This article is part of a special report on Thyroid Disorders. To see the other articles in this series, click here.
In the last post I explained that, for the vast majority of patients, hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease. This isn’t just an academic distinction. It’s the reason both conventional and alternative treatments are so often ineffective.
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In this post I’m going to show you why taking replacement thyroid hormones without addressing the underlying immune imbalance is doomed to fail.
On the surface it seems like a reasonable approach. Patient doesn’t have enough hormones? Give more hormones. Simple, right?
Not so much.
Once again the conventional approach falls short because it ignores the underlying cause of the problem. It’s like taking Advil when you’ve got a pebble stuck in your shoe. It might work for a little while, and might even be necessary to dull the pain. But you’d be a lot better off if you took the pebble out of your shoe. Right?
Let’s take a closer look at why thyroid hormones often don’t work, or stop working over time. The following diagram illustrates how autoimmunity affects thyroid metabolism (please note, “HPT” stands for “hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis”):
Immune dysregulation is another term for autoimmune disease. We still don’t know exactly what causes it, but most researchers agree it’s a mixture of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as iodine (excess), infection, pregnancy, diet and intestinal permeability.
In autoimmune disease the body attacks itself. It does this the same way it attacks foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses: with T-cells, B-cells, natural killer cells, and cytotoxic T cells. The immune response also involves proteins called cytokines, chemical messengers that pass messages between cells.
This self-attack by the immune system increases inflammation. And inflammation has a profound effect on all aspects of thyroid metabolism and physiology.
First, inflammation suppresses the HPT axis. (1) One study showed a single injection of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha reduced blood levels of TSH, T3, free T4, free T3 and TRH for 5 days. (2) This shows inflammation disrupts the production and regulatory mechanisms of thyroid hormones. Thyroid medication will increase the levels of T4 (and possibly T3), but it doesn’t address the other effects of HPT axis suppression.
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Second, inflammation decreases both the number and sensitivity of thyroid hormone receptors. (3) If there aren’t enough receptors, or they aren’t sensitive enough, it doesn’t matter how much thyroid medication we take. The cells won’t be able to use it. It’s like when my grandpa used to turn down his hearing aids while he was watching the football game. It didn’t matter how much my grandma yelled at him – he couldn’t hear a word she said.
Third, inflammation decreases the conversion of T4 to T3. (4) T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone. The body has to convert it to the active T3 form before it can be used. Most synthetic hormone medications on the market are T4. If you give a T4 medication (like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, etc.) to someone with inflammation, it’s not going to work because they can’t convert the T4 to T3.
Patients who don’t convert T4 to T3 well do better on bio-identical hormones like Armour, because it contains both T4 and T3 (in a 4.22:1 ratio).
Inflammation disrupts thyroid metabolism in several other ways, but I think these three examples make the point.
Now let’s review.
The only way to do that is to address the problem at its root by regulating the immune system and decreasing inflammation. (For more on how to address underlying inflammation, check out this episode of Revolution Health Radio with Izabella Wentz.) Unfortunately, this is rarely done in either conventional or alternative treatment of thyroid disorders.
Before I sign off, I just want to make one thing clear. I’m not saying thyroid medication isn’t necessary or useful. In fact, I think it’s an important part of treating Hashimoto’s—especially when TSH is consistently elevated and T4 and T3 are consistently low. My point is thyroid medication is only one piece of the puzzle, and it won’t be effective on its own unless the autoimmunity and inflammation are addressed.
If thyroid medication is the fantasy magic bullet of conventional medicine, iodine is the equivalent in alternative medicine. In the next post I’m going to explain why supplemental iodine may cause more harm than good in Hashimoto’s patients.
Better supplementation. Fewer supplements.
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Hi Chris, what can you do to decrease the inflammation and increase your receptor sensitivity? I’m on a very high dose of naturethroid and still am having hypo symptoms. It definitely feels like I have thyroid resistance even though my numbers (without taking thyroid) were “normal.” I don’t have Hashimotos. I take an adrenal supplement as well as thyroid co-factors. I’m not living a very stressful life. I work out but try not to push myself too hard so that I don’t crash (like I used to). I’ve eliminated sugar and try to eat as many fresh veggies and high quality meats, beans, nuts as possible. It’s frustrating to still feel sluggish, overweight and have eczema.
What is the connection between soy and synthroid medication. Why is soy bad.
Nancy they say sometimes soy affects thyroid levels too especially with the meds being able to absorb good .
I believe the receptors for TSH on your thyroid that the pituitary sends out can be blocked by something in soy (isoflavones?) so the thyroid does not “hear” the pitituitary screaming at it to make more thyroid hormone (like plugging its ears). Similar to fluoride, which you should remove from your diet especially if you are hypothyroid.
