Thyroid

[lostinchaos]

Hi, has anyone any experience of trying to lose weight with under active thyroid. My levels are still not in the normal range and today my doctor has prescribed a higher dose of eltroxin for me. I asked him about weight loss and he replied "until the normal range is reached there will be little, if any weight loss".

Since developing under active thyroid I have gained approx 3 stone and still gaining. Other symptoms are extreme tiredness which leaves me too exhausted to exercise very much.

So basically if anyone has found a way to get off the meds for one thing as they are meant to be a lifetime thing I would love to hear how. And if anyone has successfully lost weight while levels were incorrect I would be so grateful for your help. I'm finding all this weight gain and tiredness very depressing and I need to get it sorted.

[stanmrak]

I have been researching my own hypothyroid condition quite a bit lately. There are at least 50 different symptoms that could indicate a thyroid condition. My symptoms are quite minor: sensitivity to cold, a little weight gain, and an ability to fall asleep almost anytime. Fortunately, I don't suffer chronic fatigue and would not have even suspected anything if I hadn't stumbled across an article on hypothyroidism.

I suggest you read the following books, available on amazon.com:

Amazon.com: Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal: A Revolutionary Breakthrough In Understanding Hashimoto's Disease and Hypothyroidism (9781600376702): Datis Kharrazian: Books

Amazon.com: Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health (9780060082222): Richard Shames, Karilee H. Shames: Books

Amazon.com: Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need to Know (Revised Edition) (9780060740955): Mary J. Shomon: Books

Recommended websites:

http://chriskresser.com/thyroid

Stop The Thyroid Madness

Thyroid Disease Information

Don't trust your regular doctor to treat your condition! My experience is that there are few conventional doctors who know how to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism. A really good endocrinologist will be expensive and is usually not covered by insurance, at least in the USA. Educate yourself.

They say that in the US, 90% of hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's. If this is the case, treating the thyroid alone won't help. Many doctors don't know this. Gluten intolerance is often is a key factor. This is not so in my case. The best guess I can make is that mine was caused by a long-term toxic exposure to fluoride, chlorine, radiation, mercury fillings and endocrine disruptors like PCBs, BPA, dioxins, etc. The thyroid is very sensitive to these things.

I have tried every way I could find to support my thyroid nutritionally: herbal thyroid support supplements, coconut oil, iodine, selenium, maca powder. I have not tried thyroid glandulars. I have lost 7-8 pounds by eating less and skipping dinner, but my TSH scores kept going higher, which told me that what I was doing was insufficient.

I also ground myself every night while I sleep (this practice is called "Earthing"). Thyroid patients who do this report that they have to reduce their dose of thyroid hormones significantly. I've been grounding myself 12-15 hours a day for 3 months and will continue to do so. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?


My next tact is to try Amour thyroid hormone, a natural product that is prescribed by a doctor, although not all doctors will do this. They usually prefer Synthroid, an artificial product. My research indicates that Armour hormone does not have the side effects of Synthroid. If you had to take it for the rest of your life, it wouldn't be that bad a fate. Certainly worth feeling good.

Blood tests for hypothyroidism are unreliable, and there are about a dozen different ones (I've had most of them). I also have had an ultrasound done on my thyroid gland. You have to monitor the symptoms - that's the best way to diagnose the problem, not lab numbers, although blood tests can be useful if you know how to interpret them. It's not simple, but a lay person can do it. Of course, the testing can get expensive if you don't have insurance.

If your thyroid starts working better, weight should come off. The thyroid is the gas peddle for your entire system.

[lostinchaos]

Thank you so much, I will definitely check out those websites and books. I asked my doc about gluten intolerance as my mother is coeliac but he told me it had nothing to do with it.

There seems to be so much info out there about it and as I have only been recently diagnosed I haven't had the time to get through half of it.

Grounding sounds interesting, I will look into it in more detail. I had some Bio Energy Healing done which gave me loads of energy, it really helped to balance everything. I felt much better after it.

I have always had a problem with not being able to sleep, slight insomnia I suppose and even now when I am so exhausted I still can't sleep properly but hopefully the books etc you recommended will have some tips on that to.

Are you taking Eltroxin or similar your self as well as the natural remedies? I was told kelp is extremely good but was also told not to take it with eltroxin as it alter the affects of it. Like I said lots of info to take in. I suppose everyone is different and everyone's body responds differently to different meds etc...

