hypothyroid

[indysteel]

I admit that I am suspicious over the claims that XYZ diet can address a malfunctioning thyroid. Then again, that suspicion is probably over someone trying to convince me that removing wheat from my diet would address MY thyroid issues....apparently the news that I do not HAVE a thyroid at all didn't change her mind at all.

To me it was kind of like the old adage - if the only tool you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. Nothing wrong with checking out different options, but there is so much differing information out there.

I'm suspicious as well. But I do want to clarify something in your post. As it relates to hyper or hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune disease, it is not the thyroid, itself, that is malfunctioning. Rather, it's the autoantibodies in your body attacking your thyroid (and often your eyes) that is root of the problem. By removing the thyroid (or in my case, taking antithyroid medicine), you are not eliminating the autoantibodies. Rather, you merely eliminate or alter the gland that they are attacking.

So, I suppose there are other things one could do--although I'm not sure diet is one of them--that could potentially eliminate or reduce the autoantibodies that are the root cause of Graves' and Hashimotos. Clearly, though; once you've had your thyroid removed or radiated, I would presume you have to take a drug to replace the otherwise missing thyroid hormone. No change in diet is going to create hormones from a now nonexistent gland.

[Catrin]

I'm suspicious as well. But I do want to clarify something in your post. As it relates to hyper or hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune disease, it is not the thyroid, itself, that is malfunctioning. Rather, it's the autoantibodies in your body attacking your thyroid (and often your eyes) that is root of the problem. By removing the thyroid (or in my case, taking antithyroid medicine), you are not eliminating the autoantibodies. Rather, you merely eliminate or alter the gland that they are attacking.

So, I suppose there are other things one could do--although I'm not sure diet is one of them--that could potentially eliminate or reduce the autoantibodies that are the root cause of Graves' and Hashimotos. Clearly, though; once you've had your thyroid removed or radiated, I would presume you have to take a drug to replace the otherwise missing thyroid hormone. No change in diet is going to create hormones from a now nonexistent gland.

Very good points, and I think the clarification was important. Of course we still need those hormones, and I've been taking that 1 pill a day since 1984...though sometimes I still forget It was just perplexing to me how little that person actually heard when we were discussing this - it was like she couldn't even hear what I was actually saying.

I hope you are starting to feel better?

[indysteel]

Very good points, and I think the clarification was important. Of course we still need those hormones, and I've been taking that 1 pill a day since 1984...though sometimes I still forget It was just perplexing to me how little that person actually heard when we were discussing this - it was like she couldn't even hear what I was actually saying.

I hope you are starting to feel better?

Was this an endo or what?

I am starting to feel better. I cut my dose from 5 mg to 2.5 mg and am wondering if it's now just a bit too low of a dose. I'm going to play around with taking a full dose every other day/every two days. My original TSH was .135 when they first spotted the problem. After about five weeks on the antithyroid drug, my TSH was up to 3. The doc would like to find a happier medium than that, as 3 is borderline hypo. Still, 3 was better than the alternative. She's also hopeful that because my case is mild and I'm able to tolerate the drug that we can bring it into remission. That generally takes a year or two, however.

My eyes, while very dry some days, are not showing any signs yet of disease. I'm keeping my fingers crossed with that aspect of things. For as mild of a case I have, I'm hopeful.

[Catrin]

Was this an endo or what?

I am starting to feel better. I cut my dose from 5 mg to 2.5 mg and am wondering if it's now just a bit too low of a dose. I'm going to play around with taking a full dose every other day/every two days. My original TSH was .135 when they first spotted the problem. After about five weeks on the antithyroid drug, my TSH was up to 3. The doc would like to find a happier medium than that, as 3 is borderline hypo. Still, 3 was better than the alternative. She's also hopeful that because my case is mild and I'm able to tolerate the drug that we can bring it into remission. That generally takes a year or two, however.

My eyes, while very dry some days, are not showing any signs yet of disease. I'm keeping my fingers crossed with that aspect of things. For as mild of a case I have, I'm hopeful.

It was a GP who seemed to think that diet solved most anything - though, indeed, diet certainly does help a lot.

For me, once my thyroid levels get out of whack (normally because I've forgotten to take it for a time...) it can take 4-5 months to get things to settle down. Now, my experience may not be the norm since I don't actually have a thyroid, but I've heard from others that it takes them some time as well to get things settled down.

When I had Graves, it was so advanced that I had the bulging eyes and the huge goiter. According to my eye dr. one eye still actually bulges, but it is so minor that no one else can tell. I was also quite heavy for someone with advanced Graves...and I can vouch for how strong an effect it can have on our moods and emotional state. I pretty much lost my 20's to it so my heart goes out to anyone dealing with it. These days I think they are much better at detecting and treating it.

[indysteel]

Catrin,

Have you ever looked into whether you were having a T4 to T3 to conversion problem? I know some people don't do well with just T4 supplementation; they also need T3 supplementation, often through a combination drug like Armour. If you've had blood work done recently, you might want to if your T3 values are in the normal range or, if they are, if they're on the low end of normal. And if you're relying only on TSH, it often shows as normal, even if T3 is low.

Beyond that, you gotta take your drug every day!!! I hate to see you frustated about your weight only to read that you sometimes miss doses of your thyroid replacement.

[Catrin]

Catrin,

Have you ever looked into whether you were having a T4 to T3 to conversion problem? I know some people don't do well with just T4 supplementation; they also need T3 supplementation, often through a combination drug like Armour. If you've had blood work done recently, you might want to if your T3 values are in the normal range or, if they are, if they're on the low end of normal. And if you're relying only on TSH, it often shows as normal, even if T3 is low.

Beyond that, you gotta take your drug every day!!! I hate to see you frustated about your weight only to read that you sometimes miss doses of your thyroid replacement.

Every year when we do the test I insist they do the full thyroid panel, I've learned about that...it is also not enough to make certain you take it daily, but that it is taken properly. So many things can cause it to not be absorbed by your body, can't take it with a Vitamin C supplement (or is it calcium? I never can remember). Better to just take it on as empty a stomach as you can, so many things interfere with that.

Yes, I do need to take it every day, this has been a struggle for the last 27 years...sigh

[snapdragen]

Every year when we do the test I insist they do the full thyroid panel, I've learned about that...it is also not enough to make certain you take it daily, but that it is taken properly. So many things can cause it to not be absorbed by your body, can't take it with a Vitamin C supplement (or is it calcium? I never can remember). Better to just take it on as empty a stomach as you can, so many things interfere with that.

Yes, I do need to take it every day, this has been a struggle for the last 27 years...sigh

It's calcium. I had a couple of years of yoyo thyroid levels. I finally discovered I should not be taking my calcium at the same time as my levothyroxine.

[Dannielle]

Catrin, my heart just broke reading that you pretty much lost your 20s to this. I can absolutely relate as someone who lost her 30s to this.

It definitely makes you embrace life a whole lot more fully after you've come through the other side, huh?