Read your on body. I read the book and listen to you all and you all are right. I had stage 4 thyroid cancer at 17 I’m now 50. I seen the best doctors in the world. And they would be the first to tell you damn they don’t know. What you all said is right learn from each other no book. Because 30 years will go by and your sick feeling no better. I’m Keith at [email protected] if your know how I can feel just normal again I beg for your answers god bless you all.
I am not an expert on thyroid problems, but what I can tell you is: I was a walking time bomb about 7 years ago my heart rate was 220 beats per minute, my blood pressure was 198/160, my weight went from 160 to 460 lbs in just under 3 months.
I never sleep in a moving car, but all I could do was sleep and it did not matter where. My GP sent me to an oncologist who said that I had hyperthyroidism( graves) she wanted to use radiation on my thyroid and put me on hormone replacement, I said ” no” they put me on water pills to reduce the fluid congestion, heart pills to slow my heart and blood pressure medication to reduce my blood pressure , when everything was back to normal for me, I cut all dark leafy veggies from my diet, I already had cut out salt 30 years before, I reduced my breads to just about nill, I have been fine until they found a tumour 3 months ago, I began feeling tired my tsh levels are normal, T3 is .03 and T4 is 15.3 now the Dr is putting me on vitamin B12 and vitamin D, unless your Dr has done blood tests do not take iodine or eat any high iodine veggies.
I have hyperthyroidism as well. I am being told that I need to be tested for Graves disease and that my best course of action is to kill off my thyroid since I’m not responding to Methimazole 5 MG 3x daily. My blood pressure is generally low at 106/66 but I can shoot up to 165/90 with a pulse rate of 168. I have had so many e.r trips because I think I’m having a heart attack. My TSH level is .002 and my t4 is 4.12. Removing my thyroid doesn’t sound like a good idea but I can’t keep going this way. I never had aniexty or panic attacks before and now they seem to come everyday. I am only 28 years old and not sure where to go from here.
In 2005 I had 1/2 my thyroid removed along with my cartilage. Within a couple of months I developed nausea and have dealt with it on a daily basis since, only helping myself to minimize it. In late Oct 2014 I loss my appetite sensation, not the sensation to eat just the trigger to, nor does my stomach ever rumble if it’s hungry, in late Nov 2014 my voice went hoarse & has been ever since, in Dec 2014 I developed burping on stupid occasions, like after drinking coffee. Before my thyroid was removed I had no symptoms & after removal, to me I was the same, I’ve also developed tinnitus about 7 to 8 yrs ago. Finally my Dr believes me & is running test, but I somehow this is all linked back to a thyroid issue………..
What destroyed my Thyroid was lyme disease! And no meds would work thyroid wise except compounded T4 and T3! And that info came from a PA?? All the Thyroid Drs couldn’t figure it out??
OH, The same guy said my body sees Amour as a Foreign organ so its fighting it every time I would take it. This guy has helped me more than anyone and its not even his specialty?
Hi Mark, I’m on 210 mg armour, I feel like it’s attacking my system too. How did you find a doctor that knew armour was your problem?
Where is he because every doctor I’ve seen is clueless.
http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/get-off-your-thyroid-medication-and-start-consuming-coconut-oil/
Someone is plagiarizing
I had my thyroid gland removed in August 2014. I have gain weight like crazy !!! I’m counting calories and walking every day. I’m on 200 mcg of thyroid meds, I take every morning with water !! Still gaining weight and no energy ..
Try natural dissecated thyroid. I take Armour. Helps losing weight and energy. Start low work up gradually start at 60mg in am. Split dose to evening. I take 30mg at dinnertime with good
I went through a lot of that before I went and my blood checked. I have food allergies now and my outdoor allergies intensified. I’m taking natural gluten free,I’ll call them vitamins to help with my adriennals. The food was my weight problem. I finally fell like myself most of the time. I was tired alot too.
ihave the same problem i had my thyroid removed July 2015 dr has uped me to 200mcg levothyroxine and still nothing and i have to take all kinds of vitamin d magnesium calcium from tums and calcitriol and all my levels are still low i dont understand any of this
Chris I have a few problems, lupus (sle) fibromyalgia, kidney disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, Graves’ disease, is it at possible that lupus may make my thyroid medication inaffective. I have been trying to find an answer.
This article is all about “reducing inflammation” to address thyroid issues but I don’t see any links or information on how to do that. Does anyone know how to reduce inflammation like he says? Paleo?