Well thank you for your help and I hope the amour thyroid hormone helps you, please keep me posted.

[stanmrak]

I've not heard of Eltroxin, but I assume that it's a type of synthetic thyroid hormone. They say subjects respond differently to various thyroid hormone products. Synthroid has been the #1 seller for years, so there's lots of marketing dollars behind it, and no incentive to improve on it, even though it often doesn't help. Many doctors don't bother with extensive testing because it wouldn't change the only treatment they use - Synthroid. "Free market capitalism" isn't working here!

Armour is a natural form of thyroid hormone, extracted from pigs. I'd try that. If your doctor won't prescribe that, get another doctor. There's also thyroid glandular supplements that have had the hormones removed. Standard Process makes one that you can get from an alternative practitioner.

Kelp might help if iodine deficiency is the source of problem. However, I've heard that 50% of the commercial seaweed is contaminated with bromine and other toxins that prevent iodine absorption, so it makes the problem worse, not better as it should. If you have an autoimmune condition, taking iodine is the worst thing to do.
The feeling I get is that sometimes you just need to go with the prescription meds, even if means the rest of your life. This advice even comes from alternative healers.

[lostinchaos]

Eltroxin is the main thyroid meds that are used here. Here being Ireland. Eltroxin tablets contain the active ingredient levothyroxine sodium (previously known simply as thyroxine sodium in the UK). (NB. Levothyroxine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Levothyroxine is the same as the hormone thyroxine, which is produced naturally by the thyroid gland.

My levels have came down a lot in the last 2 months according to blood tests, which I agree are unreliable as they say one thing but I feel no better.

I will start taking the stronger meds and see what happens. The next blood test is due in January so hopefully they will be in the "normal" range then. And hopefully I will feel normal.

Yes I have been told that about kelp also and I was also told from an alternative healer to stick to meds until levels are correct anyway. So that's the plan for now, I live in hope.

[stanmrak]

From my research, I would suspect you have an autoimmune condition. Some practitioners say that this accounts for 90% of the thyroid problems they see. (not mine, however). The links I gave will tell you more. If that's true, the meds may not help, regardless of what your TSH score is. A gluten-free diet would be recommended. Not LOW gluten either, but NO gluten whatsoever.

[pyrogen]

All of what they said.

I have Graves' Disease and my thyroid tends to spike (which can make one GAIN weight too!). What also happens though is that sometimes I get "lows" (I believe I may be in one right now, and am so crushingly exhausted and cold that I don't even want to leave the bed), and sometimes I have to suffer through periods of being hypo when they're aggressively dealing with the spikes.

You aren't going to lose any weight until the underlying issue is dealt with. Deal with that, and address your health, not your dress/pants size. Once you're healthy, your dress/pants size will take care of itself.

[Anneliese]

Originally Posted by lostinchaos

My levels have came down a lot in the last 2 months according to blood tests, which I agree are unreliable as they say one thing but I feel no better.

I will start taking the stronger meds and see what happens. The next blood test is due in January so hopefully they will be in the "normal" range then. And hopefully I will feel normal.

Changes in your thyroid hormone dosage can take a long time to reach the full effect. Three months is not too long to wait. You'll have to be patient.

You mentioned upthread about stopping taking your T4. It's the same as what your body produces, but your body doesn't make enough. Why not take it? I felt the same as you, I didn't want to take something for the rest of my life, so I struggled for many, many years without it. However, taking it after changed my life, for the better, and I wish I had done it from the start.

Also, not everyone feels better with desiccated hormone. The pig hormone has too much T3 than what a human has, so often the desiccated hormone needs to be supplemented with synthetic T4 anyway.

[Greek Dog]

Stanmrak - I am interested in learning more about Earthing. I went to the link you posted. Is the concept to put your bare feet on the earth - directly on the dirt, rocks or grass?

While I am waiting for my doctor's appointment in January I am taking supplements that support my thyroid and adrenals. I ordered but have not yet received thyro-gold. It will be interesting to me to see how effective it is.

[stanmrak]

Originally Posted by Greek Dog

Stanmrak - I am interested in learning more about Earthing. I went to the link you posted. Is the concept to put your bare feet on the earth - directly on the dirt, rocks or grass?

Basically, yes. However, it's hard for anyone to do this long enough by going barefoot. You can earth at night while you sleep, tho. That's the most effective time to do it. You can make a homemade earthing device for less than $10: Earthing Products Let You Ground Yourself Almost Anywhere