St. 's Wort

November 14, 2000

, obviously iel is a REAL challenge for you right now. You NEED

to get some help managing iel's condition and your stress levels to

keep your Graves' disease under control. I hope you're taking good care of

yourself nutrionally, medically and psychologically. You can't help

iel if you don't have the necessary reserves. St. 's Wort

certainly isn't the answer for everyone, but have you investigated

prescribed medication? You've found a link for support, I hope you'll

continue to stay in touch.

- Bonner

April 10, 2002

I'm sure most of you have been seeing the articles this week saying that St. 's Wort has been shown to get in the way of drugs used to treat cancer. One of the drugs mentioned was cyclosporine. Cyclosporine is one of the options for liver disorders, particularly for those who have had transplants. These articles should be a reminder to us not to assume that a natural drug, or an herb, is safe. That's just not the way it works, as many of us know to our sorrow.

Harper

April 25, 2003

To all that were involved in the St. 's Wort conversation I just want to

be clear on one thing. Any hostility/frustration or anger displayed in my

first email on this subject is directed only at the FDA and the docs. I don't

always pick the best words and sometimes my frustration in these areas just

gets the best of me.

If anyone knows of any doctors other than the one's already listed in

previous emails that are sucessful in getting their patients off these drugs,

you really need to provide a list for us. Most on here are desperatly looking

for someone that knows what they are doing and most find that their doc's

really are not clear on how to get their patients off these drugs. If their

are more doc's out there that have concrete answers in these areas please

provide their names.

Kindest regards,

Connie

April 25, 2003

To all that were involved in the St. 's Wort conversation I just want to

be clear on one thing. Any hostility/frustration or anger displayed in my

first email on this subject is directed only at the FDA and the docs. I don't

always pick the best words and sometimes my frustration in these areas just

gets the best of me.

If anyone knows of any doctors other than the one's already listed in

previous emails that are sucessful in getting their patients off these drugs,

you really need to provide a list for us. Most on here are desperatly looking

for someone that knows what they are doing and most find that their doc's

really are not clear on how to get their patients off these drugs. If their

are more doc's out there that have concrete answers in these areas please

provide their names.

Kindest regards,

Connie

May 20, 2005

I have heard that St. 's Wort interferes with many medications.

I had thought about using that also, but decided on trying SAMe. I

have only been on it 3 days. Too soon to tell if it is working

though.

> Has anyone here tried using St. 's Wort for their depression?

>

> I have read that it has been effective for mild/moderate

depression,

> but not for major depression. I think I am moderately depressed,

it

> isn't getting better with supplements and I'm not ready for zoloft

> yet, lol.

>

> Actually, I need a T3 test. I'm pretty sure my doctors won't give

me

> one because they are both against Armour and Cytomel. I know, I

> know... get a new doctor dummy, lol.

>

> In " The Thyroid Solution " the author does advocate using T3 when

> levothyroxine hasn't helped. Now I'm postitive I need T3, just

like I

> was positive I had adrenal fatigue, lol (I don't). But, he does

make

> a good case for needing more T3 and with my TSH at .8 or lower the

> Synthroid hasn't helped me.

May 20, 2005

Hi . What is SAMe?

I have also read about it interfering with other medications, I am

only taking levothyroxine (Synthroid) and it was not on any of

the " drug interaction " lists I have found so far.

I have been taking the SJW for less than a week.

> I have heard that St. 's Wort interferes with many medications.

> I had thought about using that also, but decided on trying SAMe. I

> have only been on it 3 days. Too soon to tell if it is working

> though.

>

May 21, 2005

Hi Rebeccca

St 's Wort can be very effective for mild depression and T3 can work

for severe depression - but you need the right doses in either case.

I took St J's with my thyroid meds no problem - if I recall 900mcg twice

a day ( I think) - it was helpful.

Originally I was severely depresses for many years and St did not

help much at all back then - I cured my depression with high dose T3. I

used St john's sunsequently for mild depression and it definitely

helped.

