Re: new, needing advice

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/20/2004 12:01:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,

beija_flor5@... writes:

> Any vegetarians have any problems?

>

I was pretty much vegetarian when I went hypo. The Armour didn't bother me

at all. in fact, now that i've gone hypo...I crave beef...and my body does

much better on it. I only eat organic meat, however.

Cindi

[Guest guest]

Hi Jo and welcome! Am I reading correctly that last May, your TSH

was 192??? Blimey!!

You appear to be having the swings of Hashi. The best treatment is

Armour, down pat. But let me warn you--your doc may not give you the

answer you need. Docs are globally ignorant about Armour. They

wrongly say it is unreliable, or inconsistent, unnecessary or

dangerous. NONE of those are true. Armour gives you exactly what

your own thyroid would be giving you!

And...know that if you can get on Armour, your goal is to treat your

symptoms first. And in doing so, your TSH will often be suppressed.

That does NOT mean you are hyper or losing bone, as so many docs

think. Last March, mine was .009 on my optimal dose of Armour. All

it means is that Armour is doing the job!

I would strongly suggest you go into our FILES and read, read before

your appointment. The best patient is an informed patient! )

Good luck! We have several great folks here from the UK.

Janie in Colorado USA

> I was diagnosed with hashi's end of May this year. I am trying to

research and learn about this illness but get bogged down with

interpreting the blood results - and need your help! Also, what

should I ask my doctor.

>

> I had bloods taken for cholesterol, B12, FBC, oestrogen and

progesterone and glucose but don't have the results to post. Will

try and get those from my doctor when I see her on monday.

>

> I don't think that I had T3 levels but my other results are:

> may serum TSH 192.25 (0.02 - 4.0u)

> june 6.93

> july 0.41

[Guest guest]

Sounds to me like you are definitely hypothyroid and I think 75 mcg

of Synthroid is so tiny. Exercise intolerance is probably adrenal as

I can hardly do any strenuous excercise with my low adrenal.

I really recommend Armour and I sure hope you use a bigger dose than

the Synthroid. Dr, Derry recommends no less than 3 grains. I have

been reading up on thyroid doses before 1975 and the common use of

the TSH test. The average Synthroid dose back then was 300 to 400

mcg. Doctors commented that patients needed TSH totally supressed on

Synthroid and a minimum of 300 mcg to feel good. Also, if you do

Armour, you will probably need adrenal support because of the T3.

I would recommend that you read Weston Price's " Nutrition and

Physical Degeneration " It is an excellent book on the author's

research into indigenous tribes and their diets and what happened to

them when they adopted western diets. He also looked at vegetarians

and found that they did not have the good health of meat and dairy

eaters. The problem with vegetarian diets and hypothryoidism is that

with hypothyroidism, protein uptake is already low due to the

problems it causes in the digestive tract. Protein in vegetarian

diets tends not to be as good a quality and as absorbable. It

requires more processing by the digestive tract. In hypothyroidism,

digestive enzymes are low and pancreatic enzymes are low. Also, the

integrity of the intestinal lining is poor due to low rate of cell

rebuilding. When protein is low thryoid function really suffers.

This is because protein is needed to use, make and carry thryoid

hormones. For the same reason hypos don't take up protien, they also

don't take up enough iron.

In adrenal fatigue, protien is wasted or basically used at an

accelerated rate and you end up with weakness and muscle wasting.

So, in adrenal fatigue the person needs to really increase protein

consumption to restore what has been lost and recover.

I was a vegetarian for years and think now that it contributed to my

illness. When I was diagnosed, my protein levels were very low. So,

I think if you are going to stay vegetarian, you need to modify your

diet to get a lot more protein and more digestible protein than that

found in Soy and beans. Soy and beans are goitergens and slow

thryoid function, also.

If you want to avoid the meat based thyroid, you could try a T4/T3

synthetic. That would be much better than Synthoid I think. Though

you will not be getting important thyroid hormones T2 and T1.

Tish

[Guest guest]

Sounds to me like you are definitely hypothyroid and I think 75 mcg

of Synthroid is so tiny. Exercise intolerance is probably adrenal as

I can hardly do any strenuous excercise with my low adrenal.

