Re: OT - TSH is not useless - I stand corrected :-)

[Guest guest]

What the heck? The FONT gremlins attacked my post!!!

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 1:40 PM, Lea Ann Savage wrote:

Dr. Dow,I am appropriately washed and basked and have a very strong stomach so there was no regurgitation ;-)And since I love getting on my soap boxes - please feel free to get on yours - it's how we learn! :-)I do realize that TSH has its purposes, and probably - no did - misspeak when I declared it patently useless. I got my phrase "the TSH test is basically useless" from this page of the STTM website: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh-why-its-useless/ titled, "TSH Why It Is Useless". In this page they do mention what the TSH is good for and it correlates with what you said: "The best use for the TSH pertains to what it IS: a PITUITARY HORMONE! And for that, it’s a good guide to reveal if you have a malfunctioning pituitary gland, especially if you have a very low TSH and low free T3, accompanied by raging hypothyroid symptoms". The problem is that Most GPs and even the majority of endocrinologists use the TSH as a marker for thyroid function when it is only a measure of pituitary function.But even if you found an endocrinologists who understands that the TSH isn't a good indicator of thyroid function, most of them still don't get the RT3/T3 imbalance issue - "most" of them aren't even looking for it and it is a very common co-condition with exhausted adrenals. My GP took a look at my labs and told me I was fine. I went back and requested a new set of tests to include RT3, and FT3 and with the help of the Stop The Thyroid Madness book, the RT3_T3/ email list and tons of additional books, websites, and research came up with the protocol that FINALLY got me back on my feet. Critical was getting my ferritin up from 20 to 59 (latest test results). Nothing worked until my ferritin and adrenals were addressed.But I digress...Doctors are loath to treat patients based on anything but lab results and therein lies the problem. Lab results are important, but in thyroid treatment - the patient's experience has to be factored in. It turns out that what is working for me is not even the protocol for purging RT3 that is promoted on the group that I linked to above. I treat myself based on my symptoms and my dose changes just as my life and stressors change. Luckily I have a doctor who will work with me. I have cortisol for when I need it (rarely these days, but it was essential a few months back) and T3 only medication that has been a God send once I figured out how much to take. I think that you and I are in agreement that the problem is with the physicians who don't understand that a patient can have "normal" TSH labs concurrent with a raging hypothyroid condition. Too often they dismiss the patient completely! (or a doctor's favorite fall back to deal with fatigue... RX antidepressants) or they RX Synthroid which is only T4 (a storage hormone) when the patient really needs T3 - the active hormone! Some patients (like myself) need T3 only (because T4 can produce more RT3 which just keeps clogging up the cell receptors) and others benefit from the combo of T1/T2/T3/T4 and calcitonin that comes in Armour and is the same as what our own thyroid produces. So the poor patient suffers all because of doctors who won't do anything but follow the accepted protocol and who don't understand how to treat patients based on symptoms.And , I am thrilled to have a professional opinion to catch me when I err ;-)

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 12:16 PM, n1jcx2 wrote:

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on?

This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)

TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.

The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...

Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

- Dow, D.C.

> >

> >>

> >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged.

> >>

> >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.

> >>

> >> Many Thanks,

> >> Marilyn

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'm grateful to be learning so much from you all. My GP (who specializes in internal medicine), has only tested my T4 level, which has always been in the "normal" range, but for many years I have experienced many hypothyroid symptoms. So she put me on levoxyl. Which has not helped at all. a couple of months ago, I went to a new neurologist (I've been having a terrible problem with my migraines for the last year and a half), and she thinks that my migraines might be related to hormonal issues. She had me see a nurse practitioner that works for her, who had me do one of those 24 hour saliva tests, which revealed that my T3 is low. So she has prescribed Armour for me (I have stopped taking the Levoxyl), and we've been slowly increasing the dosage and will continue to do so until we find the right level. I'm feeling a little frustrated though, because I'm at 1 gram, and I'm not feeling any better. I think I need to read the Stop the Thyroid Madness book, because I really don't understand how the whole thyroid system works. But really, I'm scared of the book because it sounds so extreme and crazy, lol. But truthfully, I think my reluctance to read the book is a reflection of how low my energy is - I just don't have it in me to try to wrap my brain around it. Isn't that sad?FrannyOn Jan 28, 2011, at 12:40 PM, Lea Ann Savage wrote:

