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Thyroid medication...any suggestions?
Started
by Cari McWilliams
on December 2, 2009
I have been taking thyroid medication for 18 years now, and am really wanting to find a natural way to deal with my hypothyroidism. Any ideas?
Taking a supplement with iodine such as Organic Bound Minerals by Standard Process can support Thyroid function. Also yoga inversions help align the thyroid.
Hi Cari,
It is a good idea to try to find a natural way to deal with your condition. In some cases, patients were put on thyroid medication as a result of a low TSH on a blood test. TSH Is the thyroid stimulating hormone that originates from the pituitary. The pituitary measures the amount of thyroid in the blood and determines if more is needed. If the pituitary decides more thyroid is required it releases TSH, which stimulates the thyroid to produce more hormone. It is very difficult to measure the amount of thyroid because it has different forms and different concentrations in the body. TSH It is a high sensitivity assay, which means there is very little of it in the blood and the tests for it are notoriously unreliable.
I suggest you ask your doctor for another test and inform them of your desire to discontinue your medication.
If you have ever skipped a day or two and noticed a change in your condition that may be a sign that you actually need help with your thyroid. It could also result from the sort of rebound effect associated with many other medications. Understanding if you are in fact actually hypothyroid is a good start.
Hi Cari, I have also been on Hypothyroid pills for 10 years now to due Hypothyroidism. I am actually in the same boat where I am trying to do the same. I would also like to get off my pills as well but am kinda worried about telling my doctor since all I hear from health care people are that I have been on them too long to go off and do it naturally. I don't personally believe it and my doctor is amazing and very good with naturally doing things so I don't know what my problem is. Anyways, another thing that helps with regulating the thyroid is a powder product called Vega-by Brendon Braizer. It can be used as a meal replacement once a day or as a snack (that is what I use it for since I don't like to "replace my meals" unless in a huge rush) you can get it anywhere and is perfect for Vegetarians/Vegans. Yoga is good like Samantha mentioned, meditation as well. There is also a product called Thyrosense which is natural. Feel free to msg me about your journey and information anytime!
Thanks for the ideas! I have to admit that I am really feeling nervous about trying this...does anyone know what possible side effects going off thyroid meds could have? I am afraid it will effect my fertility and since I have yet to have any children but would like to, I am just afraid of the risk!
Cari, Are you always cold? Do you have a poor appetite? Is your cycle irregular? Do you sleep more than eight hours a day? These are all signs of hypothyroid.
If you go off your medication and start to get freezing cold, it is most likely a sign of low thyroid. If you go off your medication and experience none of these symptoms, it is possible you have enough thyroid.
The superhero diet for a few weeks making sure to include sea vegetables would be a good preparation for an attempt to reduce or discontinue your thyroid medicine. I have not found natural remedies that work consistently enough for me to be able to recommend them as a substitute for pharmaceutical medications for the treatment of true hypothyroidism.
The autoimmune processes that suppress thyroid function are encouraged by exposure to animal-based proteins. The superhero approach is indicated in these cases.
justin
Thank you Justin
I have had difficulty finding someone to talk to about this things who works in the field of medicine. Most doctors think it is a bad idea to discontinue.
They may be correct. If it is your wish to see if discontinuing your meds have negative consequences it is simple. You can skip a day. If none of the symptoms develop try skipping two days the next week.
You can ask for a new blood test even if your doc isn't on board with all your plans
Cari, I have hypothyroidism also. When my thyroid cashed the first time I was so ill and put on a tremendous amount of weight. The doctors put me on Sythroid and I had to adjust the dose almost every other month for years and the weight kept piling on. Finally, last Fall, I went to a Naturopathic doctor. My friend recommended this and I was willing to try anything. I was obese, had horrendous female problems, eczema, migrains . . . I was a mess. LoL. The naturopathic docto SAVED MY LIFE. He diagnosed me as having a thyroid that switched from Hypo to Hyper and back. This was why medicine never worked. Now I say natural supplements all the way. I am now on Core Level Thyro by NutriWest and Organically Bound Minerals by Standard Process. I started losing weight for the first time in 10 years, the eczema has cleared entirely in some places, the female problems are fine and the migrains are gone. I still have a long way to go, but I highly recommend finding a naturopath. All the products are natural, can not hurt you and are so much better for your body. It does take a month or two for you to feel and see the effects when you start them, but it is so worth it. In fact, my experience was so positive I will neve seek a medical doctor again unless absolutely necessary (ie: surgery, medical condition that can not be treated naturally, etc.) Good luck. Oh, and if you need a referral for a naturopath in your area I can probably get one from my doctor. (FYI most naturopaths do not accept insurance. Visits run between $25-$35 a visit. You will most likely go every week for the first two months, then every two weeks and then one a month or when you feel unwell. Supplements run from $9-$45 per supplement depending on wha tit is and how much you need to take it).
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