My doctor is having trouble regulating my thyroid. We've been trying different medications.

I've actually wondered if I have Celiac disease. The other question is whether or not I was given a generic thyroid medication. That may very well be the case.

This generic drug thing is something we need to write about and have a section on. I don't know why the pharmacist always wants to give me a generic drug. I don't think that all generic drugs are the same as the drug that has actually been prescribed for you. I have had way too many experiences with generics not working for me and then it finally dawns on me that I may have been slipped a generic prescription again.

I have told the pharmacist a million times...no generics. So guess what, I just recently fired my pharmacist.

This could very well be what has happened to me. I cannot wait to go look at the bottle.

Thanks, Tina. Something so simple, that I preach about all the time and I didn't even thing to look.

I will take a look at the rest of this information. I really need to get my thyroid under control. Such a barometer for the rest of the body and all the hormones.

M

Hi Michelle! It's good you're seeking help for your condition. Dr. Ridha Arem, author of the "The Thyroid Solution -- A Revolutionary Mind-Body Program for Regaining Your Emotional and Physical Health" and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Baylor College responded to your comment.

"There are many reasons why a physician may have a hard time regulating thyroid levels with steady amounts of thyroid medications for an under-active thyroid. One of them is that the immune system may be a attacking the thyroid gland with opposite forces. One is related to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the condition that causes an under-active thyroid and then an opposite force stimulating the gland to produce higher amounts of thyroid hormone. This may result in instability over time, causing the patient to shift from having low thyroid levels to high thyroid levels. Another reason may be Celiac disease, which is autoimmune inflammation of the intestines, related to gluten sensitivity. This may make the intestines absorb thyroid hormone in an unconstant or unstable way. This also may result in fluctuation of thyroid hormone levels.

The patient should also make sure to not change from one brand to a generic one and make sure to not take calcium or iron along with thyroid medications since calcium and iron can trap thyroid hormone in the GI tract."

You may also want to check out information from the Cleveland Clinic on Thyroid issues.

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2000/2011.asp?index=8541
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3700/3717.asp?index=12120
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/4400/4433.asp?index=14129

Yale also has a user-friendly chart on thyroid issues as well as a great resource sheet.

http://ymghealthinfo.org/content.asp?pageid=P00437
http://ymghealthinfo.org/content.asp?pageid=P00414

Thanks Michelle!

My doctor cannot figure out why I have an external indication of a thyroid issue in the form of a swollen gland, but no indicators in my blood tests. Weird and frustrating.