I really recommend Armour and I sure hope you use a bigger dose than

the Synthroid. Dr, Derry recommends no less than 3 grains. I have

been reading up on thyroid doses before 1975 and the common use of

the TSH test. The average Synthroid dose back then was 300 to 400

mcg. Doctors commented that patients needed TSH totally supressed on

Synthroid and a minimum of 300 mcg to feel good. Also, if you do

Armour, you will probably need adrenal support because of the T3.

I would recommend that you read Weston Price's " Nutrition and

Physical Degeneration " It is an excellent book on the author's

research into indigenous tribes and their diets and what happened to

them when they adopted western diets. He also looked at vegetarians

and found that they did not have the good health of meat and dairy

eaters. The problem with vegetarian diets and hypothryoidism is that

with hypothyroidism, protein uptake is already low due to the

problems it causes in the digestive tract. Protein in vegetarian

diets tends not to be as good a quality and as absorbable. It

requires more processing by the digestive tract. In hypothyroidism,

digestive enzymes are low and pancreatic enzymes are low. Also, the

integrity of the intestinal lining is poor due to low rate of cell

rebuilding. When protein is low thryoid function really suffers.

This is because protein is needed to use, make and carry thryoid

hormones. For the same reason hypos don't take up protien, they also

don't take up enough iron.

In adrenal fatigue, protien is wasted or basically used at an

accelerated rate and you end up with weakness and muscle wasting.

So, in adrenal fatigue the person needs to really increase protein

consumption to restore what has been lost and recover.

I was a vegetarian for years and think now that it contributed to my

illness. When I was diagnosed, my protein levels were very low. So,

I think if you are going to stay vegetarian, you need to modify your

diet to get a lot more protein and more digestible protein than that

found in Soy and beans. Soy and beans are goitergens and slow

thryoid function, also.

If you want to avoid the meat based thyroid, you could try a T4/T3

synthetic. That would be much better than Synthoid I think. Though

you will not be getting important thyroid hormones T2 and T1.

Tish

[Guest guest]

H i, Jo,

Nice to meet you! Great to have you join us. But sorry you are

suffering with this problem too.

Some great books are:

The Thyroid Solution by Dr. Ridha Arem

Living Well with Hypothyroidism by Shomon

Solved: The Riddle of Illness by Dr. Langer

There are many other great ones, but someone else can give those to you.

I think your dosage could have been left alone. But it would be

interesting to see your free T3. It will take time to feel better. But

it could be that you need the Armour if you are low in T3. Selenium (no

more than 200 mcg. a day) is helpful in converting the T4 to T3. There

is a synthetic, Thyrolar that has both T3 and T4, but it doesn't have

the T1, T2 and calcitonin. Should you try Armour and not be able to

tolerate it you could either switch to Thyrolar or take your T4 med. and

add Cytomel (T3). (However, I didn't do well on Cytomel).

I suggest, since you mentioned premenopausal, to get your estradiol,

progesterone, testosterone checked. Most doctors say saliva tests are

best for this. You can get them through ZRT labs. I got their hormone

panel #1 which included these three hormones and cortisol and DHEAS.

If you want more info on estrogen dominance (progesterone etc.), I have

some e-mails, I'd be glad to send you.

(I don't know WHY my computer switched to blue. LOL)

Keep in touch. We'd love to see your other test results too.

Take care and hope you begin to feel better soon.

in Va.

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with hashi's end of May this year. I am trying to

research and learn about this illness but get bogged down with

interpreting the blood results - and need your help! Also, what should I

ask my doctor.

I had bloods taken for cholesterol, B12, FBC, oestrogen and progesterone

and glucose but don't have the results to post. Will try and get those

from my doctor when I see her on monday.

I don't think that I had T3 levels but my other results are:

may serum TSH 192.25 (0.02 - 4.0u)

june 6.93

july 0.41

may free T4 2.9 pmol/l (12-24U)

june 24.1

july 22.9

From your posts I now know that I need to ask her for ferritin and

cortisol - anything else?

I was commenced on 50mcg levo.for a week and then was increased to

100mcg until last thursday. Because of my " low TSH " it was reduced to

..75mcg

I suffered for about 7 years and am still feeling ill even after

starting treatment. I believe my adrenals are also crashed. After being

off work for 11 weeks I have just returned this week on reduced hours

and am finding it a strain. I have tried exercising for the 28lbs weight

gain but just crash after a couple of minutes. I still have all of my

previous symptoms -memory loss, thinning hair, premenopausal symptoms,

carpel tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue etc. etc Since the reduction in

dose I have had increased shortness of breath and headaches and restless

sleep.

