Thyroid Doctor Visit Update

I think my doctor appointment went ok on Friday.  He spent a lot of time with me going over each individual blood test I had done and writing down what I needed to do to fix that particular result. 

I thought he was going to put me on straight T3 to rid my body of the reverse T3 problem it has but he thinks that the reverse T3 problem was caused by my Synthroid medication (synthetic T4 thyroid medication) and since I stopped taking that a couple weeks ago and only take a natural thyroid medication, he thinks the abnormal reverse T3 results will go away on their own.

If he's right, then it went great.  If he's wrong, then I'll know it over the next couple weeks. 

He also increased my dose of Vitamin D, told me to add Selenium supplements, go back to iron supplements regularly and go back on the Iodine supplements (I'd stopped them when I got jittery on all the extra thyroid medications).  I get more blood work in two months. 

I am on two grains of natural thyroid medication currently.  If my system slows down, it will be raised.  He thinks with my thyroid disease and all the toxins we take in that I might need to go to three grains. 

My morning cortisol levels were low normal but he isn't going to do anything about that right now because I am not lacking energy in the morning. I usually wake up with energy and happy.  If I didn't have any energy in the morning, he'd address that.  I also never lacked for energy on our vacation and we ran from place to place constantly.

As I was sitting in his office waiting for him, I noticed that they actually offer prescription refills for basic medications right there in the office (like for respiratory infections and bladder infections).  That would be really convenient for a doctor to have their own POS systems in-office to scan and buy what we need in one trip.  Maybe eventually they'll offer grains of natural thyroid medication as well!  That would be super convenient.

So, I think it was a good visit. 

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Book: Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It

I became interested in learning more about the importance of Iodine after corresponding with people who claimed that by taking Iodine daily, they had shrunk their thyroid nodules and goiter.  Since I have both, I was very interested in finding out more.

I read Dr. David Brownstein's Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It.  I actually bought the book when there wasn't a library in all of Ohio who could get it for me (seriously, they checked through their inter-library system).  I am glad I bought it because it is a book to have on hand to go back to.  I read it for the information on how Iodine helps the thyroid but it also talks about its role in breast cancer, prostate cancer, fatigue, detox, skin problems, and more. 

My new doctor was very familiar with the importance of Iodine and supports my taking Iodoral daily.  He did state he doesn't feel that it will shrink anything but does feel Iodine is important.

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Thyroid & Iodine Update

Almost another pound gone in the last few days on the natural thyroid medication (Thiroyd...no, not a misspelling).  That's good.  I was hoping it'd work the same as the Thyroid-S and it appears to be.  Also, the intense head itching I had on Thyroid-S isn't happening with Thiroyd.  Must've been a filler in the Thyroid-S I was allergic to.  Thankfully it's gone!  That intense itching was just awful.  I react differently to some medications than the normal person since getting thyroid disease so I'm not surprised really.

My appointment next week with my new doctor (to get a prescription natural dessicated thyroid medication, Naturethroid) had to be changed.  I originally wanted Armour but I've heard the lab changed the formula for it and people are not satisfied with it any longer.  I've heard good things about Naturethroid.  My husband's work changed his schedule for next week and I really wanted him to go with me (and drive because it's over an hour away in an area I'm not familiar with).  So, I changed the appointment - putting it a week further out.  Then my husband's work changed his schedule back again!  Oy!  I didn't bother calling to see if I could get my old appointment time back.  I don't want to be a nuisance. 

I am really hoping this new doctor will be "it" in terms of treating naturally and by symptoms and not just labs or robotic medical care dictated to them by a pharmaceutical company pushing their medications.  From research online, he appears to be working with other groups on natural products/hormones so I am really hopeful.  I hope I'm not severely disappointed.  I know he won't be like the last endocrinologist I saw - he wanted to take my thyroid out before he even examined me!

This endocrinologist was a pompous jerk.  The jacka$$ actually told me that I could lose 25-30 pounds if I drank diet pop (never mind the studies about the toxins in that crap).  I told him I wasn't over-eating or anything like and was exercising but all he saw was the extra 30 pounds and saw "bad eater" instead of "thyroid disease" that needed a different (better) treatment than what he was willing to do.  Well, he can kiss it now.  I've lost 13 of those 30 pounds with the natural medication already!  I didn't change my eating or exercise habits!

I've been taking Iodoral for Iodine.  I haven't taken more than about 18 mgs a day yet.  I know many people take up to 50 mgs but I'm taking it slow.  Part of me wants to go higher to see if it gets rid of my goiter and nodules but I think I'll wait to see my new doctor in two weeks.

