Thyroid problems

RE: Thyroid problems

I'm planning to post my own thyroid story, but wanted to point out that I know of several people who have had better results using Armour for their thyroid regulation. My next-door-neighbor is a pharmaceutical rep for Merck and she found that she can only use Armour, as the other synthetic thyroid replacements don't work as well for her.

Anyway, I'll post my story soon. 🙂

RE: Thyroid problems

Oh boy, do I ever...in 1996 I was finally tired of being tired all the time. Hormone levels appeared to be normal, but on the low side and I definitely had typical thyroid symptoms. However the real kicker was that my thyroid antibodies were sky high.

I have since learned that

• most women suffer from a form of thyroid disorder, most commonaly chronic thyroid inflammation, known as Hashimoto's thyroditis
• The diagnosis is often missed because the doctors fail to order a comprehensive assessment panel, leaving out anti-thyroglobulin antibodies :

[blockquote]
[blockquote]
Analytes:

• Hypersensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
• free thyroxine (fT4)
• free triiodothyronine (fT3)
• reverse T3 (rT3)
• anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG)
• anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO)
• fT4/fT3
• fT3/rT3
Specimen Requirements: 4ml serum in SST

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

• the body needs certain minerals in order to be able to convert the biologically inactive standard T4 medication, such as Synthroid into the biologically active T3 form. Those minerals are selenium iodine, iron and zinc. The first two are especially important, yet doctors usually fail to mention this and unfortunately most humans are deficient in nutrients these days.
• Low thyroid function can cause heavier than normal menstrual bleeding, leading to constant low ferritin levels
• the adrenals will try to pick up for the lack of thyroid function and usually eventially tucker out if the real root cause is not corrected sooner. I ended up with 2 panic attacks in 1998 due to exhausted adrenals. I since then firmly believe that a high number of panic attacks are actually caused by exhausted adrenals rather than a true mental dysfunction - again this isusually not correctly diagnosed
• too many women are treated with anti depressents when in fact they have low thyroid function but the doctor isn't bothering to test for it because ther patient does not seem to "fit" the profile
• Most ( if not all) post partem depression cases may actually be caused by a temporary thyroid dysfunction. It is a known fact that pregnancy can affect thyroid function negatively and again, not all doctors consider this as a possible cause.
• certain food can negatively affect thyroid function if eaten raw, especially (cruziferous sp?) vegetables, such as kale, brussle sprouts or broccoli
• I have seen references that say Hashimoto's sufferers should stay away from iodine. I'm not sure exactly why and I have the feeling this statement is not necessarily correct, since the thyroid needs iodine to function properly.I also feel that any autoi-immune dysfunction for me is a sign that the immune system is out of whack and instead of supressing it,the focus should be on balancing it. However, please keep in mind that this is just a hunch I have . I cannot support it with scientific data.
• Low thyroid function in animals has also been linked to more agressive behavior.

I think this is pretty much it. If I missed something I will add it later. The hardest part was to live with other who would not take my problems seriously. I especially despise the "it's all in your head comment" I would hear so often. People have no idea how hard it is to function if you simply have no energy left. Ever since that time I can understand why some people make the ultimate decision to end their lives if it becomes just too unbearble to them.[&o]
I personally know about 30 women who are in my extended circle of friends who suffer from low thyroid function - again most have Hashimoto's. I more and more stunned how prevalent this condition is among women and yet it is still soo often misdiagnosed. I feel for all ythose wome who continue to suffer needlessly. I also think that non-treatment will eventually lead to an earlier breakdown, leading to possibly other serious and chronic health issues.
Stand your ground if you feel y

RE: Thyroid problems

Hi all

This is a very interesting thread. I was diagnosed nine years ago with hypothyroidism, after suffering classic symtoms. I had just lost three stone, and was in the throes of moving house. I had also had my third child 18 months previously. I wonder now whether I was very run down and as a result my thyroid just packed in. I do regret having started medication, because I believe homeopathy and other therapies can be quite effective. Once you start on the medication route, it's almost impossible to go back. What I have found though, is that even with medication my hair is noticeably thinner, so that I have patches of scalp which show through my hair, drier skin, and my blood sugar is often not right (I can have spells of feeling very faint, or extreme muscular weakness). I find this very distressing. I have also re-gained the three stones I lost before being diagnosed which is really upsetting.