I am strongly thinking of trying the Armour that you all are talking

about and will discuss this with my doc. on monday.

My only problem with this is that I have been a lacto-vegetarian for 34

years - because I was always being sick when eating meat and fish and

eggs. I am willing to give it a try but don't know if ingesting an

animal product as a tablet will make me still vomit. Any vegetarians

have any problems?

Also, I am in the UK and would like to hear from other people here of

their experiences with GP's , how and where they get their Armour, the

best place to buy quality/price.etc

I am also anaemic and have just started this week to take a

multivitamin/mineral supplement and protein/energy powder - still aching

all over all of the time.

i appreciate all your advice and input,

God bless

jo.m

[Guest guest]

H i, Jo,

Nice to meet you! Great to have you join us. But sorry you are

suffering with this problem too.

Some great books are:

The Thyroid Solution by Dr. Ridha Arem

Living Well with Hypothyroidism by Shomon

Solved: The Riddle of Illness by Dr. Langer

There are many other great ones, but someone else can give those to you.

I think your dosage could have been left alone. But it would be

interesting to see your free T3. It will take time to feel better. But

it could be that you need the Armour if you are low in T3. Selenium (no

more than 200 mcg. a day) is helpful in converting the T4 to T3. There

is a synthetic, Thyrolar that has both T3 and T4, but it doesn't have

the T1, T2 and calcitonin. Should you try Armour and not be able to

tolerate it you could either switch to Thyrolar or take your T4 med. and

add Cytomel (T3). (However, I didn't do well on Cytomel).

I suggest, since you mentioned premenopausal, to get your estradiol,

progesterone, testosterone checked. Most doctors say saliva tests are

best for this. You can get them through ZRT labs. I got their hormone

panel #1 which included these three hormones and cortisol and DHEAS.

If you want more info on estrogen dominance (progesterone etc.), I have

some e-mails, I'd be glad to send you.

(I don't know WHY my computer switched to blue. LOL)

Keep in touch. We'd love to see your other test results too.

Take care and hope you begin to feel better soon.

in Va.

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with hashi's end of May this year. I am trying to

research and learn about this illness but get bogged down with

interpreting the blood results - and need your help! Also, what should I

ask my doctor.

I had bloods taken for cholesterol, B12, FBC, oestrogen and progesterone

and glucose but don't have the results to post. Will try and get those

from my doctor when I see her on monday.

I don't think that I had T3 levels but my other results are:

may serum TSH 192.25 (0.02 - 4.0u)

june 6.93

july 0.41

may free T4 2.9 pmol/l (12-24U)

june 24.1

july 22.9

From your posts I now know that I need to ask her for ferritin and

cortisol - anything else?

I was commenced on 50mcg levo.for a week and then was increased to

100mcg until last thursday. Because of my " low TSH " it was reduced to

..75mcg

I suffered for about 7 years and am still feeling ill even after

starting treatment. I believe my adrenals are also crashed. After being

off work for 11 weeks I have just returned this week on reduced hours

and am finding it a strain. I have tried exercising for the 28lbs weight

gain but just crash after a couple of minutes. I still have all of my

previous symptoms -memory loss, thinning hair, premenopausal symptoms,

carpel tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue etc. etc Since the reduction in

dose I have had increased shortness of breath and headaches and restless

sleep.

I am strongly thinking of trying the Armour that you all are talking

about and will discuss this with my doc. on monday.

My only problem with this is that I have been a lacto-vegetarian for 34

years - because I was always being sick when eating meat and fish and

eggs. I am willing to give it a try but don't know if ingesting an

animal product as a tablet will make me still vomit. Any vegetarians

have any problems?

Also, I am in the UK and would like to hear from other people here of

their experiences with GP's , how and where they get their Armour, the

best place to buy quality/price.etc

I am also anaemic and have just started this week to take a

multivitamin/mineral supplement and protein/energy powder - still aching

all over all of the time.

i appreciate all your advice and input,

God bless

jo.m