For me, reducing inflammation began with going gluten free and then getting on a program of 2 daily meal replacements with Isagenix protein shakes and cleanse. It has been 5 months and the difference is tremendous. I have no more daily pain from inflammation in my back and I dropped 15 lbs.
I’ve heard of Isagenix (all good). I’m familiar with their shakes and comprehend meal replacement. But, how is the cleanse product used? How often? How long?
slavica-
Can you send me info on your changes? More specific info on where to get products how they worked for you eat.I have FM (fibermyalsia) and take .075 levothyroid daily…I can’t lose extra 15 pounds- always tired when I wake up and never feel rested. Tried to go off medication but was awful emotional mess. Never doing that again.
If I were you I would have your other checked
I have hypothyroidism and an autoimmune disease that put me in a wheelchair about 9 years ago. I was on 500 mg of prednisone weekly. I was introduced by a family member to Immunocal a special kind of whey powder which he!PS the body create glutathione. In three months I was walking with a cane. Slowly my neurologist took me off prednisone last July 2014 she took me off all steroids. Still taking the Immunocal daily to keep inflammation at bay. This was wonderful article never realized that hypothyroidism also was affected by inflammation.
i gave up milk,yogurt,ad wheat and gluten.i stopped throwing up and stopped being bloated.my thyroid is starting to settle down.my blood work is in the normal range after 6 months of doing this ,my body thought wheat ,gluten,and dairy was causing me inflamation .start iliminating things that upset you
I began taking my Synthroid three weeks ago and I feel great. First I began breaking my 25 mcg pills into quarters and started out taking only a 1/4 pill. I do this in the morning with a glass of water. I am now taking one 25 mcg pill. My sleeping has improved, I have more energy, my skin looks better and my face does not look tired. I refused to take this drug initially when I was first diagnosed in 2011 because of a bad scare taking the generic brand, so I let my new meds sit for six months before trying this brand. It works wonders for me and being a life-long gym and karate guy, I have more energy to do laps in the pool and do weights too.
I have taken iodine and it works ok, but nothing like my Synthroid. Time will tell but for now, I like it.
I took synthroid and I love to it but my hair fell out did you have any hair loss and mine didn’t come back thank you
also are you taking generic Synthroid or synthroid? thank you
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s about 15 years ago, and put on Armour Thyroid initially. Over the next couple of years, I found that the dose would initially help for a couple of months and then I would get symptoms back. Doctor kept changing the dosage to my symptoms and I ended up on Armour 180 mg along with Levothyroid 125 mcg, which normally worked well. But I found I would have to reduce or go off the medications every so often as symptoms of hypo would return and going off the meds for 1-2 weeks could ‘jump-start’ things and my meds would work again for a few months. I would rather have tried to temporarily increase the meds to address the hypo swing, but I would not have enough medication to do that. Unfortunately, the physician I now have is treating me to the lab results, not symptoms. So my blood work will show meds need to reduce, and he reduces; next time it will show they need to increase, so he increases; and so it goes back and forth. I suggested he leave me on the dosage I was, that was working for me, and let me continue to adjust them as I had been but he would not. He has now taken me off the Levothyroid as he does not believe a person should be on both, even though the combination is how I felt best. He also does not believe that the medications have to be adjusted from time to time or that I have symptoms of hypothyroidism on the dosage I am. I’ve tried taking Selenium and did not see any difference, but have not tried taking iodine. I am not sure why it always has to be so frustrating. Sigh….
Synthroid wasn’t working well for me, so after 10 years I decided to stop taking it, cold turkey. I have Hashimoto’s but I was kinda hoping my gluten-free lifestyle had reversed it. (I also have Celiac disease, diagnosed well after the Hashi’s diagnosis). I fell to pieces over the course of 2 months without thyroid medication. Blood tests showed a TSH of 165, so clearly my thyroid is kaput. I’m not sure how I kept going! I felt horrible. Anyway, I went back on Synthroid, which is miraculously working really well again. It’s been 6 months since my adventure going med-free. I wonder if clearing your body of Synthroid helps with stuff like reverse T3, blocked receptors, or whatever. Any thoughts on that?
My daughter has Hashimoto’s and for years we were on T4 treatment only with no results. She could never loose weight and felt horrible all the time. We have found the NDT works best for her and are trying to level out to the right dose. We have also found a book called Lifestyle Intervention for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Izabella Wentz. Can I just say…..Love It! We are in the process of reading this and experimenting with the way we eat. I get no kick backs from mentioning this book. I am a mother trying to help reverse or put into remission the damage this Hashi’s has wreaked on my daughters body. We found that going not only gluten free, but also staying away from soy helps. Best of luck!
