Please help! Pregnant and stressing out!

[Joyful76]

It says on the bottle to not take calcium or iron within 4 hours of taking synthroid.
I take mine in the morning. I like to eat grits and eggs for breakfast but the grits have a lot of iron added and calcium carbonate.

I am really stressing out because I didn't realize this until after breakfast this morning. I had 2 packs of grits which is 90% iron! I didn't think to check until after I ate it. I called the pharmacist and they said yes wait 4 hours! I had my thyroid removed and now I am worried that the iron caused my synthroid not to absorb. I am mostly worried because I am pregnant. Low thyroid levels are very dangerous to the baby and can cause brain damage. I am so mad at myself and of course stressing out big time!

[mommavia]

First, take a deep breath! Eventhough I have had a pharmacist tell me the same thing, my doctor feels that about an hour before mealtime is good enough, especially if it is first thing in the morning. I take my Synthroid as soon as I wake up, shower, get my son ready for the day, then eat. I have had not problems at all...and I am sans thyroid as well. Talk to your endocrinologist and your ob/gyn.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy,
Cynthia

[jsr72]

Try not to stress about it. At least you realized it. Because I am one of those people who has to eat within 20 minutes of getting out of bed in the morning, I actually take my levothyroxine before I go to bed. That way, I haven't eaten for hours. Hang in there and good luck with your pregnancy.

[autumnleaves]

I get up out of bed take all my meds including my thyroid turn around and eat. Just this morning I had grits. I have had my thyroid tested several times since being pregnant and it comes back fine. I always eat right after taking my meds. It hasnt affected my levels from what I can tell. With the meds they are always within normal limits.

[Danger Kitty]

I have found that taking synthroid on a totally empty stomach (as directed) makes me sick, sick, sick to my stomach.

Every doctor that I've talked to about this has advised me the same: take it with a meal. It's better to take it with a meal and have *some* of it absorbed, than to take it on an empty stomach and throw it up.

As long as your blood work shows that the way that you are taking it still results in numbers showing that your condition is under control, don't stress over how and when you take it.

hth,

dk

[bbsweetpea]

I have been hypothyroid since 1999 and I am in my third pregnancy. I take my synthroid first thing and then get ready for my day. I then eat breakfast. Your doctor should be checking your levels very often (every 2 months) while you are pregnant. If it needs to be adjusted they will adjust it for you. You will be fine and your baby will be fine. I would just let your doctor know your concern. You could also take your meds at bedtime so that you don't have to worry about the absorption. I sometimes do that in pregnancy just because I can't keep it down in the early months.

Good LUCK!!