I started salt loading with celtic sea salt yesterday.  Every winter, I get this rash where the clothing seams rub.  I have dry, sensitive skin so it's not unexpected. However, this past week, it was a lot worse than normal and had a different appearance in some areas.  I'm wondering if that is the bromine being pushed out (bromaderma rash) from the Iodine.  It could also be the fact that my husband has had the heat a lot higher than usual this year as opposed to past years (I actually wake up at night sometimes feeling dehydrated and tell him he's "baking me".).  However, the odd patch of rash I've not seen in years past is really faint today so perhaps it was the Iodine pushing the toxic bromine out of my system and the salt loading helped my kidneys flush it out.  I'm going to salt load again today and see.  He's home this weekend and I'm sure will bake me again so with the celtic sea salt loading, I might be able to tell if it's the Iodine working or just my husband trying to bake me to a crisp!  I like my steaks well-done, not me.

Still using the toothpaste without fluoride.  After a few days, you get used to the different taste and don't even notice it anymore.  I'm trying to rid my body of fluoride and bromine so my thyroid will work better.

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Ran Into Some Problems

The ten pounds has stayed off so far. Unfortunately, I think I'm allergic to the one form of natural thyroid medication I'm taking (Thyroid-S). My head feels like hives and it's SO itchy! I've tried different shampoos and treatments but then recently realized that this is the same feeling I had when the doctor gave me a medication I was allergic to. I think it's probably a filler in the Thyroid-S that is causing the reaction.

I have an appointment for mid-January with a new doctor that came recommended to me. I didn't want to keep taking Thyroid-S for another month but I also don't want to go back to feeling horrible and gaining that weight back either. So I have reduced my Thyroid-S dose so I'm still getting more T3 and have gone back to Synthroid (ONLY temporarily) just until my new doctor can prescribe Naturethroid for me. I hear that's better for people who have allergies to some of the fillers in the other medications.

It's too bad if I'm allergic to Thryoid-S because I was feeling better and some weight dropped off. It could be an allergy or perhaps a hypothyroid symptom - meaning I need MORE Thyroid-S than I'm currently taking but if I'm allergic, I don't want to push it.

I've also bought natural progesterone cream, coconut oil, and magnesium oil. I've read some good things and wanted to try a few things out. I'm waiting for my books (Stop the Thyroid Madness and Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It) to show up on my doorstep. It's been Christmas here this week with all my stuff coming in!

I'll let you know what I think of the books after they get here and I read them. I can't wait until they get here.

I picked up some iodine tincture.  I want to try a skin test with it and see what that is about. There are several sites that talk about it but they say different things. Some sites say it can help tell if you are iodine deficient and other sites say it doesn't work for that. I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Edited to add 2/2/2010:  It wasn't a medication allergy. It was eczema:)

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My Health Update

I've been slowly changing over from my synthetic thyroid medication to a natural dessicated thyroid medication over the last couple of weeks. I'm doing fine on the transition - no hyper symptoms like increased heart rate. No panicky feeling at all.

I've finally lost a few pounds so I think the T3 in the natural medication is better for me personally! I lost five pounds when I did this before (but my medical doctor freaked out over it - natural medication - so I stopped until I found the information I needed to manage my thyroid better myself).

I was taking iodine and am using Celtic salt during that time as well but I haven't been consistent with that yet. I guess it's a routine I have to create and get used to and I forget about the iodine more often than not (thyroid brain fog doesn't help me remember;). Once I get onto the Iodine routine, I'm hoping the goiter and nodules will shrink.

Hopefully the weight loss continues!

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Got My Salt, Iodoral & New Thyroid Meds

My Iodoral and Celtic Sea Salt came in on the 14th from Amazon. I wish the book I'd been waiting for at the library had come in to (Dr. Brownstein's Iodine).


My new thyroid medication also came in. It was the day for deliveries at my house. Before I jump in with taking everything at once, it is time to do a little research and see what the best way to start these are. Besides the Iodine book, I wanted to have a copy of Stop the Thyroid Madness but my library doesn't have a copy of it. They are doing a nation-wide search for me.


The packaging of my meds was a little different than what I'm used to:

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Iodine, Celtic Sea Salt & Fluoride

I have taken the next step to helping myself. A thyroid needs iodine in order to function properly. I've also read that there may be a link between breast cancer and being iodine deficient as well as iodine being used in the treatment of breast cancer. It's very interesting reading and one I am going to look into more.

We don't get what we need from table salt as it is refined. I've also read by some that it is considered toxic.

Another problem that I've read concerning iodine is about fluoride and how our bodies can confuse fluoride with iodine, displacing it in our body. Fluoride is in a lot of water, toothpaste, dental treatments, and my children's school even gives fluoride treatments once a week to the students (they call it "swish"). If fluoride is doing this, it can lead to thyroid problems. According to PFPC, fluoride poisoning symptoms are very similar to those of hypothyroidism.

I am going to start supplementing with iodine, to see if it improves some of the symptoms of my hypothyroidism, goiter, and nodules. I ordered the Iodoral (iodine) and some celtic sea salt. I've replaced my toothpaste with a fluoride-free toothpaste (and studies are starting to show that fluoride isn't preventing cavities the way it is touted to so at this point, I'm ok with going fluoride-free to see if I start to feel better). Luckily, where we moved to, our water is already fluoride-free so I don't need to worry about the water supply.

