links there that can give you a lot of info.

But for lots of people, they don't convert the syntethic T4 into Free T3, which is the stuff that makes your metabolism go. T4 doesn't have much functionality on its own.

I just saw a doctor who believes synthetic hormones, of any sort, are inferior to natural hormones. There are natural thyroid hormones available, but you really have to hunt to find a doctor who will prescribe them.