Dr. Dow,I am appropriately washed and basked and have a very strong stomach so there was no regurgitation ;-)And since I love getting on my soap boxes - please feel free to get on yours - it's how we learn! :-)I do realize that TSH has its purposes, and probably - no did - misspeak when I declared it patently useless. I got my phrase "the TSH test is basically useless" from this page of the STTM website: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh-why-its-useless/ titled, "TSH Why It Is Useless". In this page they do mention what the TSH is good for and it correlates with what you said: "The best use for the TSH pertains to what it IS: a PITUITARY HORMONE! And for that, it’s a good guide to reveal if you have a malfunctioning pituitary gland, especially if you have a very low TSH and low free T3, accompanied by raging hypothyroid symptoms". The problem is that Most GPs and even the majority of endocrinologists use the TSH as a marker for thyroid function when it is only a measure of pituitary function.But even if you found an endocrinologists who understands that the TSH isn't a good indicator of thyroid function, most of them still don't get the RT3/T3 imbalance issue - "most" of them aren't even looking for it and it is a very common co-condition with exhausted adrenals. My GP took a look at my labs and told me I was fine. I went back and requested a new set of tests to include RT3, and FT3 and with the help of the Stop The Thyroid Madness book, the RT3_T3/ email list and tons of additional books, websites, and research came up with the protocol that FINALLY got me back on my feet. Critical was getting my ferritin up from 20 to 59 (latest test results). Nothing worked until my ferritin and adrenals were addressed.But I digress...Doctors are loath to treat patients based on anything but lab results and therein lies the problem. Lab results are important, but in thyroid treatment - the patient's experience has to be factored in. It turns out that what is working for me is not even the protocol for purging RT3 that is promoted on the group that I linked to above. I treat myself based on my symptoms and my dose changes just as my life and stressors change. Luckily I have a doctor who will work with me. I have cortisol for when I need it (rarely these days, but it was essential a few months back) and T3 only medication that has been a God send once I figured out how much to take. I think that you and I are in agreement that the problem is with the physicians who don't understand that a patient can have "normal" TSH labs concurrent with a raging hypothyroid condition. Too often they dismiss the patient completely! (or a doctor's favorite fall back to deal with fatigue... RX antidepressants) or they RX Synthroid which is only T4 (a storage hormone) when the patient really needs T3 - the active hormone! Some patients (like myself) need T3 only (because T4 can produce more RT3 which just keeps clogging up the cell receptors) and others benefit from the combo of T1/T2/T3/T4 and calcitonin that comes in Armour and is the same as what our own thyroid produces. So the poor patient suffers all because of doctors who won't do anything but follow the accepted protocol and who don't understand how to treat patients based on symptoms.And , I am thrilled to have a professional opinion to catch me when I err ;-)

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 12:16 PM, n1jcx2 wrote:

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on?

This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)

TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.

The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...

Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

- Dow, D.C.

> >

> >>

> >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged.

> >>

> >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.

> >>

> >> Many Thanks,

> >> Marilyn

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Franny, it IS sad that you don't have enough energy to deal with it all, but even sadder that this is usually the case! You get to feeling so crappy that you can't even contemplate it all. We like to think that a quick trip to the doctor will give us the answers, but sadly, that is rarely the case. The GOOD news is, you are quite likely to start feeling better quickly if you can muster up the strength to try to help yourself. As for the migraines, I would suspect an undiagnosed allergy. Keeping a detailed food journal is very helpful in determining what might be causing them, and also suspecting things such as laundry detergents, household cleaners, etc. Yes, it is daunting, but so worth it all when you see positive results!

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on?

This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)

TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.

The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...

Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

- Dow, D.C.

> >

> >>

> >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged.

> >>

> >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.

> >>

> >> Many Thanks,

> >> Marilyn

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

One can to directlabs.com

and purchase one’s own tests at a reduced rate than where drs. often send

us. They often have those tests on sale.

Directlabs also has an

online assistant to help you if you need help. Just make sure you have

your blood drawn at the complementing lab in your own city.

I’ve gotten the

compete wellness test, D….The complete wellness shows adrenals, thyroid,

bones, etc.….also shows if you should think about additional tests along

these lines.

What I like about, not

only the better price, but they send me the test papers, I take them to the lab

for my own blood draw, they send me the results and I take them to my dr. of

choice. I have my own copies so if I’m not happy where I went

first, I still can take copies some where else.

I’ve had symptoms,

from the blood tests, of bone problems, but it’s all due to low,

unbalanced hormone levels. The dr. I took my blood tests to could see

that, thankfully.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Berry

Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011

3:09 PM

Subject: Re:

OT - TSH is not useless - I stand corrected :-)

Franny, it IS sad that you don't have enough energy

to deal with it all, but even sadder that this is usually the case! You

get to feeling so crappy that you can't even contemplate it all. We

like to think that a quick trip to the doctor will give us the answers, but

sadly, that is rarely the case. The GOOD news is, you are quite likely

to start feeling better quickly if you can muster up the strength to try to

help yourself. As for the migraines, I would suspect an undiagnosed

allergy. Keeping a detailed food journal is very helpful in determining

what might be causing them, and also suspecting things such as laundry

detergents, household cleaners, etc. Yes, it is daunting, but so worth it

all when you see positive results!

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on?

This is normally mild mannered

Dow signing in as " Dr. Dow " now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please

allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity.

(I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)

TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland

and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an

abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of

thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor

will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why

the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging

from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and

write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem.

Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be

nutritional in nature but bears investigation.

The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so

I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone

who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes

directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...

Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

-

Dow, D.C.

> >

> >>

> >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need

to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I

have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning

and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end

of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok

- stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a

pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention

of using it to get healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged.

> >>

> >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet

tips.