Lisa, have been through a similar journey but tried the T3 and NDT both with disastrous effects. Have a feeling after my next blood tests that may need to raise my thyroxine.
What were the negative symptoms you experienced? I’ve been on NDT and feel like my head is going to explode and overall feel awful.
I felt the same way on NDT. Once I got on the real stuff (a combo of synthroid and armour) I felt amazing again!!
Chris,
I’m curious what your thoughts are on the relationship between liver health and thyroid disorders.
Because much of the T4 to T3 conversion takes place in the liver, could it be that thyroid disorders in fact point to a problem with the liver?
Thanks, Chris, for all your great work!
I have read everyone’s comment on this site and just sickened with the lack of appropriate care for our disease. Everyone: please read Dr. Kharrazian’s book, “Why Do I still Have Thyroid Symptoms?” http://thyroidbook.com/ it will answer so many of your questions, address your fears, and give you tangible ideas on how to find the correct provider/treatment. Don’t settle for the agony you are in; you deserve a wonderful happy life!
I looked at the website for this book and it looks interesting. Recently I began on a journey to clean out my gut and liver (a weight loss and cleanse system) and it’s helping tremendously. I still have side effects of the Levothyroxine, which I have been taking for 11 years (headaches, heat sensitivity, dizziness & nausea, gradual/steady weight gain over the years), just not as severe anymore, so I am ready to try something else and I thought I’d try Armour. But my question is, would this book help me if I do not have Hashimoto’s thyroditis? I contracted De Quervain’s Thyroiditis back in 2004 and ended up hypothryroid. So it may not be an auto immune problem. Any suggestions?
I am 56 years old. In March 2014 I felt completely tired and other common symptoms of hypothyroidism and did a blood test, my TSH was 8.6. After some research I decided I had to find the causes better than take medication.. What I did was working on my diet. I’am vegan. I eliminated sugar (including sweeteners, honey, sweet fruits…), gluten (wheat, rye..), soy, cruciferous vegetables, coffee, tea, alcohol, soy, switched to a toothpaste without fluoride and I added coconut oil. My symptoms were disappearing gradually. At the end of october I did a new blood test and my TSH is 4,76. I think it had some relation whit candida.
What diet did you choose? Any treatment s of candida? Thx
I’m vegan, fresh vegetables (organic, when I can afford this), grains, beans, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, seaweed…. A lot of salads, sprouts, few fried, no junk food. There is a connection between candida and hypothyroidism, eliminating foods that are bad for hypoth you’re stopping to feed the candida. Apart from this I take a raw garlic in the morning and now I’ve started taking oregano essential oil. Also coconut oil is antifungal
Very interesting post, thank you. I’d been doing well on a combination of T4 and T3 for three years. I’d also had stem cell therapy early in that time that really made me well for 2 years. Over the last 6 months my thyroid numbers have been decreasing and my doctor and I have been fiddling with my dosage to try and improve things. All the time my weight has been creeping up and my overall flare and inflammation has been rendering me less able to get to the gym. I’ve been on several of the antibiotic protocols, all of which work for a while and then seem to taper off. How do you define addressing the underlying autoimmune issues, please? No one seems to know what works in the long term. How does one address something that seems to have no cure?
I am intrigued by use of the symptom mentioned of inflammation. How is the inflammation measured? Is it the same, similar, or entirely different from something called a SED rate?
I thank you.
Hello…I don’t know if you ever got your question answered but measuring inflammation is done through a blood test called a CRP or C reactive protein. The SED rate you mentioned is entirely different.. SED is short for sedimentation rate and that is the rate or time it takes for your blood cells to settle in a tube once it has been drawn.. Hope this helps…
So how do you get your endo physician to listen to you about addressing your hashimotos or immune disorder. I have been to multiple physicians for help but they seem to lack the knowledge. Rhematologist, Endocrinologist, family medicine, ENT, OMFS, they even sent me to a psychologist to say that i’m depressed. I told them if I am depressed its because I can’t get anyone to help me with what is going on with me. I am not feeling myself I have passed out at my son’s football game, I can’t be in the sun because since I’ve been on thyroid meds I am VERY heat intolerant. I feel tired, not focused and sick to my stomach. I have gained weight and my neck looks full, my eyes are puffy, my pupils are extracted most of the time. Ive have painful sore in my mouth, I have glossitis on my tongue, I ve had ear pain with no diagnosis. Ive had a rash all over my body. I had a drink two years ago and my face turned bright red and was burning. My thyroid scan shows atrophic thyroid, hashimotos thyroididis is what they said and are giving me synthroid, vitamin d because my vitamin d is 17, vitamin C is almost depleted. I have positive ANA. and one physician thought I might have lupus but another says no. Any thoughts on this would be very helpful because I’m tired of being sick!