The odd thing is that just recently my annual blood test showed that my dose needed to be reduced. How can this be? I though the body never started to make its own thyroxine only medication is being taken. I would love to know why this has happened. I would give so much to be off this medication and 'normal' again. Does anyone know of any instances of people overcoming the 'disease' through natural means at this stage?

I also don't know whether the hair thinning is as a result of getting older, or the thyroid deficiency, because surely once on medication I should not have any symptoms?

I have been wondering whether to take Nourikrin supplements for my hair. I would love to lose weight, but I find that the sort of no fat diet I was on beforehand makes me feel really terrible quite quickly, and I have developed an allergy to yogurt since, which I ate quite a lot of before the diagnosis. It is as if my body is determined to protect me from going back on a diet and being nutrient deficient, although I took supplements and ate heathily at the time.

Any advice/feedback gratefully received.

RE: Thyroid problems

hi everyone - i wanted to try to bring this forum back again - as i was diagnosed roughly 5 years ago with hypothyroidism...and found out about 2 years ago it runs in my family...and i was supposed to be on the same dosage as my granny was taking...1.25 thyroxin...

i took the meds for roughly 6 months, i had adverse reactions to the meds - even after they reduced the dosage to almost half...so i stopped taking them - and havent taken them since..

i have been on a steady gain of weight (roughly now 50 pounds overweight) since i left out of highschool and went in the army...and after i got out....and into the work force...

not gonna lie though - i sit on my butt a lot at work, and until recently did practically nothing for excersise - but i did change my diet..i dont eat beef or pork anymore, i eat lean turkey or chicken or fish....lots of fruit and veggies...i eat roughly every 2 hours, and i am bad about consuming the 64oz of water a day - but i try for at least half...and i am going through a colon cleanse - which i feel a huge weight lifted from me....i dont consume a lot of dairy - lactose intolorant - but i do drink soy milk....

i started the gym thing yesterday - and with a regime that works for me...i get up at 4-430 every morning - go to work, until roughly 4 i am home...then eat something small like a organic nutrition bar or piece of fruit and go work out for 15-30 min (depends on my energy levels at that part of the day and how i feel...) and then relax until roughly 8pm, take a nap(my body literally shuts down - i have been trying to adjust this time)wake up around 10 or so, drink my herbal tea and go to bed.....now aside from the gym, this is my normal routine monday through friday - weekends my hubby and i walk anywhere from 8-15 miles on saturday - and maybe 1 or 2 on sunday - if we go out - sometimes we dont go out on sunday....

i dont like putting meds in - i dont even like taking aspirin for a headache - would rather soak in a hot bath or sleep it off....

my grandparents are constantly on me to go back to the doctor (as i havent had a period since sept - and normally only have them 1-2 a year) because they are scared i am straining my heart - but most days i feel fine....i like the homiopathic approach, because again - i dont like meds....

i just wanted an opinion as if i am on the right track, doing the right thing....iknow i eventually need to go in to my gp when i want to have children, but i also need a checkup this year from my obgyn....and i know she is going to take one look at my record and i am going to have to go through the whole process of blood tests - which i despise....

any suggests comments or thoughts on this would be much apretieated....

warm wishes

Ada

RE: Thyroid problems

Your Granny is right, go back to the doctor, I have pm'd a site for your info.

Any other members around the forum with thyroid problems these days?

Hi

I found out 2 weeks ago that I have an over active thyroid and have been referred to the local hospital. My first consultation there is on 12 October, I'm not sure what to expect.

Aly

I was diagnosed today with over-active thyroid and being referred to Endocrinologist. My GP has given me a small dose of beta blockers as he says my heart is racing and my body needs to slow things down. I am reluctant to take them though at the moment until I have researched what else is out there before going down chemical route.