> >>

> >> Many Thanks,

> >> Marilyn

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature

database 5828 (20110128) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5828 (20110128) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

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The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

[Guest guest]

So now my question is how do I find a doctor in my area that understands the information below? I am in Gaithersburg, land. What questions do I ask to find out if my current Specialist is knowledgeable? my guess is she isn't.

Here's another curve ball. I am a twin. I have a twin brother who was diagnosed with stage 4 thyroid cancer last year. I have always been the one on Synthroid my brother was never diagnosed and not on medicine. It was discovered by mistake when he went for routine blood work to get a different prescription refilled. Needless to say, they removed his thyroid and cleaned out massive cancer in his lymphnods. I was shocked and scared because up until last year NONE of my doctors over 18 yrs have suggested I get a Thyroid scan. When I went and they found a tiny little nodule. I am due for another scan soon and pray it hasn't grown.

My concern now is how do I find a doctor that really knows and understands how to treat this condition. Before this group I was in the dark about all I should be knowing. Now being a twin might put me in a high risk group not only for my diagnosed of Hiroshima but for cancer.

MARILYN

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - DON'T LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

"Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much. "

MY KIDS DRIVE ME CRAZY- I DRIVE THEM EVERYWHERE ELSE!

From: Lea Ann Savage <lsavage@...> Sent: Fri, January 28, 2011 1:40:49 PMSubject: OT - TSH is not useless - I stand corrected :-)

Dr. Dow,

I am appropriately washed and basked and have a very strong stomach so there was no regurgitation ;-)

And since I love getting on my soap boxes - please feel free to get on yours - it's how we learn! :-)

I do realize that TSH has its purposes, and probably - no did - misspeak when I declared it patently useless. I got my phrase "the TSH test is basically useless" from this page of the STTM website: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh-why-its-useless/ titled, "TSH Why It Is Useless". In this page they do mention what the TSH is good for and it correlates with what you said: "The best use for the TSH pertains to what it IS: a PITUITARY HORMONE! And for that, it’s a good guide to reveal if you have a malfunctioning pituitary gland, especially if you have a very low TSH and low free T3, accompanied by raging hypothyroid symptoms". The problem is that Most GPs and even the majority of endocrinologists use the TSH as a marker for thyroid function when it is only a measure of pituitary function.

But even if you found an endocrinologists who understands that the TSH isn't a good indicator of thyroid function, most of them still don't get the RT3/T3 imbalance issue - "most" of them aren't even looking for it and it is a very common co-condition with exhausted adrenals. My GP took a look at my labs and told me I was fine. I went back and requested a new set of tests to include RT3, and FT3 and with the help of the Stop The Thyroid Madness book, the RT3_T3/ email list and tons of additional books, websites, and research came up with the protocol that FINALLY got me back on my feet. Critical was getting my ferritin up from 20 to 59 (latest test results). Nothing worked until my ferritin and adrenals were addressed.

But I digress...

Doctors are loath to treat patients based on anything but lab results and therein lies the problem. Lab results are important, but in thyroid treatment - the patient's experience has to be factored in. It turns out that what is working for me is not even the protocol for purging RT3 that is promoted on the group that I linked to above. I treat myself based on my symptoms and my dose changes just as my life and stressors change. Luckily I have a doctor who will work with me. I have cortisol for when I need it (rarely these days, but it was essential a few months back) and T3 only medication that has been a God send once I figured out how much to take.

I think that you and I are in agreement that the problem is with the physicians who don't understand that a patient can have "normal" TSH labs concurrent with a raging hypothyroid condition. Too often they dismiss the patient completely! (or a doctor's favorite fall back to deal with fatigue... RX antidepressants) or they RX Synthroid which is only T4 (a storage hormone) when the patient really needs T3 - the active hormone! Some patients (like myself) need T3 only (because T4 can produce more RT3 which just keeps clogging up the cell receptors) and others benefit from the combo of T1/T2/T3/T4 and calcitonin that comes in Armour and is the same as what our own thyroid produces. So the poor patient suffers all because of doctors who won't do anything but follow the accepted protocol and who don't understand how to treat patients based on

symptoms.

And , I am thrilled to have a professional opinion to catch me when I err ;-)

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 12:16 PM, n1jcx2 wrote:

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on? This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)If TSH is low and

T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.- Dow, D.C.> > > >> > >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get

healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged. > >> > >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.> >> > >> Many Thanks,> >> Marilyn> >> > >> > > > > > >>

[Guest guest]

This is where I'd like to be - treating myself based on symptoms. Am I able to get supplements to begin trial and error? Or is what you are getting only sold through the pharmacy (I see you have a Dr. working with you). I do need to get the book, but I've been reading the website, and looking on-line at what is available - it seems I could get something from my local health food store to get myself started trying something.

Deb

From: Lea Ann Savage <lsavage@...>Subject: OT - TSH is not useless - I stand corrected :-) Date: Friday, January 28, 2011, 1:40 PM

I treat myself based on my symptoms and my dose changes just as my life and stressors change. Luckily I have a doctor who will work with me. I have cortisol for when I need it (rarely these days, but it was essential a few months back) and T3 only medication that has been a God send once I figured out how much to take.

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)www.VitamixLady.com

[Guest guest]

My guess is you mean you have been given a diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis? That in itself should have warranted a thorough workup by an endocrinologist, as should your twin being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Neither is something you want to wait around to see what happens with. Are you under the care of an endo now?

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on? This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)If TSH is low and

T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.- Dow, D.C.> > > >> > >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using

it to get

healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged. > >> > >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.> >> > >> Many Thanks,> >> Marilyn> >> > >> > > > > > >>

[Guest guest]

Franny - I've been there. I am NOT a trained anything, but I can point you in the right direction and take you step by step down the path and help shorten your learning curve - give me a call on my cell phone - if I'm busy I'll just call you back at a better time.

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 1:56 PM, Franny Lesniak wrote:

I'm grateful to be learning so much from you all. My GP (who specializes in internal medicine), has only tested my T4 level, which has always been in the "normal" range, but for many years I have experienced many hypothyroid symptoms. So she put me on levoxyl. Which has not helped at all. a couple of months ago, I went to a new neurologist (I've been having a terrible problem with my migraines for the last year and a half), and she thinks that my migraines might be related to hormonal issues. She had me see a nurse practitioner that works for her, who had me do one of those 24 hour saliva tests, which revealed that my T3 is low. So she has prescribed Armour for me (I have stopped taking the Levoxyl), and we've been slowly increasing the dosage and will continue to do so until we find the right level. I'm feeling a little frustrated though, because I'm at 1 gram, and I'm not feeling any better. I think I need to read the Stop the Thyroid Madness book, because I really don't understand how the whole thyroid system works. But really, I'm scared of the book because it sounds so extreme and crazy, lol. But truthfully, I think my reluctance to read the book is a reflection of how low my energy is - I just don't have it in me to try to wrap my brain around it. Isn't that sad?FrannyOn Jan 28, 2011, at 12:40 PM, Lea Ann Savage wrote:

Dr. Dow,I am appropriately washed and basked and have a very strong stomach so there was no regurgitation ;-)And since I love getting on my soap boxes - please feel free to get on yours - it's how we learn! :-)I do realize that TSH has its purposes, and probably - no did - misspeak when I declared it patently useless. I got my phrase "the TSH test is basically useless" from this page of the STTM website: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh-why-its-useless/ titled, "TSH Why It Is Useless". In this page they do mention what the TSH is good for and it correlates with what you said: "The best use for the TSH pertains to what it IS: a PITUITARY HORMONE! And for that, it’s a good guide to reveal if you have a malfunctioning pituitary gland, especially if you have a very low TSH and low free T3, accompanied by raging hypothyroid symptoms". The problem is that Most GPs and even the majority of endocrinologists use the TSH as a marker for thyroid function when it is only a measure of pituitary function.But even if you found an endocrinologists who understands that the TSH isn't a good indicator of thyroid function, most of them still don't get the RT3/T3 imbalance issue - "most" of them aren't even looking for it and it is a very common co-condition with exhausted adrenals. My GP took a look at my labs and told me I was fine. I went back and requested a new set of tests to include RT3, and FT3 and with the help of the Stop The Thyroid Madness book, the RT3_T3/ email list and tons of additional books, websites, and research came up with the protocol that FINALLY got me back on my feet. Critical was getting my ferritin up from 20 to 59 (latest test results). Nothing worked until my ferritin and adrenals were addressed.But I digress...Doctors are loath to treat patients based on anything but lab results and therein lies the problem. Lab results are important, but in thyroid treatment - the patient's experience has to be factored in. It turns out that what is working for me is not even the protocol for purging RT3 that is promoted on the group that I linked to above. I treat myself based on my symptoms and my dose changes just as my life and stressors change. Luckily I have a doctor who will work with me. I have cortisol for when I need it (rarely these days, but it was essential a few months back) and T3 only medication that has been a God send once I figured out how much to take. I think that you and I are in agreement that the problem is with the physicians who don't understand that a patient can have "normal" TSH labs concurrent with a raging hypothyroid condition. Too often they dismiss the patient completely! (or a doctor's favorite fall back to deal with fatigue... RX antidepressants) or they RX Synthroid which is only T4 (a storage hormone) when the patient really needs T3 - the active hormone! Some patients (like myself) need T3 only (because T4 can produce more RT3 which just keeps clogging up the cell receptors) and others benefit from the combo of T1/T2/T3/T4 and calcitonin that comes in Armour and is the same as what our own thyroid produces. So the poor patient suffers all because of doctors who won't do anything but follow the accepted protocol and who don't understand how to treat patients based on symptoms.And , I am thrilled to have a professional opinion to catch me when I err ;-)

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 12:16 PM, n1jcx2 wrote:

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on?

This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)

TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)

If TSH is low and T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.

The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...

Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

- Dow, D.C.

> >

> >>

> >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged.

> >>

> >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.

> >>

> >> Many Thanks,

> >> Marilyn

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

How to find a doctor: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 3:37 PM, javachic wrote:

So now my question is how do I find a doctor in my area that understands the information below? I am in Gaithersburg, land. What questions do I ask to find out if my current Specialist is knowledgeable? my guess is she isn't.

Here's another curve ball. I am a twin. I have a twin brother who was diagnosed with stage 4 thyroid cancer last year. I have always been the one on Synthroid my brother was never diagnosed and not on medicine. It was discovered by mistake when he went for routine blood work to get a different prescription refilled. Needless to say, they removed his thyroid and cleaned out massive cancer in his lymphnods. I was shocked and scared because up until last year NONE of my doctors over 18 yrs have suggested I get a Thyroid scan. When I went and they found a tiny little nodule. I am due for another scan soon and pray it hasn't grown.

My concern now is how do I find a doctor that really knows and understands how to treat this condition. Before this group I was in the dark about all I should be knowing. Now being a twin might put me in a high risk group not only for my diagnosed of Hiroshima but for cancer.

MARILYN

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - DON'T LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

"Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much. "

MY KIDS DRIVE ME CRAZY- I DRIVE THEM EVERYWHERE ELSE!

From: Lea Ann Savage <lsavage@...> Sent: Fri, January 28, 2011 1:40:49 PMSubject: OT - TSH is not useless - I stand corrected :-) Dr. Dow,

I am appropriately washed and basked and have a very strong stomach so there was no regurgitation ;-)

And since I love getting on my soap boxes - please feel free to get on yours - it's how we learn! :-)

I do realize that TSH has its purposes, and probably - no did - misspeak when I declared it patently useless. I got my phrase "the TSH test is basically useless" from this page of the STTM website: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh-why-its-useless/ titled, "TSH Why It Is Useless". In this page they do mention what the TSH is good for and it correlates with what you said: "The best use for the TSH pertains to what it IS: a PITUITARY HORMONE! And for that, it’s a good guide to reveal if you have a malfunctioning pituitary gland, especially if you have a very low TSH and low free T3, accompanied by raging hypothyroid symptoms". The problem is that Most GPs and even the majority of endocrinologists use the TSH as a marker for thyroid function when it is only a measure of pituitary function.

But even if you found an endocrinologists who understands that the TSH isn't a good indicator of thyroid function, most of them still don't get the RT3/T3 imbalance issue - "most" of them aren't even looking for it and it is a very common co-condition with exhausted adrenals. My GP took a look at my labs and told me I was fine. I went back and requested a new set of tests to include RT3, and FT3 and with the help of the Stop The Thyroid Madness book, the RT3_T3/ email list and tons of additional books, websites, and research came up with the protocol that FINALLY got me back on my feet. Critical was getting my ferritin up from 20 to 59 (latest test results). Nothing worked until my ferritin and adrenals were addressed.

But I digress...

Doctors are loath to treat patients based on anything but lab results and therein lies the problem. Lab results are important, but in thyroid treatment - the patient's experience has to be factored in. It turns out that what is working for me is not even the protocol for purging RT3 that is promoted on the group that I linked to above. I treat myself based on my symptoms and my dose changes just as my life and stressors change. Luckily I have a doctor who will work with me. I have cortisol for when I need it (rarely these days, but it was essential a few months back) and T3 only medication that has been a God send once I figured out how much to take.

I think that you and I are in agreement that the problem is with the physicians who don't understand that a patient can have "normal" TSH labs concurrent with a raging hypothyroid condition. Too often they dismiss the patient completely! (or a doctor's favorite fall back to deal with fatigue... RX antidepressants) or they RX Synthroid which is only T4 (a storage hormone) when the patient really needs T3 - the active hormone! Some patients (like myself) need T3 only (because T4 can produce more RT3 which just keeps clogging up the cell receptors) and others benefit from the combo of T1/T2/T3/T4 and calcitonin that comes in Armour and is the same as what our own thyroid produces. So the poor patient suffers all because of doctors who won't do anything but follow the accepted protocol and who don't understand how to treat patients based on

symptoms.

And , I am thrilled to have a professional opinion to catch me when I err ;-)

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 12:16 PM, n1jcx2 wrote:

umm... *ahem*.... *cough*... Is this thing on? This is normally mild mannered Dow signing in as "Dr. Dow" now.. As I step onto my soapbox, please allow the persona to wash over you for a moment, basking in its profundity. (I'll wait until the vomiting stops....)TSH is not as useless as you might think.. TSH comes from the pituitary gland and is a signal to the thyroid to create its little cocktail. If you have an abundance of TSH and low T3/T4, typically (not always) this is a sign of thyroid weakness. If could also be a sign of other things, and a lazy doctor will just stop here and put a patient on synthroid.If TSH is low and T3/T4 is high, then you start to look at the reasons why the thyroid is overproducing.. There are numerous reasons for this, ranging from tumors to nutritional deficiencies. A lazy doctor will stop here and write a prescription.. (Do you start seeing a pattern here?)If TSH is low and

T3/T4 is low, this is often a sign of a pituitary problem. Usually doctors don't get TOO lazy here, but it happens. This can also be nutritional in nature but bears investigation.The problem here is the physician in many cases.. Now, I'm a chiropractor, so I don't prescribe (and don't want to!), but I certainly propone that someone who goes to a general practitioner and has a T3/T4/TSH imbalance goes directly to an endocrinologist rather than letting the GP do the medicking...Ok -- you've all basked enough... I'm stepping off the soap box.We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.- Dow, D.C.> > > >> > >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose 30 pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have changed my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup with veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I got on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing - lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What am I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get

healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged. > >> > >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.> >> > >> Many Thanks,> >> Marilyn> >> > >> > > > > > >>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lea Ann,

I was forced to become somewhat of an expert on thyroid while trying to figure

out what was wrong with me. Since I had no energy to do much but sit, I was on

the computer for days/weeks/months educating myself and talking with others.