Angelfire
Have you tried a gluten free diet?
I have changed my diet but not totally gluten free.
Dear Angle Fire,
I am in the same situation as you. I was given Synthroid 50mg 6 weeks ago and I started to feel so sick, mood swings, felt like I had the flu. I am a big mess the depression I started to have was given me these awful thoughts. I spoke with my Doc she reduced the meds to 25mg. 3 days later I still felt so sick. I called her again and she told me to get off the medicine. She wants to do another blood test in 5 weeks. We will see where I am then. I wish I could tell you better news but I can’t. Please keep in mind I have been living a glutten free diet, and do yoga 3 times a week and also see a therapist in order to reduce my stress. I have done everything in my power to heal. Personally I think Synthroid is not the best med for me. I wish you the best and please let us know how you are doing.
I wanted to comment from personal experience as I have been on this journey for 8 years now, up down, up down on thyroid meds and various types. I’m currently taking NatureThroid but have done synthroid and other t4 meds and t3 combos. I know that it is horrible to take meds expecting to feel better and you don’t right away. I just want to pass on this piece of advice for anyone out there that is not feeling better within a few days/weeks. At least for me it takes me a good 8-12 weeks on a steady dose of thyroid meds to feel better. It will always get worse before it gets better. I was stupid and didn’t realize there was soy in some Body By Vi shakes I was taking for a month and I believe it blocked my thyroid meds from working therefore I’m having to go through a whole adjustment period again which is horrible. I can barely keep my eyes opened and the join pain among other things make me want to pull my hair out. I know that it’s going to take me a while to adjust to these meds again and even if I don’t believe it at times I know that it’s going to take me a little while. I read alot of posts similar to yours on the internet and how doctors tell you that you’re going to feel better right away and you don’t.. While I do believe that taking a T4/T3 meds combo is what our body needs we also need to give it time. If you can’t find relieve and find yourself frustrated like I did after going up and down on thyroid meds for 5 years switching every 6 weeks give yourself time maybe a good 3-4 months on a steady dose as long as your lab numbers look good. This was the only way that I managed to get my life back.. somewhat.
I have been dealing with thyroid disease for 4yrs and the meds it has put so much weight on me that i dont feel healthy i have no energy im sweating all the time moody,does this mean the synthroid isn’t working for me, but my no# are always good since i’ve been on 100 mg of synthroid
I feel exactly as you do after being on my meds for aprox 3 years. It started as hyperthyroidism and switched to hypo in a matter of weeks. My meds have brought the T3 and T 4 back to normal levels but I have put on excessive weight, feel tired and sleepy, moody, thinning hair and other symptoms. I thought the thyroid meds were supposed to help but they are certainly not helping me! Would like to know if you find an alternative.
I have been on Levothyroxine for a year. Started .25 and it worked great until it didn’t. My doctor raised the mcg to .50, didn’t help, it was raised to.66 still didn’t help. It was raised once again to .88, needless to say, no help. I was getting worse. No energy, dry, brittle hair, weight gain, constipation it was awful! My doctor raised it to 100mcg. My situation did not get ANY better. My mother suggested I go to a health food store that she has gone to. The owner suggested this Thyroid kelp supplement. Amen! I feel so much better! I mean THE VERY NEXT DAY! I have energy, I am regular (BM) I sleep better, my face looks less bloated! I am taking “Thyroid Blend SP-26” by Solaray! I am joyful and thankful!
How are you now? Is the supplement still working?
Well I can’t wait to get me some thyroid kelp!!!!!, what about the other supplement..is that from Doc or something from that store you can just buy??
I’m on Armour and used to do so well bur now I have to supplement with vitamins etc to feel right and feel like it is working. I take 60 mg in am and then wait hours and take Vit C and calcium I chew it for it to absorb better I take Vit E and Adrenal Complex with a Dhea 10mg If I feel sluggish I take a Selenium. I take an Alive multivitamin. This afternoon my head felt foggy so I took a Garlic capsule and a magnesium and two ibuprophen after eating and taking my Armour evening pill 3/4 of a grain and right now I feel fantastic. Head is clear. Wish it felt like that earlier maybe I should take magnesium earlier. If you take too much garlic it can thin your blood too much. I also take cinnamon if I feel nauseated lowers blood sugar and have been taking fish oil and zinc helps convert T4 to T3 just 10mg. Seems like all I do is take supplements all day. Back when Armour worked well orig formula I only took multivitamin and calcium at lunchtime and zinc occasionally. Ibuprophen to calm jitteriness. Tried all the other NDTs and got weak on all of them. Armour works the best for me. Wonder if there will be any changes with Pfizer buying out Allergan Actavis. Wouldn
t it be wonderful if it went back to the original formula
Two days ago I was told by a new doctor that my blood test showed my reading on thyroid as almost 0 (zero).