Kerry

St. 's Wort

Has anyone here tried using St. 's Wort for their depression?

I have read that it has been effective for mild/moderate depression,

but not for major depression. I think I am moderately depressed, it

isn't getting better with supplements and I'm not ready for zoloft

yet, lol.

Actually, I need a T3 test. I'm pretty sure my doctors won't give me

one because they are both against Armour and Cytomel. I know, I

know... get a new doctor dummy, lol.

In " The Thyroid Solution " the author does advocate using T3 when

levothyroxine hasn't helped. Now I'm postitive I need T3, just like I

was positive I had adrenal fatigue, lol (I don't). But, he does make

a good case for needing more T3 and with my TSH at .8 or lower the

Synthroid hasn't helped me.

May 22, 2005

SAMe is an over the counter supplement, an amino acid. It has been

used in Europe to treat depression, fibromyalgia, arthritis and

others with little to no side effects. If you do a search on the

web, you will find more info on it. I am not one for prescription

meds, so I figured I'd give this a try first.

> > I have heard that St. 's Wort interferes with many

medications.

> > I had thought about using that also, but decided on trying

SAMe. I

> > have only been on it 3 days. Too soon to tell if it is working

> > though.

> >

May 25, 2005

Kerry Ann,

What was you 'high dose' of T3 to help your depression? Was it larger than

20mgs daily?

Val

St. 's Wort

>

> Has anyone here tried using St. 's Wort for their depression?

>

> I have read that it has been effective for mild/moderate depression,

> but not for major depression. I think I am moderately depressed, it

> isn't getting better with supplements and I'm not ready for zoloft

> yet, lol.

>

> Actually, I need a T3 test. I'm pretty sure my doctors won't give me

> one because they are both against Armour and Cytomel. I know, I

> know... get a new doctor dummy, lol.

>

> In " The Thyroid Solution " the author does advocate using T3 when

> levothyroxine hasn't helped. Now I'm postitive I need T3, just like I

> was positive I had adrenal fatigue, lol (I don't). But, he does make

> a good case for needing more T3 and with my TSH at .8 or lower the

> Synthroid hasn't helped me.

>

May 25, 2005

Yes Val - I did 's Therapy and in one three week cycle I went up

to 80mcg twice a day for about 4 days thn cycled back down to 10mcg - I

was not taking t4 at the same time of course. My duaghter who has

depression as well has been taking 50 mcg T3 for 6 months and she is no

longer depressed. Itthink the younger ones can get well on much less.

I would not report it here unless I was sure it was the T3 which cured

my depression - but it was the only thing I was doing at the time and

for anyone who has been severely depressed you can't fake or imagine

being normal again - it is like night and day.

kerry

Re: St. 's Wort

Kerry Ann,

What was you 'high dose' of T3 to help your depression? Was it larger

than

20mgs daily?

Val

St. 's Wort

>

> Has anyone here tried using St. 's Wort for their depression?

>

> I have read that it has been effective for mild/moderate depression,

> but not for major depression. I think I am moderately depressed, it

> isn't getting better with supplements and I'm not ready for zoloft

> yet, lol.

>

> Actually, I need a T3 test. I'm pretty sure my doctors won't give me

> one because they are both against Armour and Cytomel. I know, I

> know... get a new doctor dummy, lol.

>

> In " The Thyroid Solution " the author does advocate using T3 when

> levothyroxine hasn't helped. Now I'm postitive I need T3, just like I

> was positive I had adrenal fatigue, lol (I don't). But, he does make

> a good case for needing more T3 and with my TSH at .8 or lower the

> Synthroid hasn't helped me.

>

May 26, 2005

Thank you Kerry,

I have been taking a 300mg pill 3X a day. That is the recommended

dose I have found on several websites. I have read it will take 4-6

weeks before you will notice any change, but I'm not sure I can wait

that long.

