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is anyone taking thyroid hormones for underactive throid

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i just decided to stop taking my nexium since i read that it increases your chances of a hip fracture. i have been taking synthroid for 25 yrs which i read also interfers with calcium absorption. i have ibs and digestitve problems and cannot take fosamax, actonel, etc...they say you cant take reclast if you have had thyroid syrgery, however, i had a radioactive isotope that was supposed to shrink my thyorid and killed it instead..anyway, i am 60 yrs young and am getting very depressed over this whole osteo thing. today i will amke an appt with a new endro dr. and see whats up..anyone taking thyroid homones or taking nexium..please share your experience..thanks

18 replies

I take Levoxyl and Nexium. I've not had problems with either. I know the Levoxyl is picky about how it is absorbed which is why they tell you to take it on an empty stomach. The endocrinologist told me not to bother with the Levoxyl on the days I take Fosamax because of the low absorption rates and just double up the next day. I've not heard anything about Nexium increasing the rate of hip fractures.

Peggy

Thank you for talking about this
I am taking Levothyroxil and I read on-line
that it causes bone thinning

Now what to do ? Anyone know something
about this and what possibly to do

Thank you all - you are the utmost greatest

JoanL

It is my understanding that excessive thyroid hormone use reduces bone density

Lulubell ~ any news or information since you went to a different EndoMD? Like you, I’ve been on a thyroid supplementation for many years (since childhood) just to stay in the normal range, but it was not preceded by a hyper-thyroid period like you described. I’ve not had any luck with Endo’s thus far and I am not even talking about treatment for osteoporosis. Do you still have symptoms of either hypo or hyper thyroid? Is there anything you can share with us about thyroid supplementation and symptoms of osteoporosis from that second opinion or other sources since you posted?

With no cure for our personal genetic deficiencies, if they be the casue, symptom relief is all that many doctors can offer. However, I have yet to meet an EndoMD that prescribes based on maintaining “quality of life” and the patient’s report of satisfaction or symptoms, but instead prescribes based on the lab results compared to the statistically normal range-de-jure. Taking into account the goofs by the labs, plus the margin of error in both the processing a patient’s blood samples and those done for normative reasons, I was never too surprised when the medications never provided the hoped for relief.

The best results I ever had for my hypothyroid condition has been when I combined synthroid and acupuncture.

mahahaha, unfortunatley, i cant get in to see the new endo dr. until nov. so..icontinue to take my synthriod, followed at least an hour later by nexium, which also can thin your bones..and then i take my stomach pill at least an hour after the nexiun becasue they can negate each other. i take calcium with lunch and dinner because synthriod and calcium negate each other..i tried to take the fosteum but had to stop after 8 days beacuse it really upset my stomach.so..if all that isnt bad enough, i am a diet pepsi addict aand between the cafiene and the aspertane andof course the phosphoric acid thins your bones..trying to stop, very hard. i am very sensitive to all these drugs i have tried including evista, actonel fosamaz and you couldnt pay me to take boniva..the side effects are horrible for some of us. i will ask the new dr. about the reclast which you cannot do if you have had thyroid surgery..and who knows how that will affect me since everyone is different..once that infusion is in, there is no getting it out..i dont know, i try not to get caught up in all the fear, just try to get through another day and be very careful...

mahahaha, one more thing i want to share,, ive been reading about this strontium and that it builds bones and people are getting good results from it..so this is also on my list to ask the new endo dr. about..i suffer from ibs/colitis-nervous stomach and when my dr, gave me the fosteum, no one told me that it causes stomach inflamation with people with ibs..imagine that! so since i dont have md after my name, i thought i would see what the new dr. has to say about the strontium..have a good day

Hi Lulubell, I have been taking Synthroid/Levoxy for abut 25 years. In addition I have taken Fosomax for 6 years, with a break for a year until I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica over a year ago. At that time my rheumatologist prescribed Prednisone and Fosomax,at twice the original dosage. I had Osteopenia until a recent bone scan which indicated severe bone loss and Osteoporosis. Now, my endocrinologist recommends Forteo injections to build up bone. I have had no fractures but fear that is where I am headed if I don't do something. I will be likely need to be on the prednisone for at least another year. I have also taken Calcium with D for many years and according to blood tests my Calcium levels are normal. With all of the medications and all the doctors' recommendations it is so very confusing trying to make the best decision for our bodies' good health. I begin Forteo injections next week. Apparantly 9-18 months is the recommended time on Forteo to build back bone I have lost. I am hoping that by then I will be able to stop taking prednisone as well. I have not taken Nexium so I am no help in that area. Good luck with your treatment.