Love and light

reikiangel
xxx

Just a quick update. My consultant at the hospital is really great, he prescribed me some beta blockers and some medication to stop the thyroid functioning. I have had a thyroid scan which has showed that the thyroid is over active and this has been confirmed with blood tests. It transpires I am also amenic so I've got medication to help with that too. I'm back at the hospital in a few weeks to get a further review but it is hoped that the thyroid may be controlled with medication rather than removal.

Aly

Well, I have been doing some research and homeopathy seems to have a good track record for supporting the thyroid. I have made contact with a local homeopath and will be going to see her in the New year.

Love and light

reikiangel

xxx

I was diagnosed as having an underactive thyroid after the birth of my second son (I gained 3.5 stone whilest pregnant!)
It took almost 12 months and several blood tests to get a positive result despite showing nearly all the symptoms!!
7 years on I am still struggling with many of the symptoms - weight gain (I now weigh twice what I should), feeling cold, hair loss, lethargic, memory problems...... so I recently went back to my GP.
I was all set to beg him to increase my thyroxine just to see if a higher dose helped (I have always been convinced my dose was too low)
He began by dismissing my views saying taking too much was dangerous and that although my last 3 years result were all "borderline" he couldn't (or wouldn't) increase my dose. He then checked on my last blood test results and there in big red letters were the words "ABNORMAL RESULT"
He has now increased my dose to 125mcg so I am waiting to see if this will have any effect - it will be 3 months before my next blood test.

I am now looking at complemetary therapies and medications as well as diet to see if I can speed results up a bit!

Just a quick up-date re my over-active thyroid problem. I had a call from my surgery a few weeks ago telling me my prescription was ready for collecting. As I hadn't seen my GP since 15th Dec I wasn't sure what was being prescribed! Apparently the Endocrinologist had recommended I start taking Carbimazole 20mgs for 4 weeks before my first appt with him "to see if it has worked". I wasn't happy about taking something prescribed by someone who hadn't even met me so I politely refused the medication. I explained that I was having Homeopathic treatment to support my thyroid and had made changes to my diet etc.
Well, today I met the Consultant and he was lovely! Of course he has explained to me what's happening to my body at the moment which I knew already, but he acknowledged that he couldn't FORCE me to take the medication. He's happy to leave me for a few months to give the homeopathic treatment a chance to work! So, I have had another blood test to compare with the one taken back in December and will have another one a week before my next appt in April. I am one happy bunny lol.

Love and light

reikiangel

xxx

I was flicking through this thread and noticed that (albeit a few years ago) that someone posted to say that Barry Durrant Peatfield was struck off from the GMC, this is incorrect.

Durrant-Peatfield relinquished his GMC status as he was up against a Goliath (GMC) who would not consider an alternative to treating patients with synthetic thyroxine. He is not the only doctor who feels this way, there are others who have all gone down the path of chatisement from the GMC for not following NICE guidelines on treating thyroid problems.

Synthetic thyroxine does nothing for me and I now take glandulars instead with fantastic results. I have considered seeing Mr DP to see if I am missing anything out but don't think so, as long as I stick to my regime I feel good. Another person who treats thyroid alternatively is Georges Mouton, very expensive but supposed to be amazing.

Patchouli

Just a quick up-date re my over-active thyroid problem. I had a call from my surgery a few weeks ago telling me my prescription was ready for collecting. As I hadn't seen my GP since 15th Dec I wasn't sure what was being prescribed! Apparently the Endocrinologist had recommended I start taking Carbimazole 20mgs for 4 weeks before my first appt with him "to see if it has worked". I wasn't happy about taking something prescribed by someone who hadn't even met me so I politely refused the medication. I explained that I was having Homeopathic treatment to support my thyroid and had made changes to my diet etc.
Well, today I met the Consultant and he was lovely! Of course he has explained to me what's happening to my body at the moment which I knew already, but he acknowledged that he couldn't FORCE me to take the medication. He's happy to leave me for a few months to give the homeopathic treatment a chance to work! So, I have had another blood test to compare with the one taken back in December and will have another one a week before my next appt in April. I am one happy bunny lol.

