I have thyroid disease, and I feel GREAT!

[TamraW]

Just wanted to share an update on my thyroid/adrenal treatment. All this week, I've laid down for my daily nap, and I COULD NOT sleep. I wake up happy and energetic. I sleep through the night. I feel like a healthy 'normal' person, with the exception of some mild fatigue from 2-4 in the afternoon, but NOTHING like before.

BTW - I have Hashimoto's auto-immune thyroid disease. 90 percent of hypothyroid patients in developed countries have Hashi. Most of my thyroid was already eaten and I'd been rendered hypothyroid by the time my clueless doctors figured me out (with a lot of assistance from MH, Google and me).

I've had to make some major alterations to my daily life. Some of my dietary habits would be considered extreme, but in my case, necessary.

I have A LOT of documentation on gluten and its connection to the thyroid, and many of you are sick of hearing about it. I will just say that since giving up gluten four months ago, my antibody attacks have stopped, and I have had to reduce my intake of thyroid hormone.

I no longer eat gluten, processed and fried foods, 99 percent of soy, no corn and dairy (with the exception of butter). I also gave up coffee as it is hard on the adrenal glands.

I have learned to find replacements for the things I love, such as rice and almond milk, Enjoy life chocolate bars and many, many gluten free and allergen free bread mixes, cakes etc. I drink hot lemon water with Stevia - NO SPLENDA or artificial sugar.

I take many vitamins, including Magnesium, B12, D, Selenium, C, A, E, and a good fish oil. I also take a supplement called Clearvite given to me by my holistic doctor. I take X-FLM, specially formulated for the TH1 dominant Hashi patient. Do you know if you are TH1 or TH2 dominant? I also take neurotransmitter support because my urine test revealed many of my neurotransmitters were out of whack. Finally, I  apply adrenal creams to combat my low cortisol in the morning and high at night.

Usually, Hashimoto's is just the icing on the cake and we thyroid patients have many deeper issues, especially within the gut. 70 percen tof the body's immunity comes from the gut. I have gotten to the root of the cause, and I'm happy and healthy again. You may read my journal for more on my treatment.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

The constipation was part of my 'before' problems. I still get mild constipation, though, and I take something my MD gave me, Lactulose. I would like to get off of it for good. I will try the psyllium. Thanks!

:) Tamra

[Smilerdeb]

Try Psyllium for the bowles. It is a very fine powder and a teaspoon a day in fluids will fix the bowel problem.
It is a psyllium husk and it is used widely in Hypothyroid patients in Aged Care.
Doesnt cause loose bowels but gets the intestines to contract and hence bowel movement.
May be of some help to you and a 2kg bag is only AU$18 here in health food shops.
You can buy a 500gram bag for $9 just to try it if you want.

It is important to take laxatives such as psyllium with sufficient amounts of water or liquid in order to reduce the risk of bowel obstruction. Doses ranging from 2.2 to 45 grams by mouth daily in divided doses, often administered just prior to meals, have been used in studies.

Due to potential reductions in blood sugar levels caused by psyllium, blood glucose levels in diabetic patients should be closely monitored.

[TamraW]

I forgot #10. My big fat goiter is gone. The swelling went away after I quit gluten. :) T.

[TamraW]

Interesting you should ask. I was feeling soooo much better in February when my thyroid pills were at 150 Synthroid and 10 Cytomel.  My FT4 was a 1.5 and my FT3 was around 400. Much of the leg cramping was gone. I could go to more than one place during the day instead of just being wiped out after a grocery store visit. My foot cramping was gone. I could survive about four hours to our local theme park, Sea World. However, I still felt I had room to improve in the following areas:

1. Stomach cramping and bloating
2. Fatigue throughout the day and dependency on the mid-day nap
3. Brain just didn't function right. Most of the brainfog was gone, but I just felt like I wasn't thinking with enough focus.
4. I was easily irritated and snapped at my kid (and this started way before my FT3 was at 400, even during the hypo days). I would get easily offended by little comments. I was a maniac at the wheel, always in a rush to go nowhere. I was just high strung, impatient and easily irritated.
5. Hard time doing Yoga, as I just couldn't get my legs to stop wobbling.
6. Weak, especially when it came to opening lids or picking up bags of dog food.
7. Knee joint pain
8. Still constipated despite magnesium and high FT3.
9. Hard time getting up in the morning and then I'd get hot flashes and have difficulty sleeping at night. (This was my adrenals)

I think many of us Hashi patients can relate to the metaphor of the slow cooked lobster. For so many years, we've been sinking into further and further malaise and low health, that we just don't know what it is to feel healthy and happy.

I know now that not all of this is thyroid related. That I've got other hormones that need work. Many of my neurotransmitters such as serotonin are way off the mark. I'm taking herbals to stimulate all of those areas and I'm feeling MUCH better.

I also know that my approach to wellness is not for everyone. I sure hope, though, that other thyroid patients at least give it a try and make sure you get tested and treated for TH1 or 2 dominance, so that you know the foods that stimulate a thyroid attack, get the adrenals tested and treated, eat as healthy as you can, and get your FT3 levels tested and treated if necessary.

I still have room for improvement. I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to the corn-based filler in Cytomel. Every time I take my PM pill, I get bloating and a gassy stomach. I'm going to look into switching to a dessicated hormone at my next endo visit.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

I buy GF magnesium at Walmart. Take between 200- 250 mg 3 times daily for a total of three pills a day. Wait four hours after taking thyroid meds before taking vitamins, as those can interfere wtih absorption. :) T.

[annamae26]

so very very happy for you that you are feeling well   you are an inspiration to me.  btw  how much magnesium do you take a day?