hi dplynne thanks for sharing your experience with me and good luck to you..it's so hard, i really dont want to take any medications and yet the side effects are worse than the disease..i dont know ..please keep me posted

Well people, I'm on everything! I am on Forteo, levosynthroid and nexium, plue reglan for my tummy. I take two meds first thing in the a.m. before I eat. I take the rest after breakfast. I have not had any problem with what I am on. I see my regular family Dr. and and Endo once in awhile. I also she a Rhuemie and pain specialist. All work together to produce a healthy person.

LDSMima, I'm happy to hear you are feeling healthy. I am starting on Forteo today, take Levothyroxine, not Nexium, but do take Prednisone, the reason I am starting on Forteo today. I am, meanwhile, feeling pretty darn good myself. Wish me luck!!

My endriconologist says that if the levoxyl dose is correct-not too high- there should not be an effect on bone density. A great book is 'Living Well With Hypothyroidism" by Mary J. Shomon. She also has a great website. I think it is www.thyroid-info.com

I am on levoxyl for Hypothyroidism I just found out I have osteoporsis. I have not had one doctor tell me I should be taking vitamin D it was my pharmaist who told me. He also told me if I have a D definsiy then I have a B too. I am taking 800 units of D and a B complex everyday I also take B12. The days I don't take them I can really tell a difference in how i feel. It was strange to me that none of the Endoc doctors ever said a thing about it to me. I have been put on Fosomax but I am not going to take it. I have heard too much about it .

i iake citracal with vit d and calcium..2x a day..i went to the dr. and i had a vit d definecy and he put me on 50.000 vit d once a week for 6 weeks, make me nauseas...no one mentioned vit b defiency..wil check that out..

i still take synthroid and nexium...addicted to diet pepsi..all cacium stealers...i dont know, just doing the best i can , one day at a time

I have been taking Synthroid for several years--at first 5 mcg a day which my physician decided to increase to 75 mcg per day. Now he says this is just right. I am not sure if it is a good idea to take a medicine every day as I have the impression that organs get used to the medicine and then more of the drug may be rquired to have the same effect. So I tend to give my body a "holiday" from a drug--a gap from a day to a few days. It has worked for me for most of the drugs I take. Also I often start off by taking half the recommended dose and see if that does the trick--the idea being that individuals are not well represented by the "standard" person that drugs are designed for.

I am so glad I found this support group I am getting so much good info from it. I can relate to alot of what some of you are saying. It gets really hard to know if you are doing the right things are not. I don't take calcium how much do I need? I have Hashitmoto Thyroiditis and have been taking Levoxyl for a long time. I think I have arthritis in alot of place in my body from injuries. My lower back and hips hurt really bad at night and just before I get up in the morning. I have quit work because we are moving seems like since I quit I am not in as much pain. What kind of exercises should I be doing? Thanks for all the great info !!

I have taken a thyroid replacement drug for 46 years. First, Proloid by Armour (the best) and now Synthroid. Levoxyl did not work for me. My doctor checks annually that I am not 'awash' in the thyroid medicine. I would die without the Synthroid so we keep walking a fine line between living and bone loss.

Tried Fortical for the osteo but that backed up on me badly. This morning I had another bout with my calf muscles freezing and cramping-all on I-84 during rush hour. And, it has been a year since I sprayed any Fortical into my nose. Does this stuff ever go away?

Hi lulubell, I have taken Synthrod for many years. I also have severe osteo and asthma. None of the osteo meds I have taken over the years have help my bone density except for the 2 years on Forteo injections. I take a lot of asthma corticosteroid meds to breathe, and antihistamines for sinus problems. My allergist and my endo dr don't agree if the asthma meds are making my osteo worse. It is so frustrating when those who are supposed to know how to keep us healthy don't agree. We all need to keep researching as much as we can.
My endo dr now wants to put me on Reclast as I keep loosing bone mass. With all of this I have not had a broken bone for which I am feeling blessed. I still lead a very active life, hiking, teaching kids etc. I am 72 years old.
It does get frustrating and discouraging at times but don't give up hope, that is what keeps us going. Enjoy each moment of each day as best your can. A good attitude goes a long way. I pray you have many better days.

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