I am new in Boston just having moved here from Artic and am having a hard time getting provider response when I try to contact them.
The doctor above has been negligent in responding to me, and I was wondering if I can increase the 88mcg levothyroxine to 178mcg I might feel better. I am exhausted, my hair is falling out. I would like to do this until I can find another doctor.
Any suggestions? I know it is not smart to self medicate one self.
I’m on Boston too and just reading up on thyroid stuff because even Vyvanse isn’t working to keep me energized. Have a LOT of thyroid symptoms too. I just need to feel normal but I’m SOOO FATIGUED all the time. If you find a good Boston doc please let me know! Thanks!
Also are there ANY non-prescription thyroid supplements that will work??
You can take lemon balm, motherwort, bugleweed, green tea, l carnitine and b complex to help with your thyroid problems.
I have been taking Nuri-meds bovine thyroid supplements with FANTASTIC results! Natural hormone + minimal regular vitamin supplements = my teens excitedly telling me that this is the mom they remember! (I have no thyroid – took the radioactive therapy and killed my thyroid many years ago…FINALLY discovered Nutri-meds)
Hi I’m on armour thyroid.
I have tried every other medication . I had rai and it totally killed my thyroid the trouble is as with every other med I’m still getting anxiety and panic attacks I’m already on sodium valproate for this and blood work shows that this is in therapeutic range.
Yet I’m still experiencing anxiety and there is no reason help ! X
Try natural dissecated thyroid. I take Armour. Helps losing weight and energy. Start low work up gradually start at 60mg in am. Split dose to evening. I take 30mg at dinnertime with good. Try chewable calcium with zinc. Magnesium. Vit D copper included 4 hours after Armour. Will calm you down. Also take Dhea 10mg compounded time release to relieve headaches
Coconut Oil Regulates The Immune System and Decreases Inflammation
Coconut oil has always received a criticism because a group of scientists had incorrectly promoted that it increased LDL cholesterol. However, it never did increase LDL cholesterol, but it did increase HDL or good cholesterol. That distinction was never corrected in the mainstream press and the misconception still continues to this day.
“Why the mainstream persists in this delusion of criticizing coconut oil is beyond the understanding of many in the natural food industry,” said raw food expert and retailer Ian Macdonald.
“You know you’re on to something healthy when national and international health agencies are advising AGAINST it,” Macdonald stated. “This is typically due to influences from pharmaceutical and high profile corporations who strive on keeping the population sick and diseased,” he added.
I also take Vitamin C there are some good ones on health sites make sure its natural imo the best place to order would be at Naturalnews.com with Mike Adams as he is an activist fighting to expose the greedy ones and keep our foods and supplements as natural as possible. Take a good probiotic to get your gut flora balanced therefor controlling the candida overgrowth. My symptoms is under control the coconut oil is God sent.
– See more at: http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/get-off-your-thyroid-medication-and-start-consuming-coconut-oil/#sthash.CmMQPEjr.dpuf
I was diagnosed with depression and ADHD before my Hashimoto’s diagnosis. The anti-depressants and Vyvanse had increased the damage to my adrenals. If you are no longer feeling the effects of the Vyvanse, you may want to have your adrenals tested. Adrenal support made me feel better immediately when nothing else seemed to be working. Good luck.
DR ROSS MASS GENERAL
AMAZING DR
You can take lemon balm, motherwort, bugleweed, green tea, l carnitine and b complex to help with your thyroid problems.
Jack, I’m wondering about the things you suggested. In any form? I have tried taking things that support thyroid function, but I have no thyroid… will they work for me? Do I need to time taking them in some kind of relation to my thyroid replacement?
ALSO: In my past, my insurance required that I get my meds mail order because it is a chronic condition. Unfortunately, the generic meds that came thru the mail were less effective and had (for me) more side effects than the generic meds I was getting at my local pharmacy…
I raise my meds on my own when needed. You may need a combo of armour and Levo. That works the best for me and many on this thread it seems.
When I took t4 I was so sick I had to be rushed to the hospital fighting for my life. I’m very t4 intolerant. Now I take only t3 and its fine. The reason I reacted so badly to t4, I had another underlying disease- pancreas insufficiency which took another 12 years to diagnose and I’m still fighting with docs. They misdiagnosed my pancreas problem as colitis (even though I don’t have colitis symptoms). Pancreas insufficiency causes malnutrition. The body cannot convert t4 to t3 when there is malnutrition or when iron/ferritin is low etc… So look more closely at this and try switching to pure t3. I think pure t3 is so much easier anyway because each dose increase or decrease takes less then 1week and not 8 weeks like with t4.
I started T3 a week ago and I’m having a lot of acne and my skin is kind of red has anybody else had that problem with t3? I never get acne until I started T 3
Hi there,
I started a T3 (Thyroid is the name) back in August 2014 and started getting red inflamed acne. I chose now to go off of it for 2 weeks to see if it clears up and in fact it has. The only issue now is do I go back on it? I starting to feel the effects of the hypothyroidism again (nausea, extreme fatigue, and loss of appetite currently..most likely due to the nausea). I am waiting to hear back from my Natropath to see what I should do next.
Hi Angelfire – I can feel your frustration! I have been on this journey for 4 years, which is when I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. At that point, I knew my HMO would just prescribe meds and that would be their only path, which didnt appeal to me because I wanted to get to the root of what caused the Hypo in the first place. So I did some research – read book upon book so I educated myself on what my body was going thru – and came across a doctor in my area (he was referenced in Dr. Kharrazians amazing book “Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms?”) who is a nutritionist as well. Anyways, he had me undergo an extensive blood/urine/stool/saliva test that culminated in the discovery of my gluten intolerance, as well as egg and dairy allergies (plus a few more!). This test is crucial for us thyroid folks because we need to see “the big picture” of everything involved with our disease, and also gave Dr. Mark the info he needed to suggest different supplements/vitamins to support my body’s weak systems. As for the thyroid meds, as Betsy said it is a “trial and error” process that will takes MONTHS in order to dial in the correct dosage. At first I was on Armour (for about 1 year, dosages varying), but that proved to not bring up my T3 enough, so we switched to Levothyroxine, which I have been on for about 3 years and am now about to add back in some Armour for a combo dosage. I know I have months ahead of me of varying the dosage, experiencing the effects of too high or too low, seeing blood tests to guage the results in my T3 and T4, until I finally get this new combo dialed in. So, in summary, I highly recommend to ALL to spend the money (out of pocket sadly) for a good specialist who thoroughly diagnoses you via blood/saliva/stool/urine tests, eliminate the inflammatory/allergen foods from your diet, and ask your family/friends to be patient with you while you undergo the Dosage Trial. In the end, it will all be worth it! I have been happily “symptom free” for years, and didnt even know my “numbers” were off until my most recent blood test. There is hope; just do your research and find the right professional who has the knowledge and experience to truly treat hypothyroidism.
I had alot of the exact same symptoms. Started developing after the Hashimoto diagnosis and onset of menopause. Turned out I have another autoimmune disorder that likes to hang with Hashimoto. It called Sjogrens Syndrome. Hard to diagnose too. Bloodwork turned nothing up. Finally a lip biopsy said it all.
I had your symptoms and my dentist ended up finding the root of things. My B-12 was so out of sorts. Yes, I still have the hypothyroidism but adding B-12 (I have to have injections since I have pernicious anemia) has helped in many ways, from emotions to giving me energy. Ask your Dr to test you for low B-12. Best of healing.
Hello-I read this & some of your symptoms sound like a rare disease a friend of mine has called Bruhcets which is an auto-immune caused by inflammation of vascular system so impacts whole body with symptoms that look similar to lupus-mouth sores very common symptom. I’m not in the medical field so I may be way off, but the mouth sores could be an indicator to get it checked out.
Angelfire:
Behcet disease-sorry I spelled it incorrectly on the first post
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I have Hashimotos and I just found out I have the B 12 deficiency maybe you had that it sounds like you have some of the symptoms I just started taking the b 12 so I’m hoping that it works good luck just look up the symptoms for b12 deficiency and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Good luck shannon
What I’m starting to do is this. Now I was diagnosed in 2009 Hypo since then weight gain etc etc you know. I got tired of hearing your TSH is fine. The Usual Blow Off.
I got more and more into research taking notes etc. I finally told my Physician (did not ask, but told) that I wanted referred. You know referrals can sometimes be hard. Well i got referred.
At my Endo appt I walked in with a notebook, stated to the Doctor immediately I’m tired of having Dr’s tell me the TSH is just fine and just give me pills. I need a physician that can help me, can you? We need to find the actual cause of the problem. If not were just putting up a smokescreen.
The Dr stated she would order some blood work which ended up being the Theriperoxidase ab antibody test. Well mine came back positive for Hashimoto’s a titre of 1,600 when it should of been below 100.