I'll do this for a bit and see if I start to feel better. I'll start slow and at the lowest dose. Then, I'll go visit my friendly medical personnel in lab coats and see if any of my lab levels have improved.

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Book on Bioidentical Hormones

I just finished Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones by Suzanne Somers. I really didn't understand what a "bioidentical hormone" was and wanted to find out more. "Bioidentical" means biologically identical to human hormones, to replicate human hormones, are not drugs. They are not like synthetic hormones, which are made from the urine of pregnant mares.





Since I have a disease that is hormone-related, I want to learn all I can and get different perspectives and find what feels right, and works, for me.

It was interesting reading and a different opinion than what you'd get from most mainstream doctors (including the endocrinologists I have been unhappy with for the treatment of my thyroid disease). I wouldn't be surprised to see more of this thought process being practiced down the road but it'll be a long road until then I think, if my own personal experience with mainstream doctors is any indication.


I've made a lot of notes from the book for my use and want to document them here for my future reading. My brain fog is bad enough that I have to make notes of pretty much everything or else it's forgotten in no time. These are some notes I've made from my reading from different information in the book:

• Cancer and synthetic hormone replacement (like Premarin, Provera, and Prempro) link: Study by Women's Health Initiative was supposed to last 8.5 years but was stopped after 5.2 years because risk of using synthetic hormones outweighed the benefits. Increased risk of breast cancer; also shows does not protect heart and bones like originally though.


• DHEA: most plentiful hormone in body, converted into other hormones (including estrogen and testosterone). Considered an antiaging and anti-disease hormone. Weight loss. Your DHEA levels can be checked via saliva or blood test. Female optimum level is 150-350 and males 250-450 according to this book. Available over the counter. There are side effects if you have too much so get tested before supplementing. DHEA may be better taken at night.


• Some reasons for sick thyroid: 1) Selenium necessary for T4 conversion to T3. 2) Estrogen dominance 3) Mercury 4) Stress


• You should support the adrenals when treating your thyroid (my endocrinologists and family doctors who treated my thyroid these last eight years never talked about it or obviously did this). I was finally recently tested, but the endocrinologist wouldn't even consider adrenal support.


• Chronically high levels of cortisol will degrade your immune system (like dealing with all the ex/step stress where I lived in a constant state of stress for about ten years?).


• The author gets regular injections of HGH (human growth hormone) because tests showed she was low. Have to be tested first. To read some studies, go to http://www.pubmed.com/ and type in "growth hormone".


• The "Seven Dwarfs of Menopause" (this I found funny even though I'm a few years away from menopause...I wanted to keep it): Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful, and All-Dried-Up. Menopause doesn't have to be miserable if your hormones are optimized (something for me to keep in mind for when I start to go through it).


• GI Bloat: There are foods that offend you and cause this. There is supposed to be a test you can take to find out what those foods are. You can find out more at Dr. Diana Schwarzbein, http://www.schwarzbeinprinciple.com/.


• Symptoms of low testosterone for men are low libido, decreased facial and body hair, enlarged breasts or no symptoms at all. Can cause osteoporosis in men.


• Calcium supplements: better as liquid because some in pill form do not dissolve and come out the next day.


• Iodine: Iodine is necessary and concentrates in the thyroid, breasts, and ovaries (I've read elsewhere that iodine is used in the treatment of breast cancer...it's worth looking into as I've been told (by other thyroid patients...not doctors) that Iodine would shrink my thyroid nodules and goiter.) Fluoride interferes in our body utilizing what Iodine we do get. Can get an iodine loading test to find out if you are deficient and by how much.
• Book mentions melatonin; 0.25 mg (tiny dose) or higher, depending on needs. Will look into.
• The book lists several doctors, specialists, clinics, and institutes for more information: http://www.bermansexualhealth.com/, http://www.ahealth.com/, http://www.drarvantely.com/, http://www.emotrics/, http://www.menopauseinstitute.com/, http://www.antiaging.com/, http://www.bornclinic.com/, http://www.drbrownstein.com/, http://www.juliecarmenyoga.com/.
  
  

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Iodine, Adrenals, & Stress

I've been busy doing a lot of research on adrenal support and the use of Iodine in helping with goiter and nodules. Of course, it's nothing my doctor (any of them) have told me about because they are all about synthetic medications and nothing else. It's something I am seriously researching.

In addition to that, I worry about the effect of constant stress on my thyroid and adrenals (cortisol) in years past when we lived a very stressful life. Stress is a hard monster to tame. You can say relax, light some WoodWick Candles, and let your stress go but it's really not that easy for me because my brain doesn't shut down. It goes over and over what is bothering me. After many years of that, does stress affect your health? I think so.

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