Often found to exist simultaneously, hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia share many symptoms. Extreme fatigue, depression, muscle pain, cold body temperature, and fuzzy thinking are the main symptoms shared between these two conditions.

Although experts have not yet agreed on the cause of fibromyalgia, some believe that, like many cases of hypothyroidism, it is an autoimmune disorder. An underactive metabolism is a commonly suggested link between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism.

Many people with fibromyalgia take thyroid medication to regulate metabolism. The difference between feeling good and not feeling good can be found in the following thyroid medication variables:

Taking the correct prescription

Maximizing the effectiveness of your medication

take the right recipe

The tests involved in thyroid evaluation and your subsequent prescriptions can vary greatly, depending on your doctor. The thyroid hormones identified by the medical community for most cases of thyroid dysfunction are thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3, and T4. The relationship between these substances is complex and is constantly analyzed and questioned. The “gold standard” for evaluating thyroid function is measuring TSH. If this test returns a normal laboratory value, many doctors will cross hypothyroidism off the list of possible diagnoses.

If a TSH level is normal, but all the classic signs of hypothyroidism are established (hair loss, headaches, weight gain, brittle nails, fatigue, cold body temperature, etc.), some informed doctors will investigate further. According to respected integrative medicine specialist Eric Gordon, MD, the most accurate way to comprehensively assess thyroid health is to test TSH, free T3, and free T4 levels. Testing for free T3 levels (not currently bound) is typically overlooked by doctors because the body converts them to T4. However, Gordon cautions that without including the free T3 assessment, there is no way to know if the body is doing this conversion correctly. According to Gordon, “If you show signs of low thyroid, your free T3 will be low even though your TSH is ‘normal.’ TSH only shows what’s going on in the hypothalamus, not the liver or anywhere else in the body.” .

In times of stress, our bodies naturally make reverse T3. In a properly functioning healthy body, once the stressor is over, the body stops producing reverse T3 and normal conversion of T4 to T3 continues. However, some experts have observed individuals who continue to produce reverse T3, initiating symptoms of hypothyroidism.

With the possible variability involved in hypothyroidism, receiving the correct prescription is crucial to a person’s recovery. Most people convert T3 to T4 effortlessly. These people may simply need to supplement with T4 (Synthroid). However, some people may need both T4 and T3 or just T3 to achieve ideal thyroid hormone balance. Finding the right medication at the best dosage often requires repeat doctor visits and blood tests to refine your prescription. Working with your doctor to explore all of these options will help ensure that you are taking the correct medication at the best dose possible.

Maximize the effectiveness of your medication

Most of us take daily supplements along with prescription drugs to maintain our health. A typical morning for people with fibromyalgia consists of not only breakfast, but also vitamins, minerals, herbs, and any prescribed medications. Remembering what to take and when to take it can overwhelm anyone taking a variety of pills, especially if that person suffers from fibrofog. Most of us take daily supplements along with prescription drugs to maintain our health. A typical morning for people with fibromyalgia consists of not only breakfast, but also vitamins, minerals, herbs, and any prescribed medications. Remembering what to take and when to take it can overwhelm anyone taking a variety of pills, especially if that person suffers from fibrofog.

Well-respected patient advocate and author Mary Shomon shares the following tips for taking thyroid medications:

1. Always compare the prescription with what you receive. Do not allow generic substitutions, as their ingredients may vary slightly.

2. Most doctors recommend taking thyroid hormones on an empty stomach to allow for maximum absorption.

3. Many doctors advise taking thyroid hormones at least one hour before eating to allow for maximum absorption.

4. Be consistent with a high fiber diet. If you start or stop eating high-fiber foods, recheck your thyroid, as it can change its absorption.

5. Many experts recommend taking vitamins or iron supplements at least two to three hours apart from your thyroid hormones. Iron can interfere with thyroid hormone absorption if too much is taken together.

6. Be careful taking anything with calcium, including calcium-fortified orange juice, at the same time as your thyroid hormones. Allow at least two to three hours apart, so absorption is not affected.

7. Do not take antacids within two hours of taking thyroid hormones. Allow at least two to three hours apart, so absorption is not affected.

8. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about any possible interactions of prescription drugs, herbs, and supplements with your thyroid medications. Some of the more well-known drug interactions with thyroid medications include antidepressants, insulin, cholesterol-lowering medications, and blood thinners. These interactions could make the thyroid medicine more or less effective and/or the other medicine more or less effective.

9. Do not stop taking thyroid hormone during pregnancy or lactation. It is necessary for your health and that of your baby. Talk to your doctor about how to adjust the correct dose.

Deanna Couras Goodson of http://www.suite101.com/ adds some more valuable tips for taking thyroid medication. During a bout of hypothyroidism or fibromyalgia, struggling with memory is a very real and ongoing issue. Because it’s important to be consistent with the dosage of her thyroid medication, Goodson recommends:

1. Write a reminder to yourself to take your thyroid medicine on a calendar, to-do list, or other place you visit often.

2. Take advantage of modern technology to remind you to take your thyroid medication. Examples include creating a screen saver or setting pop-up reminders on your computer or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

3. Take your medicine at the same time every day and keep it in a place that reminds you to take it. An example of this is keeping your medicine next to your toothbrush so it automatically becomes part of your morning routine.

Since finding the right balance of thyroid medications is so important to recovering from hypothyroidism, anything that affects that balance should be stabilized. Making sure you take the right medication at the right dose can significantly improve your quality of life. For the many people with fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism, proper medication with thyroid medications can make living with both of these conditions enjoyable by warming the body and increasing energy levels, while reducing muscle soreness and fibro fog.

This article was prepared for FibroManage.com. Visit us to learn more about fibromyalgia symptoms [http://fibromanage.com/symptoms.htm]and the benefits of natural and conventional remedies [http://www.fibromanage.com/conventional.htm].

References:

http://www.ericgordonmd.com, Gordon, Eric, MD, on liver, thyroid and toxicity.

http://www.suite101.com/, Goodson, Deanna Couras, Hypothyroidism.

http://www.thyroid.about.com/, Shomon, Mary, Taking Your Thyroid Medication.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/, Shomon, Mary, Thyroid Drugs: Frequently Asked Questions About Food, Drug, and Supplement Interactions.