Read my post it’s very long. but more or less go prepared tell them what your there for. Your hiring the Doctor to help you with your health. Be frank but polite in your talk. Keep respectful. I have a list of test for Hashimoto patients to get checked out and I the patient expect that Doctor to look over the list I have test marked off that I want first. We will work together or else there’s plenty of Endo’s out there.
? Maybe CUSHINGS?
I’ve been on Levothyroxine since I was 10 (back in 1985)…I had Hashimotos. I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in 2006 and had a total thyroidectomy. That was all in England. When I moved back to Canada in 2010, my new doc here (an endocrinologist) put me on Synthroid. My dose has consistently increased since 2010 to the point where I’m not on 200mcg. The doc cannot adequately explain to me why the dose keeps increasing. (This is up from an original dosage of 75mcg). Any ideas or suggestions or even clue as to what I can look into? Much obliged.
Anytime you have to keep increasing your thyroid medicine it is because your body is being depleted of iodine. You might look at some books by Dr. Brownstein
I take 125mcg of Levothyroxine. I’ve been on this dose for a number of years now and blood levels are normal range. I have many issues with cognitive functioning including: memory, confusion and anxiety. I become easily overwhelmed, stressed and irritable. This makes finding the right job and keeping it very difficult. I simply feel like I’m unable to function. All of this puts my emotional well-being on a see-saw which is also being impacted by the disease. It doesn’t make me want to be around people or go out in public but this is not realistic. I have never found a doctor who takes the realities of this disease seriously. Doctors have been condescending, invalidating, paternalistic, insulting and egotistical. I recently received an MFA with a 4.0 so I’m not a complete idiot. I don’t have money for healthcare nor do I have health insurance. I’m currently unemployed and looking to go back to school because it appears to be my only option. I look very healthy so there is this underlying prejudice that I must be fine. My low energy levels do not benefit from the state of survival I have been in. Like all of us, I simply want greater healing, harmony and balance! Thanks-
I understand where you’re coming from as I’m in a similar boat as you with work and a social life. I have been doing this for 8 years. I know it’s hard and the meds are expensive but try getting a med combo with T/4 T/3 like Armour Thyroid or NatureThroid. Even though I don’t function 100% it’s the only thing that has gotten me to a point where I can function again.
Oh my Gosh! I’m not crazy! I need help! I can’t get my health under control. Too weak to exercise, not enough money for really healthy food, and can’t think straight enough to trust my own decisions. Don’t remember anything. Been on 125mcg levo for a year. Took 4 years to diagnose and 4 years to increase thus far and still not okay. Does anyone else deal with a swelled tongue as well?
Yes my tongue is also swollen. It is one of the hypothyroid symptoms. So is a sour taste in your mouth. I have put on 10 lbs in 2 weeks and am on 112 mcg of Lovothyroxine. I had blood work done last week and I will have to wait and see what the doctor says today about my numbers.
I’m very interested to hear if there are any qualified doctors that have come up with a way to treat the other things that synthroid doesn’t help (restore HPT axis coordination, improve receptor function, or increase conversion of T4 to T3.) because I’ve been taking Levothyroxine for 20 years or more and even though I have my blood checked every 6 mos to a year and I’m told my hormone levels are just fine, I am still exhausted every day, I can look at food and gain weight, and I’m going bald! Not a good look for a 53 year old woman!
Tanya i have all the same issues. I really thought i was reading something i wrote. What you wrote was totally me. I am taking 400 mcg of Levo and it is not doing a thing any more. My Kidneys are not functioning right at all. I will say i have no Thyroid i had cancer and had to have two surgeries to remove it all. It really scares me to think im taking this medication and it is not helping at all. all my levels are at a dangerous stage. The day before i got my last labs i had talked to the doctor about maybe adding a T3 med to mine. he said it would make me have too much energy. I said well that would be better than none. at least i could have energy to do chores, walking and stuff. i have NO ENERGY. my body is going through all kinds of emotions i dont know if im coming or going. I can say my husband of 2 yrs is being patient with me over this, but getting very upset with the doctors. I feel so lost from all this.
400!!??? JHC, how is that possible? I’m at 120, I didn’t know it could be that high. I wish I could find a doctor, why do I take this pill, forever? Why??? Why???
Hi sir,
I m 22 years old. I have thyroid problem… Before i had taken a treatment, my TSH level was 13.92… I had taken the tablet for six months( medicine: 50mg)…. now the level increased to 25.39… i m scared for this… Why is it increase… please give any suggestion… could you send the details to my mail id ([email protected])… my weight is 72… please sir.. If you give any solution it is really help full to me…..