Love and light

reikiangel

xxx

Hi Reikiangel

You might find it interesting to research the action of raw cabbage juice on the overactive thyroid - it is fact inhibiting, and is likely reduce the function without the need for pharmaceutical intervention.

Hi Reikiangel

You might find it interesting to research the action of raw cabbage juice on the overactive thyroid - it is fact inhibiting, and is likely reduce the function without the need for pharmaceutical intervention.

Yep, most of the goitrogens will slow down the thyroid function (and, importantly, are advised not to be taken by underactive patients).

Other ones are:

Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage (as already said by Caroline)
Kale
Kolrhabi
Cauliflower
Mustard
Rutabaga
Turnips

peanuts (which are actually a bean and not a nut)
peaches
radishes
strawberries
millet
spinach
soybeans (tofu, soy sauce, soy milk etc)
? buckwheat (jury's out)

So, if you, RA eat these it may naturally slow down the thyroid but obviously for us poor mutts with an underactive one should try leave these out as much as poss.

Patchouli

p.s forgot to say that there are some who say that cooking the goitorgen foods negate the effects of these, however, I think that people need to experiment and see the effects for themselves.

i.e. if you are underactive and have them cooked or raw then see if the slow you further.

For hyperthyroid then again see if they slow you down either raw or cooked.

Patchouli

Thank you CarolineN and Patchouli for the above info. I had also read about cabbage/cauliflower/broccoli etc when I researched my condition and had discussed this with my Homeopath. I have increased my intake of these veg's, cut out salt (as I tended out of habit to put a LOT on my food - but not cook with it) and have been doing so since end of Jan and am seeing her again next week. I'm hoping that the remedies have started to kick in as the Consultant said he could usually tell by looking at his pt's which they are suffering from, either Grave's disease or benign nodules on the thyroid. But, with ME he couldn't tell as I was not showing symptoms of 'bulging eyes' or a lumpy throat!! I could honestly answer no to the questions "do you feel your heart thudding, do you fall asleep often or feel tired all the time, do you get anxious?". BEFORE starting the remedies it was a 'yes' to all of those but even if it is the placebo effect I don't care as I feel better lol.
As I work in Pathology reception at the hospital it was funny to get my blood test result to file for the Consultant. I took the liberty of checking with another Consultant who works in Pathology what the result meant as I didn't understand it and he said it was a good reading so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Thanks again for the info.

Love and light

reikiangel

xxx

Synthetic thyroxine does nothing for me and I now take glandulars instead with fantastic results.
Patchouli

Hi Patchouli
I was wondering if you could elaborate on what you mean by 'glandulars' and what sort of dosage is required.

Thank you so much.

Blessings
Helen

My daughter was just diagnosed with Grave's disease last Monday. It all started over March break when she broke her wrists in a scooter accident. The er dr. noticed her bulgy eyes, did a blood test and confirmed that she has a hyperactive thyroid. My daughter will be 10 in a couple weeks.... she's still so very young! The endocrinologist has prescribed anti-thyroid and beta blockers for a month, at least. So far, my daughter's appetite has increased BIG time, she's sleeping better and even though she's recovering from 2 broken arms.... she's doing excellent! Her bowel movements are gradually slowing down and her eyes are looking much less bulgy. We've decided to go the medical route for now. We hope to see a natural doctor and see what else is out there.

I'll tell you this much... it's been a nerve-wracking yet a very educational experience for us! We didn't realize just how sick she was. Now it all makes sense. 🙂

I have thyroid probs for over 10 years.. I still have the Graves symptons even though I had radiation treatment and now have a underactive thyroid. It is something that will still be ongoing for many years.

I also undergone treatment a years ago because of hyper thyroid. My doctor said that, that's the reason why I don't gain weight because it burns the fats that goes to my body and also it causes hormonal imbalance. Medication last for almost 8 months and I was warned not to eat cabbage.

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