I agree TSH is useless, many of us have found it to be wildly irregular and

unreliable, and not related to the levels of frees or our symptoms.

As an example, the highest my TSH was when I Dx (I ordered my own labs and then

took them to a good doc) was 4.18, but my frees were low. I also had high TgAb

and TPOab so I had Hashi's. Every 4-6 months while I was getting regulated, I

would again do labs.

Two years ago in the summer when I felt the best I'd felt in a long time, my TSH

was over 7, yet my frees were in the upper range. I've had other tests that

convinced me TSH is simply not a reliable indicator of anything going on with my

body. I've talked with many others on thyroid forums and there are significant

numbers who have found this to be true for them also.

There was one woman doing a survey across all forums about the effects of Vit D

on TSH and it was clear that increasing Vit D affected TSH. In some cases it

caused it to increase, in others it would cause it to decrease. In some the

frees were decreased, in others they increased.

It has been found that Hashimoto's can cause symptomology, especially

psychological, separate from the level of the frees or TSH, I've found several

studies corroborating this. Possibly due to the inflammatory nature, the

increased cytokines, etc.

Also, be very careful of the advice on STTM. I've found some of it not to be

sound and it has been harmful to myself and others.

>

> How to find a doctor:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/

>

> Blessings,

> Lea Ann Savage

> Satellite Beach, FL

> (321) 773-7088 (home)

> (321-961-9219 (cell)

> www.VitamixLady.com

> www..com

> <))><

>

>

[Guest guest]

--You may not want to elaborate but I'd really like to know what advice at STTM you have found harmful?  I am also self treating without the help of a Dr. (I have been to 6 and am doing better now on my own)

 

TIA,

Stacey

 

Also, be very careful of the advice on STTM. I've found some of it not to be sound and it has been harmful to myself and others.

 

..

[Guest guest]

Hello ,I am thrilled to meet yet another self educated patient! The STTM website got me started in the right research directions, but I ended up working out a treatment plan that is quite different from what the book and associated recommend. I never took enough cortisol to suppress my own cortisol production and I never took enough T3 to suppress my own T3 production and "flush out" the RT3. I had to take very small amounts of cortisol on a regular basis 3-4 months ago - I don't take any at all right now (unless I need to stress dose for illness). I could not tolerate T3 the first time I tried to take it - apparently my ferritin just wasn't high enough and/or my adrenals were not yet stable. Now I take 2.5 mg (split a 5 mg tab) of T3 3-5 times a day and feel better than I have in YEARS. I do think that was correct in correcting my statement that the TSH is useless - it HAS a purpose (as an indicator of pituitary function) however it is (as thousands of patients have figured out) for all intents and purposes useless as a diagnostic tool for thyroid function.I agree with Stacey - I am very interested in what specifically you consider to be unsound and harmful. I speak as if I know a lot about this, and for ME and MY situation, I've figured out what works for me, but I am astounded at how much patients like yourself and people on those know!

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 28, 2011, at 6:41 PM, Cin wrote:

Hi Lea Ann,

I was forced to become somewhat of an expert on thyroid while trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Since I had no energy to do much but sit, I was on the computer for days/weeks/months educating myself and talking with others.

I agree TSH is useless, many of us have found it to be wildly irregular and unreliable, and not related to the levels of frees or our symptoms.

As an example, the highest my TSH was when I Dx (I ordered my own labs and then took them to a good doc) was 4.18, but my frees were low. I also had high TgAb and TPOab so I had Hashi's. Every 4-6 months while I was getting regulated, I would again do labs.

Two years ago in the summer when I felt the best I'd felt in a long time, my TSH was over 7, yet my frees were in the upper range. I've had other tests that convinced me TSH is simply not a reliable indicator of anything going on with my body. I've talked with many others on thyroid forums and there are significant numbers who have found this to be true for them also.

There was one woman doing a survey across all forums about the effects of Vit D on TSH and it was clear that increasing Vit D affected TSH. In some cases it caused it to increase, in others it would cause it to decrease. In some the frees were decreased, in others they increased.

It has been found that Hashimoto's can cause symptomology, especially psychological, separate from the level of the frees or TSH, I've found several studies corroborating this. Possibly due to the inflammatory nature, the increased cytokines, etc.

Also, be very careful of the advice on STTM. I've found some of it not to be sound and it has been harmful to myself and others.

>

> How to find a doctor: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/

>

> Blessings,

> Lea Ann Savage

> Satellite Beach, FL

> (321) 773-7088 (home)

> (321-961-9219 (cell)

> www.VitamixLady.com

> www..com

> <))><

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Stacey,

One thing I've found unwise is the advice to increase the thyroid med after 2 or

3 weeks when one starts feeling hypo again. (Same advice given on their

group) The problem with that is that it takes 6-8 weeks for the T4 to become

fully active, and myself and others have gone HYPERthyroid from doing that.

It's difficult to wait if you are feeling poorly, but believe me, it's far

better than going hyper. I found that far worse than being hypo. (FYI--I

currently take NatureThroid)

This is the best explanation I have found as to why it is crucial to wait the

right amount of time before increasing a dose:

http://www.thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_doses.htm

The other advice I would see on there (and on their group) was to take

iodine. Many people have had great success using iodine and it has been helpful

for many. However, it is well known in studies that those with Hashimoto's

thyroiditis should not take it, that it can cause them to go hyper, and it did

that for me and many others. There are those on there that vehemently deny

this, but most of them do not have Hashi's and have not experienced having to go

to the ER for the scary hyper symptoms. And the doses they recommend are way

too high.

Myself and others have been banned from that group because we would caution

people who had Hashi's about this advice. They didn't seem to want to allow

that not everyone can increase thyroid meds too quickly without adverse effects,

or take iodine without it causing some potentially serious symptoms.

There are other thyroid sites which also promote the use of natural thyroid and

the proper testing that give sound information and advice.

>

> --You may not want to elaborate but I'd really like to know what advice

> at STTM you have found harmful? I am also self treating without the help of

> a Dr. (I have been to 6 and am doing better now on my own)

>

> TIA,

> Stacey

>

>

>

>

> > Also, be very careful of the advice on STTM. I've found some of it not

> > to be sound and it has been harmful to myself and others.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > .

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

- I would be very interested to get those links :-) THANKS!

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 29, 2011, at 3:19 PM, Cin wrote:There are other thyroid sites which also promote the use of natural thyroid and the proper testing that give sound information and advice.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lea Ann,

You reminded me of another piece of advice they routinely give that I feel is

potentially harmful.

They say that if you cannot tolerate your thyroid med it could be due to low

adrenals. While that is certainly possible in some cases, I have found one of

the main reasons one cannot tolerate it is because they have started at too high

of a dose (I found I had to start with 15 mg, wait 6 weeks, then raise another

15, wait, etc). Of course it will stress your adrenals. They often tell people

to start at too high of a dose and raise it too quickly, then tell them they

need to use HC (hydrocortisone) which has caused problems for many.

I did that myself and did not feel good about using the HC and being dependent

on it. The more I researched, the more I came to the conclusion that when the

thyroid is low, it forces the adrenals to take up the slack, which can stress

them. Dr. Peatfield (think it was him) and other experts have said that once

the thyroid meds are given, the adrenals no longer have to overproduce

cortisol/norepinephrine and they will rest. But only if the dose is not too

high, and is not increased too quickly.

If the dose is reasonably low (some have to start with 7.5mg) and one waits a

full 6 weeks, usually there are no problems. But sometimes one cannot tolerate

even that, so the ferritin should be checked, and I found I wasn't drinking

enough water for the increased metabolism, so I was having symptoms from that.

Also, B-complex vitamins, magnesium, potassium are important.

What happens is that when we are hypo, since our metabolism is slowed, nutrient

deficiencies are less obvious, but once the metabolism kicks into higher gear,

suddenly we are noticing symptoms because our nutrient status isn't high enough

to meet the demands of the new, higher metabolism.

Sorry to be so verbose (a weakness of mine) but I wanted to make sure I

explained it well enough, because I know when I was new to this, it was all so

confusing.

Lea Ann, when we first started communicating a couple years ago, I was still in

the throes of increasing thyroid meds and trying to figure out what worked best

for my body. I believe it was then that you said you suspected you had a

thyroid problem, or am I mistaken? What meds/amounts are you on now?

>

> Hello ,

>

> I am thrilled to meet yet another self educated patient! The STTM website got

me started in the right research directions, but I ended up working out a

treatment plan that is quite different from what the book and associated

groups recommend. I never took enough cortisol to suppress my own cortisol

production and I never took enough T3 to suppress my own T3 production and

" flush out " the RT3. I had to take very small amounts of cortisol on a regular

basis 3-4 months ago - I don't take any at all right now (unless I need to

stress dose for illness). I could not tolerate T3 the first time I tried to

take it - apparently my ferritin just wasn't high enough and/or my adrenals were

not yet stable. Now I take 2.5 mg (split a 5 mg tab) of T3 3-5 times a day and

feel better than I have in YEARS.

>

> I do think that was correct in correcting my statement that the TSH is

useless - it HAS a purpose (as an indicator of pituitary function) however it is

(as thousands of patients have figured out) for all intents and purposes useless

as a diagnostic tool for thyroid function.

>

> I agree with Stacey - I am very interested in what specifically you consider

to be unsound and harmful. I speak as if I know a lot about this, and for ME

and MY situation, I've figured out what works for me, but I am astounded at how

much patients like yourself and people on those know!

>

> Blessings,

> Lea Ann Savage

> Satellite Beach, FL

> (321) 773-7088 (home)

> (321-961-9219 (cell)

> www.VitamixLady.com

> www..com

> <))><

>

[Guest guest]

Here are some links to thyroid sites I've found very helpful:

http://www.thyroidmanager.org/ Awesome site by endocrinologists. Very

technical, but I learned a lot here.

http://nahypothyroidism.org/ (Dr. Holtorf's site)

http://www.scivac.it/sisca/pdf/2005/panico_tiroide220305.pdf (thyroid and

panic/anxiety)

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?folderId=1 & listMode=13 & nav=messages & web\

tag=ab-thyroid ( Shomon's about.com forum. Annoying format, but very

knowledgeable, wise mods on there.)

http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/ (Dr. Friedman, some good info here)

There are more, I will post them when I get them together.

Also, I have found taking zinc and selenium to help with the T4-->T3 conversion.

Vitamin A is also necessary for good thyroid health (not beta carotene)

>

> >

> > There are other thyroid sites which also promote the use of natural thyroid

and the proper testing that give sound information and advice.

>

[Guest guest]

One more great site:

http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/

>

> Here are some links to thyroid sites I've found very helpful:

>

> http://www.thyroidmanager.org/ Awesome site by endocrinologists. Very

technical, but I learned a lot here.

>

> http://nahypothyroidism.org/ (Dr. Holtorf's site)

>

>

> http://www.scivac.it/sisca/pdf/2005/panico_tiroide220305.pdf (thyroid and

panic/anxiety)

>

>

>

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?folderId=1 & listMode=13 & nav=messages & web\

tag=ab-thyroid ( Shomon's about.com forum. Annoying format, but very

knowledgeable, wise mods on there.)

>

> http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/ (Dr. Friedman, some good info here)

>

> There are more, I will post them when I get them together.

>

>

>

>

>

> Also, I have found taking zinc and selenium to help with the T4-->T3

conversion. Vitamin A is also necessary for good thyroid health (not beta

carotene)

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I didn't get a chance to say to you during the posts about eviscerating onions

that your wife is a very lucky women; she has a husband who loves to cook and

from whom she can get free adjustments and I'm sure a few massages thrown in

here and there!

I hope she appreciates you; my husband can barely manage to make scrambled

eggs!!!

Joyce

> >> >

> >> >>

> >> >> I am so frustrated and I hope my friends here can help. I need to lose

30

> >>pounds and for 2 weeks now have made green smoothies and soups. I have

changed

> >>my diet from no fruits and veggies to 1 smoothie in the morning and soup

with

> >>veggies for dinner. I have cheated once or twice but at the end of 2 weeks I

got

> >>on the scale this morning and have lost a whopping 2 oz.. ok - stop laughing

-

> >>lol. Even with cheating a little I thought I would lose a pound or two. What

am

> >>I doing wrong? I bought the Vitamix with the intention of using it to get

> >>healthy and lose weight. I am so discouraged.

> >>

> >> >>

> >> >> Has anyone lost weight and can lend me some good advice or diet tips.

> >> >>

> >> >> Many Thanks,

> >> >> Marilyn

> >> >>

> >> >>

> >> >

> >> >

> >> >

> >>

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks !!  I'll look into all the links you provided.  I am now on Cytomel only and doing alot better.  I do not have Hashi's but also had to give up the iodine.

 

Thanks Again,

Stacey

On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Cin <b53cjf@...> wrote:

 

Hi Stacey,One thing I've found unwise is the advice to increase the thyroid med after 2 or 3 weeks when one starts feeling hypo again. (Same advice given on their group) The problem with that is that it takes 6-8 weeks for the T4 to become fully active, and myself and others have gone HYPERthyroid from doing that. It's difficult to wait if you are feeling poorly, but believe me, it's far better than going hyper. I found that far worse than being hypo. (FYI--I currently take NatureThroid)

This is the best explanation I have found as to why it is crucial to wait the right amount of time before increasing a dose:http://www.thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_doses.htm

The other advice I would see on there (and on their group) was to take iodine. Many people have had great success using iodine and it has been helpful for many. However, it is well known in studies that those with Hashimoto's thyroiditis should not take it, that it can cause them to go hyper, and it did that for me and many others. There are those on there that vehemently deny this, but most of them do not have Hashi's and have not experienced having to go to the ER for the scary hyper symptoms. And the doses they recommend are way too high.

Myself and others have been banned from that group because we would caution people who had Hashi's about this advice. They didn't seem to want to allow that not everyone can increase thyroid meds too quickly without adverse effects, or take iodine without it causing some potentially serious symptoms.

There are other thyroid sites which also promote the use of natural thyroid and the proper testing that give sound information and advice.

>> --You may not want to elaborate but I'd really like to know what advice

> at STTM you have found harmful? I am also self treating without the help of> a Dr. (I have been to 6 and am doing better now on my own)> > TIA,> Stacey> > > >

> > Also, be very careful of the advice on STTM. I've found some of it not> > to be sound and it has been harmful to myself and others.> >> > > >> >> > .

> >> > > >>