I am looking into T3 therapy, and a new doctor. I am still on a low

dose of T4 (75 mcg), and I just feel like crap, lol.

> > Hi Rebeccca

> > St 's Wort can be very effective for mild depression and T3 can

> work

> > for severe depression - but you need the right doses in either

case.

> > I took St J's with my thyroid meds no problem - if I recall 900mcg

> twice

> > a day ( I think) - it was helpful.

> > Originally I was severely depresses for many years and St did

not

> > help much at all back then - I cured my depression with high dose

T3.

> I

> > used St john's sunsequently for mild depression and it definitely

> > helped.

> > Kerry

May 26, 2005

- how would you feel about increasing your T4 just to see if you

feel better? You could come back down if you get too much. I felt

horrible on that dose of T4 and my doc wouldn't let me increase but I

felt I had to try it - so I went all the way up to 200 and I feel human

at this dose - been on it for over a year now without any hyper symptoms

so it must be right for me for now - so much for that doc!!!!

Kerry

Re: St. 's Wort

Thank you Kerry,

I have been taking a 300mg pill 3X a day. That is the recommended

dose I have found on several websites. I have read it will take 4-6

weeks before you will notice any change, but I'm not sure I can wait

that long.

I am looking into T3 therapy, and a new doctor. I am still on a low

dose of T4 (75 mcg), and I just feel like crap, lol.

> > Hi Rebeccca

> > St 's Wort can be very effective for mild depression and T3 can

> work

> > for severe depression - but you need the right doses in either

case.

> > I took St J's with my thyroid meds no problem - if I recall 900mcg

> twice

> > a day ( I think) - it was helpful.

> > Originally I was severely depresses for many years and St did

not

> > help much at all back then - I cured my depression with high dose

T3.

> I

> > used St john's sunsequently for mild depression and it definitely

> > helped.

> > Kerry

May 26, 2005

Hi Kerry,

I would love to increase my T4 dose, but how can I without running

out of pills? The two doctors I'm seeing are convinced my thyroid is

fine and I just need antidepressnts. The only doctor I can find who

will prescribe Armour is in Rochester, which is about an

hour away. That's not too far I guess, and I plan to call her

(http://drmarywise.net/) and set up an appointment, but what to do

until then? I can't make decisions about anything lately, and I know

I need a new doctor but it sounds like a lot to do... I feel like a

child, lol.

A month ago there was a doctor listed on the Armour website for the

city I live in, but she is gone now and I can't remember her name. I

would love to find a local doctor that I can also use as a GP. I was

really surprised there are no doctors listed for Ithaca either on a

top docs list or at Armour.com, I'd much rather go there if I had to

travel.

I have read that the right dose of T4 could get rid of depression,

and I haven't yet felt like I was on the right dose, but then I also

fear overdoing it.

I know it is probably irrelevant, but my TSH was 0.8 the last time it

was checked, and it had gone down from 1.17 just three days earlier

on the same dose. That was over a month ago.

What worries me is that it went from 6.17 to 0.8 in one month, when I

went from 50mcg to 75mcg... so what would another 25mcg do. Maybe I

need the 88mcg pill? I am not having weight problems so would that

mean my metabolism is still functioning properly at some level?

My mind is definately not the same though... and my house has never

looked this messy before, lol. I used to be really good at organizing

things, and lately even loading/unloading the dishwasher is

overwhelming. I worry about the upcoming weeks when my children (ages

2 and 5) are out of school and mommy doesn't want to do anything, I

don't want to do that to them, and I don't want the guilt of it all.

> - how would you feel about increasing your T4 just to see

if you

> feel better? You could come back down if you get too much. I felt

> horrible on that dose of T4 and my doc wouldn't let me increase but

I

> felt I had to try it - so I went all the way up to 200 and I feel

human

> at this dose - been on it for over a year now without any hyper

symptoms

> so it must be right for me for now - so much for that doc!!!!

> Kerry

>

May 26, 2005

Hi - I sympathise with what you are going through - I don't know

about the weight thing - I guess it does mean you have reasonable

metabolism for now - I got all the symptoms at once sudden weight gain,

depression etc but we are all different.

I bought my Armour online at first before I found a doc to prescribe -

you can buy T4 and T3 that way as well. I do not think self dosing is

dangerous at all as long as you keep a good journal take temp and heart

rate daily and increase dosees slowly - every two weeks minimum and up

to six weeks between. Some of us need increases more quickly than

others. If I stayed on a low dose for too long I would just get sicker

and sicker - the doctor would interpret this as having too much hormone

but after all my research i knew it was from ahving too little but just

enough to suppress my own T4 production. IMO this is the main thing to

watch for when you are on low doses ie 25 - 75 mcg. You need to take

enough hormone to alleviate symptoms. And there is a lot of fear hype

out there about the dangers of thyroid hormone overdose - I don't thyink

it is warranted as long as you are careful.

Did i understand you corrrectly that you has TSh tests within three days

of each other? I don't think dosing to TSH is very useful - use your

symptoms and how you feel. My TSH tests didn't tell me I was sick in the

first place - they were normal and I felt like death warmed up - so it

seems illogical to me to use TSh to tell me if I am getting better - do

you see what I mean?

Kerry

Re: St. 's Wort

Hi Kerry,

I would love to increase my T4 dose, but how can I without running

out of pills? The two doctors I'm seeing are convinced my thyroid is

fine and I just need antidepressnts. The only doctor I can find who

will prescribe Armour is in Rochester, which is about an

hour away. That's not too far I guess, and I plan to call her

(http://drmarywise.net/) and set up an appointment, but what to do

until then? I can't make decisions about anything lately, and I know

I need a new doctor but it sounds like a lot to do... I feel like a

child, lol.

A month ago there was a doctor listed on the Armour website for the

city I live in, but she is gone now and I can't remember her name. I

would love to find a local doctor that I can also use as a GP. I was

really surprised there are no doctors listed for Ithaca either on a

top docs list or at Armour.com, I'd much rather go there if I had to

travel.

I have read that the right dose of T4 could get rid of depression,

and I haven't yet felt like I was on the right dose, but then I also

fear overdoing it.

I know it is probably irrelevant, but my TSH was 0.8 the last time it

was checked, and it had gone down from 1.17 just three days earlier

on the same dose. That was over a month ago.

What worries me is that it went from 6.17 to 0.8 in one month, when I

went from 50mcg to 75mcg... so what would another 25mcg do. Maybe I

need the 88mcg pill? I am not having weight problems so would that

mean my metabolism is still functioning properly at some level?

My mind is definately not the same though... and my house has never

looked this messy before, lol. I used to be really good at organizing

things, and lately even loading/unloading the dishwasher is

overwhelming. I worry about the upcoming weeks when my children (ages

2 and 5) are out of school and mommy doesn't want to do anything, I

don't want to do that to them, and I don't want the guilt of it all.

> - how would you feel about increasing your T4 just to see

if you

> feel better? You could come back down if you get too much. I felt

> horrible on that dose of T4 and my doc wouldn't let me increase but

I

> felt I had to try it - so I went all the way up to 200 and I feel

human

> at this dose - been on it for over a year now without any hyper

symptoms

> so it must be right for me for now - so much for that doc!!!!

> Kerry

>

May 27, 2005

My orig. endo, said there was really nothing wrong with me either, but gave me a

script for 75 mcg of Synthroid....I have now doubled my dose, over the last 2

months. This is the best I have felt in a very long time. My energy is back,

the weight is coming off, slowly, a couple lbs a week, but its coming off. I am

also taking COQ10 twice a day. It seems to also help with the depression and

energy. I'm going to a new endo in a couple of weeks....guess I have to tell

him what I did!

Don't be afraid to up your meds, you know how you feel.

Carol

Kerry Ann Faithfull